(L-r) Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Dick Carter, Dr. Reba Hollingsworth, and Gov. John Carney, who presented Mr. Carter and Dr. Hollingsworth each with the Order of the First State award. The Governor made the presentation on the occasion of Dr. Hollingsworth's 98th birthday. — *In this photo:* (L-r) Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Dick Carter, Dr. Reba Hollingsworth, and Gov. John Carney, who presented Mr. Carter and Dr. Hollingsworth each with the Order of the First State award. The Governor made the presentation on the occasion of Dr. Hollingsworth’s 98th birthday.

On Campus

DSU Alumna Dr. Reba Hollingsworth awarded Order of the First State

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Gov. John Carney has honored one of DSU’s oldest alumna, Dr. Reba Hollingsworth, by presenting her with the Order of the First State award in celebration of her 98th birthday. Gov. Carney obtained a copy of Dr. Hollingsworth's birth certificate from the State Archives

Dr. Hollingsworth, Class of 1949, received the honor during an Oct. 23 special ceremony held at the Delaware State Archives. Gov. Carney also presented the Order of the First State to Dick C. Carter, a longtime administrative assistant in the State Senate and now a retired Special Project Director Emeritus.

Both Dr. Hollingsworth and Mr. Carter have served for years on the Delaware Heritage Commission.

“These two have worked together in an incredible way for Delaware Heritage Commission,” Gov. Carney said. “Dr. Hollingworth and Dick Carter have enabled us to understand the history and heritage (of Delaware) and to appreciate it and show the changes in our history that need to be made, and the help us document it in the State Archives.”

Gov. Carney said that Dr. Hollingsworth has been an “incredible blessing” to him. DSU President Tony Allen presented Dr. Hollingsworth with a bouquet of roses.

“Every year I meet with her each year on her birthday. We sit down and have something to eat, and I ask her to tell something about her story,” Gov. Carney said. “And she tells her story, and it is the good and the bad. It always comes with some medicine about some of the flaws in our history that we all know about. I have learned a lot from this woman.”

A large contingent of Dr. Hollingworth’s supporters attended the ceremony, including biological family members and friends, her Whatcoat United Methodist Church family, and her alma mater family from Delaware State University.

Dr. Hollingsworth’s life is one that overcame the years of segregation in Delaware – which included her time as a student at Booker T. Washington Middle School, the State College High School and Delaware State College, from which she earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. She later earned a 1970 Master’s Degree in Education Guidance from the University of Delaware and a 2001 Ph.D. in Counseling from Pacific Western University. DSU alumnus Frank Marshall presented Dr. Hollingsworth with a bag moment in honor of her 98th birthday.

In addition to her retirement from her livelihood as an educator and school guidance counselor, Dr. Hollingsworth is a life member of the NAACP, a past president of the African American Historical Society, and faithfully maintains a strong and active bond with her DSU alma mater.