limelight | Awards, achievements

Ruth Fair-child of New Castle, Pa., has been elected to serve as State Surgeon for the Pennsylvania Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars for the seventh consecutive year. In this capacity, she will continue to travel to the state’s veterans’ hospitals to review the care given to patients.

Shayen George, chief executive of Associates in Counseling and Child Guidance in Sharon, Pa., was recently honored by Exceptional Parent Magazine with the E.P. Maxwell J. Schieffer Service Award. The award honors those who have made an impact in the special-needs community. George was given the award during Disability Awareness Night at PNC Park.

Northeast Ohio Correctional Center officers Samantha Evanticka, Jason Coulter, Lynn Poe, Erick Reddington and Peggy O’Meara, along with supervisors Sean Daugherty and Benjamin McGowan recently passed the national certification exam for corrections officers and correctional supervisors.

Nathan Roman, a financial adviser with Ameriprise Financial in Canfield, has qualified for the company’s Circle of Success program. The distinction is given to the company’s highest-performing financial advisors.

Junior Achievement of Mahoning Valley has won an $8,000 grant from Sam’s Club as part of the company’s Giving Made Simple campaign. The grant, part of $500,000 received by Junior Achievement USA, will allow the youth development nonprofit to expand its entrepreneurship programs.

Youngstown-based Northwestern Mutual financial representative Stanley Shearer received the company’s Emerald Award at its recent annual meeting in Milwaukee. The award recognizes Shearer’s efforts to help clients achieve financial security.