It’s always nice to learn about Lake County residents who capture national awards for noteworthy accomplishments.
So we enjoyed reading News-Herald stories in early September that focused on Maggie Henning and Megan Panchula.
Henning, a Painesville Township nurse practitioner, was recently recognized with one of CVS Health’s national Paragon Awards, The News-Herald’s Bryson Durst reported.
The company described the awards as among its “highest honors” in an August news release, adding that they are given to the “best of the best.”
Henning serves MinuteClinic patients at the company’s 1506 Mentor Ave. store in Painesville Township. CVS Health said she has worked in the clinic since 2014 and described her as “a well-respected colleague who is known for training and developing high-performing nurse practitioners.”
In one case, the company said she evaluated a patient with a swollen foot and high blood pressure. The patient sought emergency medical assistance after the visit and was later diagnosed with Conn’s disease.
The company also highlighted the efforts of Henning and her colleagues to relocate vaccines and preserve them for future use after storms last summer cut power to nine local CVS stores.
“Every day, Maggie comes to work with a mindset to improve the health of the community and our patients,” said MinuteClinic Senior Practice Manager Nicole Buckley in the news release. “She and the entire CVS Pharmacy team work together like a well-oiled machine to give the best care to patients, assist customers and support each other.”
Henning said she was “humbled” and “blown away” by receiving the award.
“I was selected by one of my co-workers and my manager,” she said. “I was nominated based on a couple clinical cases that I had in a clinic where people came in with some very strange types of symptoms and I was able to filter through a lot of that, and direct them in the direction that they needed to go to get that taken care of. So, some really unusual cases.”
Henning was one of 10 CVS pharmacy and retail employees to win a national Paragon Award this year, according to CVS Health External Affairs Communications Manager Shannon Dillon. Supervisors nominated employees for the awards, and the company’s senior leadership chose the final winners.
The winners will be recognized by the company in October, Dillon added.
“Paragon Award recipients are chosen for their commitment to company values and for their dedication to fulfilling CVS Health’s purpose: bringing our heart to every moment of your health,” the CVS news release said.
Meanwhile, Panchula, a cadet with the Civil Air Patrol squadron based in Painesville, has earned the General Carl A. Spaatz Award, the highest achievement in CAP’s Cadet Program.
The award places her among the top half-percent of cadets nationwide, recognizing effort, leadership, and academic excellence, News-Herald freelance writer Jean Bonchak reported.
Panchula, a 2024 graduate of Eastlake North High School, is the 2,598th recipient of the honor since its establishment in 1964. To qualify, cadets must pass a series of rigorous aerospace and leadership exams, complete a physical fitness test, and write an essay reflecting on a key character issue.
The Painesville resident is grateful for the special acknowledgment as well as her overall experience with CAP.
“It’s very nice to have worked hard in the program and be recognized for the effort,” she said. “It’s an honor, but a greater honor to be called a cadet.”
Assistant Director of Cadet Programs John Shawber noted that earning the Spaatz Award is typically a long journey, requiring achievement at 18 different levels.
“It takes some time and a lot of effort, commitment and determination to get to that point,” he said and added that her accomplishment “separates her from the pack entirely.”
Another earned honor was the promotion to the grade of cadet colonel — the highest rank available to cadets. Since joining
CAP in 2019 at age 13, Panchula has held leadership roles at both the squadron and wing levels, including squadron cadet
commander and wing assistant cadet activities officer.
She completed advanced training at the Great Lakes Region Cadet Leadership School and the nationally recognized Cadet Officer School, where she earned the Top Writer award.
In 2023, Panchula represented CAP in Australia through the International Air Cadet Exchange, a global program that fosters aviation education and cultural exchange. She described the experience as “amazing,” citing the opportunity to meet cadets from around the world and explore aviation facilities and training programs abroad.
In 2024, she was selected to chair CAP’s National Cadet Advisory Council, where she helped develop resources and initiatives to improve cadet life and leadership development across the country.
The News-Herald congratulates Henning and Panchula for earning these prestigious awards, and thanks them for bringing positive attention to Lake County, Ohio, at the national level.