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A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
Change service requested
Summer 2016
2016 Commencement Student Speaker’s
“Vida Extraordinaria”
Commencement student speaker Vanessa Beltran Velez said while
growing up in Colombia, South America, her parents gave her wise
advice: “Tú eliges vivir una vida ordinaria, o hacer un poquito más cada
vez y vivir una vida extraordinaria,” she said. Translated that means:
“You either choose to live an ordinary life, or do the little extra each day
to live an extraordinary life.”
The first in her family to leave Colombia, earn a degree abroad and
master two languages, Beltran Velez said she took her parents’ advice
to heart, while earning an Associate in Fine Arts degree. Five years ago,
when she came to America, she did not know English. On May 19,
as the student chosen to represent more than 1,700 graduates at the
College’s 2016 Commencement at Villanova University, she spoke
English eloquently. “Given my experiences, I can assure you that we are
all capable of reaching our goals and achieving our dreams,” she said.
Student Wins Coveted Business Competition
and $4,000 for Innovative Idea; First DelVal
Bachelor’s Degree Completion Students Start
Classes; The College and Cheyney University
Sign Guaranteed Admission Agreement
President’s Letter; Campus News
page 1
page 2
Robo-Mom/Alumna Teams-Up with
STEM Students for All-Female Robotics
Team; Student Earns Girl Scouts Highest
Honor; Students Win National Acclaim for
Community Service and Academic Prowess
page 3
State Secretary of Education Speaks at
College’s Second Annual Latino Conference;
“Everyone VotesPA” Voter Registration Drive
Visits Upper Darby Center
page 4
2016 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award
Winner Helps Through Nursing; StudentVeteran Who Learned to Read Music at the
College Plays Carnegie Hall
page 5
New Educational Foundation Board Members;
Engineering Student Receives Inaugural
Award; STEM Career Night; John Lazarich
Foundation Awards Nursing Scholarships;
Help Meet the Challenge
page 6
2016 Gould Award Winner Dr. Sidney
Kolpas; 2016 Lindback Award Winner
Lauren Donovan; College Hosts Its First
Regional High School Student Art Exhibition;
College Hosts Its First Career Explorers Day
for Middle School Students
page 7
Police Academy Alumnus Honored
for Bravery and Skill
Since being shot multiple times in an ambush in January while in his
patrol car in Philadelphia, Jesse Hartnett, a 2010 graduate of the College’s
Municipal Police Academy, has been honored throughout the region.
Despite being struck in the arm and bleeding heavily, Hartnett returned
fire, gave chase and helped in the assailant’s apprehension.
Vanessa Beltran Velez, the 2016 Commencement student speaker, with her family at the
Her extraordinary life consisted of being president of the College’s
graduation ceremony.
student-led Latin Flavor Club; a member of the faculty-led Latino
Initiatives & Outreach Network (also known as LION); vice president of the Student
Government Association; a Phi Theta Kappa honor society member; a student ambassador;
and a mentor. She intends to transfer to a four-year school, and her goal is to put her graphic
design skills to use in the fields of product management and marketing.
Stellar graduates, like Beltran Velez, joined stellar alumni, like Dr. Luli Akinfiresoye ’04,
who received the College’s Alumni Professional Achievement Award, to make
Commencement memorable. “Though there were obstacles and challenges … I did not
become distracted because I understood that the road to success is paved with hard work,”
Dr. Akinfiresoye said. A native of Nigeria who became a U.S. citizen and enrolled at the
College in 2003, Dr. Akinfiresoye is a neuropharmocologist working with the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency and an assistant professor of General Chemistry and Pharmacology
at Northern Virginia Community College.
Hartnett’s bravery has been lauded in a variety of ways. In April, he threw
out the first pitch at the Philadelphia Phillies home opener. “The Phillies
would next like to honor a hero among us,” the announcer said. While
on the field, Hartnett also
took the opportunity to
propose to his girlfriend
Lilly, who said, “yes.”
Hartnett, who has had Police Officer
Jesse Hartnett ’10 throws out
multiple surgeries
the first pitch at the Philadelphia
Phillies home opener, during which
since the shooting,
he proposed to his girlfriend.
also recently spoke
to police cadets at the College’s Municipal Police
Academy. And in May, Hartnett received the “Man
Alumnus Jesse Hartnett speaks to
of the Year” award during the annual National Police
police cadets at the College’s Municipal Police Academy.
Defense Foundation Awards Dinner in Howard
Beach, New York. He also spoke to NBC10 Television about the honor. To view Officer Hartnett at the
Phillies opener, see: http://m.mlb.com/video/v584389983/sdphi-ceremonial-first-pitches-in-philadelphia.
2016 Alumni Professional Achievement Award winner
Dr. Luli Akinfiresoye ‘04 is congratulated by President
Dr. Jerry Parker.
The Upper Darby Police Department Honor Guard, which
introduced the Commencement ceremony, consisted
of alumni, such as Christopher Robert Karr, Jr., (second
from right) a graduate of the College’s Municipal Police
Academy and son of Elaine Karr Remington, the College’s
director of Emergency Services Education.
Even the Upper Darby Police
Department Honor Guard, which
introduced the Commencement
ceremony, consisted of Officer
James Hoback and proud alumni,
such as, left to right, Lieutenant
James Reif ‘02 Police Academy and
‘08 Emergency Management and
Planning; Detective Christopher
Karr, Jr. ‘05 Paramedic and ‘08
Police Academy; and Officer Kevin
Donohue ‘08 Police Academy. n
A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College
Summer 2016
Student Wins Coveted Business
Competition and $4,000 for Innovative Idea
Classmates, mentors and friends of student Colleen
McCloskey were ecstatic when the effervescent business
entrepreneur won the $1,000 first place in West Chester
University’s 4th Annual Business Idea Competition. But
when it was announced that she had also been selected
for the $3,000 grand prize, they were flabbergasted.
“I was so surprised. My whole table and I were stunned,”
said McCloskey, an evening student at Delaware County
Community College for nearly a decade. McCloskey
credits her win to the training she received at the
College; mentor Marjorie Hipps; John Lippman, a
mentor with SCORE, a nonprofit group that provides
education and mentoring for small businesses; and The
Center Foundation, a nonprofit mentor organization
based in Media.
Using a five-minute, PowerPoint presentation she honed
with the help of classmates in her Principles of Marketing
class with College instructor Ellen Fox, McCloskey
pitched her business idea, “Elite Pureed Meals,” and
answered questions posed by judges at West Chester
University on April 20. “I was very, very nervous,” said
McCloskey, who works full time as a home caregiver
for adults and plans to graduate from the College in
2017. McCloskey’s business, “Elite Pureed Meals LLC,”
which is already up and running, provides nutritional,
pureed meals, such as steak, chicken and beef stew,
that look and smell like the real thing, for
people with swallowing
difficulties,
such as
Alzheimer’s
patients.
“My mission is
to help people
with swallowing
difficulties have
a better quality of
life,” McCloskey
said. Next stop,
thanks to her grand
prize win—the
Keiretsu Forum
Angel Capital Expo
in Philadelphia in
October. Keiretsu
Forum is a worldwide
investment community
of private equity angel
investors, venture
capitalists and corporate/
institutional investors. n
First DelVal Bachelor’s
Degree Completion
Students Start Classes
Student Colleen McCloskey
(third from left), proudly poses next to an oversized
check with classmates, friends, mentor Marjorie Hipps
(second from right), and SCORE mentor John Lippman (center).
Photo by Delaware County Community College student Marie Geiger.
The College and Cheyney
University Sign Guaranteed
Admission Agreement
The first cohort of 10 students to take advantage of the new Delaware Valley University
bachelor’s degree completion program at the Marple Campus started on January 19.
The students, who have all earned associate degrees at Delaware County Community
College, will be earning DelVal bachelor’s degrees in Counseling Psychology, and at a
reduced tuition rate.
“The students are thrilled with the idea of completing their bachelors’ degrees on a
campus they are already familiar with,” said Linda Lefevre, director of Continuing and
Professional Studies Admission at DelVal. “The cohort model accommodates students with
busy lives and provides a support network for their academic and professional careers.”
Eric Hoffman ‘15 said he enrolled in the DelVal program because it fits his hectic
schedule and is affordable. “The reduced tuition was a big plus because I am working
full-time,” said Hoffman, 22, of Malvern, adding that he works as an assistant manager
at a fast-food restaurant.
continued on page 5
Dr. Frank G. Pogue, interim president at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Jerry Parker, president
of Delaware County Community College, sign a guaranteed admission and core-to-core transfer agreement
between their two schools.
The College and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania signed an agreement in March
that guarantees admission to Cheyney for qualified College students who earn an
Associate in Arts (A.A.), an Associate in Science (A.S.), an Associate in Fine Arts
(A.F.A), or an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.
The agreement also enables students who earn an A.A. or an A.S. degree at Delaware
County Community College to start as juniors at Cheyney, reducing their cost and
time to baccalaureate degree completion. The agreement applies to full- and part-time
students at the College. Cheyney has agreed to waive its application fees.
Graduates of the College participate in the new DelVal Bachelor’s Degree Completion program at the College.
Back row, from left, are students Samantha Hagerty, Amanda Gardiner, Lisa Goldsmith and Eric Hoffman. Front
row, from left, are: Tanya Letourneau, a DelVal faculty member; Linda Lefevre, DelVal director of Continuing and
Professional Studies Admission; and Yolanda Udvardy, director of Continuing and Professional Studies at DelVal.
continued on page 4
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
president’s letter
campus news
Recently, I had the privilege of attending the opening of a new County Cup at the College’s Pennocks
Bridge Campus in West Grove. During the February opening, I called the County Cup a win-win
opportunity because of the unique way it provides
food service, while helping to educate students.
ALUMNI DIRECTOR IS CASE “PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR”
Everyone wins because of the cooperative agreement between the College and the Chester County
Intermediate Unit (CCIU) that created the new
County Cup at our Pennocks Bridge Campus,
a site that we share with the CCIU, which operates
the Technical College High School out of the
same location.
The County Cup Pennocks Bridge features a
Grab-and-Go Café with food served by students
from the Technical College High School. The café provides breakfast sandwiches,
bagels, muffins, soups, salads, desserts, coffee and cold beverages Monday through
Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Student workers and volunteers from the CCIU Discover program, with guidance from
CCIU job coaches, support the day-to-day operation of the café. The Discover program
is for students with disabilities. It offers students an integration of classroom and prevocational instruction with on-the-job training. Its primary goal is to prepare students
for independent living and success in the workplace.
The Chester County commissioners have been important partners in the growth of
the County Cup concept. Since the first County Cup opened in December 2012 at
the Government Services Center in West Chester, the program has expanded to three
additional locations, including the Justice Center, the Chester County Learning Center,
and now at the College’s Pennocks Bridge Campus.
During the Pennocks Bridge County Cup opening, Chester County Commissioner
Michelle Kichline commented: “People use the term students with disabilities. I don’t
see it that way. I see it as students with opportunities. The County Cup initiative is one
of those opportunities.”
Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone summed up my thoughts when she said:
“I can tell you first hand, when you walk up to the counter, or interact with one of the
students at the County Cup, you will find yourself being rewarded.”
The County Cup celebrates its fourth location opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the College’s
Pennocks Bridge Campus.
Jerome S. Parker
president
your Connection is published by the Office of Institutional
Advancement, Delaware County Community College,
Media, PA 19063
Editor: Anthony Twyman
Writers: Kathleen Breslin,
Doug Ferguson, Catherine Hamby,
Daniel Kanak, Susan Rapp, Michelle
Tooker and Anthony Twyman
Photos: Rowland Barnum,
Catherine Hamby, Tom Kelly IV,
Anthony Twyman, and
Jim McWilliams Photography
Delaware County Community College is an equal employment and educational opportunity institution conforming to all
applicable legislation that prohibits discrimination. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by state or federal
laws in its educational programs, activities, admission or employment policies, as required by Title IX of the Educational
Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other applicable statutes. Inquiries concerning Title IX
and/or 504 compliance should be referred to Connie L. McCalla, vice president of human resources and Title IX Coordinator,
([email protected]), 610-359-5094; Betty Brown, associate dean for student success, ([email protected]), 610-359-5320.
Inquiries related to accessibility services for students should be directed to the office of disability services, ([email protected]),
610-359-5229.
The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education,
3624 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267) 284-5000; email [email protected].
6/16 29K
2
College Alumni Programs Director Doug Ferguson was honored in February by
the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II as the
2016 Professional of the Year. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions
of members of the district, including campus leaders, advancement professionals
and volunteers. CASE
is a professional
association serving
educational institutions
and the advancement
professionals who work
on their behalf in alumni
relations, communications,
development, marketing
and allied areas. CASE
District II is the largest of
the nonprofit association’s
eight districts with more
than 700 members.
Worldwide, CASE’s
membership includes
more than 3,670
colleges and universities,
Shown at the CASE awards banquet are Kathleen Breslin, vice
president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the
primary and secondary
College’s Educational Foundation; Linda Fox ’11, past president of
independent and
the College’s Alumni Association; Alumni Programs Director Doug
Ferguson, recipient of the CASE award and his wife Kate Ferguson;
international schools, and
and Susan Rapp, the College’s director of Grants Management.
nonprofit organizations.
Photo courtesy of Chrono Ho.
STUDENTS VOLUNTEER TO FEED VETERANS OVER SPRING BREAK
Led by the College’s Student Government Association (SGA), students, alumni and staff
volunteered over Spring Break to help homeless veterans living at the Philadelphia
Veterans House on Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia. Every morning from March 14
to March 18, from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., the volunteers went to the Veterans House to
make and serve breakfast to the homeless veterans. For students unable to attend, the
SGA also collected care packages and delivered them to the veterans.
“AMERICA IN CRISIS”
HOSTED AT THE COLLEGE
In April, as part of an ongoing series of events created and sponsored by the College’s
Business, Computing and Social Science division, a panel of community leaders and
experts discussed the rising problem of addiction in America. The discussion was
moderated by 6abc Action News Anchor Matt O’Donnell.
Among the panel speakers were, left to right, Stephen Smith, an associate professor
of Theatre at the College; Dr. Vincent E. Miles, an assistant professor of Social &
Behavioral Studies at
Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania; O’Donnell
from 6abc; attorney
Nancy Newman Marcus,
a certified recovery
specialist and advocate
for The Council for
Southeast Pennsylvania,
Inc.; the College’s Dr.
Hayley Nelson, an
assistant professor of
Psychology; and Captain
Thomas A. Johnson,
Jr., of the Upper Darby
Police Department.
COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM SCOUTS’ HONOR
Robo-Mom/Alumna Teams-Up
with STEM Students for
All-Female Robotics Team
“You have soccer moms and tennis moms. I am a RoboMom,” says Susan Miller ‘85.
Miller is one of an army of devoted parents and friends
who assist Erin McCullough, a dual enrollment high
school student at the College, in running the “Tin Mints,”
an all-female robotics team believed to be one of only a
handful of Girl Scout robotics teams in the nation.
Under the guidance of their mentors, the Tin Mints
design, program and build a robot for “For Inspiration
and Recognition of Science and Technology” (FIRST)
Robotics Competitions in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Last year, in just six weeks, the team built a
120-pound robot, which they took to the FIRST Robotics
World Championship in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Miller’s 16-year-old daughter, Jordan, is a devoted Tin
College dual enrollment student Erin McCullough (standing, 2nd from left) with
fellow robotics team members, including Jordan Miller (kneeling, left), daughter of
Mints member thanks to the leadership of McCullough
Susan Miller ’85.
and the friendship of her fellow teammates. Jordan
plans to be a science technical writer. “I want to work in technology. I want to explain how things are made,” Jordan said.
Helping students like Jordan is what Tin Mints founder McCullough had in mind when she started the group in 2010. Now, a
Ridley High School senior, McCullough said her idea was to give girls like her, who have an interest in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), a nurturing environment to cultivate their interest. “We wanted to give girls who did not
have confidence, the chance to grow,” said McCullough, who has seen the Tin Mints grow from 14 members to 70 members today.
“It’s very easy to be intimidated when you’re a girl walking into a room full of guys,” said Joseph McCullough, Erin’s father, a
retired contractor who helps Erin run the Tin Mints, which consists of girls from 9th through 12th grades. Most robotics teams
are male. “Our mission is to get more girls involved in STEM,” he said. Worldwide there is a dearth of women in STEM careers.
To help address this problem, the College has a Women in STEM Club and each year hosts a STEM Career Night.
McCullough said after she completes her dual enrollment classes, she plans to transfer the College credits she earns to a
four-year school and to pursue a mechanical engineering degree with a concentration in material science.
Miller spoke highly of McCullough. “I’m like a droplet in a bucket. It is like 100 percent her,” Miller said. A single mom who holds
an Associate in Science from the College, Miller spreads the word about the team on social media and the Internet, seeks corporate
and individual sponsors, and of course, helps shuttle her daughter to Tin Mints practices, which are held in a 4,000-square-foot,
rented warehouse in Broomall. Learn more about the Tin Mints at http://frc4575tinmints.net/about-first-robotics/. n
Student
Earns Girl
Scouts’
Highest
Honor
Student Alicia Rohr of Coatesville
recently earned the Girl Scouts Gold
Award, the Scouts’ highest and most
prestigious honor, for spearheading and
overseeing a team that designed and
planted a 26-foot-by-18-foot butterfly
garden. Rohr, who received the award
during a ceremony at the Doubletree
Hotel in King of Prussia, not only
helped beautify Coatesville’s Hibernia
Park, but exhibited leadership, teamwork and communications skills in
coordinating the beautification project.
The park’s entrance now includes a variety of plants, bushes and flowers that
attract butterflies and bees, which are
important threads in the fabric of nature.
“So what does Girl Scouts mean to me?
Empowerment! Being part of an organization that promotes self-esteem and
teaches girls to be confident citizens
of our country and our world, turning
today’s girls into tomorrow’s leaders,”
said Rohr, a Psychology major at the
College, whose goal is to earn associate,
master and doctoral degrees in Child
Psychology.
“It is refreshing to know that our students are making a significant difference
at the College and in their communities,” President Dr. Jerry Parker said
in a letter congratulating Rohr on her
achievement. n
Students Win National Acclaim for
Community Service and Academic Prowess
Students Sameena Elkhashab of Broomall and Katie
Thompson of Honey Brook were recognized recently by
the Phi Theta Kappa honor society of two-year colleges
and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community
Colleges for their academic achievement and
community volunteerism.
bachelor’s degree in Social Work at
a four-year school. She then wants to
pursue a master’s degree in Social Work
and become a social worker, helping
foreigners who suffer from abuse.
been out of school for many years,
she needed to go back.
Today, Thompson has a 3.81 grade
point average, works part time as a
dog trainer and is a salesperson at
PetValu. She also is vice president
Elkhashab has a 3.8 grade point
of fellowship for the College’s
Elkhashab and Thompson were among 45 scholars from
average and works full time as a
Phi Theta Kappa chapter; vice
Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges honored on April
teacher’s assistant with special needs
president for membership for the
4 at the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colstudents at the Overbrook School for
College’s Women in STEM Club
leges’ annual banquet at the Hilton Harrisburg hotel in
the Blind in Philadelphia. She also
(Science, Technology, Engineering
Harrisburg. The scholars were named by their colleges
volunteers for the nonprofit Zubaida
and Mathematics); and treasurer
to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, which requires
Foundation’s soup kitchen in Yardley
for the College’s Modern Envistudents maintain at least a
and at the Zakat Foundation
ronmental Sustainability Associa3.5 grade point average and
of America (a U.S.-based,
Student Sameena Elkhashab is congratulated
tion. She also volunteers to help
be about to graduate with an
Muslim-run, international
by President Dr. Jerry Parker at the
All-Pennsylvania Awards Banquet.
feed, shelter and find homes for
associate degree. All-Pennsylcharity), contributing and
orphaned dogs and cats.
vania scholars are eligible to
distributing school supplies and coats to
receive a full-tuition scholarchildren and adults in need.
An avowed animal lover who has two dogs and two cats,
ship for up to two years at
Thompson
plans on transferring to a four-year college
Nearly
a
decade
ago,
Thompson
dropped
one of the 14 universities in
to
study
Environmental
Science. She eventually plans
out
of
Kutztown
University
and
joined
the
the Pennsylvania State System
on
earning
a
master’s
degree
in Science toward her ultiU.S.
Marine
Corps,
where
she
says
she
of Higher Education.
mate goal of becoming a restoration ecologist, working
learned self-confidence, the importance of
to restore the natural environment to areas destroyed by
A single mother with three
persistence and how to be a leader. After her
human pollution, waste, mismanagement and neglect.
children who escaped from
military discharge, she enrolled at the ColShe has received a $1,000 Eisenman-Sebastian scholara difficult marriage, Elkhalege, after repeatedly passing a sign outside
shab is studying to become a
the College’s Downingtown Campus that said, ship given to women interested in Environmental Science and a $500 PECO scholarship awarded to students
social worker. After gradu“It’s never too late to earn your degree.” That
All-Pennsylvania student Katie Thompson is
interested in STEM majors. n
ating, she plans to earn a
sign convinced her that, even though she had
congratulated by President Dr. Jerry Parker.
3
in the news
State Secretary of Education Speaks at College’s
Second Annual Latino Conference
Before a standing-room-only audience at the College’s
Marple Campus, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education
Pedro Rivera was the keynote speaker for a wideranging discussion about Latinos, education and his own
background growing up in a low-income neighborhood
in North Philadelphia.
“My mother did not finish high school until I was in
College,” Rivera said. “She dropped out of high school
to have me.” From humble beginnings, however, he
said he was able to overcome many obstacles, from
discrimination because of his Puerto Rican heritage to
coming from a low-income neighborhood. He became
a college graduate, a teacher, a school principal, a
superintendent for Lancaster County, and eventually a
member of Governor Wolf’s cabinet.
One of only 10 people nationally honored in 2014
by the White House as a Champion of Change for his
efforts to transform urban education, Rivera was one of
a multitude of speakers at the College’s Second Annual
Latino Conference, “Beyond Multiculturalism:
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera fields questions
from audience members and from Assistant Professor of English
Fernando Benavidez, a coordinator of the College’s Second Annual
Latino conference, which was held at the Marple Campus.
and to not be deterred by language barriers,
discrimination, or other obstacles.
Prior to the question-and-answer session with
Secretary Rivera, Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier,
dean of Esperanza College, said that when
she was growing up, a school advisor told
her she would not help a Puerto Rican go to
college. Undeterred, Conde-Frazier said she
continued her pursuit of higher education.
Today, she is the head of Esperanza College,
a Philadelphia-based collaborative with
Eastern University that helps Latinos gain
access to higher education. “Smart is not
something you are. Smart is something you
Delaware County Community College students share their perspectives on the College
become,” Conde-Frazier said, urging the
experience, moderated by Jarely Becerra Roberts ’15.
students to never let anyone make them
Empowering Latino Students and the Community.”
feel less than, intimidate them, or steal their dreams.
The conference featured panel discussions on issues
“You have to have a vision for yourself.” n
such as immigration; the representation of Latinos in
movies, television and news; inclusion; equity;
and mentoring. Coordinated by the College’s
faculty-led Latino Initiatives Outreach Network
(LION) and the College’s student-led Latin Flavor
Club, the free conference included lunch with
ethnic foods.
A first generation college graduate who earned a
Bachelor of Science degree from The Pennsylvania
State University and a Master of Education
Administration from Cheyney University, Rivera
said he realized early in life that his calling was to
be a teacher and to help people better their lives
through education. “I’ve been blessed to do what
I love to do,” he said, urging the students, many
of whom were from high schools, to find a career
path they can be passionate about, to work hard,
Audience members, many from schools and colleges in Delaware and Chester
Counties, listen to panelists talk about strengthening Latino communities through
mentoring, leadership and college access.
“Everyone VotesPA” Voter Registration Drive Visits
Upper Darby Center
March 28 was the last day to register to vote to
be eligible for the April 26 primary election in
Pennsylvania. It also was the day a voter education
program put together by Pennsylvania’s Department
of State visited the College’s Upper Darby Center.
Students were shown how to register to vote online
and were quizzed about the state’s election rules with
some interesting true or false questions.
“True or False, you cannot vote if you have a prior felony conviction in Pennsylvania.” That is false, according
to Marian Schneider, deputy secretary for Elections and
Administration with the Pennsylvania Department of
State. Schneider, who gave a presentation at the Upper
Darby Center, said convicted felons can vote once they
are released from prison, even though state statute says
they cannot. “The courts make decisions, but the election code doesn’t match the case law because it hasn’t
been amended,” she said.
Earlier this year, the state
launched “Everyone
VotesPA,” its voter education
initiative aimed at increasing
participation in the electoral
process. The state is partnering
with a variety of community
groups, colleges and
universities, and county library
systems to distribute the voter
toolkit. Voter registration
can be done online in either
English or Spanish.
Marian Schneider, deputy secretary for Elections and Administration with the Pennsylvania
Department of State, talks to students about voter registration during a recent visit to the College’s
Upper Darby Center.
Now that the state primary
election is over, the last day to register to be eligible to
vote in the November 8 U.S. general election is October
11, so Schneider is continuing to travel throughout the
state to demystify this most fundamental of American
rights. “We’re just hoping to emphasize the
importance of voting and provide people with the
information and the tools they need to vote,” she
said. For more information, see www.dos.pa.gov. n
The College and Cheyney University Sign Guaranteed Admission Agreement
Continued from page 1.
“This agreement expands the many educational opportunities available to our students to achieve academic
success,” College President Dr. Jerry Parker said.
“It is entirely appropriate for these two institutions to
jointly create opportunities for students to benefit,”
Cheyney University Interim-President Dr. Frank Pogue said.
The agreement has two complementary components—
“Guaranteed Admission” and “Core-to Core Transfer.”
4
Guaranteed Admission provides seamless transfer to
Cheyney for College students with a minimum 2.0 GPA
who have earned an A.A., A.S., A.F.A, or A.A.S. degree.
Students will be admitted to the major of their choice
at Cheyney, provided they meet requirements. Prior
Cheyney attendance disqualifies the student.
Core-to-Core Transfer guarantees admission to Cheyney
of A.A. or A.S. degree graduates of the College with
at least a 2.0 GPA. Through Core-to-Core Transfer, a
full-time student admitted to Cheyney with third-year
(junior) status could complete a baccalaureate degree at
Cheyney in as few as four semesters. A.A.S. and A.F.A.
graduates are not eligible for Core-to-Core Transfer,
under this agreement. For more information, see:
www.dccc.edu/transfer-agreements. n
alumni awards and accolades
2016 Wong Moss
Outstanding
Alumni Award
Winner Helps
Through Nursing
Congratulations to 2016
Wong Moss Outstanding
Alumni Award winner
Dr. Rosa Cooper ‘04
RN, MSN, CRRN, DNP.
Dr. Cooper is nursing
supervisor at the Good
Shepherd Rehabilitation
Hospital Pediatric Unit in
Bethlehem.
Student-Veteran Who Learned to
Read Music at the College Plays
Carnegie Hall
When Respiratory Therapy major Phillip Lee Dickerson first enrolled at the College, he did not know how to
read music, let alone know that three years later he would be selected to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of
the Philadelphia Music Teachers Association’s annual recital.
On April 9, Dickerson was one of 24 young musicians to play at the famed, 125-year-old, New York City performance venue. He performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor, Op. 3, No. 2. “The performance
was the perfect, once-in-a-lifetime occasion to demonstrate my love of music in a place where many an incredible musician has performed before me, from Nina Simone to Lang Lang to Sergei Rachmaninoff himself,”
said Dickerson, winner of the College’s 2016 Outstanding Student Award. “It’s just amazing to me that this is
just another step (a great, big step) in my musical journey.”
Dickerson’s passage into music began at age 13, when he started playing a piano his mother had purchased
from a thrift store. He took lessons for two years, but says that he copied his teacher’s hand movements, rather
than learning how to actually read music. He soon became frustrated with this habit and abandoned the piano
to focus on finishing high school and joining the U.S. Army, where he served from 2007 to 2011. After training, he joined Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
The Wong Moss
Outstanding Award
recognizes distinguished
alumni for their
Dr. Rosa Cooper ‘04
professional, community
and educational accomplishments. It was created
by the late Barbara Wong Moss, a former College
trustee, and her son John in honor of her father, a
Chinese immigrant who believed in the value of
education. Below are excerpts from an interview with
Dr. Cooper:
In 2010, he was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan. “There’s nothing else like it, and as much as I had some of
the worst times in my life there, I also had some of the best,” he says of his military experience, which he also
credits with giving him an unrelenting drive that has impacted his musical and academic pursuits.
Q: What year did you graduate from the College
and with what degree? “I graduated from Delaware
County Community College in 2004 with a degree
in Applied Science in Nursing. I then returned to
school after working as a Licensed Practical Nurse
for 10 years.”
With his renewed interest, Dickerson
enrolled at the College in January 2013
and took courses in musical composition
with Richard Belcastro, an assistant
professor of Music, and piano with
Glenn Williams, an adjunct professor.
Belcastro helped Dickerson not only
develop his musical talents, but realize
the sacrifices that would come with life
as a full-time musician.
Q: After graduation, did you pursue other academic
goals? “I continued my education and achieved my
Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007, Master of
Science in Nursing in 2009 and finally completed my
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) last August … Since
achieving my DNP, I have become board certified as
a rehabilitation registered nurse, passing my certified
rehabilitation registered nurse exam in December.”
Q: What is next for you professionally? “I have been
asked by a physician and a colleague to join their
research team and be the lead investigator. Without
giving too much of the research information away,
we will be investigating the quality of transitional
care between various levels of the care settings and
implementing tools to improve the quality of this
segment of healthcare.”
Q: Did you have a favorite professor or class during
your studies? “Professor Marc Henley was my favorite
because he helped me to laugh at myself and not take
things so literal, (and) learn to assess for all, or the
majority, of clinical manifestations before determining
a real problem exists. The class was Abnormal
Psychology. I would be up in the middle of the night
reading my textbook, and by the time I got to class,
I was so upset because I had diagnosed my entire
family as abnormal.”
Q: What advice would you give to current students
and alumni? “Soak in as much knowledge that
is being shared with you from your professors as
possible. I found professors at the College to be
dedicated and committed to educating their students;
not only sharing their academic experience, but also
some of their life experience to help the students
put it all together … I am sure you will experience
something down the road that you will think back and
say, ‘Ooh, that’s what my professor meant by that!’” n
After completing his military service, he struggled to readjust to civilian life and faced alcoholism. He sought
treatment at an outpatient rehabilitation center for veterans and has been sober since July 2012. In August
2012, he dusted-off his keyboard and reawakened his passion for music. “I realized that if I didn’t return to
piano right then and there, I would let go
of the potential opportunity that I still had
to become the greatest pianist my talents
would allow me to become,” he said.
“That realism helped me to choose a
career that would allow me the free time
to spend with music and my loved ones,
while still being able to afford a healthy
lifestyle,” Dickerson said, explaining his
decision to major in Respiratory Therapy
and pursue music in his spare time.
While at the College, Dickerson has
performed at several events, including
the induction ceremony for Phi Theta
Kappa, a group for which he became
Phillip Lee Dickerson plays piano at world-famous Carnegie Hall.
vice president of fundraising, and later
president. Also, by the end of his first semester, he had started lessons with local pianist Akira Ikegami, who
would eventually help him get to Carnegie Hall. But, the path would not be easy.
To secure a spot in the recital, Dickerson had to audition in front of a panel of judges. He later learned he was
one of more than 400 musicians to audition. “I couldn’t get a read on their reaction to my performance, they
hid it so well,” he said. “We were judged and graded according to age, musicality, accuracy, fluency, and I
feared that because I’ve only been playing for a short time in comparison to most other aspiring classical musicians my age, that I wouldn’t quite make the cut.”
Two days later, Ikegami called him with the news—he had passed. “I know my parents and siblings are proud.
My father, a jazz saxophonist, burst into tears when I told him,” he said. n
First DelVal Bachelor’s Degree Completion
Students Start Classes
Continued from page 1.
The program is open for DelVal bachelor’s degrees in Counseling Psychology; Business Administration;
Criminal Justice; and Media and Communication. Students pay a reduced tuition of $425 per credit,
and can transfer up to 77 credits from the College toward a DelVal bachelor’s degree. DelVal is an
independent, comprehensive university with more than 1,000 acres in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
To learn more, visit: www.delval.edu/dccc. n
5
advancement news
New Educational
STEM Career Night
Foundation Board Members
Three new members were recently appointed to the College’s Educational Foundation.
Dylan Atkins, a wealth management advisor, senior vice president
and portfolio manager, joined Merrill Lynch in 1998. Along with a
team of specialists, Atkins works with a select group of families and
businesses in developing strategies to manage their wealth. He has
proficiencies and certifications in skills such as Portfolio Manager,
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Certified Financial
Planner, and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. He has a Finance
and Accounting certificate from the University of Pennsylvania’s
Wharton School, and is working toward obtaining a Chartered Special Needs
Consultant designation.
Joseph McGinn, Jr., senior manager of public affairs for Sunoco
Logistics, leads external affairs for both Sunoco, a leading fuel
retailer and convenience store company with approximately 5,000
locations, as well as Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P. McGinn has
more than eight years of experience in corporate communications
and political messaging. He holds a master’s degree in Government
Administration from University of Pennsylvania and bachelor
degrees in English & American History from Columbia University.
Maria Navarrete-Olvera is branch manager for Fulton Bank.
Previously, she was branch relationship manager for Susquehanna
Bank. She also is the former program director for the Kennett AfterSchool Association, After the Bell Program, and a former Family &
Diversity Educator with the Penn State Cooperative Extension 4-H
Youth program. She is on the board of the Historic Kennett Square,
as well as Youth Community Forward, and is resource development
committee member for 4-H Creating Community Networks.
The College’s Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose
purpose is to develop resources for students, faculty, programs and capital projects at
the College. n
John Lazarich
Foundation Awards
Nursing Scholarships
Trustees of the John Lazarich
Foundation of Exton recently
awarded Nursing scholarships to
students of the College who reside
in Downingtown or Phoenixville.
Foundation trustees (top row,
from left) William Kronenberg,
Jim Sacchetta, Len Olsen, and
(bottom row, right) Dorothy
Kronenberg congratulate students
at a luncheon meeting in January.
Students at the luncheon are (top
row) Phelicia Laffredo, (bottom
row from left) Kelly Lees and Elise
Pegram, both from Downingtown.
Student Ashley Powers of
Phoenixville is not pictured.
Kathleen Breslin, vice president
for Institutional Advancement and
executive director of the College’s
Educational Foundation, is seated
second from right.
For the ninth consecutive year, STEM Career Night drew more than 200 high school
and college students from throughout the region on February 25 to learn firsthand
about challenging and rewarding careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM).
The College’s STEM Center is the backdrop for the annual exhibition of local
businesses and industries that rely on a workforce educated in STEM disciplines.
Among those exhibiting were Boeing, Sunoco Logistics, SAP America, Southco, SEPTA,
UPS and Urban Engineers. For students needing an advanced degree, colleges and
universities, such as Widener and Drexel, also exhibited and discussed their special
transfer partnerships with the College. The event kicked off with a keynote speaker and
concluded with a panel
of faculty, alumni and
employers who touted the
benefits of STEM careers.
Jonathan A. Hunt, senior
director of terminal
operations for Sunoco
Logistics Partners, delivered
the keynote address.
Hunt is responsible for 46
liquid products facilities
in 11 states providing
logistics services for
marine, rail, truck and
pipeline operations. With
Sunoco’s decision to exit
the refining business in
2012, Hunt led the effort
to repurpose the Marcus
Hook refinery to provide
storage and logistics
services for the growth in
natural gas liquids from
the Marcellus and Utica
regions. A graduate of
Temple University, Hunt
has a degree in Mechanical
Engineering and a Master
of Business Administration
from the University of
Delaware. n
The Boeing information table at the STEM Career Night.
STEM Career Night keynote speaker Jon Hunt (right), senior director
of terminal operations and facility manager at Marcus Hook for
Sunoco Logistics.
Engineering Student
Receives Inaugural Award
The Delaware County Transportation Management Association (DCTMA)
awarded its first annual scholarship to student Adam Berridge of Glenolden
at a ceremony at the College in April 2016. The DCTMA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the transportation network serving
the county. Berridge’s $1,000 award was based on an essay that successfully
addressed the transportation needs in Delaware County. To be eligible for the
award, applicants had to be enrolled at the College full time and have at least a
3.0 grade point average. n
Help Meet the Challenge
During 2015, 2016 and 2017, the annual fundraising campaign is focusing on a
$150,000 goal in honor of the College’s 50th anniversary in 2017. To date, $115,000
has been raised.
To assist the College, three alumni have offered a $5,000 gift of matching funds for
first-time alumni donors over a three-year period. In 2015, an anonymous alumnus
inspired 40 alumni to make a first-time gift, raising a total of $5,400. During 2016,
Fred Felter ‘71 has issued another $5,000 challenge grant to encourage more alumni
to make a first-time gift.
A challenge grant presents a unique opportunity for alumni to double their gift.
Please take advantage of this special opportunity by making a gift to the Educational
Foundation online through PayPal before the end of the fiscal year, June 30. Go to
www.dccc.edu/makeagift, or contact the Institutional Advancement Office for further
information at 610-359-5131. In the coming months more information will be provided
about a 50th Anniversary Homecoming event on Saturday, September 23, 2017. n
6
Presenting a check from the Delaware County Transportation Management Association (DCTMA)
are (from left) Lauren Turton and Cecile Charlton; John Grant of Stantec; student Adam Berridge;
Eric Ostimchuk of Traffic, Planning and Design, Inc.; Jeff Roken of Urban Engineers. Also pictured
is Kathleen Breslin (right), the College’s vice president for Institutional Advancement and the
executive director of the College’s Educational Foundation.
2016 Gould
Award Winner
Dr. Sidney Kolpas
During Commencement, Dr. Sidney Kolpas, assistant
professor of Mathematics, received the coveted Gould
Award, which is presented to a faculty member whose
dedication, achievement and love for teaching inspire
both students and colleagues. Students are primarily the
nominators for the award, which was established by the
late Jerry Gould, a founding trustee of the College.
In nominating Dr. Kolpas, students described him in
glowing terms as a teacher who not only imparts book
knowledge, but gives students wisdom about life. They
described him as “hands down the best professor I’ve
ever had”; “the kind of teacher every teacher needs to be
like”; “truly inspirational”; “an awesome instructor”; and
“dedicated and understanding.” n
College Hosts Its First Regional
High School Student Art Exhibition
Earlier this year, the College hosted its first
Regional High School Art Exhibition. Sponsored
by the College’s Communications, Arts and
Humanities (CAH) division, the exhibition
included works from students from Garnet Valley,
Interboro, Penn Wood, Phoenixville, Radnor,
Ridley, Springfield and Strath Haven high schools.
The College offered gift cards for art supplies to
the students whose work was selected as best
among the group. “The event appeared to be a
success,” said CAH Dean Robert Kleinschmidt.
“The high school students were able to have their
One of the student works of art had a creative take on a
work displayed in the gallery. The high school art
commonplace fountain.
teachers were recognized as having a successful
program with high quality student work, and … our faculty were provided an opportunity to interact with
prospective students, and meet the teachers who are responsible for their development.”
Graduates of the
College’s art programs
have been accepted
at some of the finest
art schools in the
country, and now that
local students have
glimpsed some of the
art offerings available
at the College, it is
hoped that students
may avail themselves
of the opportunities
at Delaware County
Community College. n
Dr. Sidney Kolpas, recipient of the College’s 2016 Gould Award, is
congratulated by Board of Trustees Chair Michael Ranck at Commencement.
2016 Lindback
Award Winner
Lauren Donovan
Lauren Donovan, assistant
professor of Business, received
the 2016 Lindback Award
from Interim-Provost Dr. Eric
Wellington at the College’s
faculty meeting in May. Since
1961, the Lindback Award has
recognized outstanding faculty
members at 52 colleges and
universities in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. Individuals
are nominated based on their
commitment to the intellectual
and social development of
students. Donovan has a Master
of Business Administration and
received tenure at the College
in January.
Penn Wood High School student Kenny Nguyen (second from left) with, from left, the College’s
Robert Jones, professor of Art and coordinator of Graphic Design; Jaime Treadwell, assistant professor
of Art, Foundations; and Bertha Gutman, professor of Art, and Studio Art coordinator.
Audience members
enjoy the high school
art exhibition which was
on display in the Gallery
at the College’s Marple
Campus from January 20
through February 19.
College Hosts Its First Career Explorers Day for
Middle School Students
The College’s Dual Enrollment Office hosted 61 eighthgraders from Paxon Hollow Middle School in Marple
Township for the College’s first Career Explorers Day.
It was a day of interactive learning, with 20-minute
rotational sessions allowing the students to learn
about the College’s Allied Health Services, Advanced
Technology, Paralegal Studies, Laboratory Sciences, and
Dual Enrollment programs.
“We received great feedback from our participants, and
we are looking forward to expanding this opportunity to
other schools,” said Norkia Baker, the College’s assistant
director of Dual Enrollment and High School Initiatives,
which worked closely with Josephine Johnston,
supervisor of Science, Family & Consumer Sciences,
Technology and Business Education for the Marple
Newtown School District. n
Students from Paxon Hollow Middle School in Marple visit the SimMan
in the College’s Simulation Lab at the Marple Campus.
Paxon Hollow students visit the Welding Lab in the College’s Advanced
Technology Center.
7
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
West Chester, PA
Permit No. 472
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094
www.dccc.edu
A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
Change service requested
Summer 2016
2016 Commencement Student Speaker’s
“Vida Extraordinaria”
Commencement student speaker Vanessa Beltran Velez said while
growing up in Colombia, South America, her parents gave her wise
advice: “Tú eliges vivir una vida ordinaria, o hacer un poquito más cada
vez y vivir una vida extraordinaria,” she said. Translated that means:
“You either choose to live an ordinary life, or do the little extra each day
to live an extraordinary life.”
The first in her family to leave Colombia, earn a degree abroad and
master two languages, Beltran Velez said she took her parents’ advice
to heart, while earning an Associate in Fine Arts degree. Five years ago,
when she came to America, she did not know English. On May 19,
as the student chosen to represent more than 1,700 graduates at the
College’s 2016 Commencement at Villanova University, she spoke
English eloquently. “Given my experiences, I can assure you that we are
all capable of reaching our goals and achieving our dreams,” she said.
Student Wins Coveted Business Competition
and $4,000 for Innovative Idea; First DelVal
Bachelor’s Degree Completion Students Start
Classes; The College and Cheyney University
Sign Guaranteed Admission Agreement
President’s Letter; Campus News
page 1
page 2
Robo-Mom/Alumna Teams-Up with
STEM Students for All-Female Robotics
Team; Student Earns Girl Scouts Highest
Honor; Students Win National Acclaim for
Community Service and Academic Prowess
page 3
State Secretary of Education Speaks at
College’s Second Annual Latino Conference;
“Everyone VotesPA” Voter Registration Drive
Visits Upper Darby Center
page 4
2016 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award
Winner Helps Through Nursing; StudentVeteran Who Learned to Read Music at the
College Plays Carnegie Hall
page 5
New Educational Foundation Board Members;
Engineering Student Receives Inaugural
Award; STEM Career Night; John Lazarich
Foundation Awards Nursing Scholarships;
Help Meet the Challenge
page 6
2016 Gould Award Winner Dr. Sidney
Kolpas; 2016 Lindback Award Winner
Lauren Donovan; College Hosts Its First
Regional High School Student Art Exhibition;
College Hosts Its First Career Explorers Day
for Middle School Students
page 7
Police Academy Alumnus Honored
for Bravery and Skill
Since being shot multiple times in an ambush in January while in his
patrol car in Philadelphia, Jesse Hartnett, a 2010 graduate of the College’s
Municipal Police Academy, has been honored throughout the region.
Despite being struck in the arm and bleeding heavily, Hartnett returned
fire, gave chase and helped in the assailant’s apprehension.
Vanessa Beltran Velez, the 2016 Commencement student speaker, with her family at the
Her extraordinary life consisted of being president of the College’s
graduation ceremony.
student-led Latin Flavor Club; a member of the faculty-led Latino
Initiatives & Outreach Network (also known as LION); vice president of the Student
Government Association; a Phi Theta Kappa honor society member; a student ambassador;
and a mentor. She intends to transfer to a four-year school, and her goal is to put her graphic
design skills to use in the fields of product management and marketing.
Stellar graduates, like Beltran Velez, joined stellar alumni, like Dr. Luli Akinfiresoye ’04,
who received the College’s Alumni Professional Achievement Award, to make
Commencement memorable. “Though there were obstacles and challenges … I did not
become distracted because I understood that the road to success is paved with hard work,”
Dr. Akinfiresoye said. A native of Nigeria who became a U.S. citizen and enrolled at the
College in 2003, Dr. Akinfiresoye is a neuropharmocologist working with the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency and an assistant professor of General Chemistry and Pharmacology
at Northern Virginia Community College.
Hartnett’s bravery has been lauded in a variety of ways. In April, he threw
out the first pitch at the Philadelphia Phillies home opener. “The Phillies
would next like to honor a hero among us,” the announcer said. While
on the field, Hartnett also
took the opportunity to
propose to his girlfriend
Lilly, who said, “yes.”
Hartnett, who has had Police Officer
Jesse Hartnett ’10 throws out
multiple surgeries
the first pitch at the Philadelphia
Phillies home opener, during which
since the shooting,
he proposed to his girlfriend.
also recently spoke
to police cadets at the College’s Municipal Police
Academy. And in May, Hartnett received the “Man
Alumnus Jesse Hartnett speaks to
of the Year” award during the annual National Police
police cadets at the College’s Municipal Police Academy.
Defense Foundation Awards Dinner in Howard
Beach, New York. He also spoke to NBC10 Television about the honor. To view Officer Hartnett at the
Phillies opener, see: http://m.mlb.com/video/v584389983/sdphi-ceremonial-first-pitches-in-philadelphia.
2016 Alumni Professional Achievement Award winner
Dr. Luli Akinfiresoye ‘04 is congratulated by President
Dr. Jerry Parker.
The Upper Darby Police Department Honor Guard, which
introduced the Commencement ceremony, consisted
of alumni, such as Christopher Robert Karr, Jr., (second
from right) a graduate of the College’s Municipal Police
Academy and son of Elaine Karr Remington, the College’s
director of Emergency Services Education.
Even the Upper Darby Police
Department Honor Guard, which
introduced the Commencement
ceremony, consisted of Officer
James Hoback and proud alumni,
such as, left to right, Lieutenant
James Reif ‘02 Police Academy and
‘08 Emergency Management and
Planning; Detective Christopher
Karr, Jr. ‘05 Paramedic and ‘08
Police Academy; and Officer Kevin
Donohue ‘08 Police Academy. n