Just a couple more sleeps before most Delaware students take off for holiday break.
Some seniors could use the time for more than candy, presents or some needed family time. They could be thinking about applying for scholarships, according to the Delaware Community Foundation, whose applications for some 70 different awards in Delaware opened Sunday.
Down in Capital School District, a new principal will just be thinking about getting to work. And Cape is planning for winter sports and security.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education updates you may have missed.
(Did we miss another good education story? Let me know: kepowers@gannett.com)
Delaware Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2025-26 academic year.
From now until March 15, 2025, both rising and active college students can apply for 70 different scholarships. Arts, pre-med, engineering, economics – these awards range in fields, as well as academic achievement, backgrounds and more, the foundation said in a press release. Last year alone, it allotted over $650,000 to 191 students, with scholarships ranging from $500 to $23,000.
“Many of our donors care deeply about education and realize that inflated costs prohibit some students from pursuing degrees in higher education,” said Kelly Sheridan, the foundation’s grant and scholarship coordinator, in a statement. “Our scholarships are designed to assist rising college students as well as those currently enrolled reduce financial burden, sometimes substantially.”
Students are often eligible for multiple awards. So, they’re encouraged to review options and apply online using a general application.
Madison Johnson remembers doing the same.
The 2024 University of Delaware graduate, now holding a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, won three awards from the foundation: the FCA Foundation Scholarship, the J.D. O’Connor Scholarship and the Philip Bartlett Scholarship. She stayed busy.
“During my time at the University of Delaware, I co-founded the Competitive Robotics Club and served as its co-president for two years,” Johnson said in Delaware Community Foundation’s press release. “I worked in the Pearson Hall Makerspace for two years and completed numerous engineering projects for my courses. These included a musical toy, a wooden bike, a monoblock pill bottle filling machine and a reusable sharps container opening and decanting system.”
Next year more students could see the same support. Learn more online or call 302-571-8004.
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Capital School District just announced a new leader within its Kent County Secondary Intensive Learning Center: Irica Williams. The UD and DSU alumnus started her career in education teaching eighth grade in the same district.
From there, she taught in Lake Forest before earning a special education certification and becoming a specialized math teacher. Her “passion for curriculum development and instructional excellence,” as the district put it in an announcement, led her to begin work at Lake Forest School District in curriculum. Then, she got her first taste of administration as the assistant principal of Lake Forest Central Elementary and later W.T. Chipman Middle School.
Williams has been back at Capital since 2020, first as the academic and attendance dean at Kent County Secondary Intensive Learning Center. Now, the educator and mother of two will help take the reins as associate principal.
“We look forward to the positive impact Ms. Williams will have on our school community,” said Victoir T. Cahoon, interim superintendent at Capital.
Cape Henlopen School District considers the launch of its weapons detection system for football a resounding success. Now, the system implemented this school year for home games will be expanded even further.
“We have decided to continue to utilize the system for the home wrestling matches and boys’ basketball games this season,” the district wrote in an email to Cape families and staff. “Anyone entering the building on an evening of these events, will be expected to go through the system.”
Such winter sporting events will also continue to have school resource officers, constables and additional Delaware State Police officers. The detection system, called EVOLV, will help identify any potential weapons like guns and knives coming into facilities. This echoes measures in other districts across the state, including systems at Appoquinimink high schools.
In an email to family and staff, back in late August, the district explained what to expect:
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Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.
