For Immediate Release

Contact: Anthony Twyman
Public Relations Coordinator
Community College of Philadelphia
Office: (215) 751-8082
atwyman@ccp.edu

City Council Commemorates Community College Month with Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Council commemorates April as Community College Month on Thursday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. with special proceedings to honor Community College of Philadelphia and its contributions to the City.

During the session, Councilman Darrell Clarke will present a Resolution to Stephen M. Curtis, President of Community College of Philadelphia, proclaiming the many contributions the College has made to the City. Curtis and Trustees from the College will join Clarke for a photo opportunity.

Two top scholars from Community College of Philadelphia will also be recognized with a resolution from Councilman Clarke. Yamilet Salcedo and Kert Emperado, who will graduate from the College on May 2, 2004, will accept the resolution for their nomination to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

The All-PA Team is a national initiative of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), a prestigious honor society for two-year colleges. A Team of PTK officials selects the students based on their applications, transcripts, a 500-word essay and letters of recommendation.

Salcedo, a Venezuelan student who came to this country to attend the College two years ago, will graduate with an associate's degree in business and a concentration in international studies. During her time at the College, Salcedo was Chair of the Scholarship Committee of the American Association of University Women and taught Spanish to high school students through the College's TRIO Upward Bound program. She resides in Northeast Philadelphia.

"The best thing I experienced at the College was being in ESL classes with American students and students from other nationalities. I never felt different or segregated," Salcedo said. She will attend West Chester University in the fall and major in international business.

Emperado, who moved from Toronto to attend the College, will graduate in May with an associate degree in nursing. Currently, he is involved with the College' LEADS program and is president of the Fillipino Student Organization. He is a resident of Northeast Philadelphia.

"The College has done so much for me," Emperado said. "Career counseling helped me decide to become a registered nurse. I also would like to teach someday."

Both students will receive full scholarships if they choose to attend a State System of Higher Education four-year school upon graduation from Community College of Philadelphia.

Salcedo and Emperado will also join Clarke for a photo opportunity.