*In this photo:* (L-r) H.L. Larry, Rev. Shirley Smith, William J. Smith, S. Renee Smith-Larry, University President Wilma Mishoe, and Dr. Vita Pickrum pose for a photo after the Smiths presented the check to the institution.

On Campus

Smiths donate $58,000 for scholarships

Friday, September 21, 2018

A host of friends and supporters joined the Smith family to celebrate their donation and generosity. William J. Smith and his wife and University alumna Shirley M. Smith have once again reached out to Delaware State University students by establishing a new scholarship endowment.

The Smiths have presented the University with a $58,000 check – $20,000 into an endowment that will start yielding scholarships in three years, and $38,000 that will begin immediately providing financial assistance. Rev. Shirley and Williams Smith (center) present scholarships to the University's Kaelya McEachin (l) and Daniel Sanvee.

The couple presented the check to University President Wilma Mishoe on Sept. 21 in the institution’s Board of Trustees Conference Room – a gathering that included other Smith family members, scholarship recipients past and present, as well as friends from their church and community.

“God called us to this space, and we want to make a difference in the lives of these students,” said S. Renee Smith, their daughter who spoke on their behalf. Scholarship recipient Kaelya McEachin is the great-great granddaughter of the Institution's longtime President William C. Jason.

Dr. Mishoe called it an expression of love.

“If you didn’t love this way, you would have never done what you have for Delaware State University,” Dr Mishoe said.

Prior to this year, since 2011 the Smiths have awarded $18,000 in scholarships to Delaware State University students, according to Lorene Robinson, the University’s Director of Donor Relations.

The Smiths also awarded $3,000 scholarships to two University students – Kaelyn McEachin, a senior psychology major from Dover, and Daniel Sanvee, a senior art education major from Togo in West Africa.

Ms. McEachin is the great-great granddaughter of Dr. William C. Jason, the longest-serving president in the institution’s history (1895-1923).

Dwight Deloatch, a 2012 recipient of the Smith Scholarship and a 2013 Delaware State University graduate, also attended the check presentation and attested to the Smiths’ generosity as well as their sincere love and concern for the students they help.

“Out of all the scholarships I received, this is the only one that cared so much,” Mr. Deloatch said.