Distinguished Alumni
To be nominated, an individual must have received an associate degree or diploma from Delaware Technical Community College. Alumni are eligible for nomination seven years after graduation and must not be currently employed by Delaware Tech with the exception of adjunct instructors teaching no more than one course at the time of selection. Honorees are judged on the basis of their professional/career achievements related to their area of study, service to the College and its surrounding communities, leadership activities and reputation among colleagues, academic achievements beyond Delaware Tech and other significant contributions.
Dr. Alethea A. Miller
Dr. Alethea A. Miller grew up as one of seven children, the only girl in a household of boys on Wilmington’s West Side. A shy and insecure girl, she found solace in school and daydreaming about what she would become one day. Those dreams were put on hold as she gave birth to her first child, a son, months before she turned 16. But Dr. Miller returned to school, graduating in the top third of her class. She later married and had a son and a daughter. By the time she turned 30, she found herself a divorced single parent, and it was then she realized it was time to pursue her dreams.
Learn more about Dr. Alethea A. Miller
Dr. Miller began her career working as a bus monitor/assistant teacher before becoming a lead Head Start teacher. Later, she worked with developmentally disabled adults before starting as a psychiatric attendant at a Sacred Heart Hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania. She then turned toward social services, working as a social worker/case manager for several organizations, including the Division of Social Services and the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA), where she provided support in the areas of job training opportunities, self-sufficiency and homeownership (primarily for women), as well as services to families in need of financial, medical, adoption/foster care assistance, child care, and food resources.
At 30-something, Dr. Miller began pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse, starting classes in the registered nurse (RN) program at Delaware Technical Community College. Recognizing education was the key to her success, Dr. Miller continued her education after graduating from Delaware Tech, earning her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees. She has held a number of nursing positions, including supervisory roles, and has taught nursing as well. Dr. Miller has served as the director of nursing at the Delaware Psychiatric Center under the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and the maternal and child health clinical lead within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of DMMA.
In addition to her professional work, Dr. Miller has spent time as a Creative Mentoring volunteer, mentoring pregnant teens and elementary school children in local public schools. She is also the co-founder and former board member of HepAware, the Delaware Viral Hepatitis Coalition, a board member for the Delaware HIV Planning Council, one of the team recipients of the 2021 Governors Delaware Award for Heroism, a recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award at the Delaware Tech Terry Campus, and the founder/owner of A New Leaf Behavioral Life Strategy Coaching business. She also established The KALM Memorial Nursing Scholarship at the Delaware Tech Terry Campus, which goes to two nursing students each year who are passionate about the field nursing.
2019
Alethea A. Miller, Nursing, 2006
2019
Robert M. Coupe, Mechanical Engineering, 1983
Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, Practical Nursing, 2007 and Nursing, 2010
Robert McDonald, Business Administration, 1969
Purusha I. Rivera, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 2000
Carla Tingle, Human Services, 2010
2018
Jeffrey T. Benson, Jr., Marketing and Management, 2011
Dr. Ray Fulkrod Jr., Nursing, 2011
Captain Christopher M. Leach (posthumously), Fire Protection Engineering Technology, 1997
2017
Daniel D. Tidwell, Business Administration, 1976
David. D. Tidwell, Business Administration, 1971
2016
Paul M. Bernat, Criminal Justice, 1992
Natalie L. Herring, Veterinary Technology, 2002
Tammy J. Ordway, Accounting, 1990
John B. Roach, Civil Engineering, 1978
Aaron B. Schrader, Exercise Science, 2003
Amporn G. Vasquez, Culinary, 1999
2015
April Cleveland, Medical Laboratory Technology, 1986
Denise Showell, Executive Secretarial Program, 1986
2014
Dawn R. Culp, Nursing, 1997
Michael Lawson, Criminal Justice, 1998
Paulette M. Mason, Bioscience, 1983
Chief William Nefosky, Police Technology, 1974
Trisha Newcomer, Office Administration Program, 2000
Terry L. Pepper, Criminal Justice, 1976
2013
Sally Broadhurst, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, 1994
Rodney M. Layfield, Criminal Justice Technology, 1993
2012
Bradley W. Cowen, Civil Engineering Technology, 1992
Gary W. Pippin, Visual Communications, 2005
Penny L. Short, Nursing, 1983
Brigadier General Carol A. Timmons, Criminal Justice, 1979
2011
Connie L. Cooper, Human Services, 1988
Cindy L. Mitchell, Human Services, 1987
Mary Lee Phillips, Business Administration, 1969
2010
Heidi A. LeGates, Nursing, 1981
Mitchell K. Rogers, Data Processing Technology, 1979
Samuel R. Schlegel Sr., Environmental Water and WastewaterTechnology, 2002
2009
Ruth Briggs King, Medical Laboratory Technology, 1977
Gerald W. Mayan, (posthumously) Electrical Electronics, 1981
Tracy Taylor Morris, Executive Secretarial Technology, 1979
Charles (Chuck) T. O’Brien, Data ProcessingTechnology, 1982
The Honorable John F. Van Sant, 1974
2008
Philip S. Baker, (posthumously) Business Technology, 1969
Donna Smith-Moore, Journalism, 1983
2007
G. Henry & Roy E. Collins, Electronics/Electrical Engineering Technology, 1987
Timothy J. Cox, Respiratory Care, 1980
Gregory A. Hastings, Architectural Engineering Technology, 1989
Margarete Fair Macleish, Secretarial Studies, 1979
Donald R. Roberts, Criminal Justice, 1989
Kathleen H. Still, Building Science, 1985
Eric D. Swanson, Criminal Justice Technology, 1984
2006
Harry W. Downes, Jr., Criminal Justice, 1983
Bonnie L. Johnson, Delaware Tech/University of Delaware Parallel Program, 1978
Brenda F. Sample, Medical Laboratory Technology, 1976
Joyce A. Sessoms, Human Services Technology, 1980
2005
Scott R. Brown, Business Administration, Accounting, 1982
Keith D. Lamb, Respiratory Care Technology, 1999
Karen J. Stone, Business Administration, Accounting, 1980
Kathleen Thomas, Accounting, 1977
2004
Bernice M. Edwards, Human Services Technology, 1989
Gail C. Jones, Computer Information Systems Technology, 1999
2003
Charles M. Betts, Accounting, 1977
Rebecca A. Breasure, Delaware Tech/University of Delaware Parallel Program, 1971
Norma Taylor Collins, Executive Secretarial, 1978
Michael W. Messick, Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning Technology, 1985
Charles W. Spiering, Business Administration, 1993
2002
Carolyn M. O’Neal, Journalism Technology, 1991
Denise L. Tatman, Office Systems Technology, 1995
2001
Corporal Frances M. Collender, Applied Science, Executive Secretarial Program and Diploma, Stenographic Studies, 1983
Lawrence D. Green, Business Administration, 1971
Janet C. Johnson, Delaware Tech/University of Delaware Parallel Program, 1970
Rosemarie L. Pritchett, Business Administration, 1984; Nursing, 1992
Scott L. Rathfon, Architectural Engineering Technology, 1977
Allen E. Riley, Criminal Justice Technology, 1975
Daniel L. Simpson, Police Science, 1971
Wanda G. Spiering, Business Administration, 1993
Rebecca A. Surguy, Business Administration, 1987
Robert J. Taggart, Environmental Engineering, 1980
2000
Shirley A. Dear, Data Processing Technology, 1982
Arlene S. Littleton, Business Administration Technology, 1978
Ayesha Sammander, Computer Engineering Technology, 1985
Dolores J. Slatcher, Business Administration/Accounting Technology, 1970
Charles M. Surguy, Civil Engineering Technology, 1992
Rodney Wyatt, Civil Engineering Technology, 1977
1999
Joseph T. Chickadel, Architecture, 1970
John L. Cunningham, Criminal Justice, 1974
Patricia R. Edwards, Human Services Technology, 1982
Reverend Dr. Janet M. Harmon, Business Administration, 1972
James L. Hutchison, Sr., Criminal Justice, 1987
Mari Jean Morris Reynolds, Executive Secretarial Technology, 1973
Cynthia Sheppard Small, Journalism Technology, 1977
Ada C. Twitchell, Computer Engineering Technology, 1985
Patricia A. Wagner, Nursing, 1978
1998
Sharon R. Alston-Middleton, Human Services, 1982
Kevin E. Burdette, Civil Engineering Technology, 1976
Ferman Franklin, Jr., Human Services, 1979
Linda C. Goodnight, Human Services, 1992
Dr. Joanne B. Messick, Medical Laboratory Technology, 1978
Stephen H. Smyk, Human Services Technology, 1983
1997
Brent Banks, (posthumously) Data Processing Technology, 1986
The Reverend Dr. Grace Ruth Batten, Human Services Technology, 1976
Debra L. Berry, Business Banking, 1983
Mark T. Brainard, Criminal Justice, 1981
Dr. Dale R. Derrickson, Business Administration, 1973
Darryl J. Hudson, Delaware Tech/University of Delaware Parallel Program, 1971
Dr. Gregory A. Warren, Criminal Justice, 1981
Ronald Wilson, Business Administration, Accounting, 1979
Patrice Ann Wise, Nuclear Medicine Technology, 1978
1996
Colonel Thomas Gordon, Police Science, 1977
André Higgins, (posthumously) Journalism Technology, 1989
Neal Hitchens, Business Administration Technology, 1977
Penrose Hollins, Business Administration, 1975
Lynn B. Lester, Executive Secretarial Technology, 1985
Naomi Gaines Winchester, Human Services, 1974
1995
Colonel Alan D. Ellingsworth, Criminal Justice Technology, 1974
Dr. June S. Turansky, Nursing, 1975
1994
Bonnie L. Atkins, Data Processing Technology, 1970
J. Everett Moore Jr., Esq., Delaware Tech/University of Delaware Parallel Program, 1970
Dr. Michael A. Triglia, Business Administration Technology, 1969
1993
Karen Cohee Hutchinson, Agri-Business Technology, 1976
Diaz James Bonville, Human Services Technology, 1977
Marlene B. Elliott, Business Administration Technology, 1979
1992
Marian A. Marvel, Business Administration Technology, 1969
William T. Sammons, Journalism Technology, 1977
Richard L. Windsor, Data Processing Technology, 1970
1989
Ethel M. Cooper
James L. Ford, Jr.
Sidney W. Langston
1988
Joseph F. Kwiatkowski
Thomas S. Shaw, Jr.
Kathleen A. Tini