Nominate Adult Learners for the
Susan Green Award
(Posted January, 2003)

Following this news item you will find a nomination form for a very special award, the Susan Green Award. The award is designed to recognize adult learners who exemplify the spirit of literacy advocate Susan Green [1944 - 2002].

Susan's career in literacy included nearly a decade at the National Institute for Literacy, 12 years with the Follow Through early literacy program at the U.S. Department of Education, and several years on the White House staff of First Lady Barbara Bush. She is deeply missed, both personally and professionally, by literacy workers nationwide.

Describing Susan is more of a series of feelings — feelings of comfort, joy, and trust — than a process that can be put strictly into words. Meeting Susan Green was a gift — one that many in literacy were fortunate enough to receive. Susan built connections between people, and beamed her approval when people of like minds came together.

Former NIFL director Andy Hartman said of her "If the field of adult literacy had a Hall of Fame, Susan should be a charter member. Susan was a natural humorist, a healer and consoler, a person with insight, a lover of all things Brazilian, and one of the most gifted writers I have ever known. She was a great friend. Susan did not make you prove you were a friend, she simply adopted you into her legion of friends and then you could stay or leave. Few left."

Former First Lady Barbara Bush said "Susan Green was one of my mentors in literacy. She was there with me in the beginning, when few people were really paying attention to literacy. She was passionate about it, and would have personally taught every single man, woman, and child in America how to read if she could have. She was a dear friend, a warm and loving person. She will be missed by me and all who knew her."

Susan was a passionate and active supporter of VALUE. From the beginning she was always there for students, and this is our way of honoring her on a continuing basis. This award will be given out at every VALUE Leadership Institute. This award will honor someone who embodies attributes descriptive of Susan — seeing the best in other people, reaching out to help other people, and being a leader in adult literacy.

Attached is a nomination form (click here for the form in PDF). Please distribute this widely, and consider nominating an adult learner who has the determination and caring to be the first winner of the Susan Green Award. Nominations are due by April 18, 2003. They should be mailed or faxed to the VALUE office, and must include a letter of support from someone who knows the nominee. Nominees and winners will be notified by June 6, 2003. The award will be presented at VALUE’s 3rd Leadership Institute, in Tampa, FL June 26-28, 2003.

Susan Green Award Nomination Form

Nominees must be adult learners.

I am nominating:
___myself
___someone else
(Please attach nominator’s contact information)

Nominee Information

Name

Address

City/State/Zip

Phone Email

Literacy Program

• Use no more than 1 typewritten page to answer the 3 questions below. To make applications readable, we suggest using a 12 point font. Applications will be scored on a 100 point system.
  
  
• Attach one letter of support from someone who knows the nominee. Include contact information for the person who wrote the letter.

1. Susan Green always saw the best in other people. Please describe a time you/the nominee turned a bad situation into a good one by seeing the best in the people around you. (35 points)

2. Susan Green went out of her way to reach out to the people around her. Describe a time you/the nominee helped someone try something new or take a risk by seeing the good in them. (35 points)

3. Susan Green was a strong supporter of VALUE because of its work in promoting adult learner leadership. Describe your/the nominee’s leadership activities in literacy programs. (20 points)

4. The nominee is:

___ a member of VALUE
___ not a member of VALUE
___ a new member of VALUE (attach application)

(please note that nominees receive 10 points for being an individual member of VALUE)

Please note:

• This application is due by April 18, 2003. It must include one letter of support.
  
  
• Submit the application by mail to VALUE at 2217 Providence Ave, Chester, PA, 19013
  or by fax (610) 876-5414.
  
  
• Nominees will be notified of the results by June 6, 2003.
  
  
• The award will be presented at VALUE’s 3rd Leadership Institute, in Tampa, FL June 26-28, 2003.

Revised 1/15/03