Alexandria PTAC Special Education Committee Chair Named Outstanding Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
Alexandria PTA Council (PTAC) Special Education Committee Chair Dena Penner has received the 2024 John Duty Collins III Outstanding Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Award from the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities.
"Dena has been the shining example of compassion and advocacy, leading our special education committee with unwavering dedication. Her efforts have not only empowered parents, but have also transformed our entire council, infusing it with an inclusive spirit that reverberates in every endeavor we undertake,” Alexandria PTAC President Meta Viers said. “We are truly grateful for the well-deserved acknowledgment of Dena's contributions.”
The award will be presented at a reception on Wed., June 26, 2024, and includes a $500 donation to an organization, chosen by the recipient, that promotes equal opportunity for persons with disabilities within the City of Alexandria.
This award was established in 1989 in memory of John Duty Collins III, a founder and vice chair of the Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities. During his lifetime, Collins worked tirelessly to improve accessibility in facilities throughout Alexandria, including the Courthouse, City Hall and Chinquapin Park Recreation Center. He also served as co-chair of the task force that established the DOT Paratransit Program.
- 2023-24
- Alexandria PTA Council