Former student tells tale of hope and opportunity

It was 1988 and Margie Kozuch Crowe was a senior at Midland High School enrolled in a co-op program. That spring she learned her co-op teacher had enrolled her in a competition day at Delta College.

As a secretarial co-op student, she competed in typing and math events. She had no idea that event would change her life.

“At the end of the competition, I was awarded a gift from Delta College that literally changed the course of my life – a two-year scholarship,” Crowe said.  

Crowe explains why that few thousand dollars meant so much. 

“I grew up in an area of Midland County that was economically depressed and my family was very low-income,” she said. “College was never a possibility for me, though I did dream of going.”

Crowe was looking forward to the opportunity to use her scholarship to become a professional secretary, as it would mean she’d have a stable income after high school. She was surprised to learn her scholarship, although awarded for her office skills, was not limited to secretarial courses. 

“I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I kept repeating to the Delta registration employee, ‘You mean I can take any course here?’” she said. “So, at 17 years old, I enrolled in courses that would transfer to a university, along with the secretarial course work, believing I needed a backup plan in case I did not have what it took to complete a four-year degree.”  

She completed two years at Delta and transferred to Central Michigan University. But it was the U.S. Air Force that played the next pivotal role in her career path.

“During my time at CMU, I continued to struggle to pay for school,” she explained. “I decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force.”

Within two years of being in the Air Force, Crowe was selected for a commissioning program. The Air Force placed her on a full academic scholarship and she was able to complete her undergraduate degree. She was then commissioned as an officer. 

Crowe retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. During her time in the Air Force, she completed two master's degrees and spent the latter part of her career working
in the Pentagon. 

“At one point, I was in charge of the college scholarship program for the Air Force. It gave me the opportunity to award funding to students like myself who had potential for success, but no opportunity or hope in doing so. Sixty-five million dollars a year in hope and opportunity!” she added.

Educational leadership was Crowe’s next career stop. She completed her doctorate in 2021 and is now the faculty development and quality enhancement plan director at South College in Washington, D.C. 

Crowe has had a very successful career path, but she says it was that first scholarship that made it all possible.

“I often share my story about my experience at Delta being the launching pad for my career and life! I seriously doubt I would've had so many professional opportunities without the foundation I had at Delta,” she said. 

“It’s important to me that your donors, staff and the Board of Trustees know the scholarship funding invested in me was not wasted,” she added. “I put every penny of it to great use in my life! My sincerest gratitude for changing the course of my life.” 

 

Interested in creating an endowment or supporting scholarship at Delta College? Contact Julie Dorcey at 989-686-9079 or juliedorcey@delta.edu.