Media Contacts: Sharron Hannon University of Georgia, 706/542-1024 [email protected]
John Kennedy Delta Air Lines, 404/715-5546
Carrie Harmon The Carter Center, 404/420-5107
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 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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NOTE: Information on the Delta Prize for Global Understanding is available on the Internet at http://www.uga.edu/news/deltaprize.
Photos are available from the University Communications photo unit or can be accessed electronically via the ftp server.
There are six Delta Prize photos available in this FTP directory:
ftp://ftp.alumni.uga.edu/pub/Photo/news%20releases/deltaprize/
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