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Elevating Access
Jeff Whitmarsh ’94 opens skies to wheelchair-bound students
University News | May 19, 2025
When Captain Jeff Whitmarsh ’94 steps out of a Delaware State Police helicopter during a school visit, he’s not just showcasing state-of-the-art aviation. He’s honoring a promise—to do better, to elevate others, and to make sure no child is left out of the experience. 
A proud graduate of Virginia Wesleyan, Whitmarsh has brought the spirit of inclusivity and leadership he developed on campus into every step of his distinguished law enforcement career. Now serving in the Aviation Section of the Delaware State Police, he was recently featured in Vertical magazine for spearheading a groundbreaking initiative that provides students with disabilities the same awe-inspiring helicopter experiences as their peers.
During his years at Virginia Wesleyan, Whitmarsh played soccer, was an active member in the Sigma Nu fraternity, and was one of the founding members of the student-athlete mentor program. “I loved everything about my experience at Virginia Wesleyan.”
Among the most formative experiences of Whitmarsh’s college years was his friendship with fellow student Jamie Labbe. “I met Jamie my sophomore year. This would’ve been his freshman year. We would eventually live in the same dormitory together,” Whitmarsh recalled. “Having had the opportunity to get to know him, he came to me one day and explained that in order for him to live independently on campus, he needed to hire a caregiver. I immediately accepted the role, which turned out to be one of the most rewarding and yet humbling experiences.”
Their bond extended far beyond caregiving. The duo successfully ran for student government—with Jamie as president and Whitmarsh as vice president—working together to advocate for the campus community. “Jamie was well known for his advocacy on campus where he fought for access for people with disabilities and was the driving force behind getting cable television in all of the dorm rooms,” he said.
Their friendship endured even after graduation, with Whitmarsh taking Jamie’s influence with him into a lifelong dream: a career in law enforcement. “While I was in the police academy, we were able to go home on the weekends. Jamie called me, I think it was the first or second weekend in January, to check in and see how I was making out at the police academy. I remembered he sounded tired on the phone. I got word a few days later that he had passed away unexpectedly at home. I spoke at his funeral, and many of those in attendance shared how their own lives were touched and impacted by Jamie.” 
To this day, Whitmarsh keeps a photo of Jamie nearby—a constant source of inspiration. “As the article states in Vertical magazine, I vividly remember going to an aircraft demonstration where we flew to a school and landed for the children to come out and look at the helicopter. I remember seeing some children who were able to get up in the helicopter, sit in the front seat, touch the controls and really take the experience in. I also recall seeing children that were in wheelchairs or had other disabilities that didn’t allow them to have the same experience as the ‘able-bodied’ children. It was at that point I realized there was an opportunity to do better.”
That realization led to the Elevate Initiative, a first-of-its-kind accessibility program that includes a custom-built ADA-compliant ramp and viewing platform. The innovation allows children with physical or cognitive disabilities to experience Delaware State Police helicopters firsthand, no longer excluded from the tactile and immersive interaction others take for granted. 
“To the best of my knowledge, we are the first agency in the country to do this,” Whitmarsh said. “The funny thing is that I waver back-and-forth between feelings of pride for what we’ve accomplished, and disappointment that we didn’t do this sooner. But here we are, and I look forward to the opportunities we will provide to our community as a whole for the years to come.”