Grand Marshals Through the Years
Since 2014, Grand Marshals have been honored as our ceremonial leader of the Walk for Autism. For the 20th anniversary, we have invited all of our previous Grand Marshals to join us again to honor the past and step into the next 20 years together!
Please take a moment to see where their journeys have taken them now.
Sean Tuohy - Grand Marshal 2014 (New Castle County)
Sean was the first Grand Marshal for the New Castle County Walk for Autism. Since then, he has been busy working at the University of Delaware, participating in bowling, basketball, and powerlifting with the Special Olympics, going to concerts, the Price is Right live, and attending Autism Delaware events. He was also excited to have met the former Governor John Carney twice. Sean lives in a group home with his sister and two friends. Sean turned 40 this year, and is very happy with his life.
Ginger Shaud - Grand Marshal 2014 (Sussex County)
Ginger is an active lady. Now 29 years old, she has tried many sports and has settled on swimming and running as her favorites. She competes with Special Olympics and has been chosen in the past to participate in aquatics in their USA Games and World Games in Princeton, Seattle and Los Angeles.
She also earns medals for running in local 5K races with Seashore Striders and Races2Run organizations.
When not training or competing, Ginger enjoys going to summer camp, traveling to the Outer Banks and Florida, crabbing in the Rehoboth Bay and her kitchen job at the Rusty Rudder.
Adrian Creed - Grand Marshal 2019 (Sussex County)
Aven Foskey - Grand Marshal 2022 (Sussex County)
From Aven's Teacher: Aven is currently a first-grade student. This school year, he successfully transitioned from a self-contained setting to a school environment where he is able to participate in activities alongside his first-grade peers. Aven has also made notable gains in independence with self-care skills. He has shown progress in communicating his wants and needs by beginning to use an AAC device, with which he has been very successful, and he has also started using more of his own words to communicate. We are incredibly proud of the continued progress Aven is making.
Tony Graci - Grand Marshal 2022 (New Castle County)
Tony served as the Grand Marshall for the 2022 Walk for Autism at Fort DuPont in Delaware City!!! He has been a participant at just about every Walk since the started 20 years ago. He will once again dust off his favorite Top Hat to take a spin on the track at Dover this April.
Today, Tony is assisted by Autism Delaware's POW&R Program and works full-time at the Nemours Children's Hospital. Part of the Nemours Facilities Team, Tony cleans offices and common areas. He loves his colleagues and the team is a HUGE part of his growth and well-being. He takes pride in being a valued member of the community and making a meaningful contribution to society.
Brenna Vendrick - Grand Marshal 2026 (New Castle County)
Brenna is currently 16 years old and a junior in high school, where she is actively involved in both academics and extracurricular activities. She earned her driver’s license last spring and continues to demonstrate growing independence and responsibility.
An avid and talented artist, Brenna excels in graphic design and painting. She has turned her passion into a part-time venture by selling her artwork, showcasing both her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Brenna is a dedicated member of her high school swim team and has had an exceptional year in the pool. Alongside her relay teammates, she has broken school records and qualified for the State Championships in two relay events. We are incredibly proud to share that Brenna has been selected to represent Team Delaware at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota this summer. She is one of only four swimmers chosen to represent Team Delaware’s swim team.
In addition to her athletic and artistic achievements, Brenna serves as manager for both the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams. She is an active member of her school’s Art Club and was inducted into the High School’s National Honor Society last fall in recognition of her academic excellence and leadership.
Brenna plans to attend college to study graphic arts and hopes to continue swimming at the collegiate level. She also aspires to write and illustrate her own comic book one day. We are excited to watch her continue to grow and look forward to all that her future holds.