Working Through Adversity Yields Tremendous Blessings

Emily St. Clair was the first student to complete the College’s renewable energy solar program. Impressive as that is, the way she obtained her degree is even more incredible.

When Emily visited the Terry Campus and discovered the energy program, she was transforming her life by not only devoting time to school, but also in preparing for the birth of her first child. She had no trouble maintaining the new status quo until she received a phone call from her doctor that, “Shook my world and forever changed my life.”

Following a routine ultrasound, her doctor speculated that there was trouble with the baby’s brain – to the extent of a stroke that was believed to have left half of the brain non-functional. The next several days consisted of a multitude of tests, family crisis counseling, medical appointments, sleepless nights and heavy hearts. Following an emergency cesarean delivery, testing determined that the baby did not have a stroke, but rather a massive - but operable - arachnoid cyst. Corrective surgery was done when the baby was just 10 days old and was a resounding success. 

Amazingly, Emily maintained contact with the College and developed a path forward to allow her to remain on track with her course sequence. The plan increased her school load, but she embraced the challenge. As a result, she spent some nights in the NICU writing papers. Later, she would dash home between 13-hour days of classes to feed/tend to her daughter.

Even with the increased hours and carrying out her role as mother, Emily was flourishing as a student. She earned a double major in energy management and renewable energy solar (graduating Magna Cum Laude in both), was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honors society, completed two co-ops, and an internship with Seiberlich Trane Energy Services. Shortly after graduation, Seiberlich Trane offered her a full-time position.

“They say being busy is a blessing,” Emily shared. “Well, I’ve got more blessings than I can count on my hands, but the top three are having an intelligent, beautiful daughter; obtaining two degrees with no student loans from Delaware Tech; and being happily employed by a brilliant business man like John Seiberlich.”