Jason Bakke, Zwaanendael volunteer, receives Governor’s Award

Delaware Gov. John Carney recognized 23 individuals and groups as recipients of the 2018 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards in a ceremony held Oct. 24 at Dover Downs Hotel.

Jason Bakke, a volunteer for the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ Zwaanendael Museum, was honored in the Arts and Culture category for his work in developing programming for the museum and expanding its outreach.

Bakke has been volunteering in one capacity or another since the age of 12 for the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, which commemorates Delaware’s first European colony and is a showcase for the Lewes area’s maritime, military and social history.

Serving the museum as an educator and interpreter, a researcher, a program developer and a performer, Bakke has been instrumental in assisting museum staff to expand its outreach beyond Lewes and further into Sussex County. His research for programming is tireless, and he even does some of that work from home without recording his hours. He acts as an educator at special events, runs stations ranging from colonial games to merchant displays, and explains exhibits and provides contextual information to guests.

In 2017 alone, Bakke volunteered more than 100 hours of service and helped the museum reach and provide education and entertainment to innumerable people.