Susan Voigt (center), business manager at Yale's Peabody Museum, accepted a special Elm and Ivy Award on April 12 on behalf of her late husband, longtime Yale employee Philip Voigt, who served for a decade as a New Haven alderman. Flanking her are President Richard C. Levin (left) and Mayor John DeStefano.

Thirteen are honored for their work
promoting town-gown cooperation

Thirteen individuals who have served in the New Haven community were honored on April 12 by Yale President Richard C. Levin and New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. as recipients of the 27th annual Yale University Seton Elm and Ivy Awards.

The awards were presented by Levin and DeStefano at a luncheon in the Presidents Room of Woolsey Hall.

The Seton Elm and Ivy Awards were established at Yale in 1979 by Fenmore Seton, Yale Class of 1938, and his wife, Phyllis. The awards evolved from the Elm and Ivy Fund, also created by the Setons, which identifies and honors individuals from New Haven and Yale whose work enhances understanding and cooperation between the two.

Elm Awards are given to adults in the New Haven community, while Ivy Awards are presented to Yale staff, faculty and students.

The recipients of Elm and Ivy Awards, and excerpts from their citations, follow.

Special Elm and Ivy Award

A Special Elm and Ivy Award was given in memoriam to Philip Voigt, a member of the Yale staff for 43 years, who served for a decade as a New Haven alderman and was also a civic activist. Voigt, who was an engineer in the University's Department of Utilities, died of cancer in the fall of 2005. His citation read, in part: "Phil had a strong commitment to his colleagues, as a mentor to others at the power plant and as a longtime leader in Local 35. He was strong and fair and the progress made at Yale in building best practices and better labor relations owes much to his vision and effort."

Elm Awards

Jeffie Frazier, principal of the Wexler-Grant Elementary School in the Dixwell neighborhood. Frazier has welcomed over 200 Yale student tutors at Wexler-Grant each year and her school participates in Yale's "America Reads" program, in which Yale tutors are matched one-on-one with Wexler-Grant students to promote literacy. "[Jeffie] Frazier is a leading exemplar of how to work with parents, students, teachers and community partners to create after-school learning opportunities for students so that the school becomes a venue for learning and community beyond traditional classroom hours."

Martin O'Connor, an associate professor of fire science at the University of New Haven (UNH), director of the UNH President's Public Service Fellowship and former New Haven fire chief. O'Connor modeled the UNH President's Public Service Fellowship program -- which places students in summer non-profit and public organizations and agencies -- on the one established by Levin at Yale. He is also a long-time parishioner at St. Mary's Church. "Marty's dedication to public safety, his devotion to his hometown and his humble servant leadership benefit the entire community."

Anne Worcester, director of Market New Haven and the Pilot Pen Tournament. As director of Market New Haven, Worcester helps promote the city's events and image. In her role as director of the Pilot Pen, she was instrumental in helping bring to New Haven the first combined men's and women's tennis tournament leading to the U.S. Open. "'It All Happens Here!' These are the words that many inside and outside of the city have come to associate with New Haven, thanks to Anne Worcester, who works tirelessly and enthusiastically to enhance the positive image of New Haven and to improve the prosperity of the city, its residents and businesses."

Rose Coggins, principal of Hill Regional Career High School. Coggins developed a partnership between Yale's medical and nursing schools and Career High School that provides more than 200 high school students with the opportunity to spend over three years in Yale classes, laboratories and internships during the school term. In addition, she has partnered with Yale to offer tuition-free professional development classes for her teachers. "At Hill Regional Career High School ... Rose provides New Haven young people with the tools to access the city's growing biosciences and technology-based economy."

Ivy Faculty and Staff Awards

Evelyn Streater-Frizzle, associate director of customer service in the Department of Facilities, civic activist and president of the New Haven chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women. "Evelyn's service to New Haven runs the charitable gamut, from Follow Through Girls, for which she mentors New Haven youth, to the Christian Community Action Task Force, for which Evelyn conducts annual fundraisers to support transitional housing in and around New Haven. Furthermore, Evelyn works actively for the New Haven chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, promoting the needs and interests of women business owners and professionals."

Robert Wyman, professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology and leader in science outreach programs with the New Haven Public Schools. He has served as seminar leader for the Yale-New Haven Teacher's Institute, an educational partnership between Yale University and the New Haven Public Schools designed to strengthen teaching and learning in local schools, and has been a lecturer for Yale University's Teacher Preparation Program. In addition, he has encouraged other Yale faculty to be engaged in K-12 education in New Haven. "In no small measure because of his catalytic leadership, more science faculty at Yale are involved with education outreach than ever before."

Jonathan Gillette, director of the Teacher Preparation Program at Yale. Gillette has strengthened the program, which recently earned high marks from the State of Connecticut, and will this year begin a new program -- a master's degree in urban education -- that will train and place teachers in the New Haven Public Schools. "Students in Teacher Prep and beyond count on him as a trusted mentor and adviser who challenges them to the highest levels of excellence."

Peggy Delinois Hamilton, the Selma M. Levine Clinical Visiting Lecturer in Law, member of the New Haven Board of Education and advocate for a community bank in New Haven. Hamilton expanded the Community and Economic Development Clinic at the Law School, which allows students to represent 10-15 local entrepreneurs who wish to grow their for-profit or non-profit enterprises in New Haven. In addition, she helped the city develop a first-of-its-kind independent foundation and community bank that will provide New Haven with millions of dollars in low-interest rate loans for low-income borrowers. "Her academic talents and dedication to public service have proved to be terrific assets to both Yale University and the City of New Haven and are yielding strong dividends on campus and in the community."

Ivy Undergraduate Awards

Peter Fishman '06 of Davenport College, coordinator of the Dwight Hall Public School Intern Program. As the recipient of a Public Service Fellowship in 2003, he spent the summer serving as a supervisor for the New Haven Ecology Project's Summer Youth Crew, for which he led 11 teenagers and mentored students in such areas as cooperation and personal interaction. "Peter Fishman embodies the dogged determination of a bulldog -- unrelenting, fastidious and dedicated. Working for the Dwight Hall Public School Intern Program, Peter often devotes more than 15 hours of service weekly to organizing the program and working with the public schools. Simply completing the job is not enough to satisfy Peter; he inspires and expects the highest quality service from himself and his fellow interns."

Laura Huizar '06 of Trumbull College, Dwight Hall student executive co-coordinator. At Dwight Hall, Huizar oversaw more than 3,000 volunteers and over 75 undergraduate non-profit organizations, allocating resources to best serve the New Haven community. Huizar was a President's Public Service Fellow in the summer of 2005, during which she reported on job training, migrant farm worker conditions in Connecticut and health care access for JUNTA for Progressive Action. She has also been involved in Bridges, a Yale undergraduate organization that provides free English tutoring to New Haven immigrants. "Laura Huizar loves New Haven. The Florida native has found her home away from home in the Elm City. Laura's affinity for New Haven is reflected in her sterling record of community service."

Daniel Weeks '06 of Berkeley College, the founder of Students for Clean Elections. Working with Mayor DeStefano and Yale students to reform campaign finance in Connecticut elections, Weeks helped make Connecticut the first state in the nation to establish a voluntary system of publicly funded elections. As a 2005 President's Public Service Fellow, he worked for Empower New Haven, co-authoring grant applications for New Haven worth nearly a half-million dollars to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and other national organizations. "Dan's special talents and restless spirit have truly made their mark on New Haven and in Connecticut as a whole."

Ivy Graduate Award

Malcolm Darrell, School of Drama '07. Awarded a Public Service Fellowship in the summer of 2005, Darrell worked as a project manager for the City of New Haven's Office of Cultural Affairs, where he helped coordinate the city's popular summer jazz concert series. He also served as a marketing manager for the Yale Repertory Theatre and helped the theater reach out to new audience during the run of the play "dance of the holy ghosts." "Malcolm's talents in marketing and management have truly helped New Haven solidify its reputation as Connecticut's cultural capital."

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

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As HHMI Professor, Strobel will take students 'bioprospecting'

Scientists find gene linked to drug dependence

Program puts FOCUS on communication

Joan Steitz, Thomas Pollard win prestigious international prize spirit

Renowned poet W.S. Merwin to read from and discuss his work

A heroine's determination prevails in 'All's Well That Ends Well'

Event will examine how to preserve access to knowledge

Performances and workshops will explore 'theatrical bodies' . . .

Symposium on human rights will focus on memorializing atrocities

Talk, exhibit explore lessons learned from past flu outbreaks

SOM conference will examine globalization and technology

India's road to independence is topic of film, panel discussion

Dwight Hall fundraiser to include inaugural social justice award

Symposium to look at 'Success with Learning Differences'

Impact of bird-borne infections on wildlife conservation is topic of forum

Panel discussion will focus on 'Class, Race and Inequality in South Africa'

Trainer describes biker Lance Armstrong's winning ways

Tsunami Awareness Week raised funds and refocused humanitarian efforts

Campus Notes

Wangari Maathai lecture cancelled

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