Photo Gallery: Delaware Tech Owens Campus graduation
By Glenn RolfeGEORGETOWN — Some members of the Delaware Technical Community College Jack Owens Campus class of 2024 have already entered the workforce.
Close friends and nursing major graduates, Amalia Rodriguez, Ana Buck, Angelica Mendez and Paula Pano are all employed in their chosen field.
“We are already working,” said Ms. Rodriguez. “We finished school in December.”
Selbyville resident Lesley Temaj earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing for Delaware Tech. “I am working in acute care at Bayhealth.,” she said.
Joy and celebration sprinkled with some relief and a few raindrops punctuated the Owens Campus’ 56th commencement Tuesday evening.
“Tonight, we celebrate the success of the graduating class of 2024,” said Dr. Bobbi Barends, vice president and campus director. “We are incredibly proud of our graduates, a diverse group with different personal stories of challenge and triumph. You have all worked hard to achieve the milestone we celebrate tonight.”
“On behalf of our college leadership, faculty and staff, I want to tell you how incredibly proud we are of each and every one of you,” said Delaware Technical Community College president Dr. Mark Brainard.
Ms. Pano graduated from Newark High School but chose to commute from New Castle County to attend Del Tech’s Georgetown campus rather than those in New Castle and Kent counties.
“I had a better chance here,” she said.
Graduate Karen Rivera of Seaford earned a degree in marketing. She is not job hunting.
“Not yet. I am going to continue my education for a bachelor’s degree at Wilmington University,” she said. “I really want to work for a sustainable company.”
She gave a commendable grade to the faculty and staff at Delaware Tech during her two years there.
“It was pretty good,” Ms. Rivera said. “The business teachers here are really nice. Whenever I had a problem or anything, I could contact them, and they would always help me out.”
The keynote speaker was Scott Meyer, president and chief executive officer for Aloft AeroArchitects since 2022.
Dr. Barends offered some facts and data on the Owens Campus class of 2024, which included students from the summer and fall of 2023 and spring of 2024:
• A total of 571 degrees and diplomas were awarded, including seven international graduates from four different countries.
• The average age of this year’s class is 27. The youngest graduate is 18; the oldest is 59.
• Some 551 or 96%, graduates are Delaware residents.
• Some 315 or 55%, graduated with honors and 47 graduates achieved a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade-point average.
• Eleven veterans and service members are among the 2024 graduates.
