Congrats to Connor Chelmecki!
SAGE is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2020 David A. Green Memorial Award. For the second year in a row, the award provides a first-time EFA-conference attendee with an Environments for Aging Conference Experience, including travel, lodging, EFA Conference registration and related expenses as well as networking opportunities with SAGE thought leaders.
The selection committee, made up of Vernita Green (David’s wife), Maggie Calkins, David Soens, Andrew Alden, Rob Simonetti, Mitch Elliott, and Addie Abushousheh, all knew and worked with David Green–one of the founding members of SAGE who was instrumental in creating the major principals that guide it today–and were pleased to play a role in honoring his legacy. “I think David would be thrilled to know that the David Green Memorial Award monies are being used to create an EFA experience for someone interested in serving older adults–to get them embedded in the EFA experience and the SAGE experience,” said Andrew.
Congratulations to the 2020 award recipient, Connor Chelmecki, an architectural designer with Worn Jerabek Wiltse Achitects, PC. When asked what inspired his passion in environments for older adults, Connor answered, “My interest in creating environments for older adults first developed when I was faced with my architectural graduate school application. I was tasked with answering a question along the lines of ‘What do you want to focus your studies upon within Architecture throughout your graduate career.’ Up until this point I admit that I was meandering throughout the discourse without an overarching motive, however; this simple application question made me take a step back and reflect upon what could truly drive me throughout my professional career. I ultimately decided upon a focus of ‘Health & Well-Being’.”
He adds, “This choice stemmed from a desire to create environments which engender equity through design among all users. Within this focus, studying environments for older adults captivated me both emotionally and intellectually. In one regard, I have seen first-hand how close family members have been forced to live with a lower quality of life due to their surrounding physical environment in conjunction with deteriorating physical abilities. Second, I noticed there would be an abrupt desire for gerontological specialists within architecture due to shifting demographics which indicate a dramatic increase in number of older adults within our country.”
Congratulations, Connor!
