The Foreign Service Journal, December 2018

84 DECEMBER 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Putting theWord “Service” in Foreign Service NELSON B . DELAVAN AWARD FOR OF F I CE MANAGEMENT SPEC I AL I STS MARGARET KENNETT AFSA NEWS AFSA EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AWARDS Margaret “Megan” Ken- nett is recognized for her outstanding work as office management specialist in Embassy Kampala’s Regional Security Office and her exceptional com- mitment to helping others both inside and outside the mission. Her volunteer work to help both the embassy and local communities was done above and beyond her regular duties. Ms. Kennett arrived in Kampala in September 2017. When the deputy chief of mission (DCM) discovered travel plans would leave her unable to host her usual Thanksgiving potluck for members of the community, Ms. Kennett quickly volun- teered to stand in her place to host the event at the DCM’s residence. She coordinated with the DCM’s staff, taught them how to cook turkey and organized all the logistics for this successful community event. As the December holidays approached, Ms. Kennett helped the Marine security guards at post organize volunteers to wrap gifts for their annual Toys for Tots drive. She participated in the delivery of toys at an urban center for refugees. Ms. Kennett also helped organize a donation of second-hand clothing along with the toys, and spent hours helping to sort clothes for the right age and sex of the children. As she spent time with the Marines, she recognized that they have limited ability and funds to see Uganda. So Ms. Kennett and her husband provided transport for a group of them to visit game parks. She is always on the look- out for anyone who needs to get out of the city. And just about every weekend, she invites someone from the mission to join her for an adventure to see the country. When Ms. Kennett heard that a local children’s cancer hospice was in desperate need of first aid supplies, she purchased—out of her own pocket—large industrial first aid kits, with enough bandages and antibiotic ointment to supply the hospice for a year. She later returned in a borrowed bunny outfit to distribute toys, candy, crayons and drawing paper—again, purchased from her own pocket—to bring joy to terminally ill children at the hospice. Every year in March, the Peace Corps looks for volun- teers for their “Drop Every- thing and Read Day.” Ms. Kennett was quick to volun- teer. While reading to school children in two classes at a local primary school, she noticed that the classes had no age-appropriate books and began working to col- lect books from embassy colleagues. She went on to organize a much larger book COURTESYOFMARGARETKENNETT drive to supply the school with adequate books for its children. Ms. Kennett hails from Port Huron, Michigan. Previ- ous tours include Islam- abad, Budapest, Baghdad, Suva, Pretoria, Warsaw and Vienna. Before entering the Foreign Service, Ms. Kennett spent four years in the U.S. Air Force. n AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson and Ambassador William Harrop with Delavan Award winner Margaret Kennett (center). AFSA/JOAQUINSOSA