Honored in the tradition of one of the most prominent civil rights leaders, five Cayuga County leaders are recipients of the Auburn/Cayuga Branch of the NAACP's 2008 Millennium Awards.
Merritt F. Fletcher, Leslie Walker, Dr. Cathy Leogrande, Carolyn Hirst-Loucks and Steven Crosby will officially receive their awards - bestowed upon those who advocate for racial diversity in their communities - during a Jan. 15 NAACP celebration of the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
For the NAACP, these leaders represent local efforts to tear down the racial boundaries that exist in society:
€ Fletcher is being honored for his work with various local organizations and a reputation to help others in need. A graduate of Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va., Fletcher has had work experiences with glass making, developed extensive knowledge in steel metallurgy, enjoyed employment in management training and bar tending, taught biology and physics at Auburn Correctional Facility, as well as joining the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn as the program aide.
But that alone has not crafted him into a Millennium Award winner. It is the people skills that he developed over the years and his commitment to community service that the NAACP will honor.
He serves as head cook for the SS. Peter and John Episcopal Church's soup kitchen held every Sunday, as well as
manages the teen program, the after school program, the Black Knights program and the food and nutrition program at the Booker T. Washington Center. He also transports students to skate at Reva Rollerdrome, bowl at the Polish Falcons and Cedar House Lanes and swim at Casey Park pool.
* Leslie Walker has demonstrated her commitment to others during her career in the Auburn Enlarged City School District as well as in other venues. For nine years beginning in 1970, Walker served children grades six through 12 in the district's lunch program and during the summer worked at the Cayuga County Action Program's summer feeding program. In 1990, she attended the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services' Childhood Education Program, training to become a teacher's aide for the Auburn school district. She has worked at Herman Avenue Elementary School, West Middle School and is currently working at Genesee Elementary school. There she is involved with the Partnership for Results' Extended School Day program.
In addition to her career, Walker is active at the Roosevelt Memorial Baptist Church where she has been the youth leader for 26 years. She participates in the Gospel Choir, a part of the Women's Ministry for 30 years, director of the Youth Choir for 25 years, and can also play the piano.
Walker has also volunteered at the Children's Home.
* Dr. Cathy Leogrande has spent her lifetime studying and working with diversity.
She spent much of her career delving into diversity education as chairperson of the Education Department and graduate program at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. For many years she has worked with the Auburn Enlarged City School District with diversity, as well as with the Social Justice Task Force and Community Wide Dialogue Circles.
A mother of two adopted Korean children, Leogrande holds a workshop to prepare parents adopting children from around the world.
* Carolyn Hirst-Loucks has spent her entire professional career giving the next generation opportunities for the future. A social studies teacher from 1979 to 2000, Hirst-Loucks has advanced to coordinator of data, curriculum and assessment for the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services and currently holds the position of assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at the Auburn Enlarged City School District.
She is a national trainer for “Study Skills Across the Curriculum,” a two-day integrated nationally validated program. She is also a consultant responsible for creating, developing and delivering trainings on various topics which include improving school improvement efforts, using effective instructional strategies, curriculum mapping and gapping, interdisciplinary projects as well as providing resources for parents.
* Steven Crosby is a life-long Auburn resident who is being honored by the NAACP for his commitment to education and various clubs and organizations.
After graduating Auburn High School in 1985, Crosby has come back to the Auburn Enlarged City School District, first as a fifth grade teacher at Genesee Elementary School from 1991 to 1996 and currently as an Auburn High School counselor. He has coached Lacrosse in Auburn for 16 years and has served as head men's varsity coach for the past 14 years.
He also sits on various committees throughout the area, including the Auburn Hall of Fame Committee, Auburn Lacrosse Boosters, Auburn Teachers Association Executive Committee, BOCES Access Committee, Cayuga Area Counselor's Association and Section 3 Lacrosse Committee. He serves as chairman of the U.S. Lacrosse Central New York High School Committee and is a former board member of Cayuga Counseling.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
For the NAACP, these leaders represent local efforts to tear down the racial boundaries that exist in society:
€ Fletcher is being honored for his work with various local organizations and a reputation to help others in need. A graduate of Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va., Fletcher has had work experiences with glass making, developed extensive knowledge in steel metallurgy, enjoyed employment in management training and bar tending, taught biology and physics at Auburn Correctional Facility, as well as joining the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn as the program aide.
But that alone has not crafted him into a Millennium Award winner. It is the people skills that he developed over the years and his commitment to community service that the NAACP will honor.
He serves as head cook for the SS. Peter and John Episcopal Church's soup kitchen held every Sunday, as well as
manages the teen program, the after school program, the Black Knights program and the food and nutrition program at the Booker T. Washington Center. He also transports students to skate at Reva Rollerdrome, bowl at the Polish Falcons and Cedar House Lanes and swim at Casey Park pool.
* Leslie Walker has demonstrated her commitment to others during her career in the Auburn Enlarged City School District as well as in other venues. For nine years beginning in 1970, Walker served children grades six through 12 in the district's lunch program and during the summer worked at the Cayuga County Action Program's summer feeding program. In 1990, she attended the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services' Childhood Education Program, training to become a teacher's aide for the Auburn school district. She has worked at Herman Avenue Elementary School, West Middle School and is currently working at Genesee Elementary school. There she is involved with the Partnership for Results' Extended School Day program.
In addition to her career, Walker is active at the Roosevelt Memorial Baptist Church where she has been the youth leader for 26 years. She participates in the Gospel Choir, a part of the Women's Ministry for 30 years, director of the Youth Choir for 25 years, and can also play the piano.
Walker has also volunteered at the Children's Home.
* Dr. Cathy Leogrande has spent her lifetime studying and working with diversity.
She spent much of her career delving into diversity education as chairperson of the Education Department and graduate program at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. For many years she has worked with the Auburn Enlarged City School District with diversity, as well as with the Social Justice Task Force and Community Wide Dialogue Circles.
A mother of two adopted Korean children, Leogrande holds a workshop to prepare parents adopting children from around the world.
* Carolyn Hirst-Loucks has spent her entire professional career giving the next generation opportunities for the future. A social studies teacher from 1979 to 2000, Hirst-Loucks has advanced to coordinator of data, curriculum and assessment for the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services and currently holds the position of assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at the Auburn Enlarged City School District.
She is a national trainer for “Study Skills Across the Curriculum,” a two-day integrated nationally validated program. She is also a consultant responsible for creating, developing and delivering trainings on various topics which include improving school improvement efforts, using effective instructional strategies, curriculum mapping and gapping, interdisciplinary projects as well as providing resources for parents.
* Steven Crosby is a life-long Auburn resident who is being honored by the NAACP for his commitment to education and various clubs and organizations.
After graduating Auburn High School in 1985, Crosby has come back to the Auburn Enlarged City School District, first as a fifth grade teacher at Genesee Elementary School from 1991 to 1996 and currently as an Auburn High School counselor. He has coached Lacrosse in Auburn for 16 years and has served as head men's varsity coach for the past 14 years.
He also sits on various committees throughout the area, including the Auburn Hall of Fame Committee, Auburn Lacrosse Boosters, Auburn Teachers Association Executive Committee, BOCES Access Committee, Cayuga Area Counselor's Association and Section 3 Lacrosse Committee. He serves as chairman of the U.S. Lacrosse Central New York High School Committee and is a former board member of Cayuga Counseling.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
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