President
I am David Merrill, and I proudly serve as the President for the Stephen Long-Worcester High Pioneers (SL-WHP). I did not attend Stephen Long Elementary School in Pocomoke. However, I received my formative training at equivalent all-Black institutions in Somerset County—Westover Elementary and Somerset High (1 year)—before my family relocated to Worcester County. Once settled in Worcester County, I was privileged to attend Worcester High School before transferring to Pocomoke High from which I graduated in 1970.
Throughout my professional career, I have served in various capacities that have shaped my commitment to making a positive impact in the Black communities where I have resided. In 1975, I relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I garnered employment at the University of Pennsylvania (PENN). At PENN, I specialized in laboratory animal science, dedicating 30 years to that field. Starting humbly as a laboratory animal caretaker, I eventually assumed the responsibility of managing several state-of-art animal care facilities. During my career at PENN, I also served as an Associate Director of a Laboratory, a position that allowed me to contribute to the advancement of research in the animal welfare field. In 2007, I retired from the University of Pennsylvania, proud of the impact I had made and the knowledge I had acquired.
When I think of quotations that have motivated me to work during my retirement years for underserved communities, a statement from one of Morehouse’s intellectual giants, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, stands out: “Every person is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive, and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.” Those profound words have served as a guiding principle, inspiring me to make a difference by helping individuals, especially young people, realize their full potential. Being part of SL-WHP holds immense significance and brings me great fulfillment because it allows me to answer a call to community service, a noble aspiration.
Together, we can build a community that celebrates diversity, values education, and uplifts the aspirations of all. By embracing the legacy of Stephen Long and the impact that Worcester High had upon the education of Black children, we remind ourselves of what we can achieve when we join hands to achieve greatness for our communities. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as the President of SL-WHP, where I can assist in bettering our community, one young person at a time.