(PHOTOS) Hopkins Replay Students Bid Program Founder Warm Farewell

Deb Ukura, the school district’s youth programs coordinator, retired with more than three decades of experience helping Hopkins students.

Ukura started with in 1981. More recently, she became known for her work with the Afterschool Replay program at —a program with homework help, tutoring, enrichment activities and service activities that started under her leadership in 2005.

Since November, Replay students have been knitting Ukura a scarf using knitting skills they learned from community volunteers. On Tuesday, they presented the room-length scarf to Ukura at her retirement celebration—along with a letter telling her how much she means to them.

The students’ full letter is below.

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Dear Deb,

We made you this scarf to remember us in the future. This scarf will keep you warm when we are not there. This scarf means a lot to us just like you. If you ever miss us just wrap yourself in this LONG scarf. We hope your next adventure is just as fun as being here with us. These are some of our favorite memories: going to Mizpah for dinner, track and field meets, snack club, swimming, the last day party with pictures, basketball, knitting, summer fun and just hanging out in the room and talking! We hope you come back and visit us soon!

Love Replay!