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The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run
then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving
forward.” These words are emblematic of the attitude that drives so many ECPI University
graduates as they have sought to further their education. In this edition of eConnect, you
will meet some of these exceptional people.
I have long viewed ECPI University as a place for second chances. Many of our gradu-
ates have tried college before. Others were derailed by difficult circumstances, yet a de-
sire to achieve continued to move them forward. Upon entering our University, they soon
discovered they were among people who were committed to helping them succeed, staff
and faculty members who shared their dreams.
Each of these people has demonstrated great resilience. They have motivated others and
led by example. We are proud to call them our graduates and hope their stories will inspire you.
Sincerely,
Mark Dreyfus
S
ometimes the best laid plans are inter-
rupted by unexpected events. Just ask
Della Deese. After graduating from high
school in Lancaster, South Carolina, she
headed north to attend college and study
chemistry with an eye on becoming an
F.B.I. bomb technician. Before she could
finish school, she learned she was expect-
ing a child. So, she came home and began
her career as mother.
She had to make a new plan. Her mother
was a doctor and she liked the healthcare
field, so she studied to be a nurse. After
finishing her studies, she had two more
children and continued her healthcare
career. Nagging at her all along was that
initial desire to serve in law enforcement.
She felt there had to be some way to make
that happen. She began researching online
universities and soon enrolled at ECPI
University to study criminal justice.
“Once I got going, I was so excited, but also
very challenged,” says Della. “It’s not easy
raising three children, working full-time, and
going to school. There were times I wanted
to quit, but my advisors and teachers really
stuck by, encouraging and motivating me. I
will always be grateful for that.
“Being an online student was a great expe-
rience. With all the interaction, it felt like we
were in a real classroom. My classmates
and I talked to each other online and on the
phone. My teachers were always available
when I needed help no matter what time it
was. Some people think online education is
really hard. It’s not; you just need to be
disciplined and fully-engaged.”
Although Della attended the Online cam-
pus, she traveled six hours with her family
to attend graduation at ECPI University’s
main campus in Virginia. “I can’t even
describe the feeling,” she says. “It was
amazing, such a sense of accomplishment,
walking across the stage, seeing people I
have been interacting with online the past
two years!”
As for her new career, Della was offered a
job with her hometown police department.
She’s already started training and will head
off to the Police Academy on August 31. So,
would she recommend ECPI University On-
line to others? “I’ve got two God-daughters
and they are both going through the admis-
sions process right now and I recommend
ECPI to everyone I meet!”
Chemistry Student, Mother, Nurse, Police Officer
Criminal Justice Graduate Fulfills a Lifelong Goal
Online On-the-Job
“Being an online student was
a great experience. With all the
interaction, it felt like we were in
a real classroom. My classmates
and I talked to each other online
and on the phone. My teachers
were always available when I
needed help no matter what time
it was.”
– Della Deese
Online Graduate