GOSHEN – Six individuals
and one agency have been selected as Orange County’s human rights
awardees, who will be honored at the county Human Rights Commission dinner
on April 21.
“These men and women are a wonderful example of citizens who are committed to making Orange County a better place to live, said County Executive Steven Neuhaus. “They play an important role in preserving the rights of all residents.”
The honorees include:
Father Mark Connell, president of San Miguel Academy in Newburgh. An all-boys middle school that opened in 2006 for underserved students, it offers a tuition-free, faith based education for boys, grades five to eight.
Sean Donlon and Jennifer Bird-Quigley, both teachers at Orange-Ulster BOCES in Goshen, co-founded the school’s Society for Acceptance, which fosters greater respect and understanding among all groups regardless or racial, religious, or cultural background.
Jacqueline Hesse, an English language arts teacher in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, led a project-based learning experience for the entire 10th grade class at the Excelsior Academy, which culminated in the Modern Day Slavery Awareness Fair.
John Sheridan, an 18-year-old Florida resident, helps develop relationships among farm workers at the HRHCare Alamo Health Center and Farmworker Community Center in Goshen. He lends support to the poorest, most hard-working residents in Orange County, distributing food and clothing to them, and providing health referrals.
Newburgh resident Daisy Vale is a member of Latinos Unidos of the Hudson Valley. She serves as a positive role model for the Latino community, volunteering her time with translations for Spanish-speaking families. She has also served on a number of local philanthropic boards.
TEAM Newburgh is a community-based collaborative dedicated to improving the quality of life of youth in Newburgh. The group is dedicated to “street outreach” and community relations among diverse groups of residents and encourages everyone to become equally involved in the community.
The dinner this year will be held at the Fountains in the Town of Wallkill.
