When Megan DiMuzio, CHEP '99, and Gretchen Haas, AS '99, accepted their diplomas at Commencement ceremonies in May, they continued family legacies that date back as far as 1877.

Among the long line of UD graduates in Megan's family are her parents, Carolyn (Nesbit) DiMuzio, CHEP '71, and All-American UD quarterback Thomas DiMuzio, AS '71. Her grandmother Ann (Clayton) Nesbit, CHEP '42; her late great-aunt Helen (Clayton) Latshaw, AS '34; Helen's daughter-in-law Lynn (Odorizzi) Latshaw, AS '74, CHEP '87M; and Lynn's sons Joshua Latshaw, AS '97, and Jason Latshaw, CHEP '99, are also among the family's alumni.

Ann Nesbit explains that the UD tradition started with her husband's grandmother, Annie M. Willis. "I have her diploma framed on my wall. It is from the Normal Department of Delaware College, dated June 20, 1877, and signed by W.H. Purnell," says Nesbit. Not only was Willis the first of family member known to graduate from UD, she was among the earliest women graduates from Delaware. Delaware College became a coeducational institution from 1872-1885, with the first woman graduating in 1874.

Gretchen's family shares a similar legacy. Her parents, Patricia (Lynch) Haas, HNS '70, and Ted Haas, AG '71, were classmates of Tom and Carolyn DiMuzio. Grandmother Jane Lynch, CHEP '40, studied home economics with Ann Nesbit. Other Haas/Lynch family members who graduated from UD include Gretchen's sister Kristin Haas, CHEP '96; aunt Sandra (Lynch) Hayden, AS '81; uncle T. Greg Lynch, AS '76; and Greg's wife Patricia (Yearsley) Lynch, CHEP '77, '85M.

Jane Lynch's cousins Bruce Jarrell, EG '69; Nobel "Jerry" Jarrell, AS '67; and Bob Jarrell, AS '71, are also alumni. Another branch of the family tree that follows a UD line started with Jane's cousin Dorothea Theil Donoho, CHEP '37, now deceased, and continued through Dorothea's daughter Mary (Donoho) Anderson, CHEP '67, and Mary's daughter Dorothea Theil Anderson, CHEP '94.

There are also a number of relatives of Ted Haas who are UD graduates, including his grandfather J.K. Newman; great-uncle J.K. Knolls "Bus" Bowen; great-aunt Katherine "Kitty" Bowen; and Bus and Kitty's daughter Louise (Bowen) Martin.

In addition to their UD legacies, the families share a hometown, Seaford, Del., and a love of Delaware football. The Lynches recently passed on their season tickets to daughter Patricia and son-in-law Ted, who remember watching Tom DiMuzio lead UD to victory during their days as undergraduates. The Haases now enjoy seeing the DiMuzios as fellow spectators at the games.

Jane Lynch, who fondly remembers singing in the UD choir under the direction of Anthony Loudis, describes her family's UD legacy quite simply: "It's a good University. That's all there is to it!"

Speaking to a Commencement crowd of more than 25,000, FBI Director Louis J. Freeh reflected on the character and integrity of young Americans, from those soldiers who fought at D-Day 55 years ago to those UD graduates sitting on the field of Delaware Stadium May 29. Freeh urged the graduates beginning their new careers to keep in mind qualities of citizenship, patriotism, character and honesty--basic core values "which have guided you well to this day and which will keep our country strong and free in the years to come." Alumni delegates from the classes of 1930s through 1998 opened the ceremony, representing the more than 100,000 living alumni of the University. Several members of the Class of 1949, marching with the group, celebrated 50 years as alumni. Also, during the ceremony, five seniors were recognized by Delaware Gov. Thomas R. Carper for achieving the highest cumulative grade index in full-time study. Mindy Weller, president of the senior class, presented President David P. Roselle with the largest senior class gift in the University's history--more than $173,000--as the result of an unprecedented fund-raising campaign.

At UD Commencement exercises May 29, five graduating seniors were recognized for achieving 4.0 cumulative grade indexes in full-time study for baccalaureate degrees.

Honored for their accomplishments by Delaware Gov. Thomas R. Carper were: Farah Haq of Syracuse, N.Y., (degree in marketing, minors in biology and management information systems); Mark Christopher Messina of Wilmington, Del., (degree in business administration, minors in finance, management information systems and economics); Walt Roshon of Smyrna, Del., (degree in engineering technology, concentration in technical applications); Tamala Marie Stigile of Wilmington, Del., (degree in family and community services); and Elizabeth Kristine "Betsy" Turner of Reading, Pa., (degree in psychology, minor in Spanish).

In e-mail interviews conducted a few days before Commencement, the Messenger asked these outstanding graduates to talk about their achievements and offer some advice to incoming freshmen who are striving for high academic goals.

Q: To what do you attribute your success in achieving a 4.0 GPA?

Walt: Fear! I graduated high school in 1979 and hadn't taken a writing or math class since then. I was scared to death that I would get a bad grade in "Critical Reading and Writing" or math, so I over-compensated.

Mark: I was taught at an early age to give 100 percent and try my best in any endeavor that I undertake.

Tamala: I had a lot of support from my mom, which was helpful both emotionally and practically. I also paid attention to detail. After doing the best that I could on all assignments or exams, time went quickly and the next thing I knew I was graduating with a 4.0.

Q: What advice can you give other students who are striving for a 4.0?

Walt: You've got to be nuts to try to get a 4.0! A healthier goal would be to try to get the most out of every aspect of your undergraduate career. If you end up with a 4.0 when you're done, all to the good.

Betsy: Manage your time wisely and avoid late-night cramming.

Farah: Go to class regularly and participate. I found that by staying involved and speaking up in class, I was more interested (and awake) and I got more out of the course.

Mark: Just dedicate yourself and do the best you can, no matter what grade you get. If you know you did the best you could, that's great! Congratulate yourself and don't second guess what could have been.

Q: What course or area of study presented the greatest challenge to you in maintaining your high GPA?

Farah: Some of the lab science classes I took when I was studying biology were pretty time-consuming (especially CHEM103/104 and Physiology), and many of my business courses that focused on group work made things a little crazy because of all the coordination and scheduling involved. Overall, I think I stressed more over them than I had to, because things usually worked out fine.

Walt: In one word, physics! I had no gray in my hair when I started back-to-back physics courses the summer of my junior year. I aged 10 years in those 10 weeks.

Betsy: The course that gave me the most trouble was Advanced Spanish Grammar.

Q: How has this achievement helped you in pursuing your future goals?

Mark: It has definitely been a topic of conversation during interviews. It really impresses [interviewers] and sometimes results in job offers with significantly higher starting salaries. They also seem to give you more respect as a person because they know you must have been a hard worker in college.

Betsy: I hope my success at Delaware will help me get a job as a research coordinator next year and, ultimately, into graduate school for psychology.

Tamala: I received a full fellowship to Florida State University, which probably had a lot to do with my GPA. My achievement goes hand-in-hand with other opportunities. I became an undergraduate teaching assistant for a child development class. As a result of that experience, I have better skills such as leadership and public speaking, which will help me achieve more in the future.

Farah: I definitely feel more confident in facing the future. I found the interview process to be pretty quick and painless, and I've been fortunate to receive (and accept) a job offer I'm very interested in. I would like to apply to graduate school for my MBA in a couple of years, and having a 4.0 will probably be a big help.

Walt: I haven't figured that one out yet. Interviewers have often mentioned it, but I'm still looking for a job. I'm sure the 4.0 won't hurt when I get around to applying to grad schools (if my wife lets me).

Q: How do you feel about your accomplishment and the recognition you have received?

Farah: It's really exciting to graduate and be recognized by the governor, but I am still wondering why this is all happening to me. I don't feel as if I've done anything so very amazing as a student. (I never even pulled an all-nighter during my four years here!) However, I feel very honored and fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience at Delaware.

Tamala: It was great to share my accomplishments with my family members at graduation and see how happy my successes have made them also.

Walt: I'm about as amazed and excited as I was after finishing my first semester with a 4.0. It was the last thing I expected to do when I started school.

-Sharon Huss Roat, AS '87