Orange County Announces 2016 Human Rights Honorees

Six community-minded individuals and a selfless agency will be honored at the 21st annual Orange County Human Rights Commission dinner April 21 at the Fountains in Wallkill.

“Once again, a diverse and impressive group will be recognized by the Human Rights Commission,” said County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus in a prepared statement. “These men and women are a wonderful example of citizens who are committed to making Orange County a better place to live. They play an important role in preserving the rights of all residents and we look forward to honoring them for their many contributions.”

This year’s Human Rights Commission honorees are:

Father Mark Connell: Father Connell is the president of San Miguel Academy in Newburgh. An all-boys middle school which opened in 2006 for underserved students, San Miguel offers a tuition-free, faith based education for boys from fifth to eighth grade.

Sean Donlon and Jennifer Bird-Quigley: Both are teachers at Orange-Ulster BOCES in Goshen and co-founded the school’s Society for Acceptance which fosters greater respect and understanding among all groups regardless of racial, religious, or cultural background.

Jacqueline Hesse: An English Language Arts teacher in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, Hesse led a project-based learning experience for the entire 10th grade class at the Excelsior Academy, which culminated in the Modern Day Slavery Awareness Fair.

John Sheridan: A Florida resident, Sheridan, 18, helps develops relationships among farmworkers at the HRHCare Alamo Health Center and Farmworker Community Center in Goshen. He lends support to the poorest, most hard-working residents in Orange County, distributing food and clothing to them, and providing health referrals.

Daisy Vale: Vale, a Newburgh resident, is a member of Latinos Unidos of the Hudson Valley, Inc. She serves as a positive role-model for the Latino community, volunteering her time with translations for Spanish-speaking families. Vale has also served on a variety of local philanthropic boards.

TEAM Newburgh: Is a community-based collaborative dedicated to improving the quality of life of youth in Newburgh. TEAM Newburgh is dedicated to “street outreach” and community relations. Members strive to improve relationships among diverse groups of residents and encourages everyone to become equally involved in the community.

The Human Rights awards program honors those who have made a significant contribution to advance human rights and eliminate discrimination. Since its inception in 1995, 121 individuals, organizations, or businesses from Orange County have been recognized.