Smart Start of New Hanover County recently recognized two local educators for their “exceptional service” to very young children in the community, and bestowed its inaugural Starfish Public Advocacy Award.

The recipients of Smart Start’s 2016 Children’s Champions awards were Mary Ellen Laughnan and Patricia Ann Waddell, according to a news release.

Laughnan has been the early childhood educator for the past 11 years at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington. She developed and currently leads a variety of learning programs for preschoolers at the museum with more than 1,000 participants a year, the release stated.

“Realizing that the cost of admission to the children’s museum could be prohibitive for some families, she assisted in the creation of the Community Membership Program which provides museum memberships to local organizations who work with families in need that can be ‘checked out’ through those organizations,” the release stated. 

Waddell is the principal of Howe Pre-K School. Her Smart Start honor was reported last week in a separate Business Journal story.

New Hanover County district attorney Ben David received the Starfish Public Advocacy Award for his work in the community to discuss the value of investments in the early years of children’s lives, the release stated, adding, “He is an outspoken advocate for young children in the community, and is passionate about creating opportunities for future generations by advocating for the investment in early childhood education.”

Other Smart Start honorees were Lorraine Collura, William Hatch, Briana Morgan, and Kristen Russo.  All are individuals who have provided exceptional service to young children, birth through age 5, and/or their families in New Hanover County, the release stated.
 
Smart Start of New Hanover County is part of Smart Start, North Carolina’s Early Childhood Initiative. Its mission is to lead development of a comprehensive, collaborative approach to serving the needs of all children, birth to 5, in New Hanover County.