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I Mardi Gras! Do you? as of 2/8/08
Laura Hough of Allied Health does! This is Laura’s second year of working on Mardi Gras and she loves every minute of it. Laura is the Chair of the Silent Auction Committee and sits on the Mardi Gras Planning Committee. Today, she and her committee are transforming the conference center into a vibrant and colorful silent auction room, but Oh…and she manages to do some teaching as a Science Instructor in her “spare time” as well!
Why do you Mardi Gras, Laura?
“I Mardi Gras because I really like to be involved and enjoy meeting new people. Most importantly for me is that volunteering for Mardi Gras gives me the opportunity to see people that I normally wouldn’t have the chance to see. I get to interact with people from all over the campus, different departments and both locations. Between the work that I do on the committees and the night of the event, I get to see friends from all over Delaware Tech who I don’t get to see all year round. And above all, it’s just a lot of fun. That’s why I Mardi Gras”
 
I Mardi Gras! Do you? as of 2/6/08
Robin Burke of Upward Bound Classic in CCP does! This is the third year Robin has worked on Mardi Gras (she took a year off when she had her baby). Not only does she help paint, construct and set up rooms, but she sits on the Silent Auction Committee as well. We caught up with Robin as she was putting together some columns to be set up the night of the event. She beamed with pride when she showed off the silhouettes she painted on some “doorways” in past years, and bubbled over with excitement for this year’s event. Why do you Mardi Gras, Robin?
“I Mardi Gras for a lot of reasons; for one, it’s fun! I like to see everyone having a good time on the night of the event and know that I played a part in their enjoyment. I like to see my hard work come together in the transformation of the campus into New Orleans! But mostly, I get a great feeling knowing that I play a role in providing opportunities to students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to college. After I got my Associate’s Degree from Delaware Tech through financial aid, I wanted to earn my Bachelor’s Degree, but simply couldn’t afford to continue my schooling.
I was awarded a scholarship and was able to attend Wilmington University and ultimately earn my degree. I know what scholarships mean to people who couldn’t go to college without them, because I was one of those people. That’s why I Mardi Gras”
Robin is one of hundreds of folks who volunteer to ensure that Mardi Gras is a great success year after year. Check back frequently over the next few days to meet more of your co-workers who Mardi Gras.
 
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An Evening of Mardi Gras 2008 a Success as of 2/13/08
“Perfect" is the only word we can think of to describe An Evening of Mardi Gras 2008! All the planning and preparation by an army of volunteers that led up to Saturday night paid off in a big way. The music, food, ambiance, silent auction and casinos all reflected the tremendous amount of time, creativity and hard work that went into making the night an unqualified success. Our guests were particularly delighted with the warm welcome they received from the many staff members who worked at the event. Clearly, only a team effort of motivated, energetic and dedicated workers could have pulled all this off so seamlessly. Your efforts make us very proud, and we extend our sincere appreciation to each of you.
One of the most gratifying aspects of An Evening of Mardi Gras is that students who really need help will be getting it because of the funds raised. This year over $100,000 was raised, and we anticipate using the money for scholarships for credit courses, camps, the Child Development Center and short-term training programs. Because of An Evening of Mardi Gras, 50 - 100 individuals will benefit.
Again, we are deeply grateful for all you did to help our students in need by showing our guests a wonderful evening.
Posted February 18, 2008/reprinted from The News Journal>delawareonline.com
DelTech events to mark black history
Longtime activist Littleton P. Mitchell to be honored Tuesday
By ROBIN BROWN, The News Journal
Posted Monday, February 18, 2008: Delawareonline.com
Delaware Technical & Community College has announced events for its African-American History Month celebration, starting with a tribute Tuesday to one of the state's best known civil rights leaders.
Longtime activist and educator Littleton P. Mitchell of Delaware City-- whose efforts have earned local, state and national awards -- is to be honored in a program from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the conference center of the college's Stanton Campus, organizers said.
The former Tuskeegee Airman and longtime leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Delaware is to be recognized "for his continued contribution to the African American community on both local and national levels."
Spokesman Stephen Martelli said the college each year hosts celebrations for African-American History Month.
He said the month offers an opportunity to recognize people who -- like Mitchell -- have met the challenges of working at the front lines to have an important impact on the community.
"We represent the community," he said, "so that is what our main message is."
The night after Mitchell's recognition, Delaware Tech invites the public to the college's Wilmington Campus to celebrate a unique organization, the Monday Club, the state's oldest social group for African-American men.
The Monday Club -- organized by employees of Delaware's wealthy families and named for their one day off work as butlers, valets and servants -- will be honored in a program called "Fruits of the Spirit" in the Wilmington Campus conference room.
Set for 6 to 8 p.m., that Wednesday program is to feature music, comments and dance to help commemorate the organization and members, along with its historic and continuing contributions, Martelli said.
A formerly controversial role that the community and many of its past residents played on the pathway to freedom also are to be honored next week, as commemorative events return to the Stanton Campus conference room.
Historian Mary Dugan is to present a history of the Underground Railroad in Delaware, considered the last stop for many fleeing slavery to freedom in the North.
Her Feb. 26 presentation, scheduled for 12:30 to 2 p.m., will include the story of Thomas Garrett of Wilmington, a Quaker abolitionist and businessman, who was a stationmaster of the Underground Railroad convicted of aiding escaped slaves.
African-American history and culture will sound a poetic note in the college's Feb. 27 program, also at the Stanton Campus conference room.
Known as the Twin Poets, Wilmington brothers Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Al Mills -- recipients of awards not only for their spoken-word artistry but their efforts to help Delaware's at-risk youth -- are to perform from 9 to 10 a.m. and visit with guests afterward.
The college's African-American History Month celebration concludes Feb. 28, with an invitation for the public to visit with playwright, poet and community activist Bebe Coker, author of a noted play called "Mahalia" about the life of the late gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, featured at the Home Grown Heroes Awards Breakfast in Wilmington in October 2007.
Her presentation, set to run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Stanton Campus conference room, echoes African themes with its title, "Speaking Drum."
Contact robin brown at 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com.
Delaware Tech Community Honors Littleton Mitchell
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Photograph courtesy of the News Journal.
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One after another, they filled the Conference Center; elected officials, judges, public servants, staff, students, and members of the general public. They came from diverse backgrounds, cultures and life experiences, but with one common objective; to pay tribute to a man who has spent a lifetime on the front lines of the battle for civil rights. The contribution Littleton Mitchell has made to the people of the State of Delaware and the entire country was evidenced by the list of distinguished guests who filled the room to honor him. There were so many such folks, Lit, as he is known, joked that the next time the same people were gathered to pay tribute, he wouldn’t be around to see it.
Littleton Mitchell humbly imparts some of his knowledge upon the crowd.
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Dr. George and Littleton Mitchell embrace as Governor Minner and
Larry Miller look on.
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Dr. George addresses the crowd gathered to honor Littleton Mitchell.
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The Congressional Medal Littleton Mitchell received is displayed for
the first time ever in public.
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Members of the Vanguard Society plan to continue the legacy of Littleton Mitchell.
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Proclamations and gifts were presented by the likes of Governor Ruth Ann Minner, Lieutenant Governor John Carney, County Executive Chris Coons, and Mayor James Baker. However, the highlight of the day was when Dr. George presented Lit with a nursing scholarship started in the name of Littleton and Jane Mitchell. The crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation as the usually verbose Lit was speechless. It was a wonderful tribute to a man who, with along with his late wife Jane, broke color barriers in this state in the healthcare field.
At the end of it all, with all the “power people” and media representatives lined up to shake his hand and speak to him, Littleton Mitchell showed how important education is to him. He made his way to a group of students; he took the time to shake each of their hands and impart a small sliver of the vast amount of knowledge he has upon them, encouraging them to do well in school, and more importantly, to leave a legacy in this life. He challenged them to continue working towards the goal he has spent a lifetime pursuing: ensuring that all people are worthy of the same quality of life, regardless of their individual differences.
 Eleven High Schools and 220 Students Competed in the Science Expo at Stanton as of 2/26/08
Have you ever wondered whether your cat is left or right pawed, or how aging affects memory? Or maybe you’ve wondered about the lead levels near Kirkwood Highway. Even if you haven’t pondered topics such as the effects of sediment on glacial melt or the effect of different types of music on heart rate, you were sure to find something to fascinate you at the 13th annual New Castle County Science Expo held on Feb 21at Stanton.
Two hundred twenty students from eleven New Castle County schools in grades 6 – 12 participated in this year’s Expo. Participants set up their displays on Wednesday, Feb. 20, and judging took place on Thursday, Feb 21 from 8 am -3 pm. Members of the faculty at Stanton/Wilmington were among the 85 judges who volunteer to adjudicate student projects, along with representative from Astra Zeneca, DuPont, Agilent Technologies, the University of Delaware, Christiana Care, Ciba, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and other agencies and businesses.
An awards ceremony which was scheduled for Friday, Feb. 22 night was postponed because of the weather and was held on Monday instead. Students who win first, second and third places at the New Castle County Expo receive U.S. savings bond awards of $100, $75 and $50.
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