Durham Day Football Game to Honor Local Heroes
Ceremony honoring Durham workers for community service will showcase ties with local organizations
Spotlighting that partnership is one keystone of the university’s centennial year. The partnership works through students, faculty and staff from every university unit working with Durham leadership and community groups to address critical issues such as access to health care, affordable housing, public education, the environment and the economy.
“We are proud to recognize individuals and organizations who have had a profound impact in our community,” said Duke President Vincent E. Price. “Duke wouldn’t be Duke without Durham, and we are committed to being a thoughtful and engaged partner in our hometown’s success.”
Activities will highlight the partnership throughout the 6 p.m. game between Duke and the University of Connecticut. (Discount tickets for Durham residents are available.)
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams will attend and help in honoring Durham workers for distinguished community service.
Here are the Durham community members who will be recognized on the field Saturday:
DURHAM CITY
Wanda Page
Page has worked for the city of Durham in various roles for the past 36 years, including as city manager under multiple mayors since 2021.
Dawn Hill-Alston
Hill-Alston is a neighborhood preservation manager for the city of Durham. She recently spearheaded the renovations of 12 houses for low-income homeowners, ensuring safe and livable conditions.
Natalie Sprague
Sprague is a clinician for Durham Community Safety Department and works with the HEART program, which was launched in 2022 to reduce the risk of harm when responding to mental health crises.
DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Asia Cunningham
Cunningham is the principal at Durham’s Pearsontown Elementary and the recipient of a 2023 Milken Educator Award, which is presented to educators who have inspired excellence in the classroom. She is the first Durham Public Schools (DPS) educator to receive a Milken, which has been described as the “Oscars of Teaching.”
Jeffery Matthews
Matthews is the Junior ROTC Instructor at Hillside High and in 2024 was named the DPS teacher of the year. He is also a 29-year veteran of the United States Army.
Deona Washington
Washington is a DPS bus driver who safely evacuated a bus filled with 28 students before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Because of Washington’s swift actions, no one was harmed in the fire.
DURHAM COUNTY
Patience Mukelabai – Welcome Baby Program Manager, and Venessa Diaz, Welcome Baby Program Assistant
Mukelabai and Diaz have helped Welcome Baby, founded in 1987, fulfill its stated mission to “strengthen Durham families with young children … by providing accurate child development information and emotional and practical support through programs that help reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences, improve school readiness skills, increase caregivers’ knowledge of children’s changing ages and stages, help to break the social isolation felt by many parents and provide families with resources that help in their children’s daily care.”
“We are proud to recognize individuals and organizations who have had a profound impact in our community. Duke wouldn’t be Duke without Durham, and we are committed to being a thoughtful and engaged partner in our hometown’s success.”
President Vincent Price
Durham Day is just one part of a larger commitment of Duke Athletics to the local community. From softball to football, Duke Athletics has a strong fan base in Durham (and draws recruits from the region), and the teams regularly seek to return that support, often in collaboration with Duke’s Office of Durham and Community Affairs.
In particular, Duke Athletics has built strong connections with Duke Children’s Hospital and the local Boys & Girls Clubs. Students in Duke’s United Black Athletes organization have used their status as elite athletes to build ties with local youths and community organizations.
One highlight of the effort is Duke Athletics’ 919 community service day. Next week on Sept. 19, coaches, staff and students will head to five local community organizations to work in community gardens, help families of cancer patients and engage with local youths.
In addition, several teams have collaborated with NCCU athletes, even in competition. Last year, Duke and NCCU volleyball played a historic first game together to support the Boys & Girls Club, an event they will repeat this year.
RELATED STORIES
February 29, 2024
Duke’s United Black Athletes Foster Community, Empowerment
Read on GoDuke The Magazine
