Horizon Announces Annual Award Winners; Tai Sophia Founder Honored for Leadership

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The winners of the Fifth Annual Horizon Foundation Awards have been announced by Richard M. Krieg, president and chief executive officer of the Foundation, which is marking its 10th anniversary this year. The recipients were honored at an awards breakfast June 5 at the Howard County Conservancy at Mt. Pleasant Farm in Woodstock.

Robert M. Duggan, co-founder and president of Tai Sophia Institute

The organization's Richard G. McCauley Leadership Award was presented to Robert M. Duggan, co-founder and president of Tai Sophia Institute, a graduate school for the healing arts and sciences located off Montpelier Road in Laurel.

The award is named in honor of The Horizon Foundation's first Board Chair.

"Bob really has played a transformative role in demonstrating that western medicine is not the only way to deal with health and wellness," said Krieg. "We at Horizon have been intrigued by his approaches to broadening our notions of how to lead healthier lives.

"Across the spectrum, he has devoted his life to complementary medicine, especially through his degree-granting college where he trains alternative healers," added Krieg. "Bob has quite a lot of influence in the county, state and country."

Duggan, who co-founded Tai Sophia in 1975 with Dianne Connelly, has practiced traditional acupuncture since 1972. He has served as chair of the Maryland State Board of Acupuncture and as a commissioner of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is the author of Common Sense for the Healing Arts, published in 2004.

Howard Community College received the Health Education Award. Sharon J. Pierce, HCC's chair of health services accepted the award on behalf of the college.

Sharon J. Pierce, Chair of Health Services
Howard Community College

"The program would not be what it is today if it weren’t for Sharon, who has been a strong leader and has made significant enhancements," Krieg said. "The relationships she endeavors to build go beyond the students."

Using the nursing program as an example of her success, he said that Pierce, who has been with the college since 1990, has overseen the implementation of the accelerated option for graduation, in which students who have completed certain prerequisites can receive a two-year degree in 14 months. She has also worked intensely with eight or nine area hospitals to insure students' placement upon graduation and to obtain various forms of financial support, he said.

The Connections Asset Development Award was presented to Leadership U, a civic education program for rising county high school juniors that is part of Leadership Howard County. Leadership U was developed in 1996 as a way to get young people involved in solving community problems as well as to train future leaders.

Krysta Huxford, Youth Program Director
Leadership U

Krysta Huxford, youth program director, accepted the award for the program, which has graduated 300 students. Leadership U focuses on the concepts of team building and community service, she said.

Selected to receive the Community Appreciation Award was Margaret "Peg" Browning, who has spoken out against smoking for over a decade through the county high schools' disability awareness programs. A cancer survivor, the 78-year-old Browning is a laryngectomy patient. She has long been involved with county politics and is a member of the Howard County Republican Central Committee.

"Peg is an amazing person," said Steven H. Adler, a member of the foundation's board of trustees. "She personifies the can-do spirit, and is an extremely giving person who asks little in return. She shows up to volunteer when more able-bodied people don't bother."

The Horizon Foundation addresses health and wellness issues through strategic grantmaking, community initiatives, and partnerships with private and public institutions. The foundation is committed to helping build a healthy and resilient community in Howard County.

For further information about the Horizon Awards Breakfast, contact jeanmoon@comcast.net.