STUDENTS AND FACULTY VALUE SUPPORT

Student profile

Becky Ettinger is an energetic and enthusiastic sophomore elementary education major who has a beautiful dream. "When I graduate," she said, "I plan to teach little people how to be good big people."

It is a dream she believes can come true, thanks in large measure to the generosity of two University of Delaware graduates—Joseph J. DeStefano, AS ’68, and his wife Judith Ann DeStefano, ED ’70.

The couple has donated $100,000 to the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy in conjunction with the five-year, $225 million Campaign for Delaware to establish the Joseph J. and Judith Ann DeStefano Scholarship Fund. The fund was created to provide a scholarship to a student in CHEP on the basis of financial need and academic merit, and Ettinger is grateful to be the first recipient.

"This scholarship means a great deal to me because it really has made it possible for me to even be here at all, never mind lessening the emotional burden I would have if I was always worrying about whether I could continue to attend the University due to financial reasons," the Bolton, Mass., native said.

Ettinger said the support has made it possible for her to succeed "academically and personally."

"I think they are extremely generous to help me," Ettinger said of the DeStefanos. "They offered me this assistance without even knowing me. I owe them a lot."