Laura Joyner Award winners

Dr. Steve Coxon, Associate Professor of Gifted Education and Executive Director of the Center for Access and Achievement at Maryville University, was recognized for his work to create a statewide policy to ensure that identification of gifted students and entrance to gifted education programs is equitable for Missouri’s 883,000 students.

Veterans and athletes are often thought of as the main victims of concussions, but the Barrow Neurological Institute has created the first U.S. program to treat and study domestic violence survivors with traumatic brain injuries. Domestic violence is estimated to affect 10 million people annually, and because of the Barrow Institute’s work, women who previously suffered in silence are becoming more aware of real issues resulting from their abuse.

Dr. Denise Spirou is being recognized for her efforts as a teacher and, later, an administrator serving gifted students at private schools in Florida.

Every 23 seconds someone in the U.S. suffers a brain injury. For its work to improve the quality of life for brain injury survivors and their families living in San Diego County, we present the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation with the 2016 Laura Joyner award.