WATERLOO -- Five Black Hawk County child care and early education providers will be honored for their accomplishments and will receive $1,000 at the Early Education Excellence Award ceremony Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

Winners include

-- Terri Adkins and Kris Bowers of Eastside Ministerial Alliance Head Start

-- Renee Duggan, St. Edward's Preschool

-- Karen McAlister, North Cedar Head Start

-- Brenda Webb, registered child development home business

"We are thrilled to recognize these individuals for their passion and devotion to helping children grow," said Curt Buhr with the Early Education Excellence award committee. "These providers work many hours to create building blocks for life-long learning, and this is a great way to show our appreciation for their hard work."

The award recognizes professionals in Black Hawk County who have demonstrated excellence in the following six areas of early childhood development:

-- Caring for infants, toddlers and young children from birth to kindergarten.

-- Creating an environment that is welcoming and promotes healthy development.

-- Becoming a loving, nurturing and positive role model in children's lives.

-- Helping children develop learning, emotional and behavioral skills.

-- Regarding children as special and appreciated for their unique qualities.

-- Guiding each child toward the future by helping them become life-long learners.

Award winners were selected from 52 nominees. To be eligible for the award, early care and education providers had to be nominated by parents, colleagues, administrators or community members familiar with their work with young children, be employed full-time as a caregiver and work in Black Hawk County.

Nominees also had to work in a child development home, or a state-licensed or license-exempt childcare center, or at a state-licensed preschool that is not located in an Iowa Department of Education certified public or private school.

The Early Education Excellence Committee was Sarah Albertson, ME&V; Curt Buhr, Child Care Resource & Referral of North East Iowa; Brenda Bass, University of Northern Iowa Department of Family Studies; Alison Bell, Area Education Agency 267; Sarah Boleyn, Child Care Resource & Referral of North East Iowa; Jim Coloff, Mix 96; Lorene Dehl, Tri-County Child & Family Development Council; Barb Gregersen, Hawkeye Community College; Jaynie Mason, Lutheran Services of Iowa; Jeff Sales, Freeburg School; Jennifer Siech, Veridian Credit Union; Tara Thomas, KWWL; Jenn Venenga, Junior League; and Floyd Winter, Cedar Valley's Promise.

The Early Education Excellence Award is made possible through funding from Cedar Valley's Promise Empowerment. Additional sponsors include: KWWL, ME&V, Mix 96, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier and Woolverton Printing.