Leadership Prince William (LPW) is recognizing two community leaders next month.
Supervisor John Jenkins and Ernestine Jenkins will receive the “Vision Award,” LPW’s highest honor, at the annual Evening of Excellence on June 22.
“The Vision Award honors an individual — in this case a pair of individuals — who live or work in Prince William County, the City of Manassas or the City of Manassas Park,” Executive Director Andrea Short said in a release. “The recognition is for innovative, strategic or bold leadership that has had a positive impact on a significant portion of our community.”
Retired Didlake CEO Rex Parr, the late Senator Charles J. Colgan, Youth for Tomorrow CEO Gary Jones, and Todos Supermarkets Founder Carlos Castro are past recipients of the award, according to a release.
In 1973, John Jenkins and Ernestine Jenkins moved to Dale City, where they raised their family and have been very involved in the community.
“Together John and Ernestine Jenkins have crafted a lifetime of service to their country, their family and their local community,” LPW’s Board of Regents Chair Mary Colgan Finnigan said in a release. “They embody a vision of tireless service and set an example for all to see what leadership means; igniting and inspiring everyone in their presence to join them in bettering our community.”
The couple has served in various organizations, including the Dale City Little League, the Boy Scouts of America, the Dale City Civic Association (DCCA), and several veterans’ organizations, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1503.
John Jenkins is a two-tour Vietnam Veteran. He earned the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980.
Following his retirement, he worked in Fairfax County Public Schools until 2003.
John Jenkins began representing the Neabsco district on the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) in 1982. He replaced Jim McCoart, who resigned and endorsed John Jenkins for the position.
Since then, John Jenkins has served eight consecutive, four-year terms. He is Prince William County’s longest serving Supervisor.
In 2002, Former Governor Mark Warner appointed John Jenkins to the Virginia Geographical Information Network (VGIN) Advisory Board. Former Governor Tim Kaine reappointed him to the board in 2007.
In addition to serving on the BOCS, he is a member of the Washington Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board.
Ernestine Jenkins is also involved in various organizations.
She serves as the Chairman of the Dale City 4th of July Parade Committee and Chairman of the Dale City Civic Association Awards Banquet Committee
Ernestine Jenkins is also Vice Chairman and Board of Directors member for Project Mend-A-House (PMAH), Education Co-Chairman of the Bel Air Woman’s Club, and life member of American Legion Post 364 Ladies Auxiliary.
In 2003, she received the Prince William County Human Rights Community Service Award. Ernestine Jenkins was also the recipient of the Catherine Spellane Dale City Civic Association Citizen of the Year Award in 1993 and the DCCA’s Life Time Volunteer Achievement Award in 2005.
Community members can celebrate the couple’s contributions to Prince William County at the Evening of Excellence, which will be held at Harbour View in Woodbridge.
To purchase a ticket for the event, visit leadershipprincewilliam.org or call 571-765-7568.
