COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA STUDENT RECEIVES FIRST ANNUAL ALLIEDBARTON SECURITY SERVICES SCHOLARSHIP

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17, 2009 — Community College of Philadelphia will present a full-scholarship sponsored by AlliedBarton Security Services to its first recipient during a ceremony at 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20 at the College’s Northeast Regional Center, 12901 Townsend Road.

The scholarship winner, Christopher Rycek, 18, is a graduate of Father Judge High School and plans to prepare for a career as a Philadelphia police officer. In doing so, Rycek will follow in the footsteps of his father, who is a detective in the Philadelphia Police Department. Two uncles, an aunt and a grandfather also work in law enforcement outside Philadelphia.

"After looking at many colleges, I chose Community College of Philadelphia because it fit my goals," Rycek said. "I feel that getting my associate degree prior to attending the police academy will better prepare me."

The AlliedBarton scholarship will cover up to $7,200 in tuition and fees while Rycek attends classes in the College's Justice program at the Northeast Regional Center. The Conshohocken-based security firm, which operates a major Philadelphia regional office in Center City, also will provide Rycek with a paid internship.

The part-time job at AlliedBarton is a much appreciated added benefit for Rycek and his family. He is the oldest of three children and his parents continue to pay Catholic school tuition for his two younger sisters. "I can continue to work part-time, get my degree and stay in a city I love and want to one day work in," he said.

Rycek graduated from Father Judge with a 3.6 grade point average. His teachers describe him as a focused and attentive student. Outside the classroom, Rycek was a member of Father Judge's hockey team and worked part-time at a local retirement home to help with his family’s finances.

The partnership between AlliedBarton and the College is the type of private/public agreement that helps educate residents and keep the workforce of the city and the nation competitive in the global marketplace. The scholarship was established to recognize students who intend to pursue an associate degree in the College's Justice Program and who demonstrate the ability to achieve academically despite barriers on the way to success.

"AlliedBarton is proud to be joining with Community College of Philadelphia to initiate this AlliedBarton Scholarship to encourage talented and dedicated students to pursue a career in the field of public safety," said Jim Gorman, vice president and general manager of AlliedBarton's Philadelphia region. "Our involvement reflects our corporate commitment to giving back to the communities we serve throughout the United States."

AlliedBarton Security Services is the industry's premier provider of highly trained security personnel to many industries including commercial real estate, higher education, healthcare, residential communities, chemical/petrochemical, government, manufacturing and distribution, financial, and shopping centers and malls.