The MERIT Program Celebrates 50 Years of Offering STEM Learning to Minority Youth
The Delaware Community Foundation’s initiative MERIT (Minority Engineering Regional Incentive Training) is marking its 50th anniversary of impacting youth in Sussex County.
MERIT was founded in 1974 by visionary educator and community leader John Hollis. Created in collaboration with engineers from DuPont’s Seaford plant, it was designed to offer minority students from Seaford and Sussex County academic enrichment and college preparatory opportunities rarely found at the time. In five decades, thousands of students have graduated from the program, many of whom have gone on to earn bachelors, master’s and doctoral degrees.
“MERIT has proven to be one of the most satisfying initiatives of the DCF because its impact has been profound and multi-generational,” says Stuart Comstock-Gay, CEO & President of the DCF. “Not only is John Hollis dedicated to serving minority youth, his work for the Delaware Community Foundation later in his career was formative in strengthening our then-fledgling southern Delaware office.”
MERIT has become one of Delaware’s most successful programs for fostering excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among minority youth. It has equipped thousands of students with challenging engineering experiences and powerful leadership skills, while encouraging them to pursue college degrees. The program fosters parental involvement, and many MERIT alumni return as volunteers, strengthening the program’s vibrant community and shaping its evolution to meet the needs of future generations.
Hollis’ career includes roles as an administrator, teacher, and coach within the Seaford School District, as well as positions with Delaware Technical Community College and the Delaware Community Foundation. His numerous recognitions — including the John H. Taylor Jr. Award, the MLK Community Recognition Award, and the Governor’s Volunteer of the Year Award — underscore his unwavering commitment to community service.
MERIT welcomes contributions to its operating fund at https://delcf.org/donations/merit-program-operating-fund/.
The Delaware Community Foundation invites residents interested in establishing their own funds to contact Mike DiPaolo at the DCF via [email protected].