Community College Of Philadelphia Honors Local Northeast Philadelphia Neighborhood Leaders

PHILADELPHIA, PA, APRIL 25, 2004 - Community College of Philadelphia will pay tribute to six individuals from Northeast Philadelphia for their outstanding contributions at its Fourth Annual Distinguished Leadership Awards Breakfast to be held at the College's Northeast Regional Center, 12901 Townsend Road from 8:00 am to 9:30 am on Thursday, April 29, 2004.

Each year, the awards ceremony recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions as leaders in education, community service, business, faith-based activities, as an elected official and as a high school student.

• The Honorable Michael J. Stack
  State Senator
  5th Senatorial District


• Mary Anne T. Benner
  Assistant Vice President and Northeast Regional Officer
  Beneficial Savings Bank


• Gertrude Brown, Ed.D.
  Educational Trainer/Consultant


• Sister Alma Rose Schlosser, SSJ
  President
  St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls


• Dr. Joseph M. De Angelis
  Principal
  Father Judge High School


• Marcus O'Shaughnessy
  Graduating Senior and Honor Student
  Abraham Lincoln High School

Pennsylvania State Senator Michael J Stack - who comes from a family with a long-standing commitment to public service, has been a tireless and dedicated public servant since first joining the Pennsylvania Senate. In 1988, at the age of 24, he was the youngest person to ever run for the State Senate. Senator Stack has been a staunch crusader against cuts in community college funding. His contributions and influence have played an integral role in the restoration of $3.7 million in funds for community colleges and $3 million for capital projects. He is active on several Boards, including the Board of Trustees of Temple University; the Board of Trustees of the Holocaust Museum; and the Board of Directors of Jewish Employment and Vocational Service of Delaware Valley. The Senator serves on several Senate committees that include: Minority Chair, Aging and Youth, Banking and Insurance, Law and Justice, Urban Affairs and Housing, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness.

Mary Anne T. Benner - launched her career with Beneficial Savings Bank as a Customer Service Representative in 1973. She rose through the ranks - from Teller to Head Teller, and eventually Branch Management. In February 2003, she was appointed to her current position of Assistant Vice President and Northeast Regional Officer. Ms. Benner contributes much of her spare time and talents to community service work. Since 1998, she has served as Co-Chair for the March of Dimes Northeast Walksite Committee since 1999 and served as a committee member since 1994. Her other community involvements include: Vice President for Membership Development for the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Member of the Northeast Family YMCA Board's Capital Campaign Committee; Class Mother for the Chalfont Playground Dancers; member of Our Lady of Calvary Home and School Association, and an active parent in Our Lady of Calvary's Athletic Association and the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization).

Gertrude Brown, Ed.D. - was teacher of Clinical Laboratory Assisting/Applications in Biology and Chemistry with the School District of Philadelphia where she taught for 30 years. Although she is retired from the school district, Dr. Brown maintains an active practice as an Educational Trainer and Consultant for the Center of Occupational Research and Development (CORD) - sharing her skills and experience with over 400 teachers in states across the nation. She also devotes her dynamic energies and enthusiasm to work in her community. She is a long-time member of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce and recently received the honor of "Ambassador of the Month" for service as Ambassador to new members. She was recently honored for outstanding service to the Citywide Police Advisory Council and for her volunteer work with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile. Dr. Brown holds a special place in her heart for Saint Katherine Drexel, a fellow Philadelphian and founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Four generations of Dr. Brown's family were educated by the sisters. Today, Dr. Brown is deeply involved in a $3.5 million renovation project to establish a St. Katherine Drexel Mission and Shrine.

Sister Alma Rose Schlosser, SSJ - President and Chief Administrator for St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls - the largest girls' high school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia with over 1,000 students from parishes in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties and New Jersey. St. Hubert has had a long-standing relationship with Community College of Philadelphia. For more than 15 years, St. Hubert's has made it possible for the College to offer on-site courses to people living in the Northeast community. Today, over 1,500 students a year are taking evening courses at St. Hubert's. Sister Alma Rose shares her talents and administrative expertise as a Board of Trustee member at Mount St. Joseph Academy in Flourtown and at Chestnut Hill College.

Dr. Joseph M. De Angelis - his career with Archdiocese of Philadelphia spans 33 years. He has served as Science Teacher at Northeast Catholic High School; Science Curriculum Chair for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Director of Guidance Services; Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs; and now Principal of Father Judge High School, his alma mater, class of 1967. Under his leadership, Father Judge High School has achieved the number one position among 20 high schools within the Archdiocese for college scholarships awarded to graduates. Father Judge also has one of the highest percentages of graduates attending college and enlisting in the military.

Marcus O'Shaughnessy - is a top honor student and a graduating senior, at Abraham Lincoln High School - ranking number 8 in his graduating class. Mr. O'Shaughnessy is the Commander of Cadets for Lincoln's Air Force Junior ROTC and responsible for the student leadership of a corps of over 130 cadets in grades 9-12. As Commander, O'Shaughnessy's leadership has been invaluable in helping younger cadets develop the courage to take stand for principles and not submit to peer pressure - even in the face of ridicule and rejection by fellow students. He is credited with planning and implementing various community service projects, team competitions and community ambassador programs. In addition to his record of high academic achievement, he has earned two nominations to the United States Naval Academy.