Hazel M. Staley Scholarship Award

The Hazel Staley Award is awarded to a person who is involved in their fair and who wants to continue to learn and be involved in the fair industry. This year’s nominee has has worked with and been a member of her fair since 2013. This person has helped the chairman of the Home Goods Department set up areas, gather judges, and upgrade the fair’s Home Goods Booklet. Her insight for management and her artistic abilities have proven to be an invaluable asset to the department. Her limitless energy and helpful suggestions have assisted with the improvement of the overall flow of the intake process of home goods items. Her contributions of time and financial resources have assisted the Home Goods Department of her fair to reach new heights.

The nominee has worked with the Judging School of Virginia since its inception in 2013. She has developed course content as well as serving as an instructor in various classes taught at the judging schools. In addition, she has taught at every Judging School since 2013. She has done this at her own travel and lodging expense sometimes up to four times a year. As a certified judge, she judges fairs in Virginia and Maryland, again paying her own way. She has attended the Virginia Association of Fairs (VAF) Convention since 1999. In the early years she provided instruction in computer and graphics classes for fairs as well as judging the 4-H speaking contest. Since 2013 she has been an active participant as an instructor in all judging schools held at the VAF conventions. Because of her professional government background, she has many connections to help any fair with whom she works. She is always willing to help review any fair's home goods department program. Since her retirement, she now devotes many more hours to the fair industry throughout Virginia and Maryland.

This year’s Hazel Staley Award Scholarship recipient is Mary Geneva Leon.