By Nancy Henderson,
The path Morgan Krul took to reach her goal of working for the City of Belle Fourche as a member of the Belle Fourche Recreation Center staff had its share of challenges because Morgan traveled that path in a wheelchair.
A 2024 graduate of Belle Fourche High School, Morgan was born with spina bifida. An extraordinarily supportive family and a network of organizations dedicated to closing employment gaps for individuals with disabilities traveled that path with Morgan.
It didn’t hurt that Morgan’s family home is directly across the street from the Rec Center where she was already a familiar presence. Once she became involved with Project Skills, a program under the umbrella of Black Hills Special Services, and at her request, she was placed with the Rec Center while being paid by Project Skills. She was allotted 100 hours through the program and once that goal was reached, the Rec Center offered her the opportunity to remain as their employee.
She explained, “When I was a junior, I had the opportunity with Project Skills to help me learn how to become an employee because of my disabilities.”
These are some of the exact words used by Morgan in nominating the City of Belle Fourche for the 2025 South Dakota Governor’s Award for Outstanding Public Employer: given to a public employer… for outstanding achievements in improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Courtney Svoboda, Morgan’s mother, also provided a nomination for the City of Belle Fourche to be considered for the award, including these words “I deeply appreciate your (Rec Center’s) commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities and creating an inclusive workplace.”
Although the City of Belle Fourche had previously been considered for the Governor’s Award in 2024, the Rec Center was encouraged by Heidi Mecham, executive director, Workplace Disability Network of the Black Hills, to provide nominations for the 2025 awards.
The heartfelt words of Morgan and Courtney obviously had an impact and on October 8, Morgan, Belle Fourche City Administrator Jason LaFayette and Rec Center director Jody Westberg traveled to Pierre to accept the 2025 Governor’s Award on behalf of the City of Belle Fourche.
This was one of seven awards presented by Governor Larry Rhoden at the ceremony that day recognizing businesses, individuals with disabilities and other South Dakotans for their outstanding contributions to improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Now happily ensconced at the Rec Center, Morgan stressed that the ongoing support from her fellow-employees has been crucial.
Rec Center staff member Renee Collins, who oversees customer service at the front desk, has been one of the key players in Morgan’s successful transition to city employee. Her simple philosophy – helping others to achieve their goals, a philosophy obviously shared by everyone who has helped guide Morgan on her path.
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