On behalf of the Secretary of States office, Diane Ford has been named the 2017 Outstanding Civic Education Leadership Award Winner. This award highlights and rewards individuals for their extraordinary efforts to promote civic engagement among Kentucky students. Ford was nominated for this award for her time and service spent working with students in the Statesmanship Academy at The Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center.
“This is such an honor for the Ford Center and wonderful recognition of the accomplishments of our incredible students, “ said Diane Ford, “I am proud to be involved in a program whose mission is to encourage our students to engage in their community and solve problems through means of civil discourse, cooperation, and compromise.”
The Wendell H. Ford Statesmanship Academy is a non-partisan program for local area high school students who have an interest in public service and developing their leadership skills. The Academy strives to teach students about the issues facing their community, state, and nation, as well as the three principles by which Senator Wendell Ford conducted his work: civil discourse, cooperation and the willingness to compromise.
Ford was chosen out of hundreds of applicants from across Kentucky’s sixteen regions. “I humbly accept this award on behalf of the many people whose efforts have made this program a success,” Ford stated, “Our current director, Elizabeth Griffith, our former director, Bruce Kunze, our partners at the EDC, Chamber and local school systems, our board, our students, and the entire Ford family have played vital roles. Of course, Wendell remains our inspiration to continue helping students become more informed and prepared citizens who will be ready to make their communities a better place to live.”
As the 2017 statewide winner, Ford will be presented a plaque and $1,000 to go toward resources for the Wendell H. Ford Government Education Center during the KHSAA Men’s Basketball Sweet 16 Tournament in Lexington, KY on Thursday, March 16, 2017.
