DECEMBER 22, 2000
ELLA ROGERS RECEIVES PROSECUTOR’S CIVILIAN AWARD
Ella
Rogers, a community activist and South Trenton resident, was recently
presented with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office second annual Citizen
Community Service Award. Mercer
County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto established the award last year to honor
outstanding community involvement in enhancing the quality of life for Mercer
County residents.
“Ella’s
love for the community, people young and old, is truly evident in the unselfish
giving of herself and her time,” Giaquinto said.
Rogers
has been a community activist for more than 30 years.
A long-time South Trenton resident and single parent of six children, her
compassion and concern for others began during the 1970s when she served as a
member of Henry J. Austin Health Center’s Executive Board and the South
Trenton Action Council. Rogers was
also a member of United Progress Incorporated’s Executive Board and worked for
the Trenton Public School District for seven years; first as a lunch aide at
Parker School, and later as a parent educator for the Follow-Through Program.
After taking refresher courses at Mercer County Community College, Rogers obtained an entry-level position as a floor assistant with the Mercer Association for Retarded Citizens. She worked her way up to floor manager and was with the agency for nine years before she was forced to retire due to a serious back injury.
Despite this setback, Rogers’ concern for others
remained steadfast, and she devoted her time and energy to her family, community
and church. In 1990, she was
elected president of the James Kerney Homes Tenant Association.
In 1993, Rogers volunteered to serve on the advisory council for the
Parker School Weed & Seed Safe Haven. She
was elected president of the South Trenton Mini Station and is currently a
member of the City of Trenton’s Weed & Seed Steering Committee.
Rogers has attended various conferences and
meetings on community development and public safety issues. She was one of three
city representatives at a Community & Economic Development Conference in
Washington DC.
Rogers was a member of El Bethel Baptist Church
for 32 years. She was a Sunday
school and Bible school teacher and a member of the choir. She now belongs to the Calvary Baptist Church, where she is a
Sunday school secretary and teacher, as well as a member of the Voices of
Calvary Choir.
Through the years, Rogers has developed positive
relationships with local, county and state government officials, who have
assisted her organizations in efforts to improve the quality of life for
children and families. She has
garnered sponsorship of community events with donations of food, school
supplies, toys, money and staff resources.
“When we talk about partnering with the
community as a new movement in mind, we have the likes of Ella Rogers in
mind,” Giaquinto said. “She is
a staunch ally and activist for the good of the community.”
Rogers received the award during a ceremony held
on December 15 that also honored detectives and agents from the prosecutor’s
office. Among those honored were Detective
Karen Ortman of the Economic Crime Unit, who was presented with the
Distinguished Service Award for consistently meritorious service, and Kevin
McManimon, who received the first-ever Assistant Prosecutor Achievement
Award for trying the most cases in a calendar year. Detective Brian
Conover of the Trial Unit and Detective
Joseph Angarone of the Fugitive Unit received Achievement Awards; Detective
Thomas Watters was given the Merit Award; and Detective
Adrian Mendez received the Bravery Award.
The Child Abuse/Sexual Assault
Unit was given the prosecutor’s Unit Citation Award.
Prosecutor
Daniel Giaquinto, Ms. Ella Rogers and First Assistant Prosecutor Charles Waldron