Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Shilts, Kulp, Vos, Whitehead
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/22/2017
Shilts Receives Hometown Hero Award (State Assembly - 7 November 2017)
Shilts Receives hometown Hero Award from State Assembly
Daina Shilts, receives a standing ovation from the audience at the conclusion of her speech after accepting the Hometown Hero award from the Wisconsin State Assembly Nov. 7 at the state capital. (Contributed photo)
By Todd Schmidt
Daina Shilts is on top of the world, after receiving the Hometown award from the Wisconsin State Assembly during a session at the capitol in Madison Nov. 7.
Rep. Bob Kulp (R-Stratford) nominated Daina for the award, which is presented to outstanding individuals in the community who set goals and reach them, while giving back to society.
During her introduction to the legislators, Kulp explained the reasons why Daina is a special individual. She has overcome several disabilities, including Niemann Syndrome, which is a condition in which the body lacks a certain enzyme that helps move and break down cholesterol, and other lipids inside your cells. It can result in a variety of problems, including limiting motor functions, and causing learning disabilities.
“Despite her struggles growing up, Daina had a dream of becoming an athlete,” Kulp said. “Starting at the age of 8, Daina began skiing. She soon switched over to snowboarding. I can’t even imagine myself on a snowboard going downhill, and trying to avoid rocks and trees!”
Kulp noted that Daina participated in snowboarding in the Special Olympics (SO) World Games in 2013, and 2017, competing against athletes from across the globe. Daina recorded the fastest time of any snowboarder competing at the 2017 SO World Games, outperforming all the men and the women in her field. Daina won four Gold Medals in her sport.
Her accomplishments have received much recognition, including an honorary Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Award at the 2017 ESPY Awards that was held in Los Angeles.
“When I heard from my friends and neighbors about Daina’s story, I was deeply moved and felt she was deserving of this honor,” Kulp said. “Daina through her hard work and perseverance overcame the odds to achieve her dreams of competing at the highest levels and inspiring others. I want to recognize this outstanding individual for her hard work and personal achievements that inspire our community and state.”
The it was time for Daina to shine on the podium. She gave a riveting speech that earned a standing ovation from the legislators. The audience included a number of visiting high school students who watched the ceremony from the balcony above.
“I am so very excited to be here,” Daina said. “I will cherish this award. I realize what a great opportunity this is to leave you with a lasting impression.”
She said her world today is full of thank-you’s to various people. She singled out her first SO coach, and lifelong mentor for opening a window to wonderful things in her life.
“Not only mentoring me and teaching and training me in snowboarding, but in all life lessons,” she said. “My 19 years of involvement with people and events in SO have not only helped me to be an accomplished snowboarder, but have also shaped who I have become as an adult citizen.”
In her current employment, Daina works with others with all sorts of individual disabilities.
I enjoy every minute of it,” Daina beamed. “Whenever I am given the opportunity to speak to groups, I pass forward my story, and offer suggestions to youth on how not to bully, instead opening a window to include someone different.”
Daina has some emotionally-sad memories from her school years, mostly due to bullying.
“I struggled academically, I was very small in size, I couldn’t excel in sports, and I wasn’t musically gifted,” she said. “I remember trying to do my best to fit in, always trying hard to have a friend.”
Daina told the legislators how much she loves her hometown of Neillsville. She considers residents there as part of her extended family.
“They are so supportive of me and our whole SO program,” she said. “People in Neillsville are always listening and jumping in, trying to help each other all the time. I also have a huge family support system. Wherever my experiences in SO take me, I so very proudly shout I am from Neillsville.”
Daina left something for the audience to remember about her.
“Whether you are a coach, teacher, employer, or even a government official, whenever you are in doubt, choose to include,” she said. “I was given a chance by SO, and now I am included, and I do have friends.”
Daina said she was impressed by the conduct of her audience at the state capitol.
“They were all paying attention, smiling, and taking it all in,” she said. “Many of them came up to me and said my story is very inspirational.”
Her mother Jan Shilts said she is impressed with the way Daina is supported in the community.
“I get stopped in stores all the time, Jan said. “People tell me Daina is their hometown girl, and they are always cheering for her.”
Daina will appear on SO promotional materials in more than 560 Finish Line stores throughout the United States. The huge poster features Daina during a gold medal snowboarding run during the last So Winter Olympics.
“I am so honored,” she said. “I never would have imagined that I, a little girl from a little town in Wisconsin, would be spokes-person for a national holiday drive like this.”
Daina Shilts (center) and her mother, Jan Shilts strike a pose with the official Hometown Hero proclamation and award she received from the Wisconsin State Assembly during a floor session at the state capitol Nov. 7. Dignitaries shown from left, Speaker Robin Vos, Rep. Bob Kulp, and Bob Whitehead, vice president of sports and wellness for Special Olympics of Wisconsin. (Contributed photo)
