Del Tech awards scholarships for first responders and veterans

Two Delaware Technical Community College students were recently named recipients of scholarships supported by the college’s annual Run, White & Blue 5K.

Michaela Anderson, a criminal justice major, is the recipient of the Run, White & Blue First Responders Scholarship, and Amber Curtis, an education major, is the recipient of the Owens Campus Veterans Scholarship.

Anderson is a telecommunications dispatcher for the Town of Ocean City. She works over 40 hours per week while attending Delaware Tech where she majors in criminal justice. She also participates in the Criminal Justice Club, and volunteers with the Indian River Volunteer Fire Co.

“My motivation has changed a lot since I began working as a telecommunications dispatcher,” she said. “I have gained a new sense of life and purpose. Previously, I wanted to be a corrections officer, but working so closely with these heroes in blue made me realize that I want nothing more than to help the people in this community.”

Anderson said she could not reach her career goals without the help of Delaware Tech. “Mrs. Shockley [criminal justice department chair] played a big hand in pointing me in the direction of this job, and without the help of everyone at the Delaware Tech, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Curtis is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and is the secretary for the Veterans Inspiring Progress student club at the Owens Campus in Georgetown. After earning her associate degree in elementary education, Curtis would like to attend Wilmington University. She is the mother of four children and attends college full time. She is also employed as a work-study student in the Veterans Resource Center on campus, helping other veterans with required paperwork for their VA benefits and advising them on their career choices, counseling and other important matters.

To qualify for the Owens Campus Veterans Scholarship, students must be enrolled at the Owens Campus and be active duty in the U.S. military, in a branch of the reserves, or a veteran of the U.S. military.

The Run, White & Blue First Responders Scholarship is awarded to an Owens Campus student who works as a first responder, such as a member of law enforcement, EMT, firefighter or corrections officer.

For more information on the Run, White & Blue 5K, go to go.dtcc.edu/Run5K.