- Rozovsky wins prestigious NSF Early Career Award
- UD students meet alumni, experience 'closing bell' at NYSE
- Newark Police seek assistance in identifying suspects in robbery
- Rivlin says bipartisan budget action, stronger budget rules key to reversing debt
- Stink bugs shouldn't pose problem until late summer
- Gao to honor Placido Domingo in Washington performance
- Adopt-A-Highway project keeps Lewes road clean
- WVUD's Radiothon fundraiser runs April 1-10
- W.D. Snodgrass Symposium to honor Pulitzer winner
- New guide helps cancer patients manage symptoms
- UD in the News, March 25, 2011
- For the Record, March 25, 2011
- Public opinion expert discusses world views of U.S. in Global Agenda series
- Congressional delegation, dean laud Center for Community Research and Service program
- Center for Political Communication sets symposium on politics, entertainment
- Students work to raise funds, awareness of domestic violence
- Equestrian team wins regional championship in Western riding
- Markell, Harker stress importance of agriculture to Delaware's economy
- Carol A. Ammon MBA Case Competition winners announced
- Prof presents blood-clotting studies at Gordon Research Conference
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, programs announced
- Stay connected with Sea Grant, CEOE e-newsletter
- A message to UD regarding the tragedy in Japan
- More News >>
- March 31-May 14: REP stages Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor'
- April 2: Newark plans annual 'wine and dine'
- April 5: Expert perspective on U.S. health care
- April 5: Comedian Ace Guillen to visit Scrounge
- April 6, May 4: School of Nursing sponsors research lecture series
- April 6-May 4: Confucius Institute presents Chinese Film Series on Wednesdays
- April 6: IPCC's Pachauri to discuss sustainable development in DENIN Dialogue Series
- April 7: 'WVUDstock' radiothon concert announced
- April 8: English Language Institute presents 'Arts in Translation'
- April 9: Green and Healthy Living Expo planned at The Bob
- April 9: Center for Political Communication to host Onion editor
- April 10: Alumni Easter Egg-stravaganza planned
- April 11: CDS session to focus on visual assistive technologies
- April 12: T.J. Stiles to speak at UDLA annual dinner
- April 15, 16: Annual UD push lawnmower tune-up scheduled
- April 15, 16: Master Players series presents iMusic 4, China Magpie
- April 15, 16: Delaware Symphony, UD chorus to perform Mahler work
- April 18: Former NFL Coach Bill Cowher featured in UD Speaks
- April 21-24: Sesame Street Live brings Elmo and friends to The Bob
- April 30: Save the date for Ag Day 2011 at UD
- April 30: Symposium to consider 'Frontiers at the Chemistry-Biology Interface'
- April 30-May 1: Relay for Life set at Delaware Field House
- May 4: Delaware Membrane Protein Symposium announced
- May 5: Northwestern University's Leon Keer to deliver Kerr lecture
- May 7: Women's volleyball team to host second annual Spring Fling
- Through May 3: SPPA announces speakers for 10th annual lecture series
- Through May 4: Global Agenda sees U.S. through others' eyes; World Bank president to speak
- Through May 4: 'Research on Race, Ethnicity, Culture' topic of series
- Through May 9: Black American Studies announces lecture series
- Through May 11: 'Challenges in Jewish Culture' lecture series announced
- Through May 11: Area Studies research featured in speaker series
- Through June 5: 'Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera' on view in Old College Gallery
- Through July 15: 'Bodyscapes' on view at Mechanical Hall Gallery
- More What's Happening >>
- UD calendar >>
- Middle States evaluation team on campus April 5
- Phipps named HR Liaison of the Quarter
- Senior wins iPad for participating in assessment study
- April 19: Procurement Services schedules information sessions
- UD Bookstore announces spring break hours
- HealthyU Wellness Program encourages employees to 'Step into Spring'
- April 8-29: Faculty roundtable series considers student engagement
- GRE is changing; learn more at April 15 info session
- April 30: UD Evening with Blue Rocks set for employees
- Morris Library to be open 24/7 during final exams
- More Campus FYI >>
2:04 p.m., Feb. 19, 2009----A memorial service to celebrate the life of Joy Sparks will be held at 3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, in Clayton Hall on the University of Delaware's Laird Campus. Ms. Sparks, the state 4-H coordinator for the University's Cooperative Extension Service, died Feb. 17, at her home in Newark.
Members of her family will be available to greet guests beginning at 1 p.m., and a reception will be held after the service. Interment will be private.
A lifelong Delawarean, Ms. Sparks began her involvement in 4-H as a young child, winning many state and national honors, including a National 4-H Achievement Award and numerous blue ribbons at the Delaware State Fair.
A 1973 UD graduate with a degree in home economics, she began her 35-year career in UD's Cooperative Extension Service by first serving as the New Castle County 4-H agent. In 1980, she was promoted to area 4-H agent, and in 1993, she became the state leader for 4-H.
Ms. Sparks was instrumental in building the Delaware 4-H program into a national powerhouse. Her efforts resulted in the hiring of additional staff and the acquisition of significant state and federal funding. Last year, Delaware 4-H reached nearly 70,000 young people, which represents more than 47 percent of the market share of eligible youth in Delaware -- more than twice the percentage of any other state.
"Joy Sparks excelled at representing the very core of University outreach," said Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "Time and time again, she bridged 4-H youth and leaders with University faculty and specialists in agriculture, natural resources, family and consumer sciences, and health and nursing sciences. Joy Sparks made Delaware 4-H a nationwide model."
Jan Seitz, associate dean and director of UD Cooperative Extension, said that Ms. Sparks helped convince her to come to UD in 2003. “Prior to coming to UD, I was assistant dean and director of University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development and knew Joy Sparks as a valued 4-H colleague and a friend,” said Seitz. “Well, Joy was always talking up UD and when the Extension director position became available, she encouraged me to apply. It's been the best move I ever made. As director, I've been fortunate to have strong program leaders throughout UD Extension but before I even got here I knew 4-H was in good hands,” said Seitz. “Joy was an extraordinary leader whose creativity, energy, enthusiasm and work ethic have resulted in DE 4-H being the envy of the nation. While her 'Joy' will be missed more than words can say, we know her influence will live on in all of us due to her extraordinary leadership, enthusiasm and friendship to all.”
“Joy brought wisdom and quiet, powerful leadership to our national 4-H movement,” said Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of the National 4-H Council. “She understood that 4-H is fundamentally a club and community run organization and her servant leadership strengthened all of us.”
Among her many honors are the "Perpetual Lighthouse Award," the highest award that a UD Cooperative Extension employee can receive. In 2002, she received the first Jim Baker Memorial Award for service to Delaware 4-H, and in 2004, she was honored as the first recipient of the University of Delaware's Ratledge Family Award for Delaware Public Service. Recently, she received a "Distinguished Service to Ag" award from the New Castle County Farm Bureau.
Survivors include her husband, Donald L. Sparks, the S. Hallock du Pont Chair in the University's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
Contributions in Ms. Sparks' honor may be made to the Joy G. Sparks Memorial Fund, Delaware 4-H Foundation, 113 Townsend Hall, 531 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19716 or to the Joy G. Sparks Scholarship, Director of Development, University of Delaware, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 531 South College Ave., 113 Townsend Hall, Newark, DE 19716-2170.
To visit an online tribute to Joy Sparks, click here.