Karen K. Thompson Outstanding Service Award

The Karen K. Thompson Outstanding Service Award is given to an individual by the Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council in recognition of “outstanding leadership, service and advocacy that prevents and mitigates juvenile delinquency and enhances the lives of youth in Durham County.” 

About Karen K. Thompson

Karen K. Thompson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and graduated from Ft. Lauderdale High School and Duke University. She received a master’s degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. Karen had a heart for the youth of Durham County. In 1991, she volunteered on a committee focusing on at-risk and court-involved youth and continued her passionate engagement on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) until her death in 2014. Karen provided leadership to the group by serving in positions of chairperson and treasurer for several years. 

2021 Awardee:
Commissioner Brenda Howerton 

Past Awardees:
2015 Karen K. Thompson
2016 DeWarren Langley
2017 Angela Nunn
2018 Marcia Morey
2019 Arnold Dennis
2020 Tasha Jones-Butts