Thanks to the Efforts of Many, Newark Student
Realizes His Dream
to Walk in Graduation Ceremony
Newark High School senior Derek
George had a dream to be able to
walk across the stage at graduation.
But because he did not have a walker, it
seemed like his dream would not be
realized. However, Derek’s story
motivated many people to get involved in
what became a true community effort
to
help him realize his dream.
Shirley Wesley, administrative assistant
in the Newark High School Wellness
Center, heard about Derek’s wish and
shared it with Barbara Szewczyk of
Christiana Care Visiting Nurse
Association, during a Wellness Center
Advisory meeting. Szewczyk made
various contacts and asked Terri
Jarrell, a pediatric physical therapist
who had provided Derek with therapy in
the past, to volunteer time to assess
Derek’s needs and his ability to use a
walker. The Newark Lions club donated up
to $350 to cover the cost of a walker
for Derek, and First Choice Home Medical
Equipment rushed the order so that Derek
would have enough time to practice with
the walker before graduation. In
addition, several Newark High School
students also became involved in helping
Derek obtain his walker and prepare for
graduation.
Derek was able to walk in his graduation
ceremony on June 2, and the crowd gave
him a standing ovation. Mike
Hudson, one of the students that helped
Derek in achieving his dream,
accompanied him across the stage.
