Christina Lavris
In Motion Staff Writer
DSC held its 10th annual Campus Safety Awareness Day and Wall of Fame program on April 14. The event took place at the Campus Safety Plaza starting at 8:30 a.m. with light refreshments before the official award ceremony kicked off at 9 am.
Director of Campus Safety Chief William Tillard introduced the DSC Police Academy Color Guard as they posted the colors at the beginning of the ceremony.
“Hopefully they will be out patrolling our streets and partnering with us for better community service,” said Tillard.
Student Government Association President Olivia Stuart also took the time to give a speech praising campus safety staff.
“Whether it’s holding an exercise to simulate an active threat or responding timely to an actual dangerous situation, we want our students to be knowledgeable and aware about what campus safety can do to assist and protect,” said Stuart.
Over 19 students, faculty, and campus safety officers were recognized and honored with wall of fame awards for helping to make the campus a safer place by responding to situations, following the “See something, say something” policy of Campus Safety.
Following the award ceremony, students and staff attending the ceremony were allowed to meet with members of the police department at their static display.
“It is a big plus for us to have our employees and our students to be able to meet and greet with police officers on a more personal level, one on one, so they understand how they do things and so we can become their partner better by having events like this, standing shoulder to shoulder,” said Tillard.
Officer Darren Santiago of DBPD K9-3 unit, along with his K9 partner Zeno, a 5-year-old German shepherd were a part of the display. Zeno specializes in narcotics and apprehension, but is well socialized and was more than happy to greet students and enjoy some well-deserved petting and playtime. According to Santiago, the police department currently has six K9s.
“The dogs live at home with us,” said Santiago. “Sometimes we spend more time with them than we do our own families.”
Campus Safety Awareness Day was started 10 years ago, shortly after the tragic Virginia Tech shooting. “We thought that we should capture the opportunity to make us better at what we do and maybe have one less tragedy, and many colleges do the same thing. They make it more of an awareness day,” said Tillard.
“Everyone needs to be involved, see something, say something. As a team, as a college community, we can provide the highest level of campus safety and I think we do that.”
The Wall of Fame program recognizes students and college employees who have demonstrated exemplary behavior during a campus safety-related matter. This year’s honorees are:
• Sharon Ielfield – A longtime DSC Judicial Affairs coordinator and friend of Campus Safety who will retire this summer.
• Southeast Museum of Photography Programming Director Christina Katsolis and Campus Safety Officer Nancy Hodge, who found and helped reunite a lost dog with a suffering family.
• Softball Coach Sabrina Manhart, who observed and reported a suspicious person lurking around summer camp children.
• Campus Safety Officer Tiffany Enborg, who discovered a major water leak, saving thousands of dollars in potential losses and preventing a building from being forced to close for repairs.
• Nancy Hodge, for coming to the aid of a student having a severe seizure on campus.
• Maintenance Specialist Marbly Jackson, for creating a Foundation Homecoming tree.
• Alumni & Friends Association Director Suzette Cameron, for coordinating the first DSC Homecoming in over 30 years.
• Student Sofia Revis, School of World Languages Chair Holly Hollins, retired DBPS Capt. Steve Szabo, World Language instructor Martin Galloway, Co-Curricular Activities Director Bruce Cook, student Gary Meyer, Student Government Association President Olivia Stuart and Staff Assistant Diane Mathers, for their efforts in conducting an active-shooter drill for students.
• Student Clara Hodgdon and Maintenance Specialist Jean Turner, who observed and reported a suspicious person/incident.
• Campus Safety Officer Charles Hinton, DBPD Officer Matt Hamilton and Admissions Specialist Tina Browne, who extinguished a fire and minimized damage close to a building and people.