HORNET
HIGHLIGHTS E-newsletter from the Office of the President | MAY 2016
On April 26, 200 members of the DSU community gathered on the football field at Alumni Stadium to form a human replica of the logo for the University’s 125th anniversary.
A Time to Celebrate, a Time to Commemorate, a Time to Collaborate
Acknowledging DSU’s 125th Birthday Greetings! On May 15, Delaware State University will acknowledge the 125th Anniversary of its founding. We plan to celebrate this major milestone with a myriad of events, activities and programs through the end of the calendar year. During Homecoming 2016, the DSU family will come together for a major birthday party on Homecoming night where we will celebrate our past, honor our present and look to our future. We have much to be proud of and to be thankful for. Borrowing paraphrased inspiration from the lyrics of the Black National Anthem … DSU has come over a way that with tears has been watered, fraught with challenges and stumbling blocks. Yet, with a steady beat of 125 years, we have emerged from a gloomy past to where we now shine at last where the white gleam of our rising star is cast.
On May 3, Gov. Jack Markell, seated, signed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8, which honors DSU in the observance of its 125th anniversary and designates May 15 as DSU Day in Delaware. Full Story Happy Birthday, DSU!
President Harry L. Williams
Students from DSU and Johnson C. Smith University show Bill Gates some new moves during a visit to meet with him in Seattle, Wash.
Bill Gates speaks on DSU student success efforts on corporate website
Bill Gates has posted a video on his GatesNotes.com website in which he shares his thoughts about the work of Delaware State University to achieve student success for low-income and first-generation students. The video is a continuation of a partnership that has developed between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DSU. The Gates Foundation is closely following
DSU’s cutting-edge Individualized Development Plan (IDP) Initiative – which has been launched with the Fall 2015 freshman class – and is supporting the University’s rigorous assessment of it through a $1.2 million grant. Full story and video
Vice President Biden to give remarks during May Commencement On Saturday, May 7, Delaware State University will hold its 128th Commencement exercises with remarks by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the launch of the celebration of its 125th anniversary.
CNN features DSU in segment on diversity DSU was recently featured by CNN in a segment that focused on the issue of diversity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. To see the CNN segment, click here. 2
President Harry L. Williams and women’s tennis student athletes Colleen Beck and Maria Rachi were featured on the CNN segment, which was produced by Gayle Contessa and on-camera personality Tanzina Vega.
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in Alumni Stadium. Due to heightened security for Commencement, security screenings will be in place for all guests, who are strongly encouraged to arrive early. For more information about the day, please visit desu.edu/commencement.
Students support 5th Inspired Day of Service Delaware State University’s Inspire Scholarship recipients refused to let the rain damper their core value spirits of “community” and “outreach” as they pressed on to take part in the University’s 5th annual “Inspired Day of Service” on Saturday, April 2. More than 300 students participated in the community service event, fanning out to seven locations to give of themselves and represent DSU. Full story and photos
Dr. Arthur Tucker, DSU professor emeritus; Shawn Garvin, administrator of EPA Region III; Dr. Susan Yost, retired DSU professor; DSU President Harry Williams; Dr. Michael Valenti, forestry administrator, Delaware Forest Service; Alexandra Davis, DSU Tree Campus representative; Dr. Cynthia Hong-Wa, DSU Herbarium curator; and Dr. Vita Pickrum, vice president of DSU Institutional Advancement, stand with DSU’s Tree Campus USA plaque.
DSU hosts Earth Day observance, is named Tree Campus USA for 5th year Delaware State University held its annual Earth Day observance April 22 and celebrated the University’s reaffirmed designation as a Tree Campus USA. Joining President Harry L. Williams for the program were Shawn Garvin, administrator of the EPA Region III, and Dr. Michael A. Valenti, forestry administrator, Delaware Forest Service of the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
Originally awarded the designation in 2012, the Tree Campus USA status has now been held by DSU for five consecutive years. The designation goes to schools that have an implemented plan for tree care that is supported by school allocations, an established Campus Tree Advisory Committee, related education outreach, as well as an annual observance of Arbor Day. While being among 255 schools in the country to have the Tree Campus USA designation, DSU is the only
school in Delaware with that title. In 2012, DSU was the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to earn the designation. The DSU main campus in Dover currently has hundreds of trees that are represented by 130 different species. In addition to the Earth Day festivities on April 22, the University pre-launched the 125th Anniversary Celebration that day with refreshments, music and bubbles. 3
From left are First Lady’s Hats and Gloves Tea “Honorable Honorees” State Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, State of Delaware First Lady Carla Markell and State Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, along with the event’s host, DSU First Lady Dr. Robin Williams.
First Lady’s Hats and Gloves Tea
Women of DSU, community show support for Honors Program Dr. Robin Williams presented the inaugural “First Lady’s Hats and Gloves Tea – An Evening of Elegance” on March 17, drawing 300 women (and a few men) from the University and the surrounding Delaware community who came together for fellowship, dinner and entertainment to benefit the DSU Honors Program. The First Lady’s Tea recognized three women as the “Honorable Honorees” of the event – Carla Markell, first lady of the State of Delaware and wife of Gov. Jack Markell; State Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, Delaware House of Representatives 2nd District; and State Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, majority whip of the Delaware State Senate, 2nd District.
Coming Events MAY 15 – DSU Day celebrated in Delaware in honor of the 125th Anniversary DSU Drumline to perform at NASCAR pre-races ceremony at Dover Downs
The mistress of ceremonies was DSU alumna Kathleen Charlot, Class of 2011, former SGA president and currently a sales manager for Dell Secure Work in Atlanta, Ga. The event featured entertainment by DSU students that included the DSU Jazz Combo, a sextet from the DSU Concert Choir, poet Kamara Rice, and soloists Chelsea Taylor and Jahselah White. Dr. Robin Williams and Virginia Carson were co-chairs of the 13-member First Lady’s Tea Executive Committee, which was supported by the work of 33 Tea Subcommittee members. There was also a group of students who served as ushers and escorts during the event. Photo slideshow
MAY 18 – President Williams to deliver State of the University Address at Rehoboth Beach Country Club 8 – 9:30 a.m. MAY – Thurgood Marshall College Fund 25-28 2016 Member Universities Professional Institute (MUPI) in Atlanta, GA, in partnership with Wells Fargo and DSU
We’re almost there! The Greater Than One: Campaign for Students is nearly at $18.3 million in contributions toward a $20 million goal. We’re almost there — help bring this one home with a contribution today! It all goes to ensure student success.
DONATE TODAY. desu.edu/give JUNE 7 – Town Gown Breakfast (local businesses) at Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center | 8:30 am. Register at desu.edu/ towngown JUNE 8 – 21st Annual Hornet Golf Classic at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club desu.edu/golfclassic
For more information, please call the Division of Institutional Advancement at 302.857.6055.