In establishing his Excellence Awards by Executive Order in August of this year, Governor Mark Parkinson made it possible for outstanding service providers for individuals with disabilities to be nominated and recognized. Rosewood Services and Sandy Smith of the Rosewood Furniture Gallery were thus recognized in a recent celebration in Topeka. Governor Parkinson noted in the formation of his awards that the 2008 Census reported nearly 16 percent of Kansans reported having a disability, that 30 percent of Kansans over the age of 65 and 51 percent of those over the age of 75 reported having a disability and that approximately 66,000 children participate in special education in their local schools.