DelBloggolo: ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Monday, November 17, 2014

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Dr. Kevin J. Manning

Being a sports fan and football in particular, I had a dream come true when I happened to be invited to a college football game recently by the president of Stevenson University’s for his 70^th birthday party. He happens to be my brother-in-law, the brother of TLW (The Little Woman), Dr. Kevin J. Manning.

The dream itself has been to sit in the president’s box, which is enclosed from the elements and watch a game surrounded by things like shrimp, chicken wings, roast pork and other delights along with an endless supply of drinks and toilets conveniently located.

There was a serenade of Happy Birthday sung and played by the marching band of the Stevenson Mustangs, and the thrill of watching an exciting 31 to 17 victory made for a great day of entertainment and fun for a sports nut.

The seedling

Stevenson http://www.stevenson.edu/about/university-leadership/ was once a lonely commuter college set off in Maryland, and surrounded by woods and parked cars on a small parcel of land, and called Villa Julia. Then my brother-in-law came along, and transformed it into Stevenson University, creating dorms that look like expensive condominiums, a successful growing plan of college extension and a very successful football team and marching band.

Along the way Dr. Manning created a precedent in college growth with innovation and school pride as that little community college became the seed for economic growth in the community and a model success story of little to big almost over-night.

I guess sitting in the President’s box, along with family and board members and faculty or administrators, I had the satisfaction of seeing people who worked hard, with a dream and perusing it doggedly realizing their dream and proving them with a vengeance.

A one of a kind, state-of-the-art Mustang Stadium.

The lesson here is that people can fail, and their dreams never seeing the light of day. And then there are people who never fail, even though things do not work out for them initially, who do succeed. There is no failure in their past, just determination and continuance of that dream, and a wonderful life lesson.