ATLANTA, Georgia -- University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator Kelly Lafferty was recognized recently for her outstanding work in the area of youth development by the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education (IEPYE) and the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP). Lafferty was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award.
Lafferty received a Distinguished Service Award honoring her over seven years in Extension Youth Development Programs and the demonstrated innovative youth programming and leadership she has provided to Illinois 4-H.
A few highlights from Lafferty’s career include the implementation of a youth leadership conference aligning with the late Tom Schingoethe’s support of the 4-H program and youth leadership, Northern Illinois 4-H Camp and Camp Counselor training to provide an enriching educational experience to campers while developing teen camp counselors into leaders, and Keepers of the Land – a 3rd grade field trip partnering with several community entities to provide nature-based experiences.
Kelly has also previously been awarded the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education Specialty Award for Natural Resources/Environmental Education, provided programming at Ignite by 4-H in Washington, D.C., and became a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher.
Lafferty is the 4-H Extension Educator for the University of Illinois Extension serving Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. She holds a bachelor's degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Outdoor Teacher Education as well as in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, specializing in Therapeutic Recreation.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.