10:23 a.m., Oct. 26, 2009----Sue Snider, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension specialist for food and nutrition, was recently honored with the Joy G. Sparks Perpetual Lighthouse Award, the highest honor a UD Cooperative Extension employee can receive.

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The award was presented by Jan Seitz, associate dean of UD's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and director of UD Cooperative Extension, at the annual Extension Conference held in Dover earlier this month.

Snider was recognized for her numerous collaborative and multi-disciplinary programming initiatives during her 26 years with UD Cooperative Extension.

“Sue excels in so many ways and, in particular, is adept at forming effective partnerships,” says Seitz. “She actively seeks out collaborations with county, state and national agencies, with the Delaware Department of Agriculture and with other colleges and units at UD and at Delaware State University.”

“I also find it fitting that Joy Sparks, for whom this award is named, thought the world of Sue and utilized her expertise for 4-H summer camps and other youth programming,” adds Seitz.

The Joy G. Sparks Perpetual Lighthouse Award is named in honor of the recipient of the 2008 Lighthouse Award. A 35-year Cooperative Extension staffer, Sparks was the state 4-H leader from 1983 until her death in February 2009.

“This award has special meaning to me since it has been named in honor of my good friend and colleague, Joy Sparks,” says Snider. “It is always an honor to be recognized for any contributions you make to an organization. It gives you a sense that you are doing the right things for the right reasons.”

Snider joined UD Cooperative Extension in 1983 and says she hasn't had an uneventful day since. “When I came to UD, I had been teaching and doing research but I found that I became bored easily,” says Snider. “Since embarking on a career in Extension, I have never had a day of boredom. The issues and audiences are constantly changing so I am constantly learning, just as our clients are.”

“At UD Cooperative Extension we are encouraged to work as a team and given a great deal of freedom to address critical issues facing the citizens of Delaware,” adds Snider. “But it is not only Extension that I love but the University of Delaware. Based on comments from fellow colleagues throughout the country, I am convinced that UD is a very progressive institution.”

Snider's current projects include a nutrition program for horse jockeys that she is developing in conjunction with Delaware Park and the Delaware Department of Agriculture; training for Master Food Educators who will serve New Castle County Extension; a grant-funded program to develop a high school food safety curriculum; coordinating the EFNEP program; and directing a nutrition program for Food Stamp recipients.