Diane Stopyra November 21, 2024

Blue Hen pride extends far beyond the Georgian brick pathways of campus. It’s a feeling—an energy—that radiates across the state’s 2,489 square miles. From the Piedmont region to the Coastal Plain, UD students, alumni and research experts are either managing, contributing to, or meaningfully engaging with the businesses and attractions that make Delaware, Delaware.

To strengthen these Blue Hen ties, UD Athletics facilitates mutually beneficial interactions between more than 100 businesses and the University. There are traditional opportunities—think sponsorship deals that result in game-time advertising or social media promos—as well as possibilities less orthodox. Some companies choose to develop community service opportunities or internships specifically geared for student-athletes.

“In larger states with, say, 12 counties, it can be difficult to represent the whole area but, in Delaware, we can get very creative with our partnerships,” says Kate Rudolph, associate athletic director, business engagement and philanthropy. “We are privileged with the ability to connect—to be a convener of people and companies—and that’s a very cool opportunity.”

One avenue is UD’s annual 302 tour, in which student-athletes get a chance to meet the people and places that make Delaware hum. In this spirit of forging—and celebrating—connections, UD Magazine has put together its own version of the 302 Tour, a weekend itinerary for newcomers and die-hard Delawareans, highlighting Blue Hen ties throughout the state.

Happy road tripping!

Friday

Wilmington

Noon - Visit a stunning mansion: Cash in some PTO and kick off the weekend early with a visit to Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, where approximately 20 staff members are UD alumni. The remarkable site boasts more than 90,000 historic and decorative objects that tell the lesser known parts of American history. A Blue Hen pride point: Winterthur and UD offer two jointly sponsored, world-renowned master’s programs in material culture and art conservation—with more than 800 graduates playing critical roles in museums and cultural heritage sites around the world.

2 p.m. - Fuel up: Leigh Ann Tona, BE12, launched her food truck, I Don’t Give a Fork, after developing the concept at the age of 21 and winning a pitch competition through UD’s entrepreneurship program. While that business is no longer operational, the experience gave her confidence to launch Sleeping Bird Coffee, a brick-and-mortar cafe on Miller Road. Before embarking on a whirlwind tour of the state, stop here for some energy. Tona recommends a pastry and a custom caramel latte.

3 p.m. - Feel the breeze in your hair: The Kalmar Nyckel, which stands 105 feet high at full mast, is a recreation of a 17th century ship manned by the Swedes who, in 1638, established the first European settlement in the Delaware Valley. Explore this and other parts of Delaware’s maritime history at the Copeland Maritime Center on the riverfront, or, during certain times of year, enjoy a public sail along the Christina River (bald eagle sightings at no extra charge). “Even for people like myself who grew up in Wilmington, this offers such a fresh perspective,” says Amy Sypher, ANR22, assistant director of public programs and engagement. “Expect beauty, education and adventure.”

Newark

5:30 p.m. - Explore a bustling downtown: For a heaping serving of blue-and-gold pride, visit the haunts on Main. Many are owned or managed by Blue Hens: Deer Park, Home Grown and Caffe Gelato. For dinner, consider the flagship location of Iron Hill Brewery, co-owned by Kevin Finn, BE02M, who leveraged his UD education to turn a homebrewing hobby into a beloved chain, now 21 restaurants strong.

9 p.m., Turn in: The Lang Development Group, responsible for more than 30 projects throughout Main Street and Newark, is run by alumni Jeff Lang, BE84; Chris Brown, AS83; and Chris Locke, BE84. In 2023, the company launched the swanky Hyatt Place hotel on Main Street, complete with an indoor pool. “It’s important for us to give back to the community we’ve been so blessed to be part of,” says Lang, whose Lang Cares nonprofit benefits area youth. Fun fact: The hotel is managed by former UD football captain, Tyrone Grant.

Saturday

6 a.m. - Get your steps in: Start your day at White Clay Creek State Park, which boasts 25% of the state-park trails in Delaware. Sightings may include Blue Hens—the park’s superintendent is alumna Laura Lee, AS92, and professors and students do much work there to remove invasive species, manage the watershed and study wildlife like bats, stink bugs, ticks, butterflies, reptiles, insects and more.

Ducklings at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Smyrna

8:30 a.m. - Eat a breakfast of champions: Stop at the family owned Main Street Market for some eggs or French toast, and look out for Dakota Donaghue, BE27, one of many UD students who’ve cut their hospitality teeth here. (“We’re very selective about who we hire, and Blue Hens are such well-rounded kids,” says owner Cathy Shaner.) Hot tip: Order a bagged meal for a picnic in nearby Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, an important migratory stopover where Blue Hen experts conduct research on waterfowl and songbirds. “When it comes to natural settings that are good for the soul, this is a crown jewel,” says Chris Williams, professor of wildlife ecology.

Dover area

10 a.m., Experience art: Alumnus and benefactor Sewell Biggs, AS38, sponsored scholarships for foreign students to study at UD in the 19xxs. Today, his legacy of advancing education continues at the Biggs Museum of American Art, which houses a sizable collection of fine and decorative pieces from the Delaware Valley. On the first Saturday of every month, UD students Taylor Lipski, AS25A, and Josh Balcenca, AS24A, help develop museum programming and serve as tour guides. “The students offer such fresh perspectives,” says Kiara Florez, head of visitor experience. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

11:30 a.m. - Stop for lunch: UD alumnus Bob Ashby of the Ashby Hospitality Group, BE77, says he chose an Irish theme for the original McGlynn’s Pub because he knew “it would be busy at least one day per year.” But he needn’t have worried about filling seats—the restaurant’s become an institution. At this location, on the banks of Silver Lake, enjoy your wings with a view.

1 p.m. - Shop local: Fifer’s Farm, which covers 3,000 acres in central Delaware, allows you to pick your own fruit, shop at a country store, and connect with your inner child (rubber duck races, anyone?). The family operation includes alumni (Mary, HS73, who played on the University’s first field hockey team; her brother Carlton, ANR62; and his son Curtis, ANR98), and they do much to support UD’s Cooperative Extension and agricultural students.

2:30 p.m. - Prepare for takeoff: If you’ve never been inside a restored World War II hangar once used to develop secret rockets, rush to Dover’s free Air Mobility Command Museum. Some of the exhibits—from the history of World War II lookout towers to the integration of African Americans in the U.S. Air Force—were created by interns from UD’s Department of History. Translation: Up to 130,000 annual visitors are enlightened by Blue Hen research. “The program allows us to foster the future curators of history,” says Deputy Director Eric Czerwinski.

Milford

5 p.m. - Grab a slice: Grotto Pizza (with more than 20 locations in Delaware and Maryland) has hosted official watch parties for Blue Hen games, catered UD events and donated to the student-run UDance organization to fight pediatric cancer. Alumnus KC Fry, AS05, has worked there since 2001 as everything from cook to manager to guy hiring 120 new employees each season. “People wonder how my degrees in history and international relations relate to the pizza business,” he says. “At UD, I learned how to manage a heavy workload!”

Lewes

8 p.m., Sleep under the stars: Cape Henlopen State Park, at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, allows for hiking, fishing, exploring a maritime forest and climbing a World War II lookout tower. Year-round, take advantage of tent sites or cabins complete with fire rings for cooking, gathering and storytelling. Have you heard the one about the UD marine science students who conduct an annual horseshoe crab census here?

SUNDAY

8:30 a.m. - Carb-load: Stop by the family-owned Surf Bagel restaurant for a traditional breakfast or—what else?—the Blue Hen sandwich: chicken salad with bacon and tomato on an Old Bay bagel. Marketing Manager Katie Frederick, AS22, recommends taking your meal to go—try nearby Herring Point for a chance to see surfers in action. “UD does great work with a variety of charity initiatives, which is a value that aligns closely with our mission at Surf Bagel,” Frederick says.

10 a.m. - Hit the water: Lewes—home to beaches, bird sanctuaries and UD’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus for marine research—is the state’s first town. If weather permits, explore it by water! UD’s Ed Lewandowski, coastal communities development specialist, created the free Coastal Paddling Map (paddlecoastaldelaware.com) for kayaking or paddle boarding routes—any time of year.

11:40 a.m. - Buy a leafy souvenir: Tom Kucharik has been selling plants in Delaware since the ’80s, when he used the cash to put himself through college. Now, he and wife Laura operate the Garden Shack Farm, a nursery offering all the pretty perennials, annuals, herbs, shrubs and trees your heart desires. Their daughter, Anna Kucharik, enrolled in UD in the fall—as a landscape architecture major, naturally.

1 p.m. - Stop for lunch: Lee Mikles, EG90 01M, and Jim O’Donoghue, AS91, attended UD together but didn’t connect until they became Newark neighbors years later. Despite a lack of management experience (they studied engineering and political science at UD, respectively), they launched the state’s beloved Grain restaurants. The Grain Exchange on UD’s STAR campus is the official post-game spot for Delaware Athletics. In southern Delaware, the go-to spot is Grain on the Rocks at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal.The business partners (and football season ticket holders of 20-plus years) still lean on their Blue Hen education. “It’s hard to draw a line between electrical engineering and making crab nachos,” Mikles says. “But the program taught me how to problem solve, and that’s been essential.”

Rehoboth Beach

2:30 p.m. - Visit the Nation’s Summer Capital: Rehoboth Beach has it all—sea, sand and Schellville, a magical Christmas village that offers year-round family experiences. The operation is owned by Preston and Chris Schell, EHD97, whose Schell Brothers building company recently sponsored an expanded Hen House for home football games (think all-new beer garden and updated menu). Stay hydrated with a treat from Greenman Juice, owned by alumnus Jeremy Brockway, AS01.

Dewey Beach

6:30 p.m. - Find a crush: Think of The Starboard as “UD’s home at the beach,” says owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery. The shore-casual restaurant sponsors UD’s annual 302 Tour for student-athletes, employs about 35 UD students every summer and serves as a major post-graduation celebration spot. Last Memorial Day, it began offering UD-branded merchandise at the retail shop, selling 500 T-shirts in the first two-and-a-half hours. (Perhaps it goes without saying, but be sure to order an orange crush—the official Delaware cocktail, signed into legislation last August by Gov. John Carney, BSPA84M.)

9:30 p.m. - Get Cozy: Can’t find the Surf Shanty motel? Head to the beach block of Van Dyke Avenue and look for a UD flag. The spot, co-owned by Rhett Ruggerio, UD’s director of government and community relations, was renovated in 2021, and it attracts those who love an active lifestyle (there are bikes to borrow and partnerships with a local yoga studio and surf shop to explore)—but anyone who enjoys a great sunrise view will dig this option. When the Daily Mail included Dewey Beach in its list of America’s most underrated beach towns, they named the Surf Shanty the place to stay… Blue Hen credentials not required.

One story could never capture the Blue Hen connections that exist statewide. To share more examples, email magazine@udel.edu.