Stanton and Wilmington Campuses Recognize 2019 Distinguished Alumni

On November 15, 2019, the Stanton and Wilmington campuses of Delaware Tech hosted the annual Celebration of Giving and Alumni Success at the Stanton Campus. Donors came together to enjoy a lunch prepared by Delaware Tech culinary students.

Students James Nyamokoh, a civil engineering technologies major, and Guanina Lopez, a human services major, shared their personal stories and gratitude with the donors, exemplifying the impact a scholarship can have on someone's life.

Two individuals were honored with the College's Distinguished Alumni award.

The Stanton campus Distinguished Alumni recipient is Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security Secretary Robert Coupe. Secretary Coupe graduated from the College in 1983 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also has a bachelor's of science in criminal justice from Wilmington University. He began his career as a Delaware State Trooper, and became a Captain in 2005. He was appointed as Superintendent of the Delaware State Police and promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2009. In 2017 he was appointed as the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Secretary Coupe has three brothers who are alumni of the College – Mike Coupe – a member of the first graduating class of then Northern Campus, Ron Coupe, and John Coupe.

The Wilmington campus Distinguished Alumni recipient is Purusha Rivera, founder of My Baby's Heartbeat Bear and My Furbaby's Heartbeat Bear. Rivera is a 2000 graduate of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. After working in the sonography field, Rivera opened her own practice, First State Sonographers. She founded My Baby's Heartbeat Bear, selling pregnancy heartbeat recording keepsakes, which has grown into a multi-million dollar company. She recently launched My Furbaby's Heartbeat Bear which takes the same concept and applies it to a beloved pet. Purusha has also created a scholarship for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Delaware Tech.

PHOTOS:
Top: From left to right: Dr. Lora Johnson, vice president and campus director, Wilmington Campus; Purusha Rivera; Secretary Robert Coupe; Dr. Kathy Janvier, vice president and campus director, Stanton Campus; Dr. Mark Brainard, Delaware Tech president.

Bottom: From left to right: Dr. Kathy Janvier, vice president and campus director, Stanton Campus; Dr. Lora Johnson, vice president and campus director, Wilmington Campus; James Nyamokoh; Guanina Lopez; Justina Sapna, vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Mark Brainard, Delaware Tech president