Ka'Von Brittingham
Human Services
Every spring since 2008, Ka'Von Brittingham would drive past Delaware Tech's Owens Campus in Georgetown, see the graduation tent, and think to herself, "one day I'll be under there hearing my name get called." Brittingham had dropped out of a university in 2006 and Delaware Tech in 2007, but hadn't given up.
"Despite not having a positive or healthy support system I knew it was time to dream aloud no matter who disagreed," she said. "This was my moment and I refused to let it pass me by. It was crucial that I prove myself right and others wrong."
Brittingham returned to Delaware Tech in 2020 and enrolled in the human services program because she had wanted to be a counselor for at-risk youth since she was 14 years old. Brittingham grew up in west Rehoboth Beach witnessing police raids on homes, drug addiction, poverty, homelessness, racism, and segregation. But her third grade teacher, Waynne Paskins, who was also her first black teacher, became her mentor.
"She motivated me daily to be the best version of me, work hard, be dedicated, dream big, never let where I come from define who I was as a person, give back to my community in a positive way, and most importantly drilled in me the importance of having an education," Brittingham said. "I want to be the influencers for those who come from areas like the one I come from."
Brittingham said she was greeted with encouragement and motivation when she returned to Delaware Tech from Dr. Michele Warch, Dr. Malinda Hudson, Rick Thompson, Thomas Butterly, Dr. Ellen Marshall, Susan Harris, and Cassandra Gotto. In order to reenroll, she had to write an academic plan and appeal in order to receive financial aid since she had been placed on academic warning with a GPA of 0.59.
"I needed to convince the department chair that, not only would I graduate this time around, but I would do so with honors," Brittingham said. "The spotlight was already on me I just needed to fucus. I knew I would finally have the support system I needed to see me through to graduation."
Unfortunately, in the spring of 2021, Brittingham lost part of her support system when her nephew, Kwantea Hovington, was killed. In her time of despair, Brittingham found strength in one of her instructors, Brandi Nowakowski, who called her and encouraged her to stay focused, stay strong, and lean on her if needed.
"Kwantae played a great contribution to my Delaware Tech return," Brittingham said. "He motivated me to pursue my dreams of being a counselor while continuously reassuring me. He had my back through it all.
"I found myself questioning if I could finish school after he was gone. I was looking at being a third time college drop out. Brandi Nowakowski reached out via phone. We cried together as she told me I could do it, and I believed her."
Brittingham not only stayed enrolled, she excelled. Her most recent GPA was a 3.12, which placed her on the President's List for academic honors. She will be under the graduation tent and hear her name called as she walks across the stage in the spring of 2023, and is now on her way to achieving her dream career and starting a mentoring program for at-risk youth in urban and low-income areas throughout the tri-state area.
"Since attending Delaware Tech, my confidence has been at an all-time high," Brittingham said. "Now, I know I can achieve anything I put my mind to without allowing non-believers to place their fears in me. I have become goal oriented and driven by success. With or without a team I will win because I am determined, have grit, and will not accept failure as an option. I have learned to be more patient in my process even when experiencing delay and lean into God when things are beyond my control."
