Free college applications, more offered during Delaware’s College Application Month

Students receive school-day help to apply to college as part of broader campaign to expand access to higher education

Delaware high school students can apply to select colleges and universities for free in October and November in celebration of the state’s fifth annual College Application Month, which began this week and runs through Nov. 17.

Application fees to all Delaware colleges and universities as well as Cabrini University in Radnor, Pa., are waived during the two months. Application fees to Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md., are waived through the end of October. Application fee waivers for additional schools also are available for income-qualified students.

As part of the state’s College Application Month, Delaware schools provide seniors computer lab time during the school day to apply to college. Students receive information packets from the Delaware Department of Education’s Higher Education Office about college and career options, and additional supports are provided to families on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal student aid.

“All Delaware students need additional education after high school graduation,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said. “This means a four-year degree to some. For others, it means associate degrees, apprenticeships, certificate programs or military service. During College Application Month, we want all students to have the time to pursue what paths they want to take after high school.”

Delaware’s College Application Month focuses on making students aware of the many supports available to them as they transition from high school to college and into their future careers. During the summer leading up to College Application Month, every Delaware high school student receives summer checklists with important reminders about how to prepare for the next year. First-generation college students also receive information on programs like the Delaware Goes to College Academy and Delaware College Scholars.

Delaware College Application Month is part of a nationwide effort to assist high school seniors in the college application process and increase college attendance. Special focus is placed on first-generation college students or those who otherwise may not have considered applying to college. The program started with a pilot school in North Carolina in 2005. All 50 states and the District of Columbia plan to host events in 2017.

Students can also search for local and national scholarships on the online 2017-2018 Delaware Scholarship Compendium: A Guide for College-Bound Students, providing a free, mobile way for students to find scholarships by category and deadline. Students and parents can search scholarships by eligibility requirements such as county of residency, ethnicity or race, and profession – about 15 categories in all – as well as alphabetically or by due date. Users then can drill down for more details, including application information. The Scholarship Compendium is still available in print format in limited quantities at all Delaware schools. Users also can download a copy on the Delaware Goes to College website.  A Spanish version also is available online and in print.

This past year Delaware awarded $2.7 million in merit scholarships and incentive loans and almost $7.7 million in SEED and Inspire scholarships to Delaware students. SEED and Inspire provide tuition-free education to eligible Delaware students – from both public and non-public high schools – who earn a grade point average above 2.5 (SEED) or 2.75 (Inspire) on a 4.0 scale. Delaware was one of the first states in the country to offer free college tuition to recent high school graduates.

To begin searching for scholarships online, students can go to http://scholarships.delawaregoestocollege.org/. For more information on College Application Month, visit http://delawaregoestocollege.org/.

 

Media is welcome to visit schools during College Application Month but must arrange the visit with the school in advance. Please contact Alison.May@doe.k12.de.us for school schedules.


POSTPONED: Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

Governor Carney to hold Facebook Live Q&A on Education TONIGHT at 7 p.m.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Given the ongoing search for a suspect wanted in connection with shooting incidents in Wilmington and Edgewood, Md., tonight’s town hall meeting on Wilmington schools at Bancroft Elementary School has been postponed.

At 7 p.m. tonight, Governor Carney will be joined by Dorrell Green, Director of the Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, for a Facebook Live Q&A. They will discuss the joint letter of intent to partner with Christina School District and Christina Education Association to improve Christina’s five schools in the City of Wilmington.

Updated schedule:

Facebook Live Q&A on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor Carney will be joined by Dorrell Green, Director of the Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement, for a Facebook Live Q&A to discuss the joint letter of intent to partner with Christina School District and Christina Education Association to improve Christina’s five schools in the City of Wilmington.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education

WHEN: Wednesday, October 18, 2017
7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Governor’s Carney’s Facebook Page

 

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor John Carney will join Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Office of Innovation and Improvement Director Dorrell Green, the Christina Education Association, representatives from Christina School District, and community organizations to discuss the partnership, and ideas for improving Wilmington schools, with families and educators in Wilmington. Governor Carney, Superintendent Gregg and others will take questions.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Richard Gregg, Superintendent, Christina School District
Darren Tyson, President, Christina Education Association
Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education
Representatives from Christina School District

WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bayard Middle School
200 S. DuPont Street
Wilmington, DE 19805

 

Town Hall Meeting on Wilmington Schools

This event is open to the press.

WHAT: Governor John Carney will join Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Office of Innovation and Improvement Director Dorrell Green, the Christina Education Association, representatives from Christina School District, and community organizations to discuss the partnership, and ideas for improving Wilmington schools, with families and educators in Wilmington. Governor Carney, Superintendent Gregg and others will take questions.

WHO: Governor John Carney
Richard Gregg, Superintendent, Christina School District
Darren Tyson, President, Christina Education Association
Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education
Dorrell Green, Director, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Delaware Department of Education
Representatives from Christina School District

WHEN: Monday, October 30, 2017
6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bancroft Elementary School
700 N. Lombard Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

 

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ADVISORY: Announcement on Delaware’s Amazon HQ2 Application

WILMINGTON, Del. – On Thursday, October 19 at 2:00 p.m., Governor John Carney will join Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, elected officials, and community members to announce the sites Delaware has proposed to Amazon for the company’s second North American headquarters. The event also will include the screening of a video highlighting what makes Delaware an ideal location for businesses, including Amazon, to grow and create jobs.

WHAT:         Announcement on Delaware’s proposed sites for Amazon’s second North American headquarters.

WHO:           Governor Carney

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester

Executive Matt Meyer, New Castle County

Mayor Mike Purzycki, City of Wilmington

Cerron Cade, Division of Small Business, Development, and Tourism Director

Members of the General Assembly

Community members

WHEN:        Thursday, October 19

2:00 p.m.

WHERE:       The Delaware Contemporary

200 S Madison Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

RSVP:           Media planning to attend Thursday’s event should RSVP to Jessica.Borcky@delaware.gov by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 18 to receive additional information prior to the event.

 


Gov. and First Lady Carney to Greet Halloween Trick-or-Treaters at Woodburn

(DOVER, Del.—Oct. 17, 2017)—On Halloween evening, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Gov. John Carney and First Lady Tracey Carney will be giving out candy to trick-or-treaters at Woodburn: The Governor’s Residence, located at 151 Kings Highway S.W. in Dover, Del. Trick-or-treaters will be welcome regardless of any adverse weather conditions. For additional information, call 302-739-5656 or e-mail Woodburn@delaware.gov.

Woodburn is one of Delaware’s most historic homes and an outstanding example of late-18th-century Georgian architecture. The house was built in 1798 by Charles Hillyard, III (1759–1814), a fourth-generation Delawarean from a family of affluent landowners who were frequently active in the governmental, social and economic life of Kent County. Woodburn has served as the home of Delaware’s governor since it was purchased by the state in 1965. It was listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has been responsible for the care and conservation of Woodburn since August 2009. The division’s charge includes repair and maintenance of the building; design and upkeep of the property’s garden and horticultural displays; and furnishing of the home.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov


Halloween Family Fun Day at Woodburn: The Governor’s Residence on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017

(DOVER, Del.—Oct. 16, 2017)—On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Woodburn: The Governor’s Residence, located at 151 Kings Highway S.W. in Dover, Del., will host “Halloween Family Fun Day at Woodburn.” The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available on surrounding streets. In the event of inclement weather, all activities will be cancelled. For additional information or for notification of cancellation, call 302-739-5656 or e-mail Woodburn@delaware.gov.

“Halloween Family Fun Day at Woodburn” will feature the following activities:

–Guided tours of Woodburn
Visitors will be guided through the public spaces of this 1798 home that has served as the official residence of Delaware’s governors since 1965

–18th-century games
Guests will learn how children amused themselves in the 1700s including playing games like hoop and stick, graces, quoits, ninepins, and badminton; and enjoying the folk toys jacob’s ladder and bilbo catcher

–Sachet making
Visitors can create their own scented sachet filled with herbs and spices

–Craft activities
Guests can decorate pumpkins; make a Tootsie-Roll-Pop spider, pumpkin or ghost; create a Halloween card or bookmark; make a pom-pom pencil; or decorate a Halloween mask

Woodburn is one of Delaware’s most historic homes and an outstanding example of late-18th-century Georgian architecture. The house was built in 1798 by Charles Hillyard, III (1759–1814), a fourth-generation Delawarean from a family of affluent landowners who were frequently active in the governmental, social and economic life of Kent County. Woodburn has served as the home of Delaware’s governor since it was purchased by the state in 1965. It was listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has been responsible for the care and conservation of Woodburn since August 2009. The division’s charge includes repair and maintenance of the building; design and upkeep of the property’s garden and horticultural displays; and furnishing of the home.

-End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov