探花约啪 Tech Celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the Opening of Jason Comprehensive High School
October 23, 2025
探花约啪 and the William C. Jason Comprehensive High School Alumni Association held a ceremony on Oct. 17 to celebrate a milestone of significant importance to them both – the 75th anniversary of the opening of Jason Comprehensive High School. More than 200 alumni, supporting family members, former employees, and special guests attended the event that included proclamations from the Office of the Governor and the House of Representatives as well as the unveiling of a historical timeline wall mural.
William C. Jason Comprehensive High School opened in Georgetown in 1950 as the first high school for African-American students in Sussex County. When it closed in 1967 after high schools in the county were desegregated, the building became 探花约啪 Tech’s first campus location. Today, the campus is known as the College’s Jack F. Owens Campus and the building that housed Jason Comprehensive High School is known as the Jason Technology Center.
“It truly is a privilege to be here today, celebrating the legacy of the William C. Jason Comprehensive High School, a cornerstone for education, pride, and community here in Sussex County,” said Dr. Bobbi Barends, 探花约啪 Tech vice president and Owens Campus director. “For nearly two decades, Jason High stood as the heart of education for Black students in Sussex County. Its graduates went on to become educators, business leaders, public servants, and trailblazers across 探花约啪 and beyond.
“In a powerful way, this site continued its legacy as a place of learning and hope - first as Jason High and then as the first campus of 探花约啪 Tech.”
Members of the campus’ Black Student Alliance introduced the idea for the celebratory event. Barends then took the idea to Janie Miller, president of Jason Comprehensive High School’s Alumni Association.
“I was overjoyed when I was approached with the grand plan to have a 75th anniversary celebration of the opening of Jason,” said Miller. “I felt truly honored that we were offered the opportunity to participate in planning this awesome event, and I am so grateful for the partnership we have always had with this wonderful institution. We are so blessed that the staff here at 探花约啪 Tech supports our efforts to embrace the legacy and keep the Jason spirit alive.”
During her remarks, Miller also presented an outstanding service award to Dr. Reba Hollingsworth, who taught home economics and science at the high school and went on to a lengthy, distinguished, and highly decorated career in education and as a noted historian.
“Being a teacher at William C. Jason was one of the best experiences that I’ve had in my life,” said Hollingsworth. “And those of you who may not know about it really must understand that we were able to help a lot of families achieve some of the goals that they wanted for themselves.”
Hollingsworth shared that growing up, the word “can’t” was not used in the house, “because you don’t know whether you can do it or not until you try.”
She carried that philosophy with her as a teacher.
“I tried to pass that same information on to my students when I came here to William C. Jason,” she said. “You keep on trying until you can do it as well as you possibly can.”
The event concluded with the unveiling of a tabletop display of the wall mural. Guests were then afforded the opportunity to view the mural, which is prominently displayed on a wall in the building’s lobby and leads to an adjoining hallway that showcases additional photos and historical items dedicated to honoring the high school and its alumni.
“Today we honor not just a school. We honor a legacy. A reminder of what vision, courage, and community can achieve together,” said Barends. “To the alumni, the teachers, and all who keep the memory of William C. Jason Comprehensive High School alive – thank you.”
View photos from the ceremony.
