UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 26, Page 1
April 8, 1993
Serious scholars brave and benefit from blizzard of '93

Dear Mr. Hamilton,
     Thanks so much for putting up with us for the past few days and nights
(and days and nights and days and nights) ....

     So begins a group letter to David Hamilton, assistant director of
admissions, who acted as chaperone and general factotum for the Eugene du
Pont Memorial Distinguished Scholar Award candidates during the annual
Friday/ Saturday overnight visit to campus. This year, the weekend
coincided with the great storm of '93 so the University hosted some of the
high school seniors until Monday when they finally could board their planes
and trains.
     Hamilton and Gwen Davis, executive secretary in admissions, were the
hero and heroine of the snowbound weekend, staffing phones, making
arrangements, interacting with the young scholars and keeping in constant
touch with their parents, according to Bruce Walker, associate provost of
admissions and student financial aid.
     The 58 student candidates arrived in Newark on Friday, March 12, and
were housed in the Howard Johnson Motel, on Route 896, with the exception
of one student who was starring in her high school musical that night and
was mushed in the next day. After a dinner at Clayton Hall, a group
representing the current 40 Du Pont scholars on campus put on a show for
the students, as is the tradition. This year's entertainment took the form
of a TV talk show, with good-natured ribbing and take-offs about Delaware.
     The next day, the students were bussed through the snow to Clayton
Hall for seminars, to write essays and for interviews with the selection
committee. At the height of the storm, the students were taken to a
luncheon held in their honor at the home of President and Mrs. David P.
Roselle.
     As the day progressed, it became clear that the weather forecast was
on target and many students would be unable to get home. Davis went into
action, lining up motel rooms for 49 unexpected guests.
     "Because of the forecast, I gave all the parents my home phone number
when they dropped off the students, so that those who could not reach
Clayton Hall because of the busy lines could leave messages for me with my
children. We were in constant touch with parents, and no students were
allowed to leave without parental consent," Davis said.
      "We had one student whose father had made it to Clayton Hall, but she
asked him to let her stay on because she was having such a good time.
Another parent decided to spend the night at the motel because of the
roads," Davis recalled.
     Davis was alerted by a parent that the Bob's Big Boy restaurant
adjoining the motel was about to close at 5 p.m. The first shift had come
in at 4 a.m. and, as no other workers had been able to get there, the staff
had been on duty more than 12 hours.
     "I begged them to stay open to feed the students, and they agreed. And
they were open again to give them breakfast the next morning," Davis said.
     "By the time the students left, the staff had gotten to know them and
hated to see them go," Hamilton said.
     Since parents were unable to pick up the students as planned at
Clayton Hall, Davis called upon the Department of Public Safety for a
driver to make the unscheduled run from there to the motel late Saturday
afternoon. Bus driver Jo Ann Barnett agreed to make the two trips through
the ice and snow to accommodate all the students and their baggage.
     Once back at the motel, the students congregated in the two "party
centers," playing cards and Trivial Pursuit or watching movies, but most of
all getting acquainted and having fun. They also did some improvised
sledding.
     "The spirit was wonderful," Davis said.
     "There was a lot of camaraderie, and everything went smoothly,"
Hamilton added.
     Davis's husband, Jim, and son, Jimmie, helped some students dig out
their cars from Clayton Hall on Sunday. By then, many parents were able to
pick up their daughters and sons.
     The scholarship applicants are always given Delaware sweatshirts as
mementos of their visit. One father was impressed when he picked up his
daughter. "What a school! Not only do they house and feed you, they give
you clean clothes," he said.
     By Monday, 16 students remained at the motel. The students were
appreciative of all that had been done for them, concluding their letter by
saying: "Seriously, we thank you for all the time you spent talking to us
and our parents to ensure our safety. Our anxiety would have been much
worse if it weren't for your assistance...."
     After a Monday morning dig-out of more cars, and after the last high
school senior departed, Hamilton went home two days later than anticipated,
taking his new $35 snow shovel. He spent the remainder of the memorable
weekend shoveling his driveway. As for Davis, after the last farewell, she
was back at her desk in the admissions office.
                                        -Sue Swyers Moncure