Vol. 18, No. 31	May 13, 1999

The reason I donate money to the University is because I feel it is time to give something back. The University has been a big part of my life for more than 30 years, and I have been given exceptional opportunities to grow professionally in my career. I started at UD as a TV technician in 1966. Since that time, I have moved up in stages, until I was promoted to director in 1992.

"The benefits package at the University is excellent: I bought my home through the UD mortgage program and my pickup truck through the U-Del Federal Credit Union. My children used to swim, play racquetball and basketball in the gym.

"I made a commitment to be a Delaware Diamond for five years," Hearn said. "I did not designate the money for anything specific because I have benefited from so many areas within the University.

"My duties at the University include administering and directing the departmental budget, technical support for classrooms, the distance learning program and the performance events in Mitchell Hall and Pearson Hall auditorium, visual media design and video production," Hearn said.

"We have 11 distance-learning classrooms at the University, connected by fiber links, for two-way TV transmission. We are currently working on a link between Townsend Hall and the Agricultural Research and Education Center in Georgetown.

"The University won the award for outstanding achievement in higher education in 1996 from the U.S. Distance-Learning Association, the largest organization for distance-learning. UD won the award due to the range of distance learning services we provide. I am very proud to be a part of this."

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