Outstanding employees of the Ohio State Highway Patrol were recognized Friday at the

Patrol's Annual Awards Ceremony in Columbus. Colonel Richard H. Collins, Patrol superintendent, presented the awards.

Bellefontaine resident Mica Hatcher of the Troy Facility was honored with District Trooper Recognition within the Piqua District.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Dispatcher of the Year - Dispatcher Diane L. Holubeck, St. Clairsville Post, was selected as State Dispatcher of the Year. She has been a dispatcher at the St. Clairsville Post since June 1988. She resides in Martins Ferry.

Blue Max Award (Patrol's top auto larceny enforcer) - Tpr. Jason L. Hodge, Springfield Post, was honored with a Blue Max Award for recovering 12 stolen vehicles, valued at $36,200 and resulting in the apprehension of 12 suspects. A graduate of the 127th Academy Class, he has been assigned to the Springfield Post since November 1995. He resides in Enon with his wife, Tammy, and their son, Jason.

Robert M. Chiaramonte Humanitarian Award - Tpr. John C. Thorne, Batavia Post, was honored with the Chiaramonte Award that was established to recognize troopers' dedication to humanitarian efforts both professionally and personally. Tpr. Thorne's dedication to educating young people to help prevent death and injury due to motor vehicle crashes is exactly the type of effort befitting of this award's namesake, Retired Colonel Robert Chiaramonte. Tpr. Thorne created a presentation to educate teens about traffic safety and good decision making. Through the use of math and physics, including Newton's laws of motion, Tpr. Thorpe illustrates how injuries are suffered by crash victims. Additionally, he explains the formulas and equations troopers use in a crash investigation. Students also participate in a practical demonstration, where they measure skid marks and friction, then perform the related calculations. Since he began the program, he has reached more than 2,000 people during 150 hours of presentations given mostly on his own time.

Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector of the Year - Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector (MCEI) Douglas A. Staudt, Piqua District, was awarded the Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspector of the Year. Staudt joined the Patrol in 1989 as a stationary load limits inspector. He transferred to his current assignment as a MCEI in October 2000. He resides in Piqua with his wife, Connie, and their son, Brandon.

Criminal Patrol Award - Tpr. Nicholas L. Lewis, Portsmouth Post, was awarded for having the most investigations of felony cases that led to felony arrests. In 2007, he had 36 felony cases and 40 felony arrests. He is a member of the 144th Academy Class and served at the Wilmington Post before transferring to the Portsmouth Post in February 2007. Tpr. Lewis resides in McDermott with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children: Reagan and Caleb.

Electronic Technician Team of the Year - Findlay District Team, presented yearly to the top electronic technician team.

The Findlay District team includes:

Electronic Technician 3 Shawn A. Piper - An 18-year veteran, he resides in Findlay with

his wife, Christine, and their two children: Natalie and Grant.

Electronic Technician 2 Thomas E. Fowler - A three-year veteran, he resides in Bowling

Green with his wife, Beth, and their three children: Jonathon, Sarah and Kristen.

Electronic Technician 2 Kraig A. Kent - An eight-year veteran, he resides in Haskins with his wife Cheri and their four children: Sarah, Mary, Anna and Nathan.

Ohio Trooper Recognition Award - Tpr. Gerald L. Gibson, Findlay District, was selected from 11 regional recipients. The Trooper Recognition Award recognizes excellence among troopers who are assigned to specialty positions. Tpr. Gibson is a member of the 120th Academy Class and has served at the Defiance, Lima and Findlay District Office of Investigations. Tpr. Gibson resides in Lima with his wife, Cindy, and their two sons: Kenton and Grant.

OSHP Employee Recognition Award (District) - A 35-year veteran, David P. Kisor, Maintenance Repair Worker 2, in the Jackson District, received the award presented annually to recognize excellence in field employees who are not troopers or dispatchers. Kisor resides in Wellston with his wife, Geraldeen.

OSHP Employee Recognition Award (General Headquarters) - A 16-year veteran, Laura L. Mourne, Researcher 3, Office of Human Resource Management, received the award presented annually to recognize excellence in employees who are not troopers or dispatchers. Mourne resides in Pataskala with her sons, Austin and Dakota.

Local Area District honors for: District Trooper of the Year, District Dispatcher of the Year, District Trooper Recognition, and District Employee Recognition:

Findlay District - Tpr. Chad A. Durfey, Defiance Post; Disp. Jennifer J. Sabin, Toledo Post; Tpr. Gerald L. Gibson, Findlay District Headquarters; and Alan K. Joseph (Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector), Lima Post.

Piqua District - Tpr. Kristin A. Welk, Dayton Post; Disp. Marsha J. Carey, Piqua Post; Tpr. Mica J. Hatcher, Piqua District LCS Troy Facility; and Heather L. Gebhart (Secretary), Piqua District LCS Troy Facility.

Columbus District - Tpr. Matthew L. Them, Mt. Gilead Post; Disp. Beverley D. Wells, Granville Post; Tpr. Joel E. Smith, Columbus District Headquarters; and Harold F. Deck (Drivers License Examiner 1), Delaware Exam Station.