Living a Legacy

Derek Allmon ’25 says his experience at Moravian has helped him learn how to venture out of his comfort zone. He is a computer science major who hails from Chesapeake, Virginia and hopes to pursue web development or graphic design when he graduates. 

Derek is also a legacy student. His aunt, Zora Martin Felton ’52, was the first black woman to graduate from Moravian. Her extraordinary legacy drew him to becoming a Greyhound, but he says without the help of scholarships and financial aid, he likely wouldn’t have been able to attend Moravian. He says he’s lucky to not only benefit from the amazing opportunities and community at Moravian; he’s fortunate to also contribute. 

Derek says his Aunt Zora loved education and did all she could to make it accessible to everyone. She always encouraged him to consider the history of the world around him—not just accept what has happened but to ask why?

“To see good in the world, you have to be willing to face challenges and not be complacent with just the way things are. Quiet spaces are sometimes created by silenced voices, and even though I will face challenges in the future, I will always do my best to fight for what is right,” Derek says.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, Derek was awarded support through the Bertie Francis Knisely ’69 Scholarship Fund. Bertie, his scholarship donor, was close friends with Derek’s Aunt Zora. Derek and Bertie had the opportunity to meet in spring 2024.  

“The time and dedication I am putting into my education will give me meaningful opportunities in the future, and I will do whatever I can to make sure future generations have the resources to achieve their goals. I am deeply appreciative of this opportunity and I will be making the most of my time here at Moravian. Thank you!”

Profile

Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia, and now Bethlehem, PA

High school: Great Bridge High School 

Major: Computer Science

Post-graduate plans: Interested in front-end web development or graphic design.

Why did you choose to attend Moravian? One of the driving influences was my aunt Zora Martin Felton ’52, the first black woman to graduate from Moravian. One of the things I have always admired about my Aunt Zora is how much she loved education and making it accessible to everyone she could. Since I was young, she has encouraged me to look into the history of the world around me, not just to see what happened but also to examine why. This is something I have always cherished, and I am thankful that she has passed that down to me. To see good in the world, you have to be willing to face challenges and not be complacent with just the way things are. Quiet spaces are sometimes created by silenced voices, and even though I will face challenges in the future, I will always do my best to fight for what is right. 

What is special about your Moravian experience? Coming to Moravian has gotten me outside of my comfort zone, and it has helped me learn how to learn. 

Something you learned at Moravian: It's important to be disciplined but also to take care of yourself. 

What is your greatest achievement at Moravian and why? Using the things I've learned outside of the context of class is my greatest achievement. It gives me confidence that I've gotten a good understanding of what I've been working on. 

On-campus/commuter student: Commuter

Favorite class: Graphic Design

Favorite food on campus: A burger from the Blue & Grey Café

Favorite quote: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?” —Mark 8:36

Extracurricular activities: Black Student Union

Thank You

“The time and dedication I am putting into my education will give me meaningful opportunities in the future, and I will do whatever I can to make sure future generations have the resources to achieve their goals. I am deeply appreciative of this opportunity and I will be making the most of my time here at Moravian. Thank you!”

Special Connection

Derek is the 2023-2024 recipient of the Bertie Francis Knisely ’69 Scholarship Fund, established by Bertha (Bertie) Francis Knisely ’69, P’00. In the past, Bertie served on Moravian's staff as alumni relations director and enjoyed numerous interactions with Zora Martin Felton ’52, Derek's great aunt. Bertie was delighted to learn about Derek's connection to her beloved friend and that his education is supported through her scholarship fund.