SDEA/NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards
The South Dakota Education Association/NEA is seeking nominations for the Human and Civil Rights Award to honor an individual, student, or organization for their work in promoting human and civil rights.
Deadline: November 1, 2010
Past Recipients
Benedictine Multicultural Center/Sister Ramona Fallon, 2009 recipient, is a resource center for the greater Watertown area. The Center provides such services as ESL classes (English as a second language); conversational Spanish courses, including a course on Spanish for teachers; Multicultural Youth Program in the summer; consultancy, translation and interpretation for churches, schools, jails/prisons, and other organizations and agencies; and cultural celebrations. The Center was formed when Sister Ramona invited Anne Orton and her ESL Watertown High School students for dinner and asked how the Benedictine Sisters could be of help to their families. The ESL students shared with her their ideas and hope for a multicultural center that would welcome and help their families feel more welcome. In February 2008, the Benedictine Multicultural Center opened its doors. An advisory board comprised of members from the Watertown School District, Watertown community, and Mother of God Monastery has been a guiding force these past two years.
Jeanne Burckhard, Rapid City, first of two 2008 recipients. Burckhard is committed and dedicated to the well-being of her students. She has transformed North Middle School into an oasis of hope, possibility and success. She is committed to combating racism bullying and poverty. Realizing her students were in need of suitable clothing, she opened a used clothing store called the Eagle Closet. Students are able to obtain Eagle Bucks, which can be redeemed at the store. She discovered many students lacked simple items such as food and personal hygiene products. She asked the community to donate everything from toothpaste to deodorant. She also started the backpack program which now allows 125 students to stop at the lunchroom every Friday afternoon and fill up a backpack with enough food for themselves and their siblings to make it through the weekend. The program has expanded to 10 other schools and now serves more than 800 children in the Rapid City area.
Wendy Giebink, Sioux Falls, second 2008 recipient. Giebink works with homeless students in the Sioux Falls School District. During her 16 years as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison, Giebink has helped thousands of students. Last year she identified and assisted 820 students and their families: registering them for school; providing appropriate school supplies; linking the families to vital community resources, such as food, shelter and health services; and tutoring those most fragile children -- ones trying to escape the horrors of family violence.
Theresa Kashale, Sioux Falls, 2007 recipient.
John McIntyre, Sioux Falls, 2006 recipient of the H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award, a national award presented at the NEA Annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner. McIntyre was recognized for his life-long outreach to both refugees and American Indians in the Sioux Falls community. He is credited with helping create the SuAnne Big Crow Memorial Award, which is given annually to a student whose academic achievements helped other students develop their own sense of dignity. Since retirement, he has played an instrumental role in establishing a coalition of churches to assist with resettling refugees in the Sioux Falls area.
Tami Trussell, Sioux Falls, 2005 recipient founded Lost Boys of Sudan to protect, mentor, aid and help educate more than 150 young men and women from Africa living in Sioux Falls. Tami helps with whatever is needed: obtaining a driver’s license, receiving a cap and gown for high school graduation, helping negotiate the immigration system, getting math and English mentors for high school/GED students and finding funds for emergency medical operations. Tami has also started a scholarship fund for those earning a post secondary education.
Dr. Wayne Kindle, Yankton, 2004 recipient has worked hard for Native American awareness through his efforts in having the annual Native American Day Wacipi. He is also a member of the Yankton County Child Protection Team. He arranges for busi-nesses and individuals in the community to help with the cost of clothing, haircuts and holiday meals for students and their families who are not able to afford these things.
Dr. Susan Randall, Sioux Falls, 2003 recipient was a founding member of the South Dakota Coalition for Children. She is passionate about the health, safety, and education of our young people and has worked tirelessly to shape policies and programs to ensure the well being of all children in South Dakota.
Peg and Ed Seljeskog, Rapid City, 2001 recipients helped Oglala Lakota College build a student center in Rapid City and donated a building for shelter and space for services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Qadir Aware, Sioux Falls, 2000 recipient recognized for his work in establishing the Multi-Cultural Center and in helping immigrants feel comfortable in the community. He also received the 2000 NEA HCR Award for advancing inter-group understanding.
Gloria Miller, Sioux Falls, for her work in providing a safe haven for children, working with homeless people and organizing an ecumenical peace conference.
How to Nominate an Individual from your Community
Qualifications: The nominee must be an individual, student, or organization whose human and civil rights activities have had community-wide impact within South Dakota. If the nominee qualifies for SDEA/NEA membership, he/she must be a member.
Who Makes the Nominations : Any member or local of the South Dakota Education Association/NEA may make a nomination by completing the attached form.
Deadline : Nominations must be sent to the President, South Dakota Education Association/NEA, 411 East Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota 57501 by
November 1.
