UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 33, Page 13
May 26, 1994
Worth quoting; Alumni return, share experiences and memories
Alumni recipients of the 1994 Presidential Citation for Outstanding
Achievement offer comments on their experiences at the University.
* * *
"The University of Delaware provided a balanced menu of academia and
hands-on professional and leadership opportunities in an environment
that fostered independent choices and accountability. I appreciated
not only the versatile educational possibilities but also those
experiences that challenged by faith and personal development. Over
the past 16 years I have had the privilege of a rewarding career
working with special children in special places, graduate studies, and
the splendor of a lovely family and good friendships. I feel these
later years echo joyfully many of the discoveries from my University
of Delaware days. For this I am very grateful."
-Valerie Zingler Martin
* * *
"I am very proud of the educational foundation which I received at the
University of Delaware, and especially in chemical engineering. I
believe that the basic approach to problem solving, communication
skills and personal discipline developed as an undergraduate student,
have been keys to my success since graduation."
-Linda Justice Myrick
* * *
"My four years at the University of Delaware were extremely fulfilling
and permitted me to acquire the foundation needed for my work in the
field of education. The dedication and competence of my professors
inspired me to choose a career of educating students who require
support above and beyond the norm."
-Mary Ann Mieczkowski
* * *
"The University of Delaware was my second college career. I originally
attended Vanderbilt in 1967, but was not really ready to focus. I
commuted to the University and was worried about my ability to keep up
while working. One of the first courses I took was Chemistry 103. Dr.
Wood introduced me to a method of doing problems which I still use
today, and have tried to begin teaching to my children. Although I was
a science major, I thoroughly enjoyed the non-science courses I was
able to take, especially the history courses. The education I received
at the University of Delaware was the foundation to all I've been able
to accomplish."
-H. Dean McSpadden
* * *
"What stands out most to me about my four years at the University of
Delaware is that it was a time when I decided to dedicate my career to
public service. When I first arrived at the University I was a
mediocre high school student who didn't apply himself. The University
exposed me to the potential of government in society. I was fascinated
by the breadth of issues government could address and the importance
of having strong stewardship of government institutions. The political
science coursework and professor I worked with shaped my future and
are responsible in large part for making me work as hard as I do to
show how government can work to improve communities."
-Douglas Rothwell
* * *
"My years at the University of Delaware were a time of joy. Sherry and
I moved there from Michigan so that I could enter the unique Ph.D.
program in the College of Education. The rigor of the program, the
inspiration of the faculty and students, the opportunity to live in
the east, and the challenges of starting a family on a student's wage
all conspired to make those years particularly memorable and
wonderful. At Delaware, I learned to think like a scholar and to write
effectively; I developed career goals that continue to govern my life;
and, I gained many warm, continuing friendships."
-Timothy Shanahan
* * *
"Without a doubt, my experience at the University of Delaware was on
one of the most positive of my life. Besides meeting my future wife
there, the academic programs left me well prepared for the challenges
I have met since graduation.
While a student, I had the privilege of serving as a resident
assistant for three years, an opportunity which provided me with
valuable leadership training. Through that, I also met a wonderful
group of enthusiastic and highly motivated fellow students and staff,
and the experience remains the focal point for many of my fond
remembrances of university life."
-Wayne A. Smith
* * *
"Repeatedly, I have found that my degrees from the University have
opened doors of opportunity and advancement, accompanied by a high
level of expectation. And, repeatedly, I have discovered that the
faculty at the University have given me the necessary tools to make
the most of each opportunity.
The fourth floor of Purnell Hall, the economics department, was my
home for a number of years. My training in economics, the support and
advice of the faculty, and the friends I made created a foundation for
me to build upon. Today, those experiences have helped me, not only to
achieve in my field of study but also to give back to the University,
to my community, and to help to create a new generation of people who
'give something back.'"
-Ann Shepard Visalli
* * *
"My experience at the University of Delaware was unique in that I
received my undergraduate and graduate degrees all from this one
institution. The opportunities provided to mesh academic work with
practical experiences stand out in my mind as a particular strength of
the College of Human Resources. As an undergraduate, my academic
coursework was supplemented with practical experiences at the
Laboratory Preschool and at other community early childhood programs.
As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to serve as the assistant
project director to a federally funded statewide project educating
family day care providers. These varied experiences have been of
tremendous value in the workplace."
-Linda C. Whitehead
* * *
"My fond memories of the University of Delaware and particularly, of
the communication department, include those of enthusiastic teachers
and fellow students in a non-traditional learning environment.
Broadcast production, in particular, brought us out of the classroom
and into the 'real world.' This hands-on experience during classes and
winter-term television projects gave me a solid base of knowledge to
land a productive internship, which afforded me the practical
experience to get my start in the working world after graduation. I am
delighted that the communication department has continued to evolve
into a multi-faceted curriculum which makes it competitive with any
university. I would enthusiastically recommend the University of
Delaware to future communications majors."
-Mark J. DiNardo
* * *
"I was not an academic achiever when I entered the University of
Delaware in September 1971. Indeed, my high school guidance counselor
actually told me not to bother going to college. At freshman
orientation at the University, based on computer projections, it was
estimated that I would flunk out. Fortunately, things didn't end so
badly-I graduated with honors and distinction.
What happened? It is very simple: I was challenged. Lord Acton once
said, 'Life is a matter of application.' That is so true. At Delaware,
I applied myself academically, really for the first time.
As a political science major in one of the finest departments and
programs in the nation, I was awakened and motivated by wonderful
professors-real, natural teachers-Dr. Jim Soles, Dr. Jim Oliver and
Dr. John Deiner. Dr. Soles is, of course, legendary for caring so much
about so many individual students over the past quarter century. He
personally has inspired more young people than anyone I have ever
seen, anywhere. I will always be grateful to him and my other fine
teachers and advisers in Newark.
At Delaware, matter-of-factly, without pretension, my assumptions
about politics, economics and history were completely turned upside-
down and whole new worlds of ideas were opened up to me. It was while
at Delaware that I first discovered the power of ideas, the importance
of information and the indomitability of the human spirit."
-Charles Lewis III
* * *
"I entered the University of Delaware in the fall of 1970 as a
seasoned freshman. I had spent two summers at the University. I was in
the Upward Bound Program. And, although admitted to Delaware in late
1969, I elected to attend the Summer Qualifiers summer school in 1970.
Thus, I entered the U. of D. quite familiar surroundings with a sense
of ownership, having had been the beneficiary of two excellent pre-
college programs. My stay at the U. of D. was truly a growing and
learning experience. Looking back I find that my academic, football,
and social experiences played a key role in my development. The skills
that I discovered and enhanced, I carry with me today. The discussion
in political science and black studies classes will forever be with
me. That discussion often continued with friends, sometimes foes,
outside the classroom. No doubt, that discussion directed my dream of
becoming an attorney. And, it reinforced my instincts to always have a
voice in my community."
-Theopalis K. Gregory
* * *
"Sixteen years after graduating from the university with a Ph.D. in
chemistry, I still feel the most significant part of my education was
learning how to respect people as individuals, interact in a
professional manner, promote science and how to motivate people to
achieve challenging objectives. Obviously, this type of education is
provided by individuals with leadership, understanding dedication and
a true sense of awareness of what it means to teach. I was very
fortunate to find all of these qualities in Prof. Burnaby Munson.
Overall Prof. Munson's influence and my experiences at the University
certainly have had a significant impact on any success I have enjoyed
in my professional life."
-Frank W. Hatch