News Release
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Nicole S. Rowe
Administrative Assistant,
Public Relations
320 DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
19720
nicole.s.rowe@wilmu.edu
Wilmington University Holds Georgetown Commencement Ceremony
The threat of thunderstorms and rain gave way to sunny skies yesterday just in time to welcome Wilmington University’s Class of 2011. The University held its annual Georgetown Commencement ceremony yesterday, May 18, 2011 at the William A. Carter Partnership Center on Delaware Technical and Community College’s Owens Campus. The event honored 227 students from the Dover, Georgetown and Dover Air Force Base sites.
The graduates received degrees ranging from associates to doctoral. University President, Dr. Jack Varsalona commended the hard work of the graduates saying, “You are men and women who have demonstrated great courage, and tonight you receive your degree.” He went on to say, “You were able to see this day years ago when it was just a blur. But you knew you had the intelligence and perseverance to reach your dream.”
One such graduate, Andres Mosquera, was happy to achieve his goal of earning a master’s degree. “I had to sacrifice a lot of weekends to study and use the time I had wisely,” he says. Mosquera received his Master’s of Business Administration while working at a manufacturing company. “You learn to balance family, studying and work, and I was able to find that balance. My plan was to finish in two years but I completed the degree in a year and four months. It feels good!”
Another graduate, Floyd Azbell, was elated to come back to school later in life and finally complete his bachelor’s degree in Career and Technical Education. Azbell has been teaching 10th through 12th graders heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. “This has been a wonderful experience,” Azbell says. “I started going to college in 1983 working towards an associates degree. Then I joined the coast guard, and life happened. Now that I am retired coast guard I thought – why not?” Being honored as teacher of the year Azbell encouraged his students to pursue a higher education. “Everybody needs to be a life-long learner,” he says.
Student speaker, Samuel O. Peer, engaged his fellow students in an inspiring speech. “Amongst all the papers, assignments and projects there have been bills, sleepless nights...we found a way to turn those stumbling blocks into stepping-stones,” said Peer. “And as we stand on this summit, though there may be mountains in the distance, let us light the way. Congratulations to the class of 2011. Keep on climbing!” Peer is a dean’s list scholar graduating with a 4.0 grade point average while earning his bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
The University recognized several students who went above and beyond to serve their communities. Daniel T. Hines, a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Sports Management degree, received the Trustee’s Award for Service. The award s presented to a student for outstanding service to fellow students, Wilmington University or the community. Hines works as a dental forensics technician at the Dover Air Force base, he has been committed to serving his community through volunteer work, membership in charitable foundations and raising thousands of dollars in support of medical, military and children’s charities.
The Audrey K. Doberstein award, presented for outstanding leadership and dedication to the philosophy and mission of Wilmington University, went to Derek L. Simmons. Simmons completed his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. While working as the principal of Colonel Richardson High School in Maryland he has excelled as a leader and role model both in and out the classroom.
The University holds five commencement ceremonies a year, two in January and three in the spring. This upcoming Sunday, May 22, over one thousands students will walk at the University’s New Castle spring commencement ceremonies.