USA Swimming’s board of governors said Friday night that Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak will not assume the role as CEO and president because of “unforeseen personal circumstances that we learned about late this week.”

USA Swimming made the move nine days after announcing Rawak’s hiring. The governing body said Shana Ferguson remains interim CEO.

“While this outcome is not what we expected or hoped for, we maintain the utmost confidence in the strength of our organization, leadership team, staff, and strategic direction,” USA Swimming said.

Rawak was set to fill the spot previously held by Tim Hinchey, who left last year shortly after the Paris Games.

Rawak was named Athletic Director of the Year in 2024 by a national group of ADs. She spearheaded a $38 million fundraising campaign for the construction of an athletic department facility.

Before Delaware, Rawak was an executive in the Michigan athletic department. She also was on the Michigan swimming and diving team and served as an assistant coach for the program from 1992-97.

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

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Hidden beneath Wilmington’s streets for nearly a century, lead pipes have quietly carried water through thousands of homes. But thanks to a recent effort led by University of Delaware researchers and students, the city now has a clearer picture of how widespread the old pipes are, and what needs to happen next.

A team of environmental engineering students, working under Gerald Kauffman, director of the University of Delaware Water Resources Center, conducted careful research into historic city records.

“Out of the 70,000 [connections], the bottom line is working with the city’s consultant, the city’s Department of Public Works and the students, they found that 2,000 of the pipes of the 70,000 are lead,” Kauffman said.

The findings mark a crucial step in identifying and replacing hazardous pipes that could pose health risks to residents.

The unfortunate legacy of lead, why these pipes still exist

The use of lead in water pipes dates back to the late 19th century, when it was a preferred material due to its durability and flexibility.

“Going back to the first water pipes that were actually installed in Wilmington in the late 19th century before the turn of the 20th, many of the pipes were lead. That was a material that was easily molded, and little was known about the health effects,” he said.

Congress banned the use of lead pipes in new construction in 1986. But older cities — particularly in the Northeast — still have remnants of these outdated systems. Last year, the Biden administration issued new rules through the EPA that would require old lead pipes to be replaced.

Most modern homes and renovations now use safer materials like copper, while older neighborhoods remain at risk.

Exposure to lead in drinking water has been linked to serious health issues in a child’s development, including neurological damage. Kauffman pointed out examples like the Flint Michigan’s water crisis that underscored the dangers of lead contamination, making identification and replacement of these pipes a high priority.

How UD students helped map Wilmington’s lead problem

The project began when Wilmington’s Department of Public Works approached the University of Delaware Resources Center for assistance. Using decades-old, handwritten public records, students worked to identify where lead pipes were most likely located.

“The idea was to go through the maps that the city has, and we have GIS maps in our office in Newark, and go through all the repair books, the plumbers, the inspectors that the city would send out to work with the homeowners to fix the pipes,” Kauffman said, describing it as a tedious process. “This is physically pouring through these old, handwritten plumbing repair records, and cursive writing and abbreviations … some of these go back to 1926.”

The findings were significant — not just in scale, but in their impact on cost-saving efforts. Instead of the city having to dig up lawns and streets to locate lead pipes manually, the students’ work provided a targeted list of affected homes.

“My estimate is that the students saved the city about $15 million,” he said.

The art exhibit runs from February 25 to March 21. (Photos courtesy of the Delaware Division of the Arts)

The First State’s employees are getting their time to shine their artistic juices.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is celebrating the creative talents of state employees and their families with the 14th Annual Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition, now open to the public at the Arts Center/Gallery at Delaware State University.

The free exhibition, running through March 21, 2025, highlights the diverse artwork of over 200 participants, with pieces created by state employees and their immediate family members.

The exhibition features a wide range of artistic categories, including Adult (Amateur, Intermediate, and Professional), Teen, and Youth.

A variety of cash prizes, ranging from $50 to $400, will be awarded to the best works in each category, along with a Best of Show and a People’s Choice Award.

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Governor Matt Meyer praised the event, emphasizing the importance of creativity in the workplace.

“Creativity is at the heart of innovation, and Delaware state employees embody that every day—whether through problem-solving, collaboration, or finding new ways to serve the people of Delaware,” Meyer said. “This exhibition reminds us that the arts are woven into the fabric of who we are, and the ingenuity that drives artistic expression also fuels our innovative work across state government.”

The event is not only a celebration of artistic achievement but also underscores the value of creative expression in professional settings.

Research has shown that engaging in the arts enhances problem-solving skills, boosts morale, and promotes innovation—qualities that are vital in the workplace.

“Art is an integral part of our daily lives,” said Delaware Division of the Arts Director Jessica Ball said. “It inspires, connects, and enriches our communities, often in ways we may not even realize.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Arts Center/Gallery, with varying hours throughout the week. A special awards ceremony and celebration event will take place on Sunday, March 9, from 12 to 4 p.m., where visitors can view the artwork, meet the winners, and enjoy refreshments, activities, and giveaways.

The exhibition is sponsored by the National Arts Program, in cooperation with the State of Delaware and the Delaware Division of the Arts. It offers a unique opportunity for artists of all skill levels to showcase their work and compete for prizes. All submitted pieces must be original works created by current state employees or their immediate family members, with all artworks completed within the past three years.

Art exhibition hours

• Monday: Closed to the public
• Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday-Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Saturdays, March 1 and March 8: 12 – 4 p.m.
• Sunday, March 9: 12 – 4 p.m.

Click here to view the virtual gallery.

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.

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