COTTONWOOD NAMES EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

The Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center recently awarded the employee of the year honor to cottage supervisor Lester Gillespie.

Gillespie, who graduated from Charleston High School in 1983 and from Southeast Missouri State University in 1990, joined the Cottonwood program as a youth counselor in 1989.

Gillespie met the criteria set forth by Cottonwood's Employee Relations Committee, which sponsors the annual award, by best exemplifying the spirit of fair employment practices to accomplish better employee relations.

Gillespie was cited for his positive attitude, professionalism and willingness to take time for others.

Cottonwood is a Department of Mental Health facility that provides residential psychiatric services to youths ages 6 to 17 who have emotional and behavioral problems.