Monday, April 11, 2011

Three North Carolina individuals and one youth services organization will receive Razor Walker Awards this year from the University of North Carolina Wilmington for their significant positive impact on the lives of children in the state. The 19th annual Razor Walker Awards ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 18, in UNCW's Burney Center.

UNCW's Watson School of Education established the Razor Walker Award in 1993 to recognize dedicated leaders statewide who have demonstrated their commitment to improving the lives of young people. The awards are presented annually to select groups of individuals and organizations that have made contributions towards the welfare of children and youth in the areas of: art/literature, business, educational administration, law, medicine, philanthropy, public service/policy and teaching/research. The prestigious and unique Razor Walker Awards were designed specifically to honor the service of North Carolina citizens.

For more information visit: www.uncw.edu/ed/razorwalker/

2011 Razor Walker Awards recipients:

Linda Rogers Harrill, Educational Administration
During her service as a teacher in an inner city school, Harrill became interested in students with special needs and continued looking for ways to enhance their learning. In 1989 she was asked to begin the Cities in Schools project, a new approach to dropout prevention that was supported by the N.C. Business Committee for Education. Now, as president of Communities in Schools (CIS) of N.C., Inc., a public-private partnership to develop community-based dropout prevention programs, Harrill assists communities in developing local partnerships, designing and establishing programs, grant writing and fundraising, and training of personnel. Her commitment and efforts have helped to expand CIS to more than 450 school sites in more than 40 counties serving more than 139,000 young people.

Open House Emergency Youth Shelter of Coastal Horizons, Inc., Public Service/Policy
The Open House Emergency Youth Shelter provides 24-hour access to temporary emergency shelter for runaway, homeless, street, displaced, abused and neglected youth ages 6-18. Open House is dedicated to addressing basic needs and shelter, but the organization also provides significant social and emotional counseling and education services. The shelter staff facilitates a bi-monthly teen girls' rape awareness and education session, and works with other agencies to provide substance abuse treatment and prevention. Staff members also work with the New Hanover County Gang Task Force to identify and provide intervention to youth at risk for gang activity. In 2009-10, Open House provided 1,592 days of shelter service for 105 youth ages 8-18 and facilitated 120 intakes and 110 discharges.

Walker Taylor III, Philanthropy
Born and raised in Wilmington, Walker Taylor III has been involved in a number of community organizations and endeavors in his hometown and surrounding areas. He has served on the board of directors for the Brigade Boys and Girls Club for 50 years, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who founded the organization in 1896. Taylor supports the mission of the Brigade "to inspire and enable, through character development, all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens." Taylor is also president of the Babies Hospital Foundation, which provides grants for needy children. Taylor continues to work in the Walker Taylor Agency, a fifth-generation family insurance business, and supports his community through his service, leadership and philanthropic giving.

Ronald K. Lingle, Educational Administration
Ronald Lingle became the second president of Coastal Community College in 1988. Through his leadership he established the first two-way, interactive distance learning network in North Carolina, in partnership with UNCW, BellSouth, JVC and Northern Telecom. Most recently, he led the establishment of an Education Lab at Coastal Community College, which is an extension site of the exemplary model program housed on UNCW's main campus. Another example of Lingle's leadership is the establishment of a historic and successful teacher training partnership linking a regional state university, a public community college, a public school system and the U.S. Marine Corps to serve hundreds of aspiring teachers and enrich the availability of quality teachers for the youth of southeastern North Carolina.

Media contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.508.3127 or fischettid@uncw.edu