2018 Keynote Speaker
Danielle Delpéche is a JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program alumna who spent the past three years teaching English in West Japan. She graduated from Swarthmore College in 2015 with a B.A. in Asian Studies, where she focused on Japanese media. Her sophomore year was dedicated to revitalizing the school’s dormant Caribbean Cultural group, SOCA (Students of Caribbean Ancestry), and she spent her junior and senior year as its president. She received the Director’s Special Recognition Award on behalf of the Black Cultural Center of Swarthmore College for significant contributions to the Black community and campus-wide. She currently speaks three languages— English, French and Japanese — and is currently working on her fourth: Korean. Danielle has a passion for international media, especially East Asian television and film.
In the future, she hopes to return to Asia and make her mark in the entertainment industry there. Her dream is to diversify Asian popular media; to encourage the youth there to learn about different cultures around the world, as well as inspire others back home to explore the world and expand their horizons.
During her down time, she enjoys playing volleyball, watching Korean horror movies, and finding new music to listen and dance to.
Taylor is the daughter of Geoffrey & Tammy Extavour, who graduated from Appoquinimink High School and is enrolled at North-eastern University in Boston, majoring in Marine Biology and Political Science. She has benefited from two cultural back-grounds as her father is from Trinidad and her mother is from Virginia. Growing up, she fully embraced both her Trinidadian and Southern African-American heritage. One thing both cultures share and has greatly impacted her being is the value of education and hard work. Taylor has been interested in Marine Biology since childhood where she explored the waters of several Caribbean Islands, including Trinidad & Tobago. Upon graduation from university, Taylor intends to continue with marine and environmental research and to advocate for policies to make the world a more sustainable place to live.
Monique is the daughter of Keith & Sarah McDougal, who was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware but her parents hail from Berbice and Beterverwagting, Guyana. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School and attends the University of Delaware, majoring in Environmental Engineering. Throughout high school, Monique has played field hockey, basketball, and participated in clubs such as “Kick Butt Generation” and Girls Empowered. She has also served as Vice President of for all four year of high school as well as participated in the FAME (Forum to Advance Minority in Engineering) and the LEAP (Leadership Enrichment Arts Program) program. Her hobbies include singing and praise dancing for her church. Monique has visited Guyana every summer until about the age of twelve. In Guyana, she would observe homeless people on the street living in squalid conditions. Seeing these conditions inspired her to become an environmental engineer in hopes of making living conditions better for people, not only in Guyana, but around the world.
Kevin is the son of Julian & Karen White of Haitian descent. He is a freshman at Villanova University with a double major in Finance and Business Analytics and was named a St. Thomas of Villanova Scholar (STOVS). He graduated from Newark Charter High School with a cumulative GPA of 4.5. Among his many accolades, Kevin was an inaugural NCHS Student Ambassador, Treasurer of the NCS Chapter of the National Honor Society, a 3-time national qualifier in Business Professionals of America, a 3-time captain of the varsity basketball team, and a 2018 True Patriot Award winner.
Piper-Simone is the daughter of Patrick Casey & Paula Casey. Like her mother, a native Delawarean, Piper-Simone was born and raised in Dover, Delaware. Her father was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica and currently works in the Caesar Rodney School District where Piper –Simone graduated from high school, and became a member of the National Honor Society, played tennis, and won two state titles in doubles. She is a freshman at Spelman College, studying Political Science on the Pre-Law track. Her hobbies include reading, sleeping, and eating.
Ryan is the son of Balwant & Liloutie Singh, who graduated from Middletown High School not only as the Class of 2018 Salutatorian, but also as a 2018 Secretary of State Scholar and United States Presidential Scholar Nominee. He currently attends the University of Delaware where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering. He is classified as a sophomore given that he acquired a 24 college credits through Delaware State University’s Early Bird Program and dual enrollment with Delaware Technical Community College. Aside from many academic accolades, Ryan has volunteered and gave back to both his American and Caribbean cultural communities, which include organizing a drive and distributing school supplies to orphanages in Guyana. Ryan intends to be able to give back more someday and he is determined in making his dream a reality.
