Three years ago, at the age of 20, a young woman, who was studying abroad in Florence, Italy, took a trip to Naples. As her great-grandfather had emigrated from Naples to the U.S., she wanted to see the last view that he had, as he left his native country. She rented a boat and went out into the harbor to look back at the city. This is her account of that experience:
The sun was dipping down towards the Capresi mountains. The traveler nestled into a seat and stared into the distance, thinking of another young adult who, eighty years ago, had embarked on a similar voyage westward. He had envisioned a land where he would be able to better provide for his family, a land where his children could realize their aspirations. She reminisced about this country, her country, the land that had fertilized the seeds of his determination and drive.
His values passed from one generation to the next, the belief that success carries with it a responsibility to one's family, community and country. She wished she might have assured this courageous, scared young man on his voyage, showing him the fruits of his journey. He would succeed in America. His children and their children would succeed. And now, she wanted to promise him that, like her parents, she was committing herself to the ideals of a life-long service to their community and country.
She glanced to the horizon, where the last remnants of the sun's brilliance were fading into the darkness. She beamed with pride in her great- grandfather, knowing that his weary, sun-hardened face would crack a smile of approval.
The traveler in this story, the young woman, is my oldest daughter Melanie. Her great-grandfather, my grandfather, like all of my grandparents, immigrated to the U.S. from Italy after the turn of the century. With a strong set of values, hope for the future, thinking about the opportunities that awaited them in their new home, they began building for the future.
I wanted to share this story with you because it speaks to two ideals that are common across all generations and for all families who strive for self improvement. These two ideals are opportunity and hope.
Pursuing opportunities in the hope that what one wants will be accomplished is the dream that one generation passes to the next. It is the dream of a better tomorrow, one that can be built from today, drawing upon our strengths, our abilities and our capabilities. Taking risks, growing, learning and ultimately reaching our goals -- this is what our College community -- trustees, students, faculty, and staff do to create that better tomorrow.
Higher education has not always been easily accessible. Some dreams had to be postponed to future generations. But about 35 years ago a profound change occurred. The community college movement which blossomed in the 1960's opened the door to higher education to adults from diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences.
Community colleges were higher education's answer to providing opportunity and hope for many individuals who otherwise could be denied access to the education that they needed to pursue their dreams.
As with many of you here today, I wanted to be part of that educational movement. I wanted to be part of an institution whose mission was to provide opportunity and hope for men and women -- young or old, rich or poor, all races and cultures -- who knew that education was the foundation for a better tomorrow. I wanted to be part of Delaware Technical & Community College. As the first and only community college in our great state, Delaware Tech has the potential to influence thousands upon thousands of lives -- and indeed we have.
We have helped build futures for individuals throughout the state -- from Claymont to Delmar and everywhere in between. We have educated nurses, human service workers, and police officers, chemical and engineering technicians, accountants, bankers and entrepreneurs and many, many other professionals. Not a day goes by when our lives are not touched by a Delaware Tech graduate. From our medical centers to our large corporations and small businesses in every field imaginable -- to our governmental, social service and educational institutions, Delaware Tech graduates are truly leaders, leaders for Delaware, leaders for the future.
It should be rewarding to know that you who are members of our College community, have been partners in their success. Whether you were their classroom instructor or were staff or administrators providing support services, or board members approving policy and providing direction, you made the opportunities for our students to reach their goals, to pursue their dreams.
It is important to recognize and acknowledge that our government leaders, our business leaders and our community leaders, especially those here in the audience today, have also been partners in our students' success. Without their commitment and support, Delaware Tech would not be the institution that it is today. Nor can it become the institution it will be in the future.
It has been said that "the future is not a place we are going, but a place that we are creating. The paths to it are not found, but made." Today we are making those paths. In creating Delaware Tech's future, it is important that we learn from the past, work in the present and accomplish goals that will benefit the College community and the State of Delaware in the future.
I have often said before that great organizations are great because they have good people who do great things around a common purpose.
Now Delaware Tech is a great organization, and our common purpose is our mission, which is to help our very diverse student body achieve success. It is also an important part of our mission to provide the trained and educated workforce that our local businesses, agencies, and government need in order for them to carry out their mission.
At a higher level, the College mission is guided by the ideals of access to educational opportunity and hope for a better future, which inspire us to reach for excellence in all of our endeavors.
The core of Delaware Tech is changeless -- access, opportunity, hope and excellence will be at the forefront as we move forward to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
We have worked together to develop a vision for Delaware Technical & Community College -- our Trustees, administrators, faculty and staff have all been involved. We are now formulating strategic plans to be an even more effective educational resource in the community. We are making our path to the future. Through the one college concept we will address issues related to college effectiveness, educational innovation, supportive college environments and private and public partnerships.
Our emphasis will be on teaching and learning -- the cornerstones of our college mission. As our students become more and more diverse, and society becomes more and more complex, we will look for creative ways to handle the challenges that confront us.
As Alvin Toffler, author of Future Shock, once observed, "The illiterate of the future are not those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."
We recognize that all of our students must become effective problem solvers, critical thinkers and communicators who are flexible and adaptable contributors to the local, state, national and global economies. We realize that education and training must be a continuous process and preparing students for a continuum of lifelong learning must be our goal.
Technology will change how and why we do things. We know that computers have changed our instructional methods. We know that e-mail, distance learning and the internet will impact our educational processes. But we must not forget that technology is just a tool to help us accomplish our goals. It is a means to an end -- which is to teach our students in the most efficient and effective ways possible. While striving to keep on the cutting edge technologically, we must realize that high tech must be balanced with high touch.
High touch will be important in creating college environments in which our students can excel. We will provide the best student support services possible. We must work to keep Delaware Tech accessible and affordable while maintaining a commitment to educational excellence.
Resources must be devoted to faculty development and renewal so that students can learn from educators who put teaching, good teaching, above all else. Delaware Tech is a teaching and learning institution, focused on helping our students learn and grow.
We will ensure the integrity and relevance of our technology programs and make use of the most appropriate and innovative instructional methods, media and material. We will prepare our students for success in the world of work.
Collaboration will be the key to a successful future as we forge partnerships with business, community and government agencies as well as the high schools and other institutions of higher learning.
Teamwork, cooperation, and a mutual respect for each other -- faculty, staff and students -- will take us through the incremental and step changes that will be needed as we face the future.
Our pride in Delaware Tech -- our pride in working for an institution that has such a positive impact on the lives of Delawareans -- will shine through as we make our path to the future.
When the Governor and legislators need a partner to help expand economic development in our great state, Delaware Tech will be there.
When the business and industrial community need just-in- time training and retraining programs to help keep our workforce skilled and competitive, Delaware Tech will be there.
When our local community needs innovative programs to ensure that Delawareans have access to the first rung on the ladder of success, Delaware Tech will be there.
When our educational community needs our help to develop a continuum of lifelong learning opportunities for Delaware residents, Delaware Tech will be there.
We will be there to fulfill our mission -- to help our diverse student body achieve success and to provide the trained and educated workforce that our local businesses, agencies and government need in order for them to carry out their mission.
We will be there to shape many, many futures.
So, as your newly installed president, I ask that we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of access, opportunity, hope and excellence. These are the ideals that make Delaware Tech such an important part of our statewide community, that drive our success and enable us to accomplish our mission. These ideals help us shape the future.
This is our shared vision. Together we will move toward success. Together we will move toward the future. I ask you to join with your colleagues and Delaware Tech supporters and partners everywhere in the state to make this vision for the 21st century become a reality.
Will you help me do this?
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