Secretary of Education Mark Holodick has recognized 93 public school students from the Class of 2024 as Secretary of Education Scholars.

Governor John Carney and other state leaders joined Holodick last night to celebrate the students during a dinner in Dover.

“This represents one of the highest academic achievements a student can earn in a Delaware public school,” Holodick told the students, who were joined by their families and school and district leaders. “Every scholar here has achieved incredible success in and out of the classroom – ranging from extraordinary accomplishments on school athletic teams to community service and school leadership positions. These students balance all of these demands of their time and still are able to study and excel academically.”

Check out this video showcasing the students and their self-reflections on what inspired their success.

The scholars also are being recognized on a website to showcase their outstanding achievements. The website includes photographs, principal nomination statements and student narrative statements as submitted by the schools.

The state has named Secretary of Education Scholars every year since 1984. The number of scholars from each school is based on enrollment. Principals nominate the students based on their academic records, school leadership and community service.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

NEW CASTLE – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Health Fund Advisory Committee (HFAC) announced applications are now available for Fiscal Year 2026 and are due July 15.

This is a change from previous years when Delaware Health Fund applications went live in June and closed in August.

The application went live on Monday, April 15, which will still allow applicants to have three months to complete applications. Committee members will have about five weeks to complete a thorough review before public hearings begin.

Applications should be submitted electronically to Juliann.Villecco@delaware.gov and cc: Susan.Bailey@delaware.gov. The application should be sent as a PDF with the organization’s name at the beginning of the file name.

The Delaware Health Fund is a special fund comprising all annual payments received pursuant to the Master Settlement Agreement entered into by the State of Delaware and the Participating Tobacco Manufacturers.

For more information, and to view the application online, visit https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/healthfund.

Any questions should be directed to Jules Villecco at Juliann.Villecco@delaware.gov.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney has ordered Delaware flags to be lowered to half-staff at all state facilities through sunset on Saturday, April 20, 2024, to honor former Senator Robert Marshall, a lifelong Delawarean and longtime public servant on the day of his interment.

“Tracey and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Senator Robert Marshall. He was an inspiration for public servants – serving 40 years in the State Senate and not once forgetting the folks he represented in Legislative Hall. I worked closely with the Senator for many years in Dover when I served as President of the Senate. He was always organized labor’s top advocate. He championed efforts to increase Delaware’s minimum wage, including advocating to increase the wage to $15 an hour. I was glad to implement his “work a day, earn a pay” concept as Governor, giving the unemployed an opportunity to go to work by cleaning up litter along Delaware roadways. Senator Marshall was also a tireless advocate for the elderly, capping of his work with Eagles Law which put standards for long-term care facilities in place. Senator Marshall will have a lasting impact on Legislative Hall and the City of Wilmington, and we are thinking of his family, friends, and community during this difficult time. Senator Marshall was truly one of a kind.”

Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski was joined by representatives of the Delaware State Police and AAA Mid-Atlantic on Monday at the 95/896 interchange project to call attention to the importance of safe driving in our work zones across the state.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is held each April at the traditional start of construction season, when the number of workers on our nation’s roadways increases. The theme of this year’s work zone awareness campaign is, “Become a hero toward zero, their lives depend on it.” The campaign features DelDOT workers who put their lives on the line daily as they work within active traffic maintaining Delaware roads.

“Sadly, we have had 22 fatalities over the past three years involving the traveling public in work zones and there have been close calls with employees that have resulted in injuries,” said DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski. “We would like everyone to join the Be DelAWARE campaign to help us increase safety for everyone on our roads.”

Major Jason Sapp of the Delaware State Police added, “The Delaware State Police is committed to focused presence and when necessary, enforcement in work zones throughout the State of Delaware. Work zones are inherently dangerous locations not only for those working in them but also for those motorists and passengers attempting to navigate them. Just a little bit of extra attention is really all that is needed to recognize you are entering a work zone so that you can decelerate and take the appropriate steps to maximize safety through responsible driving behaviors.”

Although highway workers are often among the victims of such crashes, it’s important for drivers to understand that four out of five victims of work zone crashes are drivers or their passengers. Generally, crashes occur when drivers speed through a work zone or do not pay attention to the changing road conditions and run into other vehicles, highway equipment or safety barriers, or drive off the roadway completely. In a typical five-day work week, an average of seven motorists and one worker are killed nationwide. The primary causes of work zone crashes are following too closely and inattentive driving.

The National Work Zone Awareness Week began in 1999, when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) signed a Memorandum of Agreement pledging to increase public awareness of work zone safety issues through a national media campaign. Since then, awareness has continued to grow, with state agencies and other organizations sponsoring high-visibility education and outreach initiatives.

Some simple tips for improving work zone safety include:
* When you see the “orange and black,” be extra cautious.
* Warning signs will let you know what to expect.
* Barrels or cones will delineate your path of travel.
* Flag persons will help direct you along the way.
* Avoid distractions.
* Don’t tailgate.
* Don’t change lanes.
* Reduce speed when approaching toll booths.
* Slow down and expect the unexpected.

For complete Delaware work zone statistics check out the Delaware Strategic Highway Safety Plan at: https://deldot.gov/Programs/DSHSP/index.shtml?dc=work_zone_safety

The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration has also developed a Work Zone Safety webpage highlighting the statistics for the frequency and severity work zone crashes:
FHWA Work Zone Facts and Statistics – FHWA Office of Operations (dot.gov)

DOVER, Del. (April 15, 2023) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is partnering with local and state law enforcement agencies across Delaware to conduct a high visibility enforcement during April for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. OHS wants to remind everyone of the dangers of distracted driving. Not only is distracted driving dangerous, but it can also have a lasting impact on loved ones and members of the community.

Distracted driving crashes are often underreported. But data shows that in Delaware, between 2019 and 2023, there were 9,569 crashes, 174 serious injuries, and 22 fatalities involving distracted driving on our roadways. Driver inattention, distraction, or fatigue are some of the leading factors of fatal crashes in 2024, representing 29%. Distracted driving seems to be more common among 20-24-year-olds and in the 35-44 age range.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 3,308 deaths linked to driver distractions in 2022. There have been approximately 32,000 people who died in a crash involving distracted driving from 2013 – 2022. With all the different things that can cause a distraction while driving, texting and cell phone use have become the most prevalent. Some distractions may be just visual, cognitive, or manual while texting combines all three, causing you to take your eyes off the road, mind off the task of driving, and hands off the wheel.

“Distracted driving poses a significant threat and can cause severe consequences. It’s important to prioritize safety by avoiding the urge to check your phone or respond to a text while driving said Sharon Bryson, Director of the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, “Too many lives have been lost due to distractions, and both motorists and pedestrians must remain fully alert and focused while using our roadways and sidewalks.”

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety urges drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel. If you are the driver, follow these steps for a safe driving experience:

• Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat until you arrive at your destination. How to turn on Do Not Disturb
• Make sure you take care of any text messages or phone calls before you drive.
• If you must take a phone call or text, pull over where it is safe and park your vehicle before handling your phone.
• Listen to your passengers: If they see you texting and driving and ask you to put your phone down, put it away.
• Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
• Do not engage in social media scrolling or watching videos while driving.

Along with enforcement, and continued education through social media, OHS has also developed a new module on the Arrive Alive DE website called “Nix the Text”. To check it out and learn more information, statistics, and education on Distracted Driving, visit www.ArriveAliveDE.com/Be-Alert.

About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues, such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com. Follow OHS on the Delaware Office of Highway Safety website, Facebook, X(Twitter), and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Meghan Niddrie
Meghan.Niddrie@Delaware.gov
302-744-2517 (office)
302-535-1031 (cell)