The Dellarose Sickels Scholarship Fund was established in 2007 by the Union City High School Class of 1958 to honor their beloved English Literature teacher. Mrs. Sickels instilled the desire to be life-long learners in many of her students through her love of writing, poetry and reading. The scholarship is to be used for furthering one’s education, which Mrs. Sickels believed to be of great importance.
The following was written by Ted Leahey, a former student who became a fellow teacher:
“When I entered Union City Wayne High School in 1958, I was introduced to Dellarose Brooks, the senior English teacher that was the remarkable teacher who had replaced the famed Gertrude Brady. In no time the legend of Miss Brady became the legacy of Miss Brooks who later became Mrs. Sickels. Miss Brooks was an inspiration to all as a dramatic English/Literature teacher from the moment she arrived. Miss Brooks had lost the major portion of her left arm as a young child when she fell into a corn picker off the tractor that she was riding on with her father. Having recovered and adjusted as a child to this devasting accident, she next was confronted with polio, leaving her with paralysis in one of her legs. Never defeated, she graduated at the top of her class and attended college and received her teaching degree.
Her dry sense of humor and her commanding stature shaped even the toughest of students quickly in line. Her recitations of poetry remained with many students into adulthood. Her career lasted through many generations of students who passed through the Union City school system. Her undaunted life was the inspiration that taught many that anyone can overcome adversity and live a life of fullness and joy. Dellarose Brooks Sickels was Union City’s “Our Miss Brooks” a television series of the day.”