The Southeast Postsecondary Education Alliance (SEPSEA) conference this Spring was action packed and memorable. Our staff was involved with presenting on what is going on in inclusive postsecondary education nationally, facilitating a community conversation with a lively group of attendees on the needs of the field, and handing out resources and swag at our exhibit table.
Additionally, SEPSEA unveiled a new award: the Debra Hart Student Leadership Award. Like everyone in the inclusive postsecondary education community, the members of the SEPSEA Board were devastated to learn of Debra's passing. During multiple board and conference committee meetings, there were many discussions regarding ways to honor her legacy. A student award was mentioned, and everyone loved that idea. SEPSEA leadership then consulted their student advocacy committee, and they developed the criteria for what is now an annual award presented at the SEPSEA conference.
The criteria for the Debra Hart Award is:
- Must be a current student in a postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disability Program within the SEPSEA Region.
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The student actively engages in leadership and advocacy activities within SEPSEA.
SEPSEA Members were asked to nominate students they felt met the criteria. Three students were nominated in the SEPSEA Region. Once the awards committee received the nominations, any identifying information such as program name, state, and person’s name were removed and nominations were sent to all of SEPSEA membership to vote.
This year’s inaugural Debra Hart Award was presented to Kimberly Hernandez from Integrated Community Studies at University of North Carolina Greensboro.
From the nomination letter: "Kimberly is one of those students that the best thing we can do is stay out of her way. Since getting here to UNC Greensboro she has immersed herself in the college community. She has actively participated in countless clubs and organizations on campus including the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement's Leadership Challenge. Between her first and second year, she got a position on her own with the Housing and Residence Life staff working as an alternate for RA positions and supporting Residence Life programming for all UNC Greensboro's campus residents. Recently she has been focusing her efforts and energies on advocating for children with disabilities and families who are English Language Learners. She is such a wonderful student and will be unstoppable in the future."
Congratulations to Kimberly! We know Debra would be proud of the work you are doing. And thank you to SEPSEA for honoring Debra’s legacy in such a meaningful way.