Citizens Coalition Environmental Awareness / Quality of Life Student Recognition Award
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Cape Henlopen Senior Katelyn Vincent wins Citizens Coalition Quality of Life Award
Citizens Coalition, Inc. a nonprofit community watchdog organization supporting managed growth, sustained development and responsible land use in Coastal Sussex County has awarded Katelyn Vincent its first Environmental Awareness/Quality of Life Award. Vincent received a $500 U.S. savings bond for her work and essay on her work for bicycle safety in the Rehoboth area.
The award, created in early 2008, recognizes a Cape Henlopen student who took an active role in his or her community to improve the environment or the quality of life in Coastal Sussex County. Katelyn spent time as a volunteer at the Route One Bicycle Safety Check Points set up by Sussex Cyclists and DelDOT. According to Coalition Secretary Susie Dominguez, "In the required essay submitted by Katelyn, she showed a genuine concern to help spread safety awareness to foreign student workers cycling in the Route One corridor. She was enthusiastic in her willingness to volunteer her time and efforts to improve their quality of life during their brief time working here."
Katelyn who lives in Dewey Beach is the daughter of Ken and Cindy Vincent. She graduated sixth in her class and will attend High Point College in pursuit of a career in dentistry. She said she applied to win the award because she felt "it is important to take an active role in bettering your community. I also talked to my fellow workers at Valhalla Jewelry in Rehoboth to persuade them to get free light sets and helmets so that they would gain a margin of safety on their daily bike commute."
Coalition President Michael Tyler said "The award was initiated because our board of directors believed that many local young people also share a concern for the environment and quality of life in Sussex County. They are our future and we know that many of them are aware of the pace of development and the impact that runaway development is having on our quality of life." He said that the award program will continue and will be announced at the beginning of the school year this fall.
Click here to view the winning essay by Katelyn Vincent.