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New Castle Count Head Start, Inc Executive Director, Jeff Benatti (left), congratulates Louis Hering on receiving the 2011 Ethel M. Cooper Outstanding Service Award.
Wilmington, Del. – New Castle County Head Start, Inc. hosted its annual luncheon at the Chase Center on June 2nd to celebrate the completion of another successful program year and recognize board and staff members for outstanding service.
Since 1995, the prestigious Ethel M. Cooper Outstanding Service Award has been awarded by the Board of Directors to individuals who make outstanding contributions to New Castle County Head Start and the greater community. This award embodies the spirit of Ethel M. Cooper who touched many lives in her lifetime commitment to better the lives of children in our community. This year’s Ethel M. Cooper award was presented to current board member Louis Hering of Landenberg, Pa. Hering is a partner Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell and an advocate for children and families in our community. Hering has held the positions of Board Chairperson and Personnel Committee Chair during his nearly 12 years of service to Head Start. He is also a member of the Partnership and Limited Liability Company Committee of the Corporate Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association, the Committee on LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Business Associations of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, the Steering Committee of the Working Group on Legal Opinions of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association and the TriBar Opinion Committee.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. program coordinator Judy Guttenplan and Executive Director Jeff Benatti congratulate Debbie Reed (center) on receiving the 2011 Lucy H. Borda Award.
Since 2004, the Lucy H. Borda Award has been bestowed on the staff member who best represents the character of deceased staff member Lucy H. Borda. Borda held a strong belief in continued professional growth, regardless of personal challenges, and an ongoing determination to accomplish professional goals. This year’s award was presented to Debbie Reed of the Lambson Center for her 15 years of dedication to New Castle County Head Start, Inc. Reed started her Head Start career as a teacher’s aide in 1996 and is now an experienced classroom teacher who mentors new classroom teachers. During her time at Head Start, Reed has pursued advance certifications and degrees in Early Childhood Education and will receive her bachelor’s degree from Wilmington University in summer 2011. Reed’s classroom is full of children who share in her excitement for learning. She has been an inspiration to Head Start staff with her determined spirit and positive focus while facing personal challenges.
2011 Eunice A. Thomas Employee of the Year Award winners are (from left to right) Brenda Pantoja, Jackie Cepeda-Medrano, Nannette Ziemba, Annette Savage-Hunter, Andrea Reynolds, Allyson Casado, Cathy Ruhle, Kristen Cunningham and Christine Potter. Not pictured: Monica Lara
The Eunice A. Thomas Employee of the Year Award recognizes those whose individual efforts contributed to the program’s success throughout the year. Staff members from each of the nine Head Start centers and the administrative office voted for the person who best demonstrates a professional and positive attitude and willingness to go out of his/her way to help others. This year’s winners are Andrea Reynolds from the Administrative Office, Nannette Ziemba from the Absalom Jones Center, Jacqueline Cepeda-Medrano from the Bear Center, Allyson Casado from the Brandywine Center, Cathy Ruhle from the Claymont Center, Kristen Cunningham from the Lambson Center, Brenda Pantoja from the Manor Park Center, Monica Lara from the Marshallton Center, Annette Savage Hunter from the Newark Center and Christine Potter from the Rose Hill Center.