DOVER, Del. - Delaware state university is one of the many colleges and universities that held their virtual graduations this weekend. Students in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) at DSU explain why this graduation is extra special.
DACA students from DSU celebrated their highly anticipated graduation ceremony not the way they've always dreamed of but they remain positive and look at the bigger picture which is being the first in their families in obtaining a bachelor's degree.
"I'm a first-generation high school and college graduate," said Daniela Fuerte Alejandre, a DACA recipient from DSU.
The students say accomplishing their dream of graduating wouldn't have come true without DACA.
"Without Daca...I couldn't possibly work as a teacher so thinking about how this can be taken away because this is not something for sure that we're gonna have for the rest of our lives you know it could be taken away at any moment," said Heydi Quintanilla, a graduating DACA recipient.
Adding to their fears is the pandemic of COVID-19, and now having to put their dreams on hold.
"I had a guaranteed job...to come in July but because of this whole pandemic is might push back the start of my career," added Alejandre.
"I think another fear is just the job markets since a lot of companies are freezing their hiring process right now," said Eddi Blanco, another DACA recipient from the university.
Despite their fears, they try to remain positive.
"We get to share our graduation with more people...most of my family members its a lot of us so we all wanted to experience that day," said Alejandre.
The university had various speakers at the virtual ceremony, including former Vice President Joe Biden.
"We have some pretty cool speakers...I think without the virtual graduation we wouldn't have those speakers but its kinda cool that DSU stepped up and got some celebrities to speak at our graduation," said Blanco.
Delaware State is the nation's largest college access program. The supreme court should be making a decision on whether to cancel or continue the program in June.