Del Tech Owens to present Trisha Newcomer with Distinguished Alumni Award Sept. 24

Trisha L. Newcomer of Laurel has been selected to receive the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award for the Jack F. Owens Campus of Delaware Technical Community College Wednesday, Sept. 24. The award is presented each year to alumni in recognition of excellence and outstanding achievements in their professional careers.

Newcomer’s name will also be added to the Walk of Success, which recognizes Owens Campus graduates who have made significant contributions to their communities through their academic and career achievements, community service, and personal accomplishments. Bronze plaques bearing each graduate’s name, date of graduation, and date of induction are placed in the walkway between the Stephen J. Betze Library and the William A. Carter Partnership Center.

Since graduating in 2000 from Delaware Tech’s office administration program, Newcomer has continued to make significant strides toward her educational and career goals while maintaining service to her community. She graduated in 2010 from Wilmington University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is currently studying at Delaware Tech again to obtain an AAS degree in microcomputers and networking.

Employed by the City of Seaford since 1998, she began as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and was promoted to executive secretary for the city manager. She then served as the city’s first certified municipal clerk before transitioning into her current role of economic development and information technology manager. In this dual role, she is responsible for the recruitment and retention of new and existing businesses and bears sole responsibility for the city’s technology infrastructure.

Newcomer is also a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Leadership Delaware program, having been selected as one of 22 individuals accepted in fall 2011 to participate.

Her leadership is not limited to her professional career. Since 2006, she has been the co-chair of the Nanticoke Riverfest, a two-day annual festival that draws approximately 12,000 people to downtown Seaford during the second weekend of July. She has also served in leadership roles for events such as Caroling in the Park, Movie Nights in the Park, Autism Awareness Month, and the city’s Relay for Life team, as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Month events in partnership with Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.

She is currently a member of the Worksite Wellness Board, Greater Seaford Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Forum, Seaford Enhancement Team, and Sussex County Economic Development Action Committee. She also serves as the city’s liaison with the Seaford Historical Society and the Seaford Lioness Club.

Aside from her work and civic engagements, Newcomer is a high school girls’ youth leader every Wednesday evening at Bayshore Community Church in Gumboro and volunteers for Kids Church once a month. She resides in Laurel with her husband, Keith.

The Distinguished Alumni celebration will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner in the dining hall of the Student Services Center, followed by the ceremony at 6:45. The cost is $25 per person. To make reservations, call the Division of Communication and Planning at the Owens Campus at 302-259-6089 by Sept. 19.