ALCOAST 441/24 - NOV 2024 ECLIPSE50 10-12 APR 2025

R 211802Z NOV 24 MID120001569132U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 441/24
SSIC 5050
SUBJ: ECLIPSE50 10-12 APR 2025
1. Culturally competent leaders play a critical role in addressing
the complex operational and mission support challenges of our time.
2. Cadets drive Eclipse, an event established by the Coast Guard
Academy Genesis Council in the 1970s, which emphasizes respect and
mentorship. The Coast Guard Academy invites the broader Coast Guard
community, local community members, and partners from across the
nation to join in mentoring and motivating cadets, helping to
prepare them for successful careers as Coast Guard officers.
3. This year's theme is TEAMWORK: Fifty Years of Fostering Unity and
Instilling Respect. The opening keynote will be delivered by
Drs. Jennifer Hirsch, PhD, and Shamus Khan, PhD, authors of
Sexual Citizens. Other events include the MyCGA Story storytelling
series, cadet affinity council developed workshops, a corps-wide
with U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Eclipse50 Talent Show, the Cadet
Mentoring Breakfast, the Eclipse50 Awards Luncheon, and The Torch
Basketball Tournament.
4. The greater Coast Guard community is encouraged to participate
in Eclipse50 and submit nominations for awards. Nominations should
be written as a narrative no longer than one page and clearly state
the award for which the person is being nominated. The following
criteria shall be used to evaluate potential nominees. Please submit
nominations to occ@uscga.edu by Friday, 31 January 2025.
    a. The Manson Brown Genesis Award is given to a Coast Guard
Academy cadet or alumnus whose forethought and commitment has
fostered a community of inclusion by establishing traditions and
practices which promote comprehension of and appreciation for
diversity. Steadfast in the pursuit to create an inclusive space
for underrepresented minority cadets while also enlightening their
peers, this motivated leader has made sustainable contributions
to the Corps of Cadets in an effort to promote an environment free
from bias and discrimination.
    b. The Merle Smith Pioneer Award is given to a member of the
Coast Guard Academy community who has accomplished groundbreaking
firsts at the Academy. This person has served as a beacon of
inspiration among their peers to strive for the unimaginable and
forge new paths of greatness through an exceptional determination
to succeed. This award is a marker of the honor and courage required
to lead, chart unfamiliar territory, and reach heightened levels of
achievement in the face of adversity and uncertainty.
    c. The JoAnn Miller Community Award is given to a member of the
Academy or greater New London community who has worked as an active
liaison between the Academy and the City of New London, building a
bridge between the two entities. The efforts of this recipient
have made significant, lasting contributions to the Academy,
the cadets, and the New London community.
    d. The Frances Neal Humanitarian Award is bestowed upon a cadet,
alumni, staff, or faculty member who goes above and beyond to
provide support for cadets and the entire Academy through
facilitation of an environment rich in community and comfort.
This pivotal figure demonstrates an incessant passion for the
well-being of cadets and instinctively strives to empower cadets
mentally, emotionally, and academically. The actions of this award
recipient transform the Academy into an inclusive community where
all cadets can grow and be nurtured, supported, mentored, and
challenged to be dynamic leaders of character.
    e. The Joseph Vojvodich Award is given to a Coast Guard member
who has fostered a community of inclusion by providing mentorship
from the fleet to historically underrepresented cadets at USCGA.
This inspirational leader shows evidence of sustained commitment
to mentoring that resulted in the development of three or more
mentees and has supported the growth of each mentee's academic
career as well as providing opportunities to experience the
operational Coast Guard, moving mentees toward independence in
their Coast Guard careers. This recipient helps mentees develop and
sustain a network of professional colleagues who can offer advice,
training, and support. The mentoring efforts of this individual led
directly to attracting and retaining a diverse Coast Guard
workforce, dedication of service to the Academy, and helping foster
an inclusive environment for all to appreciate.
    f. The Dr. Hallie Gregory Award is given to any member of the
greater Coast Guard community who has excelled in actively
demonstrating and promoting the unifying Core Value of Respect.
They are identified as a distinguished, unifying catalyst who best
exemplifies the Coast Guard tenets of teambuilding, teamwork,
honesty, fairness, dignity, civility, and respect. Exceeding what
is expected, this individual creates a thriving environment of
compassion, value, and opportunity for all that is clearly based on
mutual respect.
5. The Coast Guard Academy Office of Culture and Climate (OCC) is
the coordinator for Eclipse50 and is responsible for reporting
all attendance and overall costs to DHS. Attendance by participants
can be unit funded via official travel or via permissive orders. DHS
requires a post-conference report to be submitted 30 days after
the event. To comply, all travelers on official orders must submit
a copy of their travel settlement to OCC via email to occ@uscga.edu
no later than 18 April 2025. More information can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

www.uscga.edu/eclipse

6. Commanding Officers are highly encouraged to promote attendance
and award submissions for Eclipse50.
7. Questions regarding Eclipse50 should be referred to the
Coast Guard Academy Office of Culture and Climate via email
at occ@uscga.edu.
8. This message will be cancelled on 19 APR 2025.
9. Mr. Gary Rasicot, Deputy of Personnel Readiness (CG-DCMS-DPR),
sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.