Evanchos support Delaware Tech student scholarships

George and Janet Evancho had the importance of education and the passion for hard work instilled in them at young ages. When they met several Delaware Technical Community College students years ago, the desire and dedication the Evanchos saw in those students led the them to become some of the most generous donors to the college.

“When you donate here [Delaware Tech] you are helping a student with their future, and you are giving them the ability to take care of themselves,” Janet said.

“It’s a good feeling to know that someone has a better life because of you,” George said.

Both grew up under modest circumstances – George in a small coal-mining town in Pennsylvania with a father who was a schoolteacher, and Janet in a lower middle-class family with a father who was a tool and die maker. They each had to work and contribute to the family budget, save their money to buy things they wanted, and prepare to support their own schooling if needed.

George graduated from the University of Tennessee and worked in Chicago for Armor Foods before joining Campbell Soup Co., where he worked for 40 years before retiring as head of global food safety. After retirement, he joined the University of Maryland, where he taught food safety in various locales across the world.

Janet attended Camden County College, originally to study medical laboratory technology, but eventually found herself working at Campbell Soup Co. as a technician. Eventually, she was offered a full-time position as a nutritional analyst, before she moved on to the RCA Corp. in the materials group. She retired from L-3 Communications Holdings as a materials engineer.

Retirement brought the couple from New Jersey to Lewes, where they built a home in 2006 and officially relocated in 2013. George, an avid photographer in his spare time, became the president of Coastal Camera Club and coordinated a full-day photography event. The proceeds of that event were turned into a scholarship for a Delaware Tech communications student interested in photography. George was invited to that year’s Donor Appreciation Luncheon, and knew instantly he and Janet would become donors.

“I heard the students’ stories, came home and said, ‘We need to be a part of what’s going on at Delaware Tech,’” George said.

George and Janet spoke with the rest of their family and decided to establish the Scott A. Evancho Science Scholarship Endowment, named after their late son who had a passion and love for science. The scholarship supports a student in a science-related curriculum who has a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

After Janet’s mother passed away in 2017, they decided to establish the Charles and Helen Merkh Memorial Scholarship, which will support students who are enrolled in a variety of technical or technology programs. The scholarship honors the hard work Janet’s parents put into life while raising their family.

“Not everyone is an academic, so the criteria for it is less stringent,” Janet said. “There are needs in the workplace, and someone may not be great with the books, but may be phenomenal with their hands.”

The Evanchos have also become champions for Delaware Tech within their own community. They are part of the veterans committee with the Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge, and were able to get that organization to support the Veteran Resource Center and veteran students at Delaware Tech.

“We’ve been very fortunate in life, and when we talk to our friends we ask them to think about their life and what they wouldn’t have without education,” George said. “I think most people have to agree that education got them to where they are today.”

George and Janet are not only inspired by the perseverance of the students, but also they love the time and resources Delaware Tech provides to help students succeed.

“The effort the students put in really goes a long way,” Janet said. “But it’s also great to see the support and help Delaware Tech gives the students. It truly is a family atmosphere. The students here have access to people, people they can turn to who really care.”

The Evanchos regularly attend the scholarship luncheon and the annual Starry, Starry Night Gala. They love hearing the stories of new students they’ve helped, and keeping in touch with previous scholarship recipients.

“It’s nice when you hear they are doing well and are moving on and excited about where they are going,” Janet said.

In their free time, George and Janet are golfers and gardeners. George also continues to take photos, and he regularly works with the Fort Miles Historical Association, Operation SEAs The Day, the Sussex County March of Dimes and Read Aloud Delaware.

For more information or to donate to make a difference to students at Delaware Tech, go to www.dtcc.edu/giving or call 302-857-1665.