DSEA Awards

Updated December 2, 2011

Helen D. Wise Award
Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award
The Legislative Friend of Education Award
Community Partner Awards
ESP Awardees
The Human & Civil Rights Awards
Student Writing, Art and Computer Contests
Christopher K. Smith Memorial Scholarship for Future Teachers
Future Teacher Benefit Golf Tournament
Teacher of the Year Award

The Helen D. Wise Award - Deadline Feb. 1, 2012
- given to a citizen of Delaware for outstanding contributions to education over a significant amount of time.

Helen D. Wise, NEA president and DSEA executive director 1985
Wally Young, DSEA president 1986
Claudia Cole, DSEA executive director 1987
Shirley Cupery, state PTA president 1988
Christopher K. Smith, NEA director, DSEA Exec. Board member 1989
Sidney Collison, Department of Public Instruction administrator 1990
William B. Keene, state superintendent of public instruction 1991
Mary Anne Galloway, DSEA president 1992
Joseph FitzPatrick, RE: Learning director 1994
James Spartz, DPI administrator 1995
John Taylor, editorial page editor of The News Journal 1996
Earlene Gillan-Smith, DSEA president 1997
Carla Pyle, association leader from Red Clay 1998
Nicki Alteri, teacher champion and reading specialist from Caesar Rodney 1999
Marge Windolph, teacher leader and advocate from Brandywine 2000
Ronald L. Pierce, DSEA Executive Director 2001
Mary Ann Pry, DSEA President 2002
Geri Williams, NEA director/DSEA Treasurer 2003
Cindy Kramer, DSEA treasurer, officer and advocate in the Lake Forest Education Association 2004
George Bauder, DSEA director of government relations and research 2005
Shirley Redmond, retired president of the Colonial Paras Association 2010
Diane Donohue, DSEA President 2011

The ESP Person of the Year Award - Deadline Feb. 1, 2012
- given to an Educational Support Staff member - secretary, paraprofessional, aide, bus driver, custodian, food service worker - who has contributed to their profession, their local association, the state and/or national association and to their community, thus enhancing the work of all educational support personnel.

Peggy Bertollo, Colonial Transportation Association 1992
Gail Uncapher, Red Clay Paras Association 1993
Julie Hudson, Indian River Educ. Association 1994
Dee Lott, Cape Henlopen Support Staff Association 1995
Shirley Redmond, Colonial Paras Association 1996
Peggy Kirby, Cape Henlopen Support Staff Association 1997
Viva Poore, Lake Forest Education Association 1998
Julie Coleman, Caesar Rodney Education Association 1999
Barbara Morris, Colonial Paras Association 2000
Ann Caldwell, Smyrna Educators Association 2001
Diane Robinson, Caesar Rodney Education Association 2002
Karen Crouse, Lake Forest Education Association 2003
Thomas C. Short, Caesar Rodney Education Association 2005
Carol Starke, Lake Forest Education Association 2006
W. Michael Hoffmann, Colonial Paras Association 2007
Pamela J. Ingram, Colonial Paras Association 2008
Michael Behm, Lake Forest Education Association (custodian) 2009
Patricia Reid, Capital Paras Association 2010
Julie Harrington, Appoquinimink ESPA 2011

Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award - Deadline Feb. 1, 2012

This award was instituted by the Executive Board in 1999 to honor the memory of long-time Association activist Susan Roushey who passed away that spring. It is to be awarded at the discretion of the Executive Board to an Association leader for outstanding advocacy on behalf of all DSEA members.

Barbara Grogg, Colonial E.A 2000
Laura Shepard, Brandywine E.A. 2001
Jeffrey A. Pyle, Christina E.A. 2002
Terry Reuter, Red Clay E.A. 2003
Barbara Shalley-Leonard, Milford E.A. 2007
Michael Kempski, Christina E.A. 2009
Vanessa Cordiero, Appoquinimink E.A. 2011

The Legislative Friend of Education Award - Deadline Feb. 1, 2012
- given at the discretion of the DSEA Exec. Board to a local, state or national elected official who has made major contributions to the advancement of public education.

The Honorable Richard F. Davis, state representative 1990
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., U.S. senator 1991
The Honorable William A. Oberle, Jr., state representative 1992
The Honorable Joseph R. Petrilli, state representative 1995
The Honorable David P. Sokola, state senator 1996
The Honorable Nancy W. Cook, state senator 1997
The Honorable Bruce Reynolds, state representative 1998
The Honorable Nancy W. Cook, state senator 1999
The Honorable Tony DeLuca and Harris McDowell, state senators 2000
The Honorable Joseph DiPinto, state representative 2001
The Honorable F. Gary Simpson, state senator 2002
The Honorable Dori Connor, state senator 2003
The Honorable Jack Markel, state treasurer 2003
The Honoroable Terry Spence, state representative and Speaker of the House 2006
The Honorable Steven H. Amick, state senator 2007
The Honorable Melanie George Marshall, state representative 2007
The Honorable Vincent J. Lofink, state representative 2008
The Honorable Tony DeLuca, state senator 2008
The Honorable John A. Kowalko, Jr., state representative 2010
The Honoroable Theresa Schooley, state representative 2011

Community Partner Award - Deadline Feb. 1, 2012

Businesses and their employees who support public schols and our members are considered for this award.

Kent Riegel, president and general counsel of ICI Americas, Inc. 1996
John M. Burris, president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce 1997
Richard Vague, president and chief executive officer of First USA Bank, 1998
Charles M. Cawley, chairman of MBNA 1999
No award in 2000
Fifer Orchards, Wyoming, DE 2001
Community Partner Awards
Hazel Smith, Harrington 2004
Milford Lions Club 2004
Delaware Cooperative 4-H Program 2004
Lewes Fire Department 2005
Americorps Program at Cape Henlopen State Park 2005
Bill Furman, owner of Pioneer Distributing in Seaford 2005
Brandywine Hundred Fire Company, Chief Tom Willette, Jr. and President Richard T. Perillo 2006
Nicola Pizza, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Nicholas Caggiano, owner 2007
Price Honda-Acura of Dover, Mike Palen, general manager 2007
Courtyard Marriott Downtown Wilmington 2011

The Human and Civil Rights Awards -

We are one, we are many 2012

The public is invited to attend this year's Human and Civil Rights Awards Banquet, "We are one, we are many," May 15, 2012 at the Dover Sheraton. At this banquet we honor Delawareans whose life work has advanced the cause of human and civil rights in Delaware; and we celebrate students whose writing and art work celebrates the diversity of our society.

Last year's recipient of the DSEA Human and Civil Rights Award was Dover activist and humanitarian, Reuben Salters. For a list of all past honorees, click here.

We urge you to nominate a Delawarean - a DSEA member or someone from the community - for outstanding achievements in Human and Civil Rights.

Any DSEA member, organization, or member of the general public is invited to nominate such a person by filling out the information on the nomination form and including a portfolio of the nominee's achievements.

Award guidelines: The presenttion of a plaque will be made by the president of DSEA at the May 15 2012 Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner, We are one, We are many, at the Sheraton Dover Hotel.
Eligibility: Any individual may be nominated for this award. There shall be no time limit placed upon the period within whcih specific accomplishments were made. The criteria for selecting the award winner, however, demands that such contributions be of sufficient quality and importance as to cause the award to be viewed with respect and high esteem.
Portfolio guidelines: A portfolio/notebook should include such items as photographs, letters of recommendation, recognition and testimony; newspaper articles; commendations, etc.

Deadline for receipt of nominations: February 24, 2012
Please deliver completed nomination forms and portfolios to either DSEA office:
136 E. Water St., Dover 19901 (1-866-734-5834), or
4135 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19713 (302-366-8440).

Questions? Please feel free to contact Carol Zeisler at the DSEA Newark office at 302-366-8440, or toll-free at 1-866-734-5834 ext. 325, or via e-mail.

We'll have banquet registration information shortly.

DSEA member awardees:

Littleton Mitchell 1985
George H.P. Smith 1986
Sandra S. White 1987
Aleatha Short 1989
Dorothy O. Littridge 1991
Shirley Stewart 1992
Barbara Houston 1993
Clealyn Wilson 1994
Joel Glazier 1995
Bettye Bellamy 1996
Doris Wilkins 1998
Felmon R. Motley 1999
Retha Whitley Organ 2000
Waynne Paskins 2001
Alisha Broughton 2002
Amy Reed 2003
Larry Shockley 2004
Norman Poole 2005
Ruth J. Shelton 2005
Shirley Brockenborough 2006
Teresa Stevenson 2007
Carol Wright 2009

Community Awardees
- The Honorable Herman Holloway, Sr. 1985
- The Honorable Penrose Hollins 1986
- Louis L. Redding 1988
- Mitchell B. Gordon, Jr. 1989
- Donald Blakey 1990
- Cecil C. Gordon, Jr., M.D. 1991
- Rev. Maurice Moyer 1992
- Keith R. Booker 1993
- Rev. Gloria L. Cherry 1994
- Harrison Short 1995
- Diaz Bonville 1996
- Harry L. Gardner 1997
- Sargeant Harry Downes, Jr. 1999
- Lucreatia Wilson 2001
- Lillian Jones-Chisholm 2002
- Roslyn D. Harris 2003 (also a member!)
- Jeanne D. Nutter, Ph.D. 2004
- Reba Hollingsworth, Ph.D. 2006 (former member)
- Jennifer Crouse 2007
- Reuben Salters 2011
For photos of the event from last year, go to the DSEA Flickr Page.

Christopher K. Smith Memorial Future Teacher Scholarships - $4,000 scholarships, considered each spring for outstanding Delaware public school seniors who are enrolled in a college of education and who plan to pursue a career in education.

These scholarships are administered by the DSEA Scholarship Task Force. They are given in memory of Christopher K. Smith, a social studies teacher in the Colonial School District, advocate for students and members and NEA director for Delaware. Former husband of past DSEA President Earlene Gillan-Smith, he passed away suddenly in 1989.

If you know of a public school student in Delaware who is planning to major in education, please encourage him/her to apply for a DSEA Scholarship. The criteria, procedures, terms and conditions are fully explained here.

And you can print off the application form here.
The postmark deadline is March 12, 2012.

On or about March 26, DSEA will notify the top five finalists, inviting them to participate in an interview, and to complete an essay one evening during the week of April 23.

Past scholarship winners:
Fore! 2011 Benefit tournament raises $8,600 for Future Teacher Scholarship

Mark your calendar for next year's benefit Golf Tournament, Friday, June 22, 2012, at the Maple Dale Country Club, 39 Maple Dale Road in Dover.

This tournament is the only fundraiser for the DSEA Future Teacher Scholarship Fund.

It's a Scramble format. We always have lots of door prizes, as well as dinner and prizes for winning/losing foursomes. Your local might even consider sponsoring a hole, another way we raise money for the Scholarship Fund.

The 2012 golf tournament brochure and registration form will be posted here next spring.

Questions? Contact Tournament Coordinator Tammy Wagner by e-mail or toll-free at 1-866-734-5834.

Teacher of the Year Award

- given by DSEA to the Delaware Teacher of the Year.
Since 1986, this award has consisted of an engraved school bell, a certificate and $250, if a DSEA member, to be used by the winner for the educational benefit of students.