Diversity Award
Regulations and Criteria
The Award
Each year up to two (one team and one individual) awards may be presented to campus or field-based University of Illinois Extension staff members whose innovative programming reinforces Extension's pluralistic commitment to reaching diverse audiences. The recipient will receive $500 to support further equity and diversity initiatives.1
The winner(s) from this category may also be submitted for the National Award for Diversity recognized at the annual National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges meeting.
Eligibility
- The team nomination should include all staff (full-time and part-time academic professional and civil service) that had a primary role in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating the program.
- Previous recipients of the Diversity Award and Extension administrators are not eligible.
Criteria
- Addressed significant diversity issues in relation to current state and national issues.
- Made innovative efforts to attract and reach diverse and/or targeted audiences.
- Involved underrepresented group in needs identification, program implementation and evaluation.
- Demonstrated collaborative efforts with external partners.
- Created comprehensive program to address diversity issues.
- Utilized creative and unique strategies to market or publicize the program to reach diverse and/or targeted audiences.
- Adjusted teaching materials and program content to meet audience needs.
- Applied creative methods to overcome obstacles.
- Documented evidence that participants attended other Extension programs.
- Made significant impact on participants' quality of life.
- Demonstrated significant results making equal opportunity a reality in all facets of U of I Extension.
- Demonstrated impact on one or more of the following: audiences, funding, programs, initiatives, administration, coalitions, policies, staff, advisory groups, educational materials, or delivery methods (must be included to be considered for national competition).
- Made aggressive efforts above and beyond affirmative action program requirements.
- Acquired substantial results in improving environment where diversity is appreciated.
- Developed plans for expansion, changes, and application to other programs in county, region or state.
Supporting Information
Using criteria described above, please provide reasons for nomination and cite examples of nominee's achievements.
1 A statement describing how funds will be used to further diversity and equity initiatives should be included with the nomination.
Diversity—Team Award 2006
Women in Agriculture
Bringing expanded educational opportunities to Illinois farm women was a coordinated effort by a team of Illinois educators, County Extension Directors and program coordinators. Prior to 2000, educational efforts targeting farm women were groups offering advocacy, education and socialization, and isolated by geographic area. The goal of this program was to coordinate efforts already underway and expand opportunities for an underserved audience.
- Ruth Hambleton, Extension Educator, FBMM, Mt. Vernon Extension Center
- Lisa Ellis, County Extension Director, Edgar County
- Susan Guinnip, County Extension Director, Clark County
- Sharon Kuhns, County Extension Director, Coles County
- Don Frederick, County Extension Director, Jasper-Cumberland Unit
- Ann Emken, County Extension Director, Crawford County
- Ellen Trainor, Extension Program Coordinator, Ag and Natural Resources, Shelby County
- Margaret Larson, County Extension Director, Stephenson County
- Mark Maidak, County Extension Director, JoDaviess-Carroll Unit
- Al Kulczewski, County Extension Director, Henderson-Mercer-Warren Unit
- Marion Shier, Unit Educator, Crops Systems, Livingston County
- Ed Billingsley, County Extension Director, Jackson County
- Lynn Weis, County Extension Director, Bond County
- Kelli Bassett, Unit Educator, Natural Resources Management, Montgomery County
- Jim Endress, Extension Educator, FBMM, Rockford Center
- Kevin Brooks, Extension Educator, FBMM, Effingham Center
- Paul Mariman, Unit Educator, FBMM, Macon County
- Steve Ayers, Unit Educator, FBMM, Champaign County
- Mike Roegge, Unit Educator, Crop Systems, Adams-Brown Unit
- Jennifer Mowen, County Extension Director, Pike County
- Carol Wilcoxen, Unit Educator, 4-H Youth Development and Family Life, Henderson- Mercer-Warren Unit
Diversity-Team Award 2005
Fun, Food and Friends Summer Camp
To address the increasing Hispanic population in Will County, U of I Extension joined with the local Hispanic/Latino Coalition to offer summer educational activities for Hispanic children. In 2004, ninety-four children 8 to 12 years of age attended a five-day, six-hour a day camp. Camp activities included three Camp Clover curricula and two hours of sports and physical activity each day. Evaluations by parents indicated that this was a good activity that the children learned new skills and that sports and physical activities were important. Fun, Food and Friends Camp will be offered again in 2005.
- Dr. German Cutz, Extension Specialist, Spanish Language Programming, Northeast Region
- Gonzalo Escobar, Extension Educator, Youth Development, Countryside Center
- Barbara Farner, Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness, Matteson Center
- Dr. Susan Farner, Teaching Associate
- Viviana Abuchar, Graduate Student
- Nancy Kuhajda, Program Coordinator, Will County
- David McMurtry, Extension Educator, Youth Development, Matteson Center
