Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Nomination Winner - Laura Shroyer
Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Background
In 1996, the NIB Board of Directors established the Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award, which is presented to an individual who demonstrates career advancement at an NIB associated agency or in the private sector. Named after the late Dr. Samuelson, the award is a tribute to his leadership with upward mobility and placement programs for people who are blind. The award recognizes people who are blind employed in an NIB associated agency above the direct labor level and below the top administrative level, as well as those who have utilized their training and experience to seek and achieve in outside competitive employment.
Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Nomination Winner - Laura Shroyer
Mrs. Laura Shroyer exemplifies the mission for which BISM strives to achieve and embodies the spirit for which the Milton J. Samuelson Award was established. Recognizing that blindness was not a vice, but rather a quality that would only strengthen her character, Laura enrolled in the CORE independence training program at the age of 19. A year later she was hired to work in the manufacturing department at Blind Industries. Laura is an ambitious go getter, a natural leader. While working in manufacturing she took on many different roles while pushing her colleagues to achieve more. In 2019 she advanced to earn the position of Independent Living instructor for the same program that she graduated from just years before. She immediately brought passion, organization, and discipline to her position. Moreover, her students and colleagues immediately gravitated to her for knowledge, wisdom and understanding; not just in the content area for which she was teaching, but in life.
As committed as Laura is to her career, her family is her life. She first met her husband of 15-years at Blind Industries. They have three amazing children together. They have raised their children to have the same forward-thinking attitude for which they value.
Furthermore, Laura is a pillar in the community. She is active in her church, and in her children’s schools. She advocates for legislature both at the state and federal level. Within a month of joining the National Federation of the Blind she was elected to the board for the Baltimore County Chapter.
Ms. Laura Shroyer has advanced to currently hold the position of CORE Manager at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. We are so pleased to nominate Laura for the Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award, and so extremely proud to call her our own!