Newest Class of Dreamers arrives

The Delaware State University’s newest class of Dreamers – the Class of 2023 – were welcomed by the previous three classes and U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester during an Aug. 29 reception held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Downtown Dover.

For images from the Dreamer reception, click on the below link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48216028@N03/albums/72157710616913438/show

Rep. Rochester shared the story of her rise in politics and encouraged the Dreamers to do all that they can to make their dreams a reality.

“You need to see it, say it and believe it,” she said.

The Dreamers also received encouraging words from Rev. Carlos Reyes Rodriguez, coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Ministries for the Delmarva Peninsula Conference of the United Methodist Church, and Felecia Russell, an undocumented immigrate from Jamaica who grew up in the United States and currently is the Director of College and Careers at Great Oaks Charter School in Wilmington, Del.

Kevin Noriega, director of the University’s Opportunity Scholarship Program, also spoke to the group.

The Dreamers are undocumented immigrant students who are enrolled at Delaware State University through the Opportunity Scholarship. Although they were academically high performing students in their high schools, they lived in states that shut them out from enrollment in state institutions of higher education due to their immigration status.

The Opportunity Scholarship Program – created to give such deserving students a chance to earn a college degree – is funded by TheDream.US, an organization founded by Donald E. Graham, chairman of Graham Holding Company and the former CEO and chairman of the Washington Post.

Delaware State University has annually accepted Opportunity Scholarship recipients since fall 2016. This year’s 37 new Dreamers bring the total number of Opportunity Scholarship students at the University to 150 currently enrolled. The first class that enrolled in 2016 is on course to graduate in May 2020.

The Dreamers as a group have made the most of their higher education opportunity at Delaware State University by their continued high academic performance. The group has an average GPA of 3.5, according to Mr. Noriega.