COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA BESTOWS LEADERSHIP AWARDS ON COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS

PHILADELPHIA, May 1, 2006 - The Community College of Philadelphia's three Regional Centers will give distinguished leadership awards to 18 community, civic and business luminaries at 8 a.m. on May 2, May 3 and May 4, respectively.

The awards are given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the College and the community at large.

The Northeast Regional Center will hold its award ceremony at 8 a.m., May 2, at 12901 Townsend Road.

The Northwest Regional Center will hold its award ceremony at 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 3, at 1300 W. Godfrey Avenue.

The West Regional Center will hold its ceremony at 8 a.m., Thursday, May 4, at 4725 Chestnut Street.

The following is a list of this year's awardees for each of the centers:

Northeast Regional Center

- Business - Edward Daniel McBride began his career with PECO Energy as a mechanic's helper and today is the company's county affairs manager. He also is chairman of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of commerce and supervisor of Upper Merion Township.

- Education - J. Gary McNulty has taught at Community College of Philadelphia since 1970. He worked for Philadelphia's Recreation Department from 1980 to 2003 reaching out to youth in neighborhoods. He also volunteers at Frankford-Torresdale Hospital.

- Elected Official - Hon. Michael G. Fitzpatrick is the U.S. Representative for the 8th District of Pennsylvania and sits on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Small Business Committee. He also is the past president of the Bucks County Council.

- Faith-Based - Rabbi Solomon Isaacson heads the Congregation Beth Solomon Synagogue and Community Center located on Tomlinson Road in Northeast Philadelphia. For more than 40 years he has helped European immigrants adjust to life in America.

- Community Service - Rita Ungaro-Schiavone is founder and executive director of the Aid for Friends Organization, which provides meals and friendship to needy and elderly shut-ins. She also founded/directed 23 emergency food centers in the Philadelphia area.

- Youth - Amanda Brock is a graduating senior and National Honor Society member at MaST Community Charter School. For the past five summers, she has traveled to rural Appalachian coal mining towns with her church to repair homes of low-income families.

Northwest Regional Center

- Business - Moo O. Yoo is co-chair of the Korean Community Development Services Center. For the past 10 years, he has helped mediate racial tensions, especially between Korean and non-Korean businesses. He also is a Korean News anchor on Channel 35.

- Education - Cheryl Phillips is assistant director of ELECT, Communities in Schools of Philadelphia. She manages The Teen Parent Classrooms, Males Achieving Responsibility Successfully, and Abstinence Education and Related Services programs.

- Elected Official - Hon. Cherelle L. Parker is state representative for the 200th legislative district. She was the project manager for the Dorothy Emanuel Recreation Center, a $5.5 million, state-of-the-art recreation center in Northwest Philadelphia.

- Faith-Based - Father John Kettelberger heads St. Vincent Parish in Germantown. Under his leadership, the parish feeds the homeless, provides people in need with shoes and foot care, offers legal counsel and operates a thrift store.

- Community Service - Thekla Scott is a community leader for the AARP. She worked for nearly 30 years for the Bell Atlantic Corp. She has served as vice president of AARP Chapter 280 and was 2000 AARP Volunteer of the year.

- Youth - Esther Adeymi is a graduating senior at Central High School, where she is president of The Africa Unite Club and member of the track team. She has volunteered at area soup kitchens and participated in AIDS, diabetes and breast cancer fund-raisers.

West Regional Center

- Business - Roger Harman is partner and owner of Abbraccio Restaurant in West Philadelphia. Through his restaurant, he hosts community meetings, provides gallery space to local artists, and promotes initiatives and donates the proceeds to local groups.

- Education - Christine Massaro is managing coordinator for the Philadelphia Education Fund's College Access program, which assists students with study skills, financing college and searching for scholarships. She joined the College Access program in 1996.

- Elected Official - Hon. Louise Williams Bishop is state representative for the 192nd district of Pennsylvania and is host and gospel programmer of the "Louise Bishop Show" on WDAS-AM radio. She is co-chair of the Philadelphia Delegation of the House.

- Faith-Based - Joe Clarke is with Catholic Social Services and is the training coordinator for the Senior Community Service and Employment Program, a federally funded initiative that helps low-income seniors find employment and living resources.

- Community Service - Gregorio Pac Cojulun, Jr. guided Malcolm X Memorial Park in West Philadelphia back to vibrancy. A member of the 18th Police District Advisory Board, he works with the Huey Family Center developing after-school programs.

- Youth - Anthony Gordon, Jr. is a graduating senior at Edward BOK High School. He is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, and the school football team. He also is a mentor for the Huey Family Center, which provides youth development.