Delaware Tech recognizes scholarship donors
and recipients
Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009
Georgetown – Students at Delaware Technical & Community College, Owens Campus often receive scholarships which are established by private individuals and organizations. Many of the scholarship donors and the students who benefited from their generosity met at the annual Scholarship Donor & Recipient Luncheon held on March 12.
This year Discover Bank provided an underwriting sponsorship that made the event possible in spite of financial cutbacks at the campus.
"Discover has been an amazing partner to the Owens Campus over the years," said Robert Hearn, campus business manager. "They have supported scholarships and the underwriting of our fundraising gala; we are grateful that this partnership has been extended to include today’s luncheon."
Christina Favilla, president of Discover Bank, elaborated on the partnership. Over the past five years, Discover has awarded around $174,000 in scholarships to Owens Campus students as well as $25,000 to buy books and $100,000 to support the annual fundraising gala, said Favilla. "Discover doesn’t just support Del Tech; we believe in it."
Several members of the Delaware Tech, family were present: Board of Trustees member Selham Sue Saliba; Development Council members Pat Campbell-White, Dr. Bill Carter, Walton Johnson, Merrill Moore, Rob Rider; Delaware Tech President Dr. Orlando George; and Vice President and Owens Campus Director Dr. Ileana Smith. Legacy Society members Blanche Baker and Phillip Bills, as well as Jean Hodges and Patti Grimes representing the Carl M. Freeman Foundation also were present.
Dr. Smith spoke of the importance of scholarships and education. "The people here are the givers and the receivers of a gift and it is a very special gift. It’s not a gift in a nice little box with ribbon, but it is a very significant gift, and that is the gift of education," said Dr. Smith. 'It is a gift that no one can take from you; it’s a gift that can change your life."
Featured speakers included Arlene Belgrave, of Millsboro, a human services graduate who is completing her bachelor’s degree at Wilmington University; Cynthia Smith, of Milford, a nursing student who received the Marguerite Lowery Nursing Scholarship and the Medical Society of Delaware Scholarship; and Travis Brown, of Bridgeville, a communications student who received the Fantl Journalism Scholarship and the Academic Incentive Scholarship. They spoke about the impact the scholarships have had on their lives and thanked the donors.
Belgrave, a single-parent, said that the scholarships she received enabled her to pursue her education while being the best mom and student that she could be.
Cynthia Smith said the donor’s generous gifts have planted a seed of philanthropy and one day she plans to help others like she has been helped.
The Scholarship Donor and Recipient Luncheon was established in 1997 to honor the student recipients and donors of private scholarships and give them the awarding experience of meeting.
Private scholarships are a vital supplement to federal and state financial aid in providing the financial resources that allow students to attend Delaware Tech. These are the only scholarships which reward students for high academic achievement and/or provide greatly needed financial aid to those students whose monetary needs cannot be met by federal or state aid programs.