Agency Honors Men and Women for their Achievements

The tenth annual Celebration of Literacy was held at Project Self-Sufficiency to honor agency participants who had impressive academic achievements, as well as those who had completed significant steps towards economic self-sufficiency during the past year.  These accomplishments ranged from achieving a GED at Project Self-Sufficiency to obtaining advanced degrees.  Participants were lauded by Newton Mayor Helen Le Frois and retiring Sussex County Freeholder Suzan Zellman, who noted, "Throughout my tenure as Freeholder, Project Self-Sufficiency's annual Celebration of Literacy has been an important event for me.   Congratulations to Project Self-Sufficiency for celebrating years of creating strong families through their educational programs." 

“The purpose of this event is to honor those Project Self-Sufficiency participants who have successfully worked towards academic achievement or economic self-sufficiency during the past year,” noted Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We are very proud of the goals achieved by these men and women.  These milestones are vital steps on the path to economic self-sufficiency for these participants and for their families.”

The men and women who were acknowledged at the event included college graduates, medical assistants, nursing students, and graduates of business colleges.  Several participants had obtained their GED through Project Self-Sufficiency’s Work Connections GED Program.  Still others were graduates of the sixteen-week Higher Opportunities for Women program, a structured curriculum which provides computer training, job skills training and internships at area businesses.  The event was catered by Café Pierrot.

Three award recipients also gave heartfelt speeches at the event, including Shannon Bentley, who obtained a GED and will be attending Dover Business School this summer; Nicole Lance, a recent graduate from the Health Pathways Program at Sussex County Community College; and Kristi Rowan, who completed the 16-week Higher Opportunities for Women program and landed a new job as a result.

Beverly Gordon, President of Project Self-Sufficiency’s Board of Directors, commented, “Each step these men and women take brings them closer to their personal goal of financial self-sufficiency.  We are proud to have been able to help them to determine their career path, and more importantly, to give them the tools to start the process with a solid education in their chosen field.”