Beloved former clinician and longtime supporter Myrna Krohn became the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s inaugural recipient of the Community Champion Award Feb. 21 at the 2025 MMI Celebration of Excellence.
Krohn, a foundational figure in the MMI community, exchanged a hug with Dr. Mirnics when the award was announced, and after the event, gathered with MMI speech-language therapists for a group photo.
“Myrna’s importance to both MMI and the UNMC community as a whole cannot be underestimated,” said Melonie Welsh, director of community engagement at MMI. “She is the perfect inaugural recipient of this award, which is designed to honor longstanding service, passion and commitment – a champion not only to MMI but to the broader community of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
KETV’s Bill Schammert, who emceed in 2024, returned in that role for the event.
Before winners were announced, Dr. Mirnics said that all nominees – and each member of MMI — should be proud of the work they do and deserve to be recognized and celebrated.
This year’s Phoenix Award recipients included:
Access and Engagement: Sidni Trotter, MMI Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Also nominated:
- Alyssa Keller, MMI Department of Genetic Medicine
Community Engagement: Cynthia Villanueva Castro, MMI Department of Education and Child Development
Also nominated:
- Cathy Jansen, MMI Department of Occupational Therapy
- Abbie Nelson, occupational therapy
Clinical Services – Faculty: Melissa Hunter, PhD, MMI Department of Psychology
Also nominated:
- Sarah Connolly, PhD, integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Chris Courson, PhD, iCASD
- Juliana Oliveira, PhD, iCASD
- Rachel Schumacher, PhD, psychology
Phoenix Award in Clinical Services – Staff: Laura Micek, education and child development
Also nominated:
- Carly Garcia, MMI Department of Speech-Language Pathology
- Allie Kohl, iCASD – Bridge
- Mary Kriha, OTD, occupational therapy
- Shayla Kruse, OTD, occupational therapy
- Amber Lawrence, DPT, physical therapy
- Whitney Trapp, iCASD
Phoenix Award in Education – Faculty: Jennifer Burt, PhD, MMI Department of Psychology and LEND
Also nominated:
- Drew Cratsenberg, genetic medicine
- Mary Halbur, PhD, iCASD
- Catalina Rey, PhD, iCASD
- Sarah Swanson, University Center of Eexcellence in Developmental Disabilities
Phoenix Award in Education – Staff: Abby Crimmins, MMI Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Also nominated:
- Michaela Distefano, OTD, occupational therapy
- Alicia Graham, UCEDD
- Jessie Poskochil, genetic medicine
- Heidi Reelfs, physical therapy
- Mollie Sultenfuss, occupational therapy
Phoenix Award in Research: Nikki Zabik, PhD, Research – Emotional Neuroscience Research Laboratory
Also nominated:
- Andrea Baraldi Cunha, PhD, physical therapy
Phoenix Award in Spirit: Sam Montemarano, MMI Department of Occupational Therapy
Also nominated:
- Sara Gregory, genetic medicine
- Jennifer Konieczny, occupational therapy
- Jessie Poskochil, genetic medicine
- Mercedes Sanchez, MMI Patient Information Office
- JaMese Sullivan, UCEDD
Phoenix Award in Support Staff: Yuka Collison, MMI Department of Pediatric Feeding Disorders
Also nominated:
- Cydra Bruns, genetic medicine
- Johnny Fichter, Facilities Management and Planning-Operations
- Sara Gregory, genetic medicine
- Kate Jover, UCEDD
- Katelyn Kelley, MMI Administration Research
- Dani Porter, psychology
- Ryan Thomas, physical therapy