Passing on a Tradition: Valerie and Louise Lanzetta

For mother-daughter duo Valerie and Louise Lanzetta, Community College of Philadelphia has brought opportunities at affordable prices. Valerie was born in Philadelphia and raised in France, but when she returned to the city in her 30s, she wanted to pursue an American college degree. “I did some research, and I found out about CCP. [They had] different time[s] for classes that fit my personal schedule,” Valerie said. Now, Valerie works as a program director and assistant professor of Medical Laboratory Science at Thomas Jefferson University.

Valerie’s daughter, Louise, decided to come to CCP after first attending the University of Pittsburgh for a year. Louise wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her college education at first, so she wanted something more affordable to help her figure it out. “CCP was an affordable option with the ability to take a variety of classes to see what I was interested in,” Louise said. “And my mom recommended it, [so] it was like a no-brainer.” After completing a degree in Liberal Studies, Louise now works as a legal clerk at the Philadelphia Family Court.

Both Valerie and Louise appreciate that CCP offers a high-quality education at an accessible cost. Louise attended a magnet high school before starting college, where many of her peers were slated to attend competitive universities. She shared that she wished someone had told her CCP was an option earlier. “It's a really affordable option, and it's an important resource that the City of Philadelphia has,” Louise said. Valerie’s son and Louise’s brother also attended CCP, graduating from the College in 2025 with an associate degree in Biological Sciences.