Small Town News

Scholarship donors meet recipients at Del Tech luncheon

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Scholarship donors and the students who benefited from their generosity were able to meet at the annual Scholarship Donor & Recipient Luncheon held March 25 at Delaware Technical & Community.College, Owens Campus.

The event kicked off as four children who benefited from the Little Scholars Child Care Scholarship thanked Matt Parks, director of investments for Discover Bank, by presenting him with a framed work of art that they had created. Discover's Little Scholars Child Care Scholarship pays the tuition for children of Delaware Tech students to attend the Child Development Center, located on campus; the scholarship was awarded to six students this year.

Discover Bank also provided an underwriting sponsorship for this event for the second year in a row, and the Discover Foundation funds scholarships for numerous students every year.

"The college has provided our bank with an exceptional outlet to improve educational opportunity for young people in the community," said Parks. "And the exceptional students [at Delaware Tech] continue to inspire us."

Dr. Ileana Smith, vice president and Owens Campus director, discussed the reasons donor scholarships have been created, which include supporting the workforce in the donor's field, giving back to the community and in memory of a loved one.

"Whatever the reason, donors have so much to share. They have stories that touch our students and give them a deeper motivation," said Smith. "Donors, we sincerely thank you."

She also spoke about the students who juggle multiple responsibilities in order to continue their education

"They also have heartwarming stories. They have hopes, they have needs, they face challenges and make sacrifices," said Smith. "They are here because they strive for education; they strive to improve their lives."

Dr. Louis Owens, college trustee and chairman of the Owens Campus Development Council, spoke to donors about the significance of their contributions.

"You've been overwhelmingly valuable to the college and our students," said Owens, who is a donor. "You donate to support students and an institution [Delaware Tech] that you value and cherish, and in doing so provide a positive example for all of us."

The featured speakers included two scholarship recipients, Jodie Green and Pete Stephanos, who shared their stories with the audience.

Jodie Green, of Selbyville, a second-year paralegal student and a recipient of the Joshua M. Freeman Endowed Scholarship, discussed the impact the scholarship has had on her life.

"Without this scholarship, it would have been very difficult for me to attend [college]," said Green, who also received the Freeman scholarship last year. "My experience at Delaware Tech has been life-changing; I have watched my confidence and self-esteem grow."

Pete Stephanos, a second-year elementary education student from Lewes, received the Education Club Book Scholarship. Education is a second career for Stephanos, who had been working full-time until he decided that he was not doing what he had wanted to do with his life -making a difference.

"Scholarships like this make it easier to focus on coursework rather than paying bills," said Stephanos. "I am very passionate about what I do. I look forward to becoming a teacher and making a positive impact on our youth."

The Scholarship Donor and Recipient Luncheon was established in 1997 to honor the student recipients and donors of private scholarships and give them the rewarding experience of meeting.

Private scholarships are a vital supplement to federal and state financial aid in providing the financial resources that allow students to attend Delaware Tech.

These are the only scholarships which reward students for high academic achievement and/or provide greatly needed financial aid to those students whose monetary needs cannot be met by federal or state aid programs.





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