*In this photo:* Armani McCoy explains the use of the quail pen during the 1700s to visitors at the John Dickinson Plantation.

On Campus

Jumpstart Students Present Delaware History

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Tiarnique Washington show an antique stereo console at the Victrola Museum A group of new DSU freshmen recently helped four state historic sites tell the story of Delaware history, and thereby get a “jumpstart” on the building of their community service resumes.

The students gave presentations at the Old State House, the Johnson Victrola Museum, the John Bell House, and the John Dickinson Plantation as part of a partnership between the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the First State Heritage Park and DSU.

The DSU students are in the Jumpstart Program, which allows academically advanced incoming freshmen to begin their academic journey during the summer, prior to the traditional fall semester. (L-r) Lauryn Turnage, Kiana Ross, Sydnee Bryant and Christian Chapman gave presentations at the Old Sttate House

At the Victrola Museum three students – Aaron Lawson of Washington, D.C., Ciara McDonald of Crofton, Md. and Tiarnique Washington or Fresno, Calif. – gave presentations on how recording technology developed over the last 100 years, from the first use of a sound microphone to the development of CDs and IPods.

At the Old State House on Dover’s historic The Green, four students – Lauryn Turnage of Upper Marlboro, Md., Kiana Ross of Middletown, Del., Sydnee Bryant of Alexandria, Va., and Christian Chapman of Yonkers, N.Y. – gave presentations on the stories of enslaved individuals and the role that free Delaware blacks and others played in helping them journey to freedom. Chase Porter, Aishah Bradley and Jada Wright tell the story of the "Dover Eight" at the John Bell House

At the John Bell House on The Green, three students – Chase Porter of Middletown, Del., Aishah Bradley of Jacksonville, Fla., and Jada Wright of Boyds, Md. – told the heroic story of the “Dover Eight,” a group of fugitives who narrowly escaped slavery in Dover in 1857.

Mr. Chase said that his involvement in the presentations revealed history that was new to him. Izhane Wilson and Yazmin Harris depict life in the 1700s at the John Dickinson Plantation

“I am from Middletown, Del., and I never heard the story of the Dover Eight,” he said. “It was very interesting.”

As far as presenting the information he learned, Mr. Chase said that his previous participation in high school leadership organizations prepared him well for this opportunity. “I think our entire group did well,” he added.

At the John Dickinson Plantation in Kitts Hummock (just south of Dover Air Force Base), five students – Izhané Wilson of Ashbury Park, N.J., Yazmin Harris of Baltimore, Md., Michael Robinson of Philadelphia, (L-r) Museum presenter Barbara Carrow and DSU student Michael Robinson talk about life at the John Dickinson Plantation Miekeya McClendon of Hartford, Conn., and Armani McCoy of New York City – recreated the lives of people associated with the historic plantation of the legendary Continental Congress members of the 1700s.

Ms. McCoy said it was interesting history to learn and then present.

“I learned more about indentured servant contracts,” she said. “If a family could afford to send their children to school, they could indenture them.”