Ka 'Von Brittingham
人类服务
自2008年以来的每个春天, Ka 'Von Brittingham would drive past Delaware Tech's Owens Campus in 乔治敦大学, 看到毕业帐篷, 她自己想, "one day I'll be under there hearing my name get called." Brittingham had dropped out of a university in 2006 and Delaware Tech in 2007, but hadn't given up.
"Despite not having a positive or healthy support system I knew it was time to dream aloud no matter who disagreed,她说. "This was my moment and I refused to let it pass me by. It was crucial that I prove myself right and others wrong."
Brittingham returned to Delaware Tech in 2020 and enrolled in the human services program because she had wanted to be a counselor for at-risk youth since she was 14 years old. Brittingham grew up in west Rehoboth Beach witnessing police raids on homes, 药物成瘾, 贫困, 无家可归, 种族歧视, 和种族隔离. But her third grade teacher, Waynne Paskins, who was also her first black teacher, became her mentor.
"She motivated me daily to be the best version of me, 努力工作, 是专用的, 大的梦想, never let where I come from define who I was as a person, give back to my community in a positive way, and most importantly drilled in me the importance of having an education,布里廷汉姆说. "I want to be the influencers for those who come from areas like the one I come from."
Brittingham said she was greeted with encour年龄ment and motivation when she returned to Delaware Tech from Dr. 米歇尔·沃奇博士. Malinda Hudson, Rick Thompson, Thomas Butterly, Dr. Ellen Marshall, Susan Harris, and Cassandra Gotto. 为了重新注册, she had to write an academic plan and appeal in order to receive financial aid since she had been placed on academic warning with a GPA of 0.59.
"I needed to convince the department chair that, not only would I graduate this time around, but I would do so with honors,布里廷汉姆说. "The spotlight was already on me I just needed to fucus. I knew I would finally have the support system I needed to see me through to graduation."
不幸的是, 2021年春天, Brittingham lost part of her support system when her nephew, Kwantea Hovington, 被杀. 在她绝望的时候, Brittingham found strength in one of her instructors, 布Nowakowski, who called her and encour年龄d her to stay focused, 保持强劲, and lean on her if needed.
"Kwantae played a great contribution to my Delaware Tech return,布里廷汉姆说. "He motivated me to pursue my dreams of being a counselor while continuously reassuring me. He had my back through it all.
"I found myself questioning if I could finish school after he was gone. I was looking at being a third time college drop out. 布Nowakowski reached out via phone. We cried together as she told me I could do it, and I believed her."
Brittingham not only stayed enrolled, she excelled. Her most recent GPA was a 3.12, which placed her on the President's List for academic honors. She will be under the graduation tent and hear her name called as she walks across the st年龄 in the spring of 2023, and is now on her way to achieving her dream career and starting a mentoring program for at-risk youth in urban and low-income areas throughout the tri-状态 area.
"Since attending Delaware Tech, my confidence has been at an all-time high,布里廷汉姆说. “现在, I know I can achieve anything I put my mind to without allowing non-believers to place their fears in me. I have become goal oriented and driven by success. With or without a team I will win because I am determined, 有毅力, and will not accept failure as an option. I have learned to be more patient in my process even when experiencing delay and lean into God when things are beyond my control."
