Jefferson honors

Article by UDaily staff April 19, 2017

University community celebrates Newark Jefferson Award presentations

Members of the University of Delaware community, including the Parking Services unit and student-athlete Gabby Alaimo, were honored during the city of Newark’s Jefferson Award presentations on Wednesday, April 12.

Parking Services was recognized during the ceremony by Mayor Polly Sierer for outstanding service in the community through the Jefferson Awards LEAD360 challenge.

The University office was cited for its work in the areas of hunger and poverty, having developed a popular winter holidays food drive involving other campus departments and also a Cans for Cites program in which non-perishable food items count as a payment toward parking citations.

“University Parking Services is honored to receive recognition through the Jefferson Awards LEAD360 challenge, as community engagement is an important part of the UD mission,” said Jenni Sparks, Parking Services manager. “We hope that our food collection programs, held in cooperation with the Food Bank of Delaware, have had an impact in battling hunger in our state.”

Also cited through the LEAD360 challenge was a Newark youth, Braeden Mannering, who has developed Brae’s Brown Bags as a means to fight hunger. His mother, Christy Mannering, is a communications specialist in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“Any idea, small or large, can make such a difference in the lives of others,” Sierer said. “LEAD360 is a tremendous opportunity to learn leadership skills, idea building, working towards a common goal with others, empowerment and a sense of accomplishment.”

Also during the ceremony, Sierer presented Mayor’s Jefferson Awards for community service. Among those honored were Alaimo, a UD senior who has been involved in a number of service projects including a Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Delaware and a bone marrow registry, and former UD employee Mark Deshon, who serves as president of BikeNewark in addition to work with Emmaus House, Pike Creek Valley Running Club, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Newark United Methodist Church.

Of Alaimo, Sierer said, “Gabby is inspired by all of the life lessons she has learned through sports and always looks to use her platform as a student-athlete to help better the lives of those in the community.”

Of Deshon, she said, “Mark has worked tirelessly to improve bicycle safety here in Newark. He donates his time and talents to Newark and Delaware organizations that seek to make the community a better place.”