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Distinguished alumni will be honored October 8

Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009

Georgetown - The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented on October 8 to three graduates from Delaware Technical & Community College, Jack F. Owens Campus in recognition of excellence and outstanding achievements in their professional careers.

The 2009 honorees are Ruth Briggs King, Tracy Taylor Morris and Charles T. O' Brien Jr.

The Walk of Success recognizes Owens Campus graduates who have made significant contributions to their communities through their academic and career achievements, community service, and personal accomplishments. Bronze plaques bearing the graduate's name, date of graduation, and date of induction are placed in the walkway between the Stephen J. Betze Library and the Carter Partnership Center.

Ruth Briggs King, a resident of Georgetown, received her associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology in 1977. She continued her education with a bachelor's degree in applied business and a master's in human resources from Wilmington College.

Highlights of King's med lab career include serving as chief of laboratory and radiology services in Mississippi, teaching allied health professionals at Kent County Vo-Tech where she was chosen "Teacher of the Year," and serving as general manager and later vice president of external operations and human resources at MedLab, Inc., overseeing 950 employees in four states.

In 1999, she transitioned full-time to human resources and has taught strategic human resources at Wilmington University as an adjunct faculty member.

Although not a realtor, King has been the executive vice president for the Sussex County Association of Realtors (SCOAR) since 2005. Chartered by the national organization, SCOAR provides products, programs and services that benefit the local membership. She has earned a Certificate of Scholastic Achievement in Professional Standards and Association Management form the National Association of Realtors and is a REALTOR ® Certified Executive.

King's most recent accomplishment was her election to the State of Delaware House of Representatives for the 37th District.

Kim Hoey Stevenson, who nominated King, considers her "... a natural leader and strong person who can guide others."

King has been extremely active in numerous community organizations, including the Eastern YMCA, the Georgetown Boys and Girls Club, The Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary, the Interfaith Housing of Sussex County Board, the Domestic Violence Coalition, and the Diamond State Community Land Trust.

A supporter and advocate of Delaware Tech among her friends and family, King served on a college advisory board, attends various Owens Campus functions, and currently volunteers on the planning committee for the Couture & Class fashion show and luncheon.

Tracy Taylor Morris, who lives in Seaford, graduated from the Executive Secretarial Technology (now Office Administration Technology) in 1979. She attained a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's in human resources management from Wilmington University.

Since 1994 Morris has been employed at Allen Family Foods, Inc. of Seaford, Del. as vice president of human resources/corporate director of human resources. In that role, she provides corporate oversight to all labor relations activities for more than 3,000 union and non-union employees in three states, oversees all human resources functions, administers compensation and benefits programs, oversees corporate training programs, and more.

Her accomplishments at Allen's include designing a new management development program; developing a food service program for employee cafeterias which resulted in a cost savings of $250,000 per year; and developing a "point-factor" job and salary evaluation system which allows salaries to be fair and competitive.

She also conceptualized the structure and make-up of the corporate human resources department which resulted in effective implementation of company-wide human resources programs and services.

Morris was nominated by Suenell Steele, department chairperson of the Office Administration Technology.

"I remember Tracy as a friendly and personable learner, always striving to do her best," said Steele. "Although I've taught hundreds of students over the years, both in high school and at Delaware Tech, there are always certain students who stand out in one's memory – Tracy is one of those special students."

Morris is a member of the Delaware and national chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management and the National Chicken Council HR Committee.

She has been an active member of the Seaford community, serving on the board of directors and chair of the fundraising committee for the Nanticoke Little League, as a member of the PTA in the school district, and on various church committees.

Charles (Chuck) T. O'Brien Jr., of Seaford, is a 1982 graduate of the Data Processing Technology (now Computer Information Systems). He earned a bachelor's degree in management information systems and a master's in business administration from Wilmington University and is also a certified Web master.

O'Brien is currently director of information technology at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford.

He credits Delaware Tech with much of his success. "Delaware Tech has had a profound impact on my professional career. Everything I've accomplished during my career can be attributed to the fundamentals I acquired from the excellent educators and state-of-the-art technology provided by the institution."

From 1991 to 2006, he owned and operated O'Brien Information Systems, Inc., a computer consulting company. In 2001, he volunteered to do a graphic/Web design project pro-bono for the Delaware Money School. After working nights and weekends for seven weeks, he launched the new Web site. O'Brien considers it "one of the most rewarding projects that I've implemented in my career."

"Chuck did a great job understanding the needs of the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute, worked well with our people and delivered a solution that made sense for us," said Governor Jack Markell. "He was terrific!"

O'Brien has worked for many prestigious companies, including the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ OMX PHLX, receiving glowing reviews from managers and co-workers although he had no background in the financial industry.

He was nominated by Bonnie Atkins, department chairperson of the Computer Information Systems (CIS) program. At her request, he is now a member of the CIS advisory committee and volunteered at the campus open house to speak about the IT field.

During his professional career, O'Brien has been lauded for his professionalism, great knowledge, his ability to lead by example, people skills, and devotion to his customers. With a natural curiosity about computers, he has earned a reputation for accomplishing complex tasks under any circumstances.

His community service includes coaching youth in various sports for many years and as a Cub Scout leader.