Congratulations to the 2011 Children's Champions!

                   Bernadette "Bernie" Baker                                           Dr. Henry Hawthorne

Smart Start of New Hanover County honored this year's Children's Champions on Wednesday, March 30th at the 10th Annual Breakfast for Children's Champions held at the Warwick Center at UNCW.  Bernadette Baker and Dr. Henry Hawthorne accepted their awards.  Congratulations to our winners and all the nominees for their dedication in working to ensure that all children receive the services they need in their earliest years to be successful in school and in life.

Bernadette Baker

Nominated by Sarah Flaherty, the Staffs of Child Development School, Milestones Learning Cen ter and Coastal Child Care Association

   Bernadette has worked as a licensing consultant in North Carolina's Division of Child Development in New Hanover County for the past 25 years.  Her role requires her to visit every child care center and family child care home in the area to ensure that the state's requirement for operation are being met.  She has developed strong relationships with these child care professionals, and she inspires them to constantly improve their skills.  Ms. Baker also encourages them to continue their education and provide the highest quality of care possible. 
   Prior to her role with the Division of Child Development, she taught school for ten years.  She believes that the positive effect we have on children at an early age is critical.  One of her greatest joys is when she visits centers and sees the children "actively engaged and excited."  
   Having been nominated by three separate sources, Bernadette has been called a "vital link" for the child care industry.  She retired on April 1st of this year, having worked in the early childhood field for 35 years, contributing valuable insight and leadership to a generation of child care professionals in New Hanover County.

Dr. Henry Hawthorne

Nominated by Howard Loving

  After working at Wilmington Health Pediatrics for 38 years, Dr. Henry Hawthorne's commitment to children remains strong.  Dr. Hawthorne states that he "has always worked in a progressive practice that put emphasis on prevention."  His lifetime dedication to pediatric excellence is evident with his unselfish desire to serve all children, regardless of their economic status.  This drives his strong support of Carolina Access, which ensures health care for all children.
   Dr. Hawthorne's pediatric specialty began with his U.S. Army servcie as Chief of Pediatrics, at the 279th Station Hospital in Berlin.  Upon completing his service in the Army he began practicing in Wilmington.
   His nominator says that "Henry is one of the very fortunate people who is doing what he truly loves to do, and the community is a better place because of his unselfish professionalism and sincere desire to help all children."
   Dr. Hawthorne has served on the Board of Directors of Smart Start of New Hanover County, the Child Advocacy Commission as well as the Children's Museum of Wilmington, where he was instrumental in coordinating a group of physicians in an education effort associated with the museum.  He is an advocate for Carolina Access and Juvenile Diabetes, is an elder in his church, and is a frequent volunteer to a special clinic in Leogane, Haiti to assist those who would normally receive no medical attention.

Other 2011 Children's Champions Nominees:

                      Warren Bascome
                      Child Development School
                      Sarah Flaherty
                      Dr. Nick Jernigan
                      Briana Kelly
                      Robin Manning
                      Georgia Mastroieni
                      Dr. Joseph Pino
                      Janet Smithey
                      CeCe Snow
                      Jack Viorel