REGION- Lyn Sperry, member of the COOR ISD board and daughter of the late Ralph Sperry, presented the Ralph R. Sperry Memorial awards for 2021 and 2022 to JoJean Thompson and Andrew Thompson.
The Sperry award is presented to an individual or group in recognition of their contributions to assist individuals with disabilities to overcome barriers and more fully participate in their communities.
JoJean, the 2021 recipient, serves as President of the Artesia Youth Park, and when applying for grants, also advocated for ROOC to obtain a new vehicle.
JoJean is employed as a substance abuse specialist with Catholic Human Services and serves as UP North Prevention Coordinator for Roscommon and Ogemaw counties. She is Executive Director of the OASIS homeless shelter. JoJean, and husband Rev. Bryan Thompson, serve as pastors of the Weslyan Church of Houghton Lake.
The 2022 Sperry Memorial Award recipient, Andrew Thompson, was named Program Director of Artesia Youth Park in 2018. His goal at AYP is to provide a welcoming, safe place for the community to play and grow. Community minded, Andrew goes into schools and does lunch programs, runs the website for Artesia Youth Park, and takes care of the physical needs of the building.
Andrew works for Catholic Human Services and is the Youth Pastor of the Weslyan Church. His wife Charity serves as the Children’s Pastor. Together, they have four children.
