Awards

Robert A. Kasey, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Exemplary Mentor Award

Robert A. Kasey, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award

The Robert A. Kasey, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Connecting Generations honors an individual who has distinguished himself or herself with their commitment to family and children's issues and community development.  Founder Bob Kasey's vision was a world in which young and old alike had the opportunities to reach their full potential.  Award winners have demonstrated their commitment to this important dream.  Past recipients of the Award are:

1999 - Russell Peterson
2000 - Faith Wohl
2001 - Marie Dugan
2002 - Cannon Lloyd Casson
2003 - Hal and Mimi Haskell
2005 - Dr. Donald Byrd
2006 - Dale and Clarice Wolf
2007 - Carolyn Smithson Burger
2008 - Senator Thomas Carper

2009 - The Honorable Jane P. Maroney, James Patton, Sr., and Edward F. "Mike" Eaton

2010- Maurice Pritchett

2012- Tom Stevenson

Local sculptor Molly Sanger Carpenter designed the award that is given to the recipients. It is a special bronze piece created in the likeness of Bob Kasey, founder of Connecting Generations, sitting with a child at his side, holding a book. Carpenter received the Gold Medal of Excellence in Art from Tatnall School and has studied with Helen Mason and Charles Parks.

Connecting Generations' Exemplary Awards

This year's awards will honor mentors, school and business mentoring program coordinators who have been exemplary mentoring champions. The follwoing individuals and businesses will be honored at the Third Annual "Mentoring Works" Summit for their outstanding services. See their biographies here.

Exemplary Mentors:

• Denise Allen (North Dover Elementary)
• Joanne Busalacchi (John M. Clayton Elementary)
• Karen Esposito (Central Middle School)
• Anna Mae Rabatin (Long Neck Elementary)
• Jeff Thomas (Marshall Elementary)

Exemplary Mentoring Coordinators:

• Karen Lessey (Millsboro Middle School)
• Nancy Smith (Highlands Elementary)

Exemplary High School Mentoring Programs:

• The Delaware Military Academy
• St. Andrews School

Exemplary Business Partners:

• Bank of America
• The Greater Dover Committee's Youth Committee
• Harrington Raceway
• Young, Conaway, Stargatt and Taylor

In 2010, Exemplary Awards will honored mentors; school and business mentoring program coordinators who were exemplary mentoring champions along with Seasons of Respect Champions. The Following Individuals were honored during the awards ceremony at Swing into Spring 2010 for their Outstanding service. See their Biographies here.

The Recipients of the Exemplary Mentor Award are:

• Marc Ward
• Amanda Kimball
• Dolores Sebastion

The Recipients of the Exemplary School Coordinator Award are:

• Ivan Neal (Indian River School District)
• Nathan Palkovitz (Linden Hill Elementary School)  

The Exemplary Business Coordinator Award will be presented to:

• Allan Colleta (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics is a mentor at Brader Elementary School)

Seasons of Respect Champions

For the first time, we presented awards to School Counselors who have given extraordinary support and assistance to the Seasons of Respect Program. 

This year's honorees were:

• Jennifer Wissman -(W. B. Simpson Elementary School )
• Teryl Price (Maple Lane Elementary School)
   

In 2009 Exemplary Awards honored mentors and school and business mentoring program coordinators who have been exemplary mentoring champions.  The following individuals were honored during the awards ceremony at Jazz in January 2009 for their outstanding service.  See their biographies and photos here.

• Exemplary Mentor Ray Dotts (of Camden)

• Exemplary Mentor Victor Murray (of Selbyville)

• Exemplary Mentor Dirk Goverts (of Bear)

• Exemplary Business Mentoring Program Coordinator Barbara Derby (from BlackRock Investment Management Corporation, Wilmington)

• Exemplary School Mentoring Program Coordinator Jo Anne Rosenfeld (from North Dover Elementary School, Dover)

• Exemplary School Mentoring Program Coordinator Jennifer DeHoff (from Mt. Pleasant Elementary School, Wilmington)

• Exemplary School Mentoring Program Coordinator Barbara Jo German (from Delaware School for the Deaf, Newark)

In 2008 Connecting Generations honored fourteen volunteer mentors from throughout Delaware for their outstanding commitment to children in our public schools. The Following individuals were honored during the awards ceremony at Jazz in January 2008 for their outstanding service. See their Biographies and photos here.

Recipients of the 2008 Exemplary Mentor Awards are: