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Wednesday, February 24, 1999
WRITER: Sharron Hannon, shannon@uga.edu, 706/542-1024
CONTACTS: Betty Jean Craige, cha@uga.edu, 706/542-3966
Gary Bertsch, cits@uga.edu, 706/542-2985
NEW DELTA PRIZE FOR GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING AWARDED TO JIMMY AND
ROSALYNN CARTER, CARTER CENTER
ATLANTA -- Former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn
Carter have been chosen as the recipients of the inaugural Delta
Prize for Global Understanding, a new award established by an
$890,000 grant from the Delta Air Lines Foundation to the University
of Georgia. The announcement was made at a Feb. 24 press conference
at Delta corporate headquarters in Atlanta.
The Delta Prize was created to recognize groups or individuals
for "globally significant efforts that provide opportunities for
greater understanding among nations and cultures." The Carters
will be honored at an April 27 award ceremony in Atlanta. An afternoon
symposium addressing their personal efforts to further world peace
as well as the work done through The Carter Center at Emory University
will precede the event.
"The creation of the Delta Prize for Global Understanding demonstrates
the University of Georgia’s commitment to advancing international
understanding and cooperation," said UGA President Michael F.
Adams. "We are delighted that the inaugural award will go to Jimmy
and Rosalynn Carter, who truly embody what it means to be world
citizens. And we are grateful to Delta Air Lines for partnering
with us to make this award possible."
The Delta Prize includes a $10,000 cash award, plus an original
work of art designed by Barbara Mann and Gary Noffke, of UGA’s
Lamar Dodd School of Art. The selection of the prize recipients
was determined by a distinguished international board appointed
by Adams and including Maurice Worth, Delta’s chief operating
officer.
"As a global airline, Delta has the privilege of bringing people
together from around the world every day," said Worth. "We sincerely
hope that the Delta Prize will become an international symbol
of partnership and goodwill among nations."
The Carters were represented at the news conference by John Hardman,
executive director of the Carter Center. President Carter issued
the following statement: "Rosalynn and I are honored to accept
this award on behalf of all those at The Carter Center who work
with us to prevent and resolve conflicts, promote freedom and
democracy, and fight disease around the world. Delta has been
an extraordinary partner with us in many of these endeavors, and
we are grateful to them and to the University of Georgia for this
recognition."
Guided by a commitment to human rights and the alleviation of
human suffering, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter founded the non-profit
Carter Center in 1982 in partnership with Emory University. The
Center monitors conflict, and when appropriate, provides resolution
assistance; observes elections in Latin America, Africa and Asia;
and is at the forefront of disease prevention in Africa. The Carters
are active participants in all programs, which are directed by
either resident experts or fellows.
Nominees for the Delta Prize for Global Understanding were solicited
from around the world through the University of Georgia’s Center
for International Trade and Security and the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts. Gary Bertsch and Betty Jean Craige, directors of the
two centers, wrote the original grant proposal and are responsible
for administering the awards program. Selected students were involved
in researching the work of those nominated and preparing information
for the selection board. The nomination process for the Delta
Prize to be presented in 2000 is currently under way.
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