By Daphne Cox McGregor, '82

Charter Day, which celebrates the signing of Gallaudet's charter by President Abraham Lincoln on April 8, 1864, was observed on March 14, in the Gallaudet University Kellogg Conference Center. The Gallaudet University Alumni Association's (GUAA) Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund and the Office of Alumni Relations sponsored the 29th annual Charter Day Banquet and Awards Program.

Proudly displaying their Charter Day awards are recipients (from left) Helen Schmitt, Alexander "Sandy" Ewan, Marilyn Smith , Eichi Takada, Clifford Moers, and Mark Fisher.

This year, the banquet was moved from April to March in order to observe the tenth anniversary of Deaf President Now and to combine it with the University's plans for DPN-related commemorative events and the spring GUAA Board Meeting. The luncheon program was also a departure from the usual evening affair. Based on the guests feedback, the afternoon program is preferable and will likely continue in the future.

Philip Bravin, '66, served as master of ceremonies. He shared DPN tales with the 200 people who came for the banquet. It was the largest crowd in many years. In addition, two GUAA awards and four LCCF awards were presented.

The GUAA Outstanding Young Alumnus Award was presented to Clifford W. Moers, '86, of Boulder, Colo. He holds three positions--Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Coordinator, Disability Services, University of Colorado at Boulder; Deaf Community Liaison, Marion Downs National Center, Boulder; and Organizational Development and Business Manager, Magnet School for the Deaf, Lakewood.

The GUAA presented the Pauline "Polly" Peikoff "Service to Others" Award to Helen P. Schmitt, '71, of Silver Spring, Md. Helena recently retired as a data management specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. After work hours and on weekends she had been involved in many different local, state, and national deaf organizations as a volunteer in different capacities ranging from committee member, coordinator, chair, logistics assistant, editor, typist, reunion/conference registration worker, deaf-blind interpreter, newsletter/publication editor, and fund-raising committee member.

The LCCF Laurent Clerc Award for outstanding social contributions by a deaf person in the interests of deaf people was presented to Alexander "Sandy" Ewan. His citation explains in part, "For his loyalty to the ideals of Gallaudet university, Sandy is a true `Gallaudetian' in every sense. A testament to his exemplary qualities as a leader is his major role in the establishment of the Bison Booster Club at Gallaudet University in 1990. As the club's executive director, he has steered the club into a presence that is a powerful support for Gallaudet athletics and a catalyst for uniting deaf and hard of hearing people ..."

The LCCF Alice Cogswell Award for valuable services on behalf of deaf people went to Marilyn J. Smith, '74 ans G-'77, of Seattle, Wash. She is currently the executive director of the Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS), a non-profit organization that she founded in 1986 in Seattle. "Marilyn Smith's contributions to the Deaf community, especially to Deaf women, transcends purely professional accomplishments," her citation reads. "Ms. Smith successfully obtained local, state, and federal grants to expand the ADWAS model program. The program has grown from services for Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and sexually-abused children to counseling, advocacy, information-and-referral services, crisis intervention, safe-home placement, legal advocacy, positive deaf parenting program, and community resources and referrals."

The LCCF Edward Miner Gallaudet Award for recognition of national or international leaders for promoting the well-being of deaf people was presented to Eiichi Takada of Japan. His citation reads, in part: "Through his personal and professional life, Eiichi Takada has forever changed history for deaf people in Japan. He has been actively involved in the World Federation of the Deaf for more than 30 years, becoming the first Japanese leader appointed to the WFD Board of directors, and head of the Asia and Pacific Regional Office. Among his life's goals are the improvement of welfare standards, driver's license acquisition, awareness of sign language, sign language research, reform of discriminatory laws, and deaf movement on an international level."

The LCCF Amos Kendall Award for notable excellence in a professional field not related to deafness went to Mark S. Fisher, '81, of Sherman Oaks, Calif.. who works at Universal Cartoon Studios in Hollywood. His citation explains: "In his work, Mr. Fisher consistently exhibits a rare combination of highly developed technical skills, a compelling and entertaining creativity, and the integrity of a role model who will continue to succeed with vigor and resolve."