Bartlett Victory Centre director chosen as 2010 Hero

• The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) chose Dave Dickinson, executive director of Victory Centre of Bartlett, as its 2010 Hero.

The Hero Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary courage and leadership and who rise above their daily duties to improve the lives of assisted living residents.

Dickinson accepted his award at ALFA's national conference in May. Victory Centre of Bartlett, 1101 W. Bartlett Road, is owned and operated by Pathway Senior Living.

• Palatine resident Michael Nicolas was elected president of the NIU Executive Club, an organization dedicated to fostering professional and personal relationships among highly successful NIU graduates and giving back to the NIU community.

A longtime board member of the NIU Executive Club and an active member on its board of directors, Nicolas graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1995, with a bachelor's degree in business. He went on to earn a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1998. He is currently a partner at Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, where he concentrates his practice on commercial disputes and business counseling.

• Creative Corners Preschool director Margaret Nuscher received the Des Plaines Park District's Dedicated to Excellence Award for the second quarter of 2010.

The Dedicated to Excellence Award is presented four times a year and recognizes outstanding employees who have made a positive contribution to their department and the park district, and who go out of their way to help others.

Nuscher, who was presented with the award June 15, during the park board meeting, is the Creative Corners Preschool director for the Fabulous 4's and 5's. She has held this position for five years and has over 15 years of early childhood education experience.

The Des Plaines resident is also an accomplished flute player with the Des Plaines Park District Community Concert Band.

• Lesley Roberts was named the 504 coordinator for the Barrington 220 School District.

Roberts, who begins her new duties July 1, had served as a school psychologist and a teacher on special assignment at the Woodland Early Learning Center.

Section 504, a civil rights law, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disabling conditions by programs and activities receiving or benefiting from federal financial assistance. Under the rulings of Section 504, schools must provide all children with reasonable accommodations comparable to those provided to their peers.

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