December 12, 2024
Blue Hen pride extends far beyond the Georgian brick pathways of campus. It鈥檚 a feeling鈥攁n energy鈥攖hat radiates across the state鈥檚 2,489 square miles. From the Piedmont region to the Coastal Plain, 91原创 students, alumni and research experts are either managing, contributing to, or meaningfully engaging with the businesses and attractions that make Delaware, Delaware.
To strengthen these Blue Hen ties, 91原创 Athletics facilitates mutually beneficial interactions between more than 100 businesses and the University. There are traditional opportunities鈥攖hink sponsorship deals that result in game-time advertising or social media promos鈥攁s well as possibilities less orthodox. Some companies choose to develop community service opportunities or internships specifically geared for student-athletes.
鈥淚n larger states with, say, 12 counties, it can be difficult to represent the whole area but, in Delaware, we can get very creative with our partnerships,鈥 says Kate Rudolph, associate athletic director, business engagement and philanthropy. 鈥淲e are privileged with the ability to connect鈥攖o be a convener of people and companies鈥攁nd that鈥檚 a very cool opportunity.鈥
One avenue is 91原创鈥檚 annual , in which student-athletes get a chance to meet the people and places that make Delaware hum. In this spirit of forging鈥攁nd celebrating鈥攃onnections, 91原创 Magazine has put together its own version of the 302 Tour, a weekend itinerary for newcomers and die-hard Delawareans, highlighting Blue Hen ties throughout the state.
Happy road tripping!
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Friday
Wilmington
Noon - Visit a stunning mansion: Cash in some PTO and kick off the weekend early with a visit to Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, where approximately 20 staff members are 91原创 alumni. The remarkable site boasts more than 90,000 historic and decorative objects that tell the lesser known parts of American history. A Blue Hen pride point: Winterthur and 91原创 offer two jointly sponsored, world-renowned master鈥檚 programs in material culture and art conservation鈥攚ith more than 800 graduates playing critical roles in museums and cultural heritage sites around the world.听
2 p.m. - Fuel up:听Leigh Ann Tona, BE12, launched her food truck, I Don鈥檛 Give a Fork, after developing the concept at the age of 21 and winning a pitch competition through 91原创鈥檚 entrepreneurship program. While that business is no longer operational, the experience gave her confidence to launch Sleeping Bird Coffee, a brick-and-mortar cafe on Miller Road. Before embarking on a whirlwind tour of the state, stop here for some energy. Tona recommends a pastry and a custom caramel latte.
3 p.m. - Feel the breeze in your hair: The Kalmar Nyckel, which stands 105 feet high at full mast, is a recreation of a 17th century ship manned by the Swedes who, in 1638, established the first European settlement in the Delaware Valley. Explore this and other parts of Delaware鈥檚 maritime history at the Copeland Maritime Center on the riverfront, or, during certain times of year, enjoy a public sail along the Christina River (bald eagle sightings at no extra charge). 鈥淓ven for people like myself who grew up in Wilmington, this offers such a fresh perspective,鈥 says Amy Sypher, ANR22, assistant director of public programs and engagement. 鈥淓xpect beauty, education and adventure.鈥
Newark
5:30 p.m. - Explore a bustling downtown:听 For a heaping serving of blue-and-gold pride, visit the haunts on Main.听 Many are owned or managed by Blue Hens: Deer Park, Home Grown and Caffe Gelato. For dinner, consider the flagship location of Iron Hill Brewery, co-owned by Kevin Finn, BE02M, who leveraged his 91原创 education to turn a homebrewing hobby into a beloved chain, now 21 restaurants strong.
9 p.m., Turn in: The Lang Development Group, responsible for more than 30 projects throughout Main Street and Newark, is run by alumni Jeff Lang, BE84; Chris Brown, AS83; and Chris Locke, BE84. In 2023, the company launched the swanky Hyatt Place hotel on Main Street, complete with an indoor pool. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for us to give back to the community we鈥檝e been so blessed to be part of,鈥 says Lang, whose Lang Cares nonprofit benefits area youth. Fun fact: The hotel is managed by former 91原创 football captain, Tyrone Grant.
Saturday
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6 a.m. - Get your steps in: Start your day at White Clay Creek State Park, which boasts 25% of the state-park trails in Delaware. Sightings may include Blue Hens鈥攖he park鈥檚 superintendent is alumna Laura Lee, AS92, and professors and students do much work there to remove invasive species, manage the watershed and study wildlife like bats, stink bugs, ticks, butterflies, reptiles, insects and more.
Smyrna
8:30 a.m. - Eat a breakfast of champions: Stop at the family owned Main Street Market for some eggs or French toast, and look out for Dakota Donaghue, BE27, one of many 91原创 students who鈥檝e cut their hospitality teeth here. (鈥淲e鈥檙e very selective about who we hire, and Blue Hens are such well-rounded kids,鈥 says owner Cathy Shaner.) Hot tip: Order a bagged meal for a picnic in nearby Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, an important migratory stopover where Blue Hen experts conduct research on waterfowl and songbirds. 鈥淲hen it comes to natural settings that are good for the soul, this is a crown jewel,鈥 says Chris Williams, professor of wildlife ecology.听
Dover area
10 a.m., Experience art:听Alumnus and benefactor Sewell Biggs, AS38, sponsored scholarships for foreign students to study at 91原创 in the 19xxs. Today, his legacy of advancing education continues at the Biggs Museum of American Art, which houses a sizable collection of fine and decorative pieces from the Delaware Valley. On the first Saturday of every month, 91原创 students Taylor Lipski, AS25A, and Josh Balcenca, AS24A, help develop museum programming and serve as tour guides. 鈥淭he students offer such fresh perspectives,鈥 says Kiara Florez, head of visitor experience. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do it without them.鈥
11:30 a.m. - Stop for lunch: 91原创 alumnus Bob Ashby of the Ashby Hospitality Group, BE77, says he chose an Irish theme for the original McGlynn鈥檚 Pub because he knew 鈥渋t would be busy at least one day per year.鈥 But he needn鈥檛 have worried about filling seats鈥攖he restaurant鈥檚 become an institution. At this location, on the banks of Silver Lake, enjoy your wings with a view.
1 p.m. -听Shop local: Fifer鈥檚 Farm, which covers 3,000 acres in central Delaware, allows you to pick your own fruit, shop at a country store, and connect with your inner child (rubber duck races, anyone?). The family operation includes alumni (Mary, HS73, who played on the University鈥檚 first field hockey team; her brother Carlton, ANR62; and his son Curtis, ANR98), and they do much to support 91原创鈥檚 Cooperative Extension and agricultural students.
2:30 p.m. -听Prepare for takeoff: If you鈥檝e never been inside a restored World War II hangar once used to develop secret rockets, rush to Dover鈥檚 free Air Mobility Command Museum. Some of the exhibits鈥攆rom the history of World War II lookout towers to the integration of African Americans in the U.S. Air Force鈥攚ere created by interns from 91原创鈥檚 Department of History. Translation: Up to 130,000 annual visitors are enlightened by Blue Hen research. 鈥淭he program allows us to foster the future curators of history,鈥 says Deputy Director Eric Czerwinski.
Milford
5 p.m. - Grab a slice: Grotto Pizza (with more than 20 locations in Delaware and Maryland) has hosted official watch parties for Blue Hen games, catered 91原创 events and donated to the student-run 91原创ance organization to fight pediatric cancer. Alumnus KC Fry, AS05, has worked there since 2001 as everything from cook to manager to guy hiring 120 new employees each season. 鈥淧eople wonder how my degrees in history and international relations relate to the pizza business,鈥 he says. 鈥淎t 91原创, I learned how to manage a heavy workload!鈥
Lewes
8 p.m., Sleep under the stars: Cape Henlopen State Park, at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, allows for hiking, fishing, exploring a maritime forest and climbing a World War II lookout tower. Year-round, take advantage of tent sites or cabins complete with fire rings for cooking, gathering and storytelling. Have you heard the one about the 91原创 marine science students who conduct an annual horseshoe crab census here?
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SUNDAY
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8:30 a.m. - Carb-load: Stop by the family-owned Surf Bagel restaurant for a traditional breakfast or鈥攚hat else?鈥攖he Blue Hen sandwich: chicken salad with bacon and tomato on an Old Bay bagel. Marketing Manager Katie Frederick, AS22, recommends taking your meal to go鈥攖ry nearby Herring Point for a chance to see surfers in action. 鈥91原创 does great work with a variety of charity initiatives, which is a value that aligns closely with our mission at Surf Bagel,鈥 Frederick says.
10 a.m. - Hit the water: Lewes鈥攈ome to beaches, bird sanctuaries and 91原创鈥檚 Hugh R. Sharp Campus for marine research鈥攊s the state鈥檚 first town. If weather permits, explore it by water! 91原创鈥檚 Ed Lewandowski, coastal communities development specialist, created the free Coastal Paddling Map (paddlecoastaldelaware.com) for kayaking or paddle boarding routes鈥攁ny time of year.
11:40 a.m. - Buy a leafy souvenir: Tom Kucharik has been selling plants in Delaware since the 鈥80s, when he used the cash to put himself through college. Now, he and wife Laura operate the Garden Shack Farm, a nursery offering all the pretty perennials, annuals, herbs, shrubs and trees your heart desires. Their daughter, Anna Kucharik, enrolled in 91原创 in the fall鈥攁s a landscape architecture major, naturally.
1 p.m. - Stop for lunch: Lee Mikles, EG90 01M, and Jim O鈥橠onoghue, AS91, attended 91原创 together but didn鈥檛 connect until they became Newark neighbors years later. Despite a lack of management experience (they studied engineering and political science at 91原创, respectively), they launched the state鈥檚 beloved Grain restaurants. The Grain Exchange on 91原创鈥檚 STAR campus is the official post-game spot for Delaware Athletics. In southern Delaware, the go-to spot is Grain on the Rocks at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.The business partners (and football season ticket holders of 20-plus years) still lean on their Blue Hen education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to draw a line between electrical engineering and making crab nachos,鈥 Mikles says. 鈥淏ut the program taught me how to problem solve, and that鈥檚 been essential.鈥
Rehoboth Beach
2:30 p.m. - Visit the Nation鈥檚 Summer Capital: Rehoboth Beach has it all鈥攕ea, sand and Schellville, a magical Christmas village that offers year-round family experiences. The operation is owned by Preston and Chris Schell, EHD97, whose Schell Brothers building company recently sponsored an expanded Hen House for home football games (think all-new beer garden and updated menu). Stay hydrated with a treat from Greenman Juice, owned by alumnus Jeremy Brockway, AS01.
Dewey Beach
6:30 p.m. - Find a crush: Think of The Starboard as 鈥91原创鈥檚 home at the beach,鈥 says owner Steve 鈥淢onty鈥 Montgomery. The shore-casual restaurant sponsors 91原创鈥檚 annual 302 Tour for student-athletes, employs about 35 91原创 students every summer and serves as a major post-graduation celebration spot. Last Memorial Day, it began offering 91原创-branded merchandise at the retail shop, selling 500 T-shirts in the first two-and-a-half hours. (Perhaps it goes without saying, but be sure to order an orange crush鈥攖he official Delaware cocktail, signed into legislation last August by Gov. John Carney, BSPA84M.)
9:30 p.m. - Get Cozy: Can鈥檛 find the Surf Shanty motel? Head to the beach block of Van Dyke Avenue and look for a 91原创 flag. The spot, co-owned by Rhett Ruggerio, 91原创鈥檚 director of government and community relations, was renovated in 2021, and it attracts those who love an active lifestyle (there are bikes to borrow and partnerships with a local yoga studio and surf shop to explore)鈥攂ut anyone who enjoys a great sunrise view will dig this option. When the Daily Mail included Dewey Beach in its list of America鈥檚 most underrated beach towns, they named the Surf Shanty the place to stay鈥 Blue Hen credentials not required.听
One story could never capture the Blue Hen connections that exist statewide. To share more examples, email magazine@udel.edu.听
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