Nine afterschool programs and educators from around the state have been named as finalists in three categories for 2011 Afterschool Awards of Excellence.
Winners will be named at the 10th annual Spotlight on Afterschool: Awards of Excellence Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The event recognizes innovative afterschool programs and staff for exemplary work in furthering the delivery of quality child development programs in out-of-school-time settings.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Photo by Daniel Friedman.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will be recognized as the 2011 Afterschool Champion for her efforts to engage and inspire youth participation in the civics process through the website, iCivics. (See related story, “Cyber civics from in irrefutable source,” and listen to our 2009 interview with O’Connor.)
The award will be presented by the 2010 Afterschool Champion, Lattie Coor, Ph.D., president-emeritus, professor and Ernest W. McFarland Chair in Leadership and Public Policy in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.
Finalists are:
• Sarah Sellers, Sierra Verde School Before & After School Care Program, Glendale
• Jeremy King, City of Tempe Kid Zone Enrichment Program, Tempe
• Brenda Levings, 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) Thompson Ranch, El Mirage
Outstanding Afterschool Program:
• Mountain Pointe High School, Extra Curricular Activities Program, Ahwatukee
• Phoenix Elementary School District PEER Program, Phoenix
• City of Yuma Housing Authority, SHINE Program, Yuma
• United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Youth Development Coalition, Tucson
• Jay Molberger, Scottsdale Unified School District Kids Club, Scottsdale
• Barbara Ervin, Deer Valley Unified School District, Phoenix
The Jane Romatzke Leadership Award is named for the woman who served the profession at both the state and national levels from 1990 until her retirement in 2007.
Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges including City of Peoria council member Joan Evans, Kathleen McKeever of the Washington Elementary School District and the 2010 Jane Romatzke Leadership Award winner, and Charlene Sigala of the Marana Unified School District.
Winners will each receive a $500 cash award, a Flip™ Video Camera, certificate of recognition from Gov. Jan Brewer and paid admission to the Arizona Center for Afterschool professional development conference on Saturday, Nov. 19. The theme this year is “The Power of Afterschool: Exploring Each Child’s Passion and Potential.”
Wells Fargo is the title sponsor for this event. The company invested almost $5 million in schools and nonprofits in Arizona in 2010 and Wells Fargo team members provided almost 80,000 volunteer hours to help their neighborhoods and communities succeed.
The luncheon and awards begin at 11 a.m. and are presented by the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence. Single tickets are $75. Table sponsorships are available. azafterschool.org.
