Delaware
The first Delaware Student of the Week comes from Archmere Academy
The first Delaware Student of the Week is coming under the spotlight.
In case you missed it, Delaware Online/The News Journal launched an initiative to recognize achievements of high school students across the state through reader voting, every other week. This honor looks to highlight academic achievement, extracurricular activities, volunteerism, perseverance and more qualities that make up the lives of so many young scholars.
School principals and other educators sent in nominations, while readers handled the rest. So in this first round, who is our Delaware Student of the Week?
That’s Daniel Qi, of Archmere Academy. The “exceptional violinist” snagged nearly 70% of the vote in this round.
This junior has already performed with symphony orchestras, and he serves as first violinist for the Helena Raskob Arts Institute String Ensemble, according to his nominator. Daniel was awarded the first chair, while also serving as concertmaster, when chosen to perform with the Delaware All-State Orchestra.
Outside of the classroom, the top math student has also performed internationally. He played in Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra NYO2 program, and even touring Iceland with Temple Music Prep’s Youth Chamber Orchestra.
Come back for next week’s poll, set to launch on Monday morning. Educators can still make additional submissions until next week.
ICYMI: Wilmington’s Bardea restaurant team cooks dinner at Archmere Academy for Biden Quad Summit
[Editor’s note: This is a budding initiative. Did we miss your institution on our email list? Have a comment? Let us know: studentoftheweek@delawareonline.com]
Delaware
Middletown school leader charged with sharing child sex abuse material to messaging app
How child sex abuse is affecting Delaware kids, families
How prevalent is child sexual abuse, and what are potential warning signs?
Hannah Edelman, Delaware Online
A Middletown school administrator was arrested after state prosecutors say he uploaded child sexual abuse material online to a messaging app.
The Delaware Department of Justice announced 25 felony charges involving possession of child sexual abuse material against 43-year-old Justin Smith, the head of school at St. Anne’s Episcopal School since July of 2024. The Justice Department said Friday night that they have “no indication” at this time that Smith’s crimes are linked to his role at the school.
Still, they noted St. Anne’s − a self-described independent school serving grades preschool through eighth, according to its website − is “fully cooperating” with the investigation.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings called the evidence “shocking and abhorrent” in a written statement Friday, noting that Smith’s job put him in a position of trust with children.
Smith’s charges do not involve contacting a child, according to the DOJ, and there are no victims affiliated with the school or community at this time.
Because of Smith’s job, however, the state is asking the public to come forward with any information they may have in this case. Anyone with information can contact the Delaware Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at (302) 739-2030.
What prompted the investigation of Justin Smith?
Investigators from the state Department of Justice and Delaware State Police, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, received multiple CyberTips from Kik Messenger warnings, according to the Justice Department. The warnings indicated that social media accounts belonging to Smith had uploaded child sexual abuse material from an IP address belonging to Smith.
The tips prompted investigators to execute search warrants on the social media accounts, the state said, which found more child sexual abuse material.
Smith was arraigned and taken to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $625,000 cash bail.
Delaware
Delaware vets get creative to help heal at art classes hosted by CreatiVeterans
CreatieVeterans focuses on small, supportive classes capped at 12 participants, allowing veterans to explore a variety of artistic techniques that vary across all three counties.
“In New Castle County, we have ‘Working with Clay.’ In this, specifically, participants will use hand-building techniques with clay, including pinching, quilling slab and texture technique,” Henry said. In quilling slab, artists shape designs out of tiny strips of clay.
“We have in Kent County, ‘Gelli Plate Printing with ‘Es,’’” Henry said. Gelli plate is a gelatin-like plate made of solidified mineral oil that’s used to transfer images onto a canvas.
“Veterans can “explore by transforming magazines and images in nature and different textures you can put on the plate,” Henry said. “Then, in Sussex County, we have ‘Mixed-Media Collage Making.’ This is exploring craft embellishments, paper and found art materials and they’ll be making these collages on wood.”
Ensuring accessibility across all three counties was a central focus of the program’s design.
“I feel like it is known that New Castle [County] in general gets more of a focus. It’s kind of known as an art hub,” she said. “It’s really important that we reach Kent County and Sussex County, you know, the more rural areas. So, no one has to drive up to New Castle County or north. It’s important that they have access right near them.”
“This is all for all genders, all ages for veterans. This is a mix of a lot of different generations together and I feel like that impact can allow so much value and insight,” Henry added. “Depending on where those veterans served, what branch. I just think it allows a lot of opportunity for veterans to create a bigger community than they already have.”
Some of the eight-week sessions are already underway, participants are preparing to share their creations in community exhibitions held in each county. These exhibitions will allow veterans to celebrate their accomplishments with family, friends, and local supporters.
While New Castle County’s class is fully booked, veterans are still encouraged to register for classes in Kent and Sussex Counties.
Delaware
Following a long history of Olympic success, UD’s Figure Skating community in mourning
Those involved with the University of Delaware’s High Performance Figure Skating Center have celebrated many triumphs, including in the U.S. Nationals and Olympics.
On Thursday they endured the opposite extreme, mourning the deaths of one coach and two young skaters in a plane crash Wednesday night.
“With a heavy heart, we struggle to express the impact of this tragedy on our Blue Hen community,” UD athletic director Chrissi Rawak shared in a social-media message.
Coach Alexandr Kirsanov and young skaters Angela Yang and Sean Kay died when the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
Rawak paid tribute to Kirsanov, saying his “passion and commitment touched many lives, leaving a permanent mark on our campus.”
What was originally known as UD’s Ice Skating Science Development Center opened in 1987 when Ron Ludington, who had coached numerous national- and Olympic-level skaters, moved over from the Skating Club of Wilmington.
Though not operated by the university, the UD skating center is located at the school’s Fred Rust and Gold ice arenas located south of campus with other athletic facilities at the David M. Nelson Athletic Complex.
Ludington retired in 2010 but maintained some involvement and died in 2020 at age 85. But the skating program has continued to thrive, with many of Ludington’s skaters becoming coaches at UD.
Among UD-based skaters who excelled at the highest levels were the 1992 Olympic pairs duo of Calla Urbanski and Rocky Marval and 2006 world champion Kimmie Meissner. Three-time national champion and two-time Olympian Johnny Weir also got his start at UD.
The skating center was also a destination for those from other countries with high-level figure skaters, especially Russia.
One of them, Oleg Ovsyannikov, sat in front of an international media throng in 1998 and said “I want to say thank you to all the people at the University of Delaware.” Around his neck was the silver medal he had just earned in ice dancing at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, with partner Anjelika Krylova.
Tara Lipinski, who had periodically trained at UD, soon after became the youngest figure-skating Olympic gold medalist when she won the women’s singles at age 15.
More than 30 figure skaters with ties to Delaware rinks competed in the Winter Olympics for the U.S. from 1972 through 2006, including eight at the 1984 Games and six in 1988.
That history has long made UD a draw for figure skaters with high aspirations. Emmanuel Savary, a long-time UD skater, placed 13th at the recent U.S. Championships in men’s singles.
“They get excited and see the possibility that maybe they can be there someday, that it’s a reality,” UD coach Pam Gregory told DelawareOnline/The News Journal before the 2018 Olympics.
Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
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