By climbing a steeper road, the value and appreciation Delaware State students took and continue to take from their education and their experiences is just as great, if not greater, than students attending ivy league schools.

Working together we can strengthen Delaware State University and the students who attend it.

During the days of segregation, there was not a place of higher learning for African Americans. They were simply not welcome in many of the traditional schools. And from this backward policy grew the network of historical black colleges and universities.

I remember coming to this college in the 1960s as a new legislator when a road divided the campus - and it was not fully paved at that - and no wall defined the campus from the highway.

We have long honored those who gave their lives during the unfortunate reality of war.

Ensuring a bright future for all our children is the responsibility of the community, the schools, families and like it or not- politicians as well.

But all of this success came at the end of a long climb.