Unique program highlights creativity of Delaware state employees

 

Dover, Del. (April 15, 2024) – The Delaware Division of the Arts held the 13^th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition from February 27 to March 22, 2024 at the Art Center/Gallery at Delaware State University, Dover. This year, 180 State of Delaware employees and their immediate family members submitted artwork and will be competing for awards and cash prizes. Prizes to be awarded include:

• A Best of Show Award of $400
• Adult, Amateur, Intermediate and Professional: First Place Awards of $350; Second Place Awards of $250; and Third Place Awards of $150
• Youth / Teen: First Place Awards of $150; Second Place Awards of $100; and Third Place Awards of $50
• An Art Education Award of $200 for reimbursement for arts instruction and materials
• People’s Choice Award, Facebook and in-person ballot

Additional awards including Honorable Mentions will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Awards are limited to one cash award per artist per classification.

Sponsored by the National Arts Program in support and cooperation with the State of Delaware and the Delaware Division of the Arts, the exhibit is judged by professional artists and visual art professionals. The Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition is designed to give artists at all skill levels a unique opportunity to exhibit their creative work and to compete for cash prizes.

Participants needed to be a current employee, or immediate family member of a current employee of the State of Delaware. All entries must be the original work of the applicant and completed within the last three years.

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The 2024 Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition winners are:

 

Best of Show: Hyo Lee from Dover

Art Education Award: Nathanael Taylor from Milton

People’s Choice Award (Online): Sarah Silves from Dover, DE

People’s Choice Award (In-person): Naomi Smith from Dover, DE

Special Awards

Special Award, Monotone: Casey Williams from Brighton, MA

Special Award, Craft: Maggie Wieber from Denton, MD

Special Award, Nature: Meg Grotti from Hockessin

Special Award, Portrait: Jasmine Davis from Dover

Special Award, Abstract: Raymond Lewis from Wilmington

Professional Category:

First Place: Brianna Shetzler from Clayton

Second Place: Sharif Sadiq from Seaford

Third Place: Joseph Repetti from Newark

Honorable Mention: Alex Mercado from Clayton

Honorable Mention: Yaprak Soysal from Wilmington

Honorable Mention: Rick Burrow from Camden-Wyoming

Intermediate Category:

First Place: Christopher Vasil from Ocean View

Second Place: Elizabeth Chen from Middletown

Third Place: Ashley Holmes from Clayton

Honorable Mention: Dan Friedrichsen

Honorable Mention: Ricki Truitt from Bridgeville

Honorable Mention: Jenesis Prioleau from Smyrna

Amateur Category:

First Place: Cyndi Holbrook from North East, MD

Second Place: Jeff Dorsch from Milton

Third Place: Kelly Nichol from Wilmington

Honorable Mention: Allison Sharp from Wyoming

Honorable Mention: Marcella Little from Bear

Honorable Mention: Emily Keulmann from Newark

Teen Category:

First Place: Kamora Jones from Wilmington

Second Place: Jolene Pham from Townsend

Third Place: EJ Egloff from Middletown

Honorable Mention: Alayna Reese from Townsend

Honorable Mention: Cora Brinson from Middletown

Honorable Mention: Alliyah Gallimore-Prado from Wilmington

Honorable Mention: Bella Burgett from Magnolia

Youth Category:

First Place: Izzabella West from Camden

Second Place: Genevieve Dinsmore from Wilmington

Third Place: Sabrina Rambo

Honorable Mention: Christopher Saxton, Jr from Camden

Honorable Mention: Eric Trzcinski from Middletown

Honorable Mention: Natalie Sturgis from Clayton

Honorable Mention: Audrey Sutton from Wilmington

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Contact: Andrew Truscott, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications

302-577-8280, andrew.truscott@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

DOVER, Del. — Building on two consecutive years of record hiring, the Delaware Department of Human Resources is hosting the 3rd Annual State Agency Career Fair on March 27, 2024 at the Smyrna Readiness Center.

High school students, soon-to-be-college graduates and skilled workers can apply on-site for hundreds of state government job opportunities in Executive Branch agencies, the Delaware National Guard, the Judicial Branch and in school districts statewide.

“This job fair is the place to be for Delawareans seeking a job,” said Claire DeMatteis, Secretary of the Department of Human Resources. “Over the past two years, we have helped hundreds of high school students and skilled workers find jobs in state government. This year, we are expanding our outreach to college seniors who are looking for good paying jobs with great benefits and flexible work schedules.”

Delaware Governor John Carney said, “There is no better opportunity for folks looking for meaningful employment than this state career fair. The State of Delaware is hiring, and we want you to join our team.”

Key Event Details:

• Date: March 27, 2024
• Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
  • High School Session #1: 9:00am – 10:00am
  • High School Session #2: 10:00am – 11:00am
  • College Power Hour: 11:00am – 12:00pm
  • General Public: 12:00pm – 3:00pm
• Venue: The Delaware National Guard, Smyrna Readiness Center, 103 Artisan Drive, Smyrna, DE 19977

The career fair will feature networking opportunities and the chance to gain insights into the diverse career paths available within state agencies. For those interested in participating or seeking additional information, please visit statejobs.delaware.gov.

 

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DOVER, Del. — The Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy, in collaboration with the University of Delaware, announces the opening of the annual Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition. The showcase, featuring portraits by Delaware Artist, Theresa Walton, pays homage to outstanding Delaware women and marks the start of Women’s History Month in March.

This unique collaboration with the University of Delaware reflects a commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive space to honor the legacy of remarkable Delaware women. The exhibition, open from March 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, will display 169 watercolor portraits, capturing the essence of these influential women and their collective impact on the state.

“The University of Delaware is proud to be working with the state to host this exhibition and pay homage to these pioneers, all of whom have been key figures in the formation and positive transformation of the First State,” said Dennis Assanis, President of the University of Delaware. “These women serve as exemplars and role models for our students, who after graduation will make their own mark on the world. While the opening of this exhibition commemorates Women’s History Month, the University is always committed to advancing equity, promoting inclusion, and recognizing the achievements of women.”

“The Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating the diverse accomplishments of Delaware’s women. This collaboration with the University of Delaware provides a platform to honor the trailblazers who have shaped our state’s history and continue to inspire positive change in our communities,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy.

Established in 1981, the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of outstanding Delaware women from across various fields. From artists to athletes to community advocates and scientists, members represent diverse backgrounds. Nominees, irrespective of age, must have made a significant and lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans, and resided in the state for at least 10 years during their lifetime.

The 2023 honorees, which include two University of Delaware professors, showcase the breadth of accomplishment within the state. They are as follows:

• Patricia Dailey Lewis: Current CEO of the Beau Biden Foundation and former Deputy Attorney General with the Delaware Department of Justice.
• Bonnie Meszaros: Assistant professor of economics at the University of Delaware, an advocate for economics and personal finance education, and associate director of the UD Center for Economics Education and Entrepreneurship.
• Paulette Sullivan Moore: Delaware’s first African American female attorney, dedicated to addressing the needs of domestic violence victims. She also served as the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds from 1990 – 1994.
• Leslie Newman: Former CEO of Children and Families First for over a decade, and chairperson for the Delaware Community Foundation’s COVID-19 grant award committee, providing vital assistance to Delaware nonprofits during the pandemic.
• Lynn Snyder-Mackler: Celebrated physical therapist and sports medicine researcher, instrumental in making the University of Delaware’s Physical Therapy Graduate Program the top-ranked program in the country.

Event Details:

Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition
Date: March 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025
Time: Monday-Friday 8:30am- 5pm
Location: Alfred Lerner Hall Atrium, 20 Orchard Rd, Newark, DE 19716

Note: The space may occasionally close for booked events. Plan your visit by contacting Lerner College of Business & Economics at 302-831-8163.

The public is invited to attend and explore this celebration of Delaware’s trailblazing women. The exhibition extends beyond the physical space, with an online showcase on the Office of Women’s and Advancement’s website, featuring all inductees and their accomplishments.

Applications for the 2024 Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame are open through March 28, 2024, and can be found at de.gov/women.

Sponsors: The Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy and the University of Delaware collaborated to organize the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition. The exhibition receives support from the Delaware Department of Human Resources and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee. Additional support is offered, in part, through a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Explore Delaware arts events at www.DelawareScene.com.

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DOVER, Del. — Implementing a strategic state government workforce recruitment campaign highlighting higher salaries, employee benefits and signing bonuses, the Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) set new records the past two years hiring and promoting state employees.

In calendar year 2023, 4,516 state employees were hired and promoted, which is a 22 percent increase since the start of the Carney Administration in 2017. State government workforce hiring, and promotions also set a record in 2022, with nearly 4,000 state employees being hired, re-hired, and promoted.

“In this very tight labor market coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, DHR implemented an aggressive marketing campaign to promote state job openings, posting a record 4,500 job openings in 2023 on the state employment website, strategically advertising these jobs on social media sites, and significantly increasing our presence at job fairs in Delaware and surrounding states,” said Claire DeMatteis, DHR Secretary. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Carney and the overwhelming support of the General Assembly, their priority of higher, more competitive state salaries and incentive bonuses have helped the state set hiring and promotion records the past two years.”

Due to the increased marketing efforts and competitive state salaries, applications for state jobs have increased by an average of 20 percent per month this past year, with monthly applications increasing some months by 35-37 percent.

In 2022, DHR launched a robust multi-year media campaign to recruit for high-demand positions and emphasizing the state’s generous benefits, including health benefits, retirement plans and flexible work schedules. The jobs campaign highlighted increased salaries, proposed by Governor Carney, and passed by the General Assembly, for state merit employees not covered under a collective bargaining agreement. State employees received an average salary increase of 12 percent in FY 2023 and 2024, with those at the lower end of the pay scale receiving up to an 18 percent increase. Since FY 2017, state employee salaries have increased by an average of 31 percent.

DHR also reviewed and updated job descriptions for over 3,000 positions, eliminated the bachelor’s degree requirement for hundreds of state positions, conducted pay equity reviews for 1,700 state positions, assessed 235 classification requests, and established 132 new state positions.

DHR’s recruitment initiatives reflect the department’s commitment to its centralization, modernization, and recruitment efforts. Interested applicants can explore career opportunities with the State of Delaware at https://statejobs.delaware.gov.

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Championing Causes, Transforming Lives: Delaware Nonprofits Encouraged to Apply to the SECC

DOVER, Del.— The State Employees’ Charitable Campaign (SECC) Steering Committee invites Delaware nonprofit organizations to submit an application to participate in the 2024 campaign. Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2024.

In partnership with the United Way of Delaware, the SECC is the primary charitable platform for state employees and retirees to give back to their communities by supporting Delaware nonprofit organizations that provide services to families, children, and adults. In the 2023 SECC, state employees provided much-needed funding to 156 charitable organizations. The 2024 SECC runs September 1 through October 31, 2024.

“Year after year, state employees have demonstrated they are generous with their time and contributions to the SECC,” said Governor John Carney. “Over the past seven years, I have been committed to building on the success of the State Employees’ Charitable Campaign. We are determined to make the 2024 campaign the most impactful one yet.”

Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, Claire DeMatteis, who serves as Chair of the SECC, said, “I encourage nonprofit organizations in our state to continue to participate in this annual charitable campaign so we can reach even more Delawareans who need our support.”

Interested charities must submit their application by 11:59 p.m. on, Sunday, March 31, 2024. Access the application here. To learn if your organization is eligible to participate, please review the information on the Resources for Charities page of the SECC website.

For more information, contact Anna Davis, Statewide SECC Coordinator, by email at SECC@delaware.gov or call (302) 735-6300.

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