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3rd Annual Client Graduation & Recognition Ceremony
Hunterdon Drug Awareness Program (HDAP) conducted its 3rd Annual Client Graduation & Recognition Ceremony, April 22nd, 2008 at the Hunterdon County Administration Complex on Rt. 12.
This program was made to honor the graduates of HDAP's Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Treatment Programs. This is certainly not
an easy accomplishment as clients must remain sober after successfully completing treatment. These clients also made positive life changes in many other areas of their lives such as
education, work, social relations, family relations, and a dramatic reduction of recidivism in the legal system. NOTE: Current and former HDAP clients are not pictured due to reasons of confidentiality.
Each graduate was awarded a graduation certificate, along with a small token of HDAP's appreciation. Each graduate was asked to speak, and all spoke eloquently of their struggles with
addiction, and their own personal road back in their recovery process. These speeches were moving and funny; bringing both tears and laughter to the crowd of over 80 people in attendance. Their inspired speeches
brought home what our job at HDAP is all about, helping productive members of the greater Hunterdon County community get back on their feet and take back their lives. In addition to the client commencement,
HDAP honored David G. Evans with the Frank P. Masterson Jr. Award. This award was given to Mr. Evans for his substantial work in the substance abuse field.
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Frank P. Masterson, Jr. Award
Another function of this 3rd Annual Client Graduation & Recognition Ceremony was to highlight personal achievement by a community member who helped our clients out in their
struggle to overcome their addiction and resume their lives. This award is aimed at highlighting people helping the addiction community, who show
great leadership, and more importantly a strong sense of caring and commitment to the clients HDAP serves. This award is entitled the
Frank P. Masterson, Jr. Recognition of Achievement Award. From 1970 - 1977 twelve young people’s lives were lost in Lambertville due to drug related deaths. Frank helped to found
Hunterdon Drug Awareness Program in 1977 after a small group of concerned community leaders felt there was a need for a substance abuse program in the Lambertville area. Frank has served on
the HDAP's Board of Directors from 1977 until today as Vice President of the Board. A large program based out of Atlantic City called Narco (name now changed
to Institute for Human Development) sponsored Frank and the other community leader's idea and gave the program a small grant to help in treating Hunterdon County Residents. Our first office opened in Lambertville
in 1977 and as our services expanded, so did area support and interest. In 1981 we were incorporated as an independent treatment and prevention agency serving Hunterdon County and surrounding
areas under a local Board of Directors. In 1984, having outgrown our original office space, we moved to our current location. Today Frank is fully retired, 93 years of age and still active on many
boards and community functions such as the HDAP Board of Directors and the Human Services Advisory Council.
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David G. Evans Esq. Recognition Ceremony
David G. Evans Esq. was the 2008 recepient of the Frank P. Masterson Jr. award. David G. Evans Esq. has been affiliated with HDAP since 1997. He was a founder of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, the program for addicted attorneys,
and he chaired the New Jersey Sate Bar Association Committee on Alcoholism. He also served as Chairman of the Alcoholism and Drug Law Reform Committee
of the American Bar Association (ABA). In 1985, he was invited to the White House by President and Mrs. Reagan in recognition of his work on youth
alcohol and drug problems for the ABA. Mr. Evans was the 2003 recipient of the McGovern Award. The award recognizes innovations in drug abuse
prevention that will reduce illegal drug use throughout the nation. Recipients of the award are selected on the basis of their impact on drug
abuse policy by developing ideas that are intellectually sound and that have the promise of substantially reducing substance abuse at the federal,
state and local levels in both the public and private sectors. Mr. Evans received the award because of his work nationally as an advocate for
student drug testing and for creating the national model. He serves as Executive Director of the Drug Free Schools Coalition that advocates
nationally for drug free school programs and practices in Pittstown concentrating on employment law, personal injury, drug testing and DUI defense.
It is because of this work that thousands of people have been positively impacted by the work HDAP does in its role as prevention, intervention,
and treatment provider in Hunterdon County. Mr. Evans was given both the Frank P. Masterson Jr. Award, and was recognized by the Honorable
Senator Lance, who had a NJ State Senate proclamation honoring Mr. Evan's accomplishments. Michael Griffin, the winner of the 2007 Frank P. Masterson Jr. Award presented
Mr. Evans with the Senate proclomation.
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Graduates and Guest of Honor Speeches
This years 3rd Annual Client Graduation & Recognition Ceremony saw a growth in the numbers that we had last year at our ceremony. Over 80 graduates, family
members, friends, graduate alumni, probation officials, sponsors, HDAP staff and board members were in attendance this year (up from 60 in 2007 and 20 in 2006). This year saw
a significant change in the impact of this graduation, in that all graduates were asked to speak at the event, and did so with moving speeches about
the impact addiction had on their lives and the significant changes they have made. We also asked Rob H., a 2007 HDAP graduate, to come back and speak to the
crowd. Rob talked about his story, the depths his addiction took him, and the significant gains he's made in repairing his relationships with his family, friends, and
with himself. His powerful speech showcased the impact addiction can have, but also the power of recovery! HDAP staff and board would like to extend our
sincere thanks to the graduates and their support network. Recovery from substance abuse/dependence is not an easy task for anybody. However, it is
the support of significant people in one's life that helps the recovery process become more successful. Personal growth and the restoration of significant
relationships are two keys to addiction recovery being successful and to its longevity ... and they were key themes in this years graduation ceremony.
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Staff Speeches
A great spread was again provided by Buddy's Grab 'N Go on Main Street in Flemington, and a graduation cake was presented to the graduates. Our Office Manager Cindi McCormack provided home made buffalo wings that were gone
by the end of the ceremony. Clinical Director Jass Pelland and Clinician Frank Greenagel both spoke at the ceremony. Their themes of giving back and the
importance of relationships are central concepts in addictions recovery. Clinician Mark Hodkinson spoke of individual stories of struggle and success when each graduate was handed their certificate.
Mark hit on key areas where each graduate grew over the course of being in treatment at HDAP. HDAP gave back that night by giving most leftovers to Anderson House, a halfway home
for women in Hunterdon County. We are grateful for all our staff and grateful to all those who put in the work needed to make this year's ceremony a great event. Below are members
of the graduation committee and other HDAP staff members who made significant contributions that helped make this ceremony such a successful event. I would like to thank all of the HDAP staff for their
help and their role in making this event such a resounding success. It is due to the dedication and professionalism of the HDAP that make us
one of the best (if not the best in my humble opinion) treatment providers not only in Hunterdon County but throughout the State of New Jersey. - Glenn Duncan, Executive Director
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Staff Event Recognition
We would like to recognize the people that made this event possible, from conceptual ideas to the actual participation in HDAP's
3rd Annual Client Graduation & Recognition Ceremony. They are (in alphabetical order):
- Frank Greenagel - Committee Chair
- Mary Hanley
- Mark Hodkinson
- Cindi McCormack
- Patty McDonnell
- Jass Pelland
- Jill Piperata
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Hunterdon Drug Awareness Program, Inc.
8 Main Street, Suite 7
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: 1-908-788-1900
Fax: 1-908-788-3836
info@hdap.org
Glenn Duncan, Executive Director
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