A Family Legacy at CCP: Maria Cabrera’s Story

Maria Cabrera began her academic journey at Community College of Philadelphia earning college credits while in high school, going on to focus on Computer Information Systems (CIS) courses, and earning a bachelor’s degree in International Language–Business and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Currently, Maria serves as the coordinator of the Upward Bound Program at CCP, where she provides academic advising, leads college preparation workshops and organizes events that support high school students in the Philadelphia area as they prepare for higher education.

Outside of her professional role, Maria enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her son, Mateo. She also loves traveling and experimenting with cooking dishes from around the world, blending her passions for culture, family and food. Read on below to hear Maria’s story in her own words:

“My name is Maria Cabrera, and I have two sisters named exactly the same. Yes, you read that right. We are all named Maria, each with a different middle name. You might wonder, ‘were our parents crazy?’ Well… not all the way.

In Ecuador, where we are from, it’s common to use both the first and middle names together if they form a combined name. I am Maria Belen; my sisters are Maria Paula and Maria Emilia. Beyond our shared first name, we share something even more meaningful: our educational journeys all began at Community College of Philadelphia.

I first came to CCP in 2005 as part of the Upward Bound Program when I was a sophomore in high school. That summer, I learned about Advanced Tech at the College, and the following school year I began taking classes at CCP while still in high school. By the time I graduated, I had earned 20 college credits, which I later transferred to the University of Scranton.

Even after moving on, CCP never stopped being part of my journey. During the summers, I returned to serve as a mentor for Upward Bound, guiding students who were walking the same path I had once taken. Later, I worked in Student Affairs and Admissions at Misericordia University and Delaware Valley University. But life came full circle when I was given the opportunity to apply for the coordinator position with the very program that had once opened doors for me.

To now serve as coordinator of CCP’s TRIO Upward Bound program has been both an honor and a lifelong journey of growth, purpose and giving back. My sisters also found their path through CCP. Maria Paula earned her associate degree here before transferring to Gwynedd Mercy University to pursue a degree in Psychology. She managed this while working full time at Temple Hospital, pregnant with her first child and taking advantage of the flexibility of CCP’s night and online courses.

Maria Emilia also began at CCP, working at a daycare that offered the Keystone Scholarship Partnership for education majors. After completing her associate degree, she transferred to Arcadia University, one of CCP’s partner institutions, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a certification in English Language Learning. Like me, she came full circle, returning to speak to our Upward Bound students about her career in education and how CCP helped her achieve it.

For my family and I, CCP has been more than a college, it has been a launchpad for opportunity, a place of resilience and a community that empowers its students to dream bigger. What started with a high school student full of aspirations has blossomed into a family legacy of perseverance, education and service. Today, as I help guide the next generation of students, I see in them the same spark that CCP once ignited in me. And I know with certainty, CCP doesn’t just change one life, it transforms entire families and communities for generations to come.”