Maryland Senate presents First Citizen Awards to Kweisi Mfume and Teresa Hope Goddard

Annapolis, Md. — The Maryland Senate presented its 2025 First Citizen Awards on Thursday to U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume and Teresa Hope Goddard, a longtime Senate staff member, recognizing both men and women for decades of public service and institutional leadership.

State Archivist Elaine Bachman introduced the awards during the session and described the First Citizen Awards — created in 1992 — as a way for the Senate to recognize “individuals who have committed themselves to public service and civic engagement through debate, legislation, and governance.” Bachman noted the awards’ historical emblem, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and placed this year’s honorees in the context of Maryland public life.

Congressman Kweisi Mfume, the first honoree, was recognized for a career that includes time on the Baltimore City Council, service in Congress, and leadership as president and CEO of the NAACP. Bachman highlighted Mfume’s work on minority health and civil-rights advocacy and said he has remained “a constant voice advocating for Baltimore.” In accepting the award, Congressman Mfume said he was taken by surprise and expressed gratitude, saying, “I am, first of all, absolutely shocked. Absolutely shocked and without words at all, but more than shocked, thankful.”

Teresa Hope Goddard, the second honoree, was recognized for more than three decades of service on the staff of the Maryland General Assembly, including her role as director of the Senate’s minority caucus. Elaine Bachman described Goddard’s institutional knowledge and her role guiding legislators through budget and policy debates. Goddard, who said she tries to avoid public attention, told the chamber she was “totally speechless,” and thanked colleagues and family for the surprise presentation.

Senate President Bill Ferguson and multiple senators rose to offer brief tributes to both honorees, citing mentorship, long-term leadership, and community ties. The session then returned to routine business: the clerk journalized messages from the executive and referred appointment nominations to the Executive Nominations Committee, and the Senate moved to adjourn to a pro forma session on Friday.

Votes at a glance - Resolution honoring Bridget O’Brien, Miss Maryland 2024: The clerk called the roll after the resolution was read in full; the Senate recorded a unanimous concurrence with 44 members present (yes 44, no 0). The resolution text congratulated Bridget O’Brien on being crowned Miss Maryland on June 21, 2024, in Hagerstown and was journalized. - Executive messages: Two messages from the governor (one noting a technical correction to a nomination and one submitting appointment nominations for confirmation) were read and journalized and the nominations were referred to the Executive Nominations Committee. - Adjournment motion: Majority leadership moved to adjourn the Senate until a pro forma session at 9:45 a.m. on March 21, 2025; the motion carried without objection.

The Senate’s recognition of public servants in session underscores the chamber’s occasional use of floor time for formal honors and institutional acknowledgements alongside its legislative business.