Local American Senior Communities employees honored with prestigious award

Senior care professionals from Hamilton County and surrounding areas were among the 99 employees from across Indiana who were honored with the American Senior Communities (ASC) Quest for Excellence award for outstanding achievement.

This year’s awards banquet and ceremony, now in its 24^th year, took place on Nov. 14 at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis.

Employees from facilities in Fishers, Noblesville, and Zionsville include:

• Jennifer Hawkins, RN (Allionsville Meadows in Fishers)
• Ariel Wiley, LPN/Evening Shift Supervisor (Allisonville Meadows Assisted Living in Fishers)
• Niki Santos, CNA (Riverwalk Village in Noblesville)
• Aretha Johnson, CNA / Server (Zionsville Meadows)

With nearly 11,000 ASC employees statewide, a Quest for Excellence award is a coveted achievement. Through nominations by peers, residents, and families, only one winner from each location is chosen for recognition, spotlighting the best and brightest in their roles.

The award distinguishes employees who embrace the CARE principles; an aptly named acronym that stands for Compassion, Accountability, Relationships, and Excellence. Honorees are those who consistently make contributions through genuine compassion, strong teamwork, notable accountability, an understanding of the importance of building relationships, and an overarching drive to achieve excellence in their work.

“A Quest for Excellence winner is more than a good employee … more than a great employee,” American Senior Communities CEO Steve Van Camp said. “It is a special person who is a role model and an inspiration. It is someone who strives every day to do all they can to improve the health and well-being of residents, to be a trustworthy and dependable teammate, to nurture meaningful relationships, and to be a beacon of kindness and compassion, all in addition to displaying exceptional skills in their role. This describes all of you being honored tonight. Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you for all you do.”