April 2012

DSU President Harry L. Williams Honored by Delaware Futures

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Alan Lavin, Delaware Futures honorary chair and DEDO director; Denise Tolliver, Delaware Futures executive director; Dr. Harry L. Williams; and Bruce Kallos, Delaware Futures board president, celebrate the award presented to the DSU president.

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Dr. Harry L. Williams' leadership of Delaware State University has been validated once again, as Delaware Futures has honored him with its prestigious 2012 Haskell/Wyeth Award. Ray Abbott, Dr. Harry L. Williams, DSU alumnus John Ridgeway, and former U.S. Rep. and Del. Gov. Michael N. Castle got together for some quality chat time at the event. The honor was presented on April 19 during the Delaware Futures annual Haskell/Wyeth Award Ceremony held at the Wilmington Club in Wilmington. The inscription on the award states: “This award is for meeting the challenge of motivating young people to overcome every obstacle to become leaders in bringing harmony, hope and love to every human being.” Alan Levin, director of Delaware Economic Development (DEDO) and the honorary chairman of Delaware Futures, presented the award to Dr. Williams. “Dr. Harry Lee Williams recognizes that the students of the Delaware Futures program and the youth in our communities as a whole will become the entrepreneurs, leaders and employers of tomorrow,” said Mr. Levin. In addition to noting DSU’s partnership with Delaware Futures, Mr. Levin said great things are happening at the University under Dr. Williams’ leadership. “When Dr. Williams became president of DSU, he set the goal of establishing the University as one of America’s most highly respected Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” Mr. Levin said. “He has not only met that goal, he has blown it away.” Dr. Williams said he was “humbled” and noted that he was accepting the honor on behalf of Delaware State University. “That is who I represent,” Dr. Williams said. Dr. Harry L. Williams appreciated the attendance at the event of DSU alumni such as Alicia May, who is also a Delaware Futures volunteer. Delaware Futures provides academic, social and motivational support and cultural enrichment that empowers economically disadvantaged high school students to recognize and fulfill their unrealized potential and become matriculated college students. Delaware Futures was established in 1994 and realized its first graduating high school class in 1998. As one of 11 higher education partners with Delaware Futures, DSU has provided scholarships to 19 of the 151 Delaware Futures graduates to attend the University. Five of those students went on to earn not only a bachelor’s degree from DSU, but continued to earn a master’s degree from the institution.

DSU Holds First-Ever Inspired Day of Service

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Eric Suter and Monet LeMon stand with Chrystal Walls, the appreciative future owner of the Habitat for Humanity home in Frederica that DSU students worked on during the March 31 Inspired Day of Service.

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Delaware State University held its first-ever Inspired Day of Service on March 31, with about 250 DSU students working on community service projects at five separate locations throughout the state. See the below slideshow of images from the Inspired Day of Service, followed by more text information: (L-r) DSU students Amy Ruth, Daijah Davis and Bria Shelton help the Western Boys and Girls Club in Laurel to sort through donated books.   The students worked at the People’s Settlement in Wilmington, the Food Bank of Newark, a Habitat for Humanity construction site, the Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club of Laurel, as well as the clean-up of College Road near the campus. The day began with an opening ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center on campus, where all of the students gathered to hear encouraging words from DSU President Harry L. Williams, U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (both senators representing Delaware), state Rep. Darryl Scott, as well as from University supporter and Wilmington activist Bebe Coker. Also in attendance and providing remarks was Mark Edwards, the executive director of Opportunity Nation,  a national organization that selected DSU along with 11 other institutions of higher education as partners to work together in its campaign to promote opportunity, social mobility and access to the American Dream. Sen. Carper and Mr. Edward later joined Dr. Williams in Frederica, where they all pitched in with the students working on the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home. Also working at that site was Dr. Williams’ wife, Dr. Robin Williams, and their son, Gavin. A group of DSU students stayed closed to the campus and collected litter along the area of College Road. Other groups of DSU students did painting at the People’s Settlement in Wilmington, distribution work at the Food Bank of Newark, and landscaping and clean-up at the Boys and Girls Club in Wilmington. The students worked from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch break. The DSU president also went up to the People’s Settlement in Wilmington to assist with the painting project. The Inspired Day of Service was born of the DSU Inspired Scholarship, which requires each recipient to do 10 hours of community service work each semester. The March 31 community service day allowed many of the Inspired Students to fulfill some of that requirement. While the Inspire Scholarship students comprised about half of the students participating in the Inspired Day of Service, the other half were students who had no such requirement, but volunteered anyway.   

DSU Concert Choir to Present Spring Concert

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The DSU Concert Choir will do a musical tribute to Whitney Houston during its 2012 Spring Concert.

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The DSU Concert Choir will present its annual Spring Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 29 in the Education and Humanities Theatre. Dr. Lloyd Mallory, Jr., is completing his first year as the DSU director of Choral Activities. Among the selections to be performed, the DSU Choir will do a tribute to legendary R&B singer Whitney Houston, who passed away earlier this year. The Spring Concert is free and open to the public. The concert will also feature several guest artists – vocalist Paula Higgins of Baltimore, Md., piano recording artist John Stoddart and organist Rodney Whitley. An orchestra will accompany the choir, which will include some members of the DSU Concert Band. The DSU Choir is directed by Dr. Lloyd B. Mallory, Jr., who is completing his first academic year as an associate professor and director of Choral Activities at DSU. “It is the culminating event in which we celebrate all we have learned throughout the year and the graduating seniors, as well as give us an opportunity to thank our supporters,” Dr. Mallory said.

DSU, UD, Del-Tech Presidents Sign Proclamation with Governor

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(L-r) University of Delaware President Patrick T. Harker, Delaware Tech President Orlando J. George, DSU President Harry L. Williams and Gov. Jack A. Markell show their unity after jointly signing a proclamation that reaffirms the partnerships between the three institutions.

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Gov. Jack A. Markell signed a proclamation March 31 that recommits Delaware State University, the University of Delaware, and Delaware Technical and Community College as higher education partners in the First State. DSU President Harry L. Williams (center) noted that Delaware was one of only seven states in the U.S. that did not cut the budgets of higher education last year, and said that the proclamation sign gave the three presidents a chance to thank the governor and the legislature for that. DSU President Harry L. Williams joined University of Delaware President Patrick T. Harker and Delaware Technical & Community College President Orlando J. George, Jr. to sign the proclamation along with Gov. Markell, who held the signing event in his office in Legislative Hall in Dover. Specifically, the proclamation calls for the three institutions of higher education to “recommit the resources and expertise of these great institutions to preserving the rich history and longstanding  tradition of academic excellence in higher education and to leveraging out institutional partnerships in ways that will support, enhance and protect the future of the state of Delaware.” During the meeting with Gov. Markell, Dr. Williams said that the partnership between the three institutions is important. “We are facing difficult times in this country, and we feel that higher education is the answer to drive opportunity in the state,” the DSU president said. Dr. Harker noted that the research collaboration between the institutions gives the state strong standing in science. “What the federal government is looking for is to bring research into the market,” the UD president said. “This is where Delaware is pretty well positioned.” Dr. George noted that the articulation agreements – which allow students to go smoothly from their two-year degree program at Delaware Tech to four-year programs at DSU or UD – brings great benefits to the students of the state. “We are working every day with people at UD and DSU to connect the pathways,” Dr. George said.

DSU Celebrates Earth Day -- Photo Slideshow

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DSU President Harry L. Williams and other University Administrators take a photo moment with the DSU Aspire Scholarship students, who participated in the Earth Day activities.

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DSU observed Earth Day on Friday, April 12 with a morning program in the MLK  Jr. Student Center that featured keynote remarks from Shawn Garvin, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. DSU President Harry L. Williams, Dover Mayor Carlton Carey, Sr., and Jack Tarburton, director of Delaware Rural Development, Dr. Bradley Skelcher, DSU associate provost, and Queen Sheba Owusu-Hassan of the DSU SGA also gave remarks on the program. There were a number of displays in the Student Center, and outside there were tours of the DSU MET Green Training Bus and energy efficient cars on exhibition. In addition, children from the DSU Child Development Lab were enlisted at the University’s sustainable garden to help plant some new vegetables. For images of Earth Day, see the below slideshow of photos:

DSU Arts Center/Gallery hosts Student Honors Show

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Minnie Leggett accompanies her oil painting (to her right) "A Beautiful High," one of five works she has on display in the Student Honors Exhibition in the DSU Arts Center/Gallery.

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The DSU Department of Art is currently presenting its annual Student Honor Exhibition until April 13 in the Arts Center Gallery located just off the inside lobby of the William C. Jason Library on campus. Subin Huang, a Chinese exchange student, shows she has assimilated well in the DSU art community, as her "Purple and Green" is one of several of her works that have been included in the current exhibition. The exhibition – which can be seen daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – is free and open to the public. The 78-piece Student Honors Exhibition features the artwork of 33 DSU art students. For senior art management major Minnie Leggett, it has given her an opportunity to use the exhibition as her artistic swan song. Ms. Leggett, of Bear, Del., has five oil paintings in the show. She said that while her aspiration is to use her degree in art management to work at a gallery or museum, her experience at DSU has developed a growing love for painting. “If I have it my way, I will have my job (in a gallery or museum) and still paint,” Ms. Leggett said. She added that she is also exploring the possibility of going to graduate school. The diverse exhibition features the works of 33 students – which even includes the art of an exchange student from China, Subin Huang. The featured works were selected through a double jury process and represent the various studio coursework offered in the DSU Department of Art. Department faculty will select several top honor awards that will represent the best in specific medium categories. The awards will be announced during a reception that will be held in honor of the exhibition from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12 in the Arts Center/Gallery. The reception is also free and open to the public.

Valuable DSU Historic Items Donated to the University

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Noble W. Prettyman, brother of deceased DSU alumnus John Anthony Prettyman, stands with DSU President Harry W. Williams by one of the display cabinets containing some of the historic items donated from the alumnus' collection. The selected items from the donated collection are currently on display on the 1st floor of the William C. Jason Library on campus.

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Some valuable historic items of Delaware State University have been brought home to the institution by a family member of a deceased DSU alumni. Among the donated collection were Hornet newspapers from the 1950s and 60s. Noble W. Prettyman,  the brother of DSU alumnus James Anthony Prettyman, class of 1969, has acted on behalf of his deceased brother and has returned many historical DSU-related items to his alma mater. James A. Prettyman, who earned a B.S. in Business Administration passed away on April 25, 2010. Two years minus one day later on April 24, Noble Prettyman was honored with gratitude by DSU President Harry L. Williams and other administrators and staff at the William C. Jason Library, where he has returned the DSU items that had been a part of James’ collection. The Jason Library is currently exhibiting some of the donated memorabilia in several display cabinets on the first floor. A treasure trove of historic items – the memorabilia largely includes preserved items from the 1950s and 1960s. There are also items from the 1930s and items from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, reflecting a lifelong passion for collecting DSU memorabilia. The collection includes photos, pennants,  printed event programs, academic catalogues, yearbooks, Hornet newspapers, newspaper articles, DSC/DSU t-shirts and sweatshirts, directories, sports material, and many other valuable items. “My brother so dearly loved this college, and I thought it was the right thing to do,” Mr. Noble Prettyman said. Noble described his brother James as one who loved young people and loved his college. “He got over 1,000 students from Rochester to come to Delaware State,” Noble said. “He helped them with their paperwork and if they had trouble paying for their book, he helped them with that too.” The Prettyman family history at DSU goes back to the institution’s beginning in the late 1800s. His great uncle, John Boykins Aikens, was one of the first two graduates from the then-State College for Colored Students, receiving his diploma in 1898 During the event celebrating the donation of history items, Noble regaled the gathering with his account of the Prettyman family, called the “first professional black family in Milton, Delaware.” His grandfather was the first colored business man in the town of Milton as the owner and operator of an ice house. The business was taken over by Noble and James’ father James Aikens Prettyman who operated the business until 1970.

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