Engineering a successful Alumni Association

Meet Shanté Stargell Hastings—the new president of the UD Alumni Association and a 2000 graduate in civil and environmental engineering.

Shanté is married to Jason N. Hastings who also graduated from UD in civil and environmental engineering in 2000, earning a master’s degree in civil engineering in 2001.

In addition to being Double Dels, both are Double DelDOTs. They both work for the Delaware Department of Transportation where Shanté is a project manager in planning and designing roads.

Blue Hen loyalty runs in the family as Shanté’s great-grandfather Elbert C. Wisner graduated from UD in 1952 in engineering.

In addition, the couple are the proud parents of a brand new future Blue Hen. Lillette (Lilly) Grace Hastings was born on June 22. “I’m learning it all,” Shanté says about Lilly, “what she needs and when
she needs it.”

Hastings officially took office as Alumni Association president on July 1, and with her new position, her job at DelDOT and a new daughter, she is finding this a busy year.

An enthusiastic alumna, Hastings, who grew up in New Jersey, says her college years at UD were a “great experience.” She was president of her sorority, Sigma Kappa, worked in the admissions office, was active in the Institute of Transportation Engineers on campus and served as a Spirit Ambassador.

After graduation, Hastings became an active alumna,
first serving on the scholarship committee and then becoming chairperson. She was elected
to the alumni Board of Directors in 2003.

Loyal blue and gold fans of the Fightin’ Blue Hens, Shanté and Jason have season football tickets and join with friends to attend all the home games. They also attend other alumni events.

Hastings is a cheerleader for the Alumni Association, its scholarship program and what it accomplishes. There are two kinds, she said, Alumni Enrichment Awards and the Alumni Scholars Program.

The enrichment awards are intended for undergraduates, graduate students or registered student organizations to assist with research, travel, attending conferences and other activities. The award committee meets four times a year to consider applications.

The Alumni Scholars Program is intended to attract academically talented students to the University with preference given to children of alumni. The merit scholarships are given to freshmen and continue throughout their four years at UD.

Hastings says her goals as president are to let alumni know what the Alumni Association does and to encourage them to become actively involved.

-Sue Moncure