ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont Correctional Institution announced the recognition of four staff members for the dedication and service at the facility.

BeCI named Terry Simcox as its 2025 Correction Officer of the Year.

Simcox is a yard officer on second shift at BeCI. He started his career in corrections in August 1999 at BeCI.

“He is dependable, hardworking, and has a very positive attitude,” the institution states in its announcement. “Terry possesses a great amount of experience and knowledge and assists in the development of newer officers and helps staff whenever possible.

“Terry is a correctional professional and is respected by his coworkers, supervisors, and the incarcerated population. He has demonstrated leadership skills throughout his career and was recognized as BeCI’s Officer of the Month in April of 2024.”

Simcox will represent BeCI as a nominee for the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Officer of the Year. He also received the BeCI Officer of the Year award in 2016. He graduated from Martins Ferry High School and currently resides in Colerain with his wife, Jeanie. He enjoys watching football, especially the Ohio State Buckeyes, and spending time with his family and friends. In the near future, he plans to retire.

“He is an asset to BeCI and will be greatly missed,” the institution noted.

BeCI also honored three other individuals.

“In every corner of Belmont Correctional Institution, there are individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty. This year BeCI proudly honors one of those individuals, Audrey Jones, our BeCI 2025 Nurse of the Year,” it announced.

Jones began her career as a firefighter/paramedic before becoming a nurse eight years ago. For the past six years, reports indicate she has brought compassion, adaptability and calm under pressure to her role at BeCI.

“Her ability to switch from routine care to emergency response in an instant makes her a true asset in the correctional healthcare environment,” BeCI states.”She’s known not just for her clinical skills, but for her unwavering support of her team. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Audrey stood strong on the front lines — demonstrating the resilience and dedication that led to her nomination.”

Outside of work, she finds balance and joy in her family. When asked about the future, she’s reflective.

“I’ve been considering going back to school, but I’m not sure what the future holds yet. Right now, I’m just trying to be content with where I’m at,” she said.

Also recognized was David Schlieper as 2025 Teacher of the Year. He is described as a passionate educator who brings purpose, patience and impact to every lesson he teaches.

Schlieper began his career at BeCI in 2019 as a correction officer. When the opportunity arose to join the education department, he stepped into the classroom and has not looked back. For the past two years, he has been teaching the GED curriculum, helping students build confidence and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach. One moment that stands out to David was when a student, after passing his final GED test, said he could not wait to help his son earn his GED, too. That moment reminded him of the generational impact education can have and why this work matters. Schlieper credits his team for pushing him to grow every day. “His dedication, paired with the support of his colleagues, is what makes him such a valuable part of the education department,” BeCI states.

Finally, Darrell Dowery was named the 2025 Employee of the Year. He was recognized as Employee of the Month in August 2024, making him eligible for consideration as Employee of the Year. His peers then voted him to the honor of Employee of the Year.

As a correction lieutenant, he supervises/directs the operations of the prison on the second shift. Dowery reportedly takes on extra tasks, such as being a member of the institution’s Special Response/STAR teams. Darrell is also an instructor for less than lethal and chemical ammunitions, critical incident management and use of force.

Dowery began his career with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at BeCI in December 2016 as a correction officer. He was promoted to correction lieutenant in February 2024. He graduated from Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., and from Kent State University. He resides in Dillonvale with his wife, Charity.