Edgewood, KY – St. Elizabeth Healthcare couldn’t be prouder of associate Luke Rutterer, who was recently named the 2019 Special Olympics Kentucky (SOKY) Athlete of the Year.
A recent graduate from the SOKY Athlete Leadership Program in Frankfort and Northern Kentucky’s first Special Olympics Athletic Ambassador nominee, Luke is frequently asked to participate in statewide events and speak to companies who want to get involved in the Kentucky Special Olympics.
“Luke does an excellent job of representing the Special Olympics and also following our St. Elizabeth Healthcare excellence standards,” says Kim Rash, St. Elizabeth Manager of HIM/Epic Identity, Document Imaging & Record Storage. “I have no doubt that Luke brings this same enthusiasm, dedication and energy to his SOKY team to empower them for success.”
A resident of Ft. Mitchell, Luke first got involved in the Special Olympics when he was 10 years old. He started on a soccer team, then added in basketball and eventually golf during his early high school years.
Over the years, Luke has competed in almost all of the 15 sports offered as part of Special Olympics Kentucky, most recently focusing on bowling, golf, basketball and flag football. Luke was also a proud team member of the PGA-sponsored 2016 Special Olympics North America National Invitational Golf Tournament.
“Luke is such a great sport,” says his mom Lana Rutterer. “He loves to compete and have that comradery. He’ll go to five basketball games on a Saturday to cheer on his teammates – he’s always supporting others.”
Luke’s positive, team-centric attitude is apparent in every aspect of his life – including in his role in the Record Center at St. Elizabeth.
“Successful athletes in any team sport are ones that are team players, and I feel that is the biggest quality that Luke possesses in winning the SOKY Athlete of the year – he’s a team player,” says Tracy Bender, St. Elizabeth Supervisor of HIM Document Imaging. “Whether he is pulling boxes for the Record Center or scanning documents for the Imaging Center, Luke is always willing to help out wherever he’s needed.”
The entire St. Elizabeth staff feels Luke’s impact when he’s at work. If you’re having a bad day, Luke is well-known for turning your mood around with his infectious smile and personality.
“Luke is one of our shining stars within our HIM Department,’ says Jon Kemper, St. Elizabeth System Director of Information Management. “His positive energy and spirit reflects the values of St. Elizabeth and makes everyone around him better. He lifts everyone around him with his positive attitude and work ethic.”
Luke will see familiar faces at the upcoming 40th Annual Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games, which will be held January 26-28, 2020 at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, IN. In addition to being a SOKY sponsor, St. Elizabeth also has many employees that volunteer at the event.
“Luke is so proud to be a member of this organization and just beams when telling us about his events,” says Kim Rash. “One of Luke’s greatest qualities is his enthusiasm for life – his enthusiasm to learn new tasks is exceptional. We’re so proud of him and his work ethic, empathy and compassion.”