# DLA Distribution employee recognized by Defense Department

/ Published Oct. 28, 2022
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., 
The Defense Department has recognized Kylie Young with a Judith C. Gilliom Outstanding Workforce Recruitment Program Participant Award for her tremendous professionalism while working as a WRP student hire in the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Headquarters’ public affairs office for two sessions.

During the June through August 2019 session, Young demonstrated an extremely strong work ethic – completing tasks on time with an eagerness to learn more.

“Kylie is smart, intuitive, loyal, courteous, professional and eager. With her passion, skill and ‘grit,’ I can see this young lady working her way to the top,” said Dawn Bonsell, DLA Distribution public affairs officer.

Young was approved to work with DLA Distribution public affairs in 2020, but the WRP program was on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young kept in touch with Bonsell and took her advice to write for a local newspaper to keep her skills sharp. Throughout the next year, Young worked at her local paper as a court reporter, honing her writing and editing skills.                 Kylie Young, Workforce Recruitment Program student with Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Headquarters’ public affairs office on a tour in DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania’s eastern distribution center June 12, 2019. (DLA Photo by Ed Shank)                            DLA Distribution employee recognized by Defense Department                            Kylie Young, Workforce Recruitment Program student with Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Headquarters’ public affairs office on a tour in DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania’s eastern distribution center June 12, 2019. (DLA Photo by Ed Shank)            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Ed Shank, DLA Distribution Public AffairsVIRIN: 190612-D-CK397-4088

As soon as the WRP Program approved students to telework, Young returned to DLA Distribution public affairs from April 2021 through April 2022. As a member of the public affairs team, Young wrote articles, interviewed subject matter experts, learned the content management system to publish articles on the DLA website, created social media posts with photos and information from DLA Distribution’s worldwide distribution centers, edited and updated biographies and change of command ceremony programs, compiled media kits, photographed events, transcribed video subtitles for Section 508 compliance and updated media lists and social media reports.

Young began a full time position April 24 as an equal opportunity assistant in DLA Distribution Headquarters’ equal employment opportunity department where she writes and designs newsletters for special emphasis months in addition to assisting with equal opportunity, affirmative employment and diversity matters.

WRP is a Labor Department recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private-sector employers nationwide with highly motivated college students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to demonstrate their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs.

The award is in honor of the late Judith C. Gilliom, who served as DoD’s first director of disability programs and was a founder of the WRP. Gilliom remained a strong advocate for the employment of individuals with disabilities throughout her career in the federal government, beginning at the U.S. Civil Service Commission and concluding at DoD. Gilliom is represented as an exemplar in the Defense Career Civilians of Distinction display in the Pentagon. 

See the 2022 WRP Awards Ceremony here:  www.dvidshub.net/webcast/29272