Career Service Award

The Career Service Award acknowledges a “lifetime” of volunteer service. Karen Curtis of Wilmington has served as a master gardener since 2013. Curtis, who was involved in community gardens long before her start as an Extension volunteer, was noted for her well-spring of knowledge and willingness to share with all who ask. Curtis is highly valued for her leadership of the Community Gardens team and cultivated key relationships as the face of the Master Gardener program for the public through community and school garden outreach.  In 2024, her team provided technical assistance and outreach training for 22 school and community gardens, held 108 individual site visits that included schools, non-profits, hospitals, churches and senior centers. This team also participates in the Delaware Urban Farm and Food Coalition.  Long impassioned by the power of community and school gardens to address food insecurity in urban areas, Curtis brings with her an impressive network of former students, professionals, nonprofit organizations and civic associations as well as extensive teaching and training experience. Retired from her position as full-time faculty member of UD’s School of Public Policy and Administration, she supervised many UD students, including the UD undergraduate students who conducted the research and outreach that resulted in the successful application to USDA by the Food Bank of DE for a community supported agriculture program targeted to SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) recipients. Curtis was also awarded Master Gardener of the Year in 2017.

2024 Master Gardener of the Year

A relatively new master gardener from the class of 2021, Pam Nelson of Wilmington, quickly rose to make a difference, in leadership roles as Vice President and then in 2024 president of the county’s Master Gardener program.  As one nominator wrote, “She was everywhere!” after she finished training.

Nelson jumped right in with both feet by updating and organizing public outreach documents, paying needed attention to program accessibility and branding and she has stepped up to serve as co-chair of the Master Gardeners’ popular presence and plant sale at the UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ag Day, which reaches thousands of visitors each April.

Nelson’s peers noted her long list of organized and efficient skills that identifies goals, seeing them to fruition. Her involvement in the training for the class of 2023 drew admiration for helping to select members, working on the open house, orientation and training itself.  Her participation spanned across various committee within the organization. Described as inclusive, accessible and understanding, her qualities are appreciated as she supports new leadership in 2025. 

In addition to these awards, several master gardeners were voted by their peers as “Outstanding Master Gardeners” in 2024. Dynamic Duos recognized were: Jill Beringer and Sue Breakie, Megan Grubbs and Stephen Janick, Sonia Jones and Rick Judd, and Susan Foster and Betsy Rosenberger. Individual honors went to: Steve Bush, Cindy Huffman, Melody Kasprzak, Rob Medicus, JW Wistermayer, Dick Pelly, Sande Taylor, and Sally Cornell. Photos of all honorees can be found on Extension’s Flickr page: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC7Msy

Also, receiving their gold badge for 10 years of service were Steven Bush, Paul Clark, Sally Cornell, Greta Hansen, Christine Pochomis, Barbara Rosen, Kathy Shearer, Ron Simpson, Ed Vacek, and Dorothy Zaleski.

Volunteerism is the driving force in many Delaware Cooperative Extension programs. In 2024, 100 master gardener volunteers in New Castle County reported 7, 118 hours. At a professional volunteer rate established by the Independent Sector, the value of master gardener service to Delaware equates to $238, 381.82. Statewide, with all three counties reporting, Delaware Master Gardeners delivered an impressive $579,639 to the first state in volunteer service.