Longtime College Supporter Receives Paul K. Weatherly Award

Longtime Delaware Tech supporter James T. Cavanaugh III received the College's Paul K. Weatherly Award Recognizing Excellence at the Board of Trustees' June meeting. The Weatherly Award was created in 1995 to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Delaware Technical Community College and who best exemplify the ideals of the community college spirit.

"Jim has been an exceptional ambassador of Delaware Tech and community college education," Dr. Mark T. Brainard, Delaware Tech president, said in his nomination letter to the Board.

In 2016, Cavanaugh established the James T. Cavanaugh III Nursing Scholarship Fund to support students enrolled in the College's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program with an initial commitment of $100,000. Since then, 89 students have benefitted from the scholarship. Of those, 42 graduated with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and 26 are still enrolled.

Cavanaugh was also an inaugural member of Delaware Technical Community College's Board of Trustees Development and Public Affairs Committee, where he worked tirelessly to connect the College with new donors. In addition, his generosity and commitment to Delaware Tech's mission was featured in the College's planned giving campaign to encourage others to establish legacy gifts.

A retired partner of global investment management and strategic advisory firm Brown Advisory, Cavanaugh also founded Cavanaugh Capital Management, an institutional fixed income investment management and municipal advisory firm, in 1991. He was the firm's chairman prior to joining Brown Advisory in 2010. He began his investment career in 1961 with Alex Brown and Sons, Inc., where he served as head of the Public Finance Department.

In addition to his support of Delaware Tech, Cavanaugh has a long history of using his financial expertise to serve the state of Delaware. He was the state's financial advisor in 1990 and 1991, during which he advised the State Department of Transportation and the State Department of Housing on the re-financing of several hundred million dollars in bonds. He also advised the Department of Transportation on the financing for the Delaware Turnpike and the second span of construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. In addition, beginning in 1994, Cavanaugh Capital Management became the investment advisor to the Delaware River and Bay Authority.

Cavanaugh joined Delaware Tech's June Board meeting via livestream with his family from his home in Maryland. College leaders thanked him for his generosity and longstanding support of Delaware Tech's students.

"It is an honor for Delaware Tech to be associated with the Cavanaugh family, known and admired for their deep values of honesty, integrity, and service to others," Brainard said.

PHOTO:
James T. Cavanaugh pictured with Cavanaugh scholars, Cynthia Reid, Christina Hushen, and Ja'Net Reid-Jones.