Latest News
Submitted 3 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
In November, Community College of Philadelphia was recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. ALL IN is a national nonpartisan initiative that strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities on college campuses. The goal is to make voter participation a defining feature of campus life. ALL IN engages over 9 million students from more than 960 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The College joins 394 colleges and universities being recognized for making intentional efforts to increase student voter participation. In 2018, the College launched #CCPVotes , a multi-year civic-engagement initiative designed to engage Community College of Philadelphia ...(Read more)
Submitted 4 months 3 days ago by MLaggan.
Shahid Guyton ‘17 is a Community College of Philadelphia alum who studied Liberal Arts--Social/Behavioral Science . He now has a bachelor’s in psychology from Ashford University and has been working at nonprofits for roughly five years. In his current role as the Restorative Services director at Broad Street Ministry , he helps housing insecure and impoverished Philadelphians access benefits, housing, hot meals, clothing, toiletries and more. Although Shahid and his colleagues work hard to provide those in need with the basic necessities they deserve, he says that the job doesn’t feel like work at all. Having experienced many of the same struggles in his own life, Shahid’s passion for nonprofit work comes from seeing himself in those who seek out ...(Read more)
Submitted 4 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
For as long as she could remember, Imira Roussaw had her heart set on attending the University of Southern California (USC). A 2021 graduate of Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School, she said at the time it was her dream school. Towards the end of her time in high school, Imira recalls her mom telling her about the opportunity to attend Community College of Philadelphia for free through the Octavius Catto Scholarship. “It wasn’t speaking to me. I already had this vision of going to California set,” Imira said. About a week after that initial conversation with her mom, Imira received another postcard about the benefits of the Catto Scholarship. This time, she decided to give it ...(Read more)
Submitted 5 months 2 weeks ago by MLaggan.
The Critical Language Scholarship is a national program designed to give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to quickly learn or sharpen their language skills. Among the many applicants nationwide, two Community College of Philadelphia students earned their place in the Fall 2022 cohort. Hannah Mc-Kay Simmons, an International Studies major, and Donika Campbell, a Respiratory Care Technology major, have spent the past few weeks in this program taking two free one-hour classes in Chinese and Arabic, respectively. The two have varying experience levels with their chosen languages. Last week, we got together with Hannah and Donika to talk about why the CLS Spark program is a worthwhile opportunity for students. Read the interview below. CCP: Why did you decide ...(Read more)
Submitted 5 months 2 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Earlier this month, Metro Philadelphia named College President Dr. Donald “Guy” Generals as one of 94 Education Power Players . The list includes influential leaders who are creating more accessible pathways to a quality education, fostering meaningful collaborations between schools and communities, and supporting the long-term success of students by ensuring that every Philadelphia student is learning. As the sixth president of the College, Dr. Generals was selected as an Education Power Player for his inclusive vision and passion for helping students – particularly community college students – find a path forward. With more than 35 years in the higher education sector, he says that he fell in love with the sector by accident. He originally planned to attend law ...(Read more)
Submitted 5 months 4 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Meet Carmelo Robles, a Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician who’s also an instructor in the new Toyota T-TEN program at the Career and Advanced Technology Center . Robles, a T-TEN alum himself, discusses the unique program, which allows students to make money working for the largest car manufacturer in the world while completing their associate degree. 1.) What is the Toyota T-TEN program? How is it unique, and how will it prepare students? T-TEN stands for Technician Training and Education Network. The program provides state-of-the-art, hands-on automotive diagnosis and repair training with an emphasis on skills needed to succeed in the automotive industry specializing in the Toyota and Lexus brands. It places our students at Toyota and Lexus dealerships while attending ...(Read more)
Submitted 6 months 2 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Earning a degree in Liberal Arts – Honors this year marked a milestone in Christopher Brinkley-Pridgen’s educational journey, which is far from over. His experience and preparation at the College has led him to Cheyney University, and admittance to Columbia University. “I was always into learning. I always had good grades. I knew I would be successful,” he said. While his path hasn’t been exactly what he envisioned, his academic experiences have provided a strong foundation for his future. Christopher graduated as the salutatorian of his high school, and earned certifications from the District 1119C Training Fund to pursue a career in behavioral health or human services. In summer 2020, he faced the loss of his grandmother, his biggest emotional ...(Read more)
Submitted 7 months 2 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Luis “Suave” Gonzalez is the first support coach for the College’s I Am More Reentry Engagement program . Tasked with supporting students who are navigating life after being involved in the criminal justice system, Luis sees this work as his life’s calling. However, Luis is more than his work; he’s an artist , storyteller, Tedx speaker , and host of his own podcast titled “ Death By Incarceration .” In May, it was announced that “Suave” – a podcast detailing Luis’ life during and after serving more than 30 years in prison – won a Pulitzer Prize for audio recording. We sat down with Luis to discuss this major win, what brought him to the College, and how he uses ...(Read more)
Submitted 8 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Meet Dr. Alycia A. Marshall, the College’s new vice president of Academic and Student Success. Dr. Marshall joins the College from Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) in Arnold, MD where she worked for the past 22 years. While her most recent role at AACC was associate vice president for Learning and Academic Affairs, she has served in a number of positions, including interim vice president for Learning and chair of the Mathematics Department. While at AACC, Dr. Marshall was responsible for transforming the Math Department’s developmental math course sequences which resulted in higher success rates. She also served as the principal investigator for the Engineering Scholars Program, a National Science Foundation grant program that provided scholarships and academic support to ...(Read more)
Submitted 9 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Brooke Asman remembers the first time she attended Community College of Philadelphia. A 2015 graduate of the Liberal Arts – Honors program, she describes her overall experience as wonderful. “All of the teachers I’ve had were amazing,” Brooke said. “Everyone loves what they do and all the things they teach. I’ve never had a professor that I felt didn’t want to be there. They made me excited about the things I was learning.” Soon after graduating, Brooke transferred to Arcadia University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy. Married with two children at the time, Brooke says that she and her husband decided to take in two foster kids with exceptionalities. She says that after completing one semester at ...(Read more)
Submitted 9 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Brian Walsh says that his family has lived on the same block for almost 100 years. He recalls growing up as a kid surrounded by family and sharing the same steps with his grandmother. In May 2023, Brian will be continuing a new tradition; he’ll be the second person in his family to earn a college degree. His younger sister, Courtney Byrne, earned her Nursing degree from the College in 2015. She later transferred to Penn State University to pursue a Psychology degree. While Brian is set to graduate next spring with an associate degree in Cybersecurity, this isn’t his first go-round at the College. He originally enrolled in 2004 immediately after graduating from ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
As Tahara Garrison-Brown, ’22, walked across the stage to receive her diploma during the College’s commencement ceremony on May 7, she also received one of the biggest surprises of her college career: she had been awarded the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. This year, more than 1,200 students from 332 community colleges across the country submitted application for the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Tahara was one of 100 finalists selected to receive up to $55,000 a year to complete her bachelor’s degree. In addition to financial support, she will also receive educational advising; opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school funding; and connections to a thriving network of over 3,000 Cooke Scholars and alumni. “This scholarship ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
“I will miss CCP so much. This place means so much to me,” said Joseph DeFeo, an English major who graduated with the Class of 2022. “I’ll always be a CCP Lion.” Joseph started at the College in fall 2019, immediately getting involved with Philadelphia L.E.A.D.S. , participating in a toy drive the student organization ran that year and the student retreat held in Maryland. He was drawn in by his inviting peers as well as the mission behind L.E.A.D.S., which encourages students to make good decisions and become leaders in their own lives. The leadership society program helps instill leadership qualities at varying stages of a student’s life by teaching them a framework to approach leadership from multiple perspectives. ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
“I will miss CCP so much. This place means so much to me,” said Joseph DeFeo, an English major who graduated with the Class of 2022. “I’ll always be a CCP Lion.” Joseph started at the College in fall 2019, immediately getting involved with Philadelphia L.E.A.D.S. , participating in a toy drive the student organization ran that year and the student retreat held in Maryland. He was drawn in by his inviting peers as well as the mission behind L.E.A.D.S., which encourages students to make good decisions and become leaders in their own lives. The leadership society program helps instill leadership qualities at varying stages of a student’s life by teaching them a framework to approach leadership from multiple perspectives. ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
On April 12, the College hosted an Enough is Enough panel discussion to celebrate the right to vote and shine a light on gerrymandering, an issue that threatens the fairness of our electoral system on local, state and federal levels. Hosted by Dr. Generals, Community College of Philadelphia’s president, the event allowed experts from our College community and beyond to discuss the repercussions of gerrymandering and shine a light on current efforts to correct the systemic flaws in our democracy that allow this unfair practice to take root. The College was honored to have Laura Coates, senior legal analyst at CNN, as a moderator for the event. Coates made fundamental contributions to the coverage of the unrest in Minneapolis and ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Graduating with Highest Honors and other accolades, Aye Kalle has always set high standards for herself. She arrived in the United States from Conakry, Guinea, in November 2015, seeking better educational opportunities. Aye, whose first language is French, started to learn English from her children and by taking noncredit English courses at the College. On May 7, she is receiving degrees in Architecture and Interior Design, and a proficiency certificate in Architectural Visualization. This fall, Aye will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Architecture at Drexel University. “Design is something you can do for your community,” she said. She eventually hopes to resolve some of the challenges that buildings pose to residents and cities in Guinea. “The buildings in my community ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
For a lot of high school students, when the school day ended, that meant it was playtime. But that wasn’t the case for Luvlee Day, who attends Parkway Center City Middle College (PCCMC) and is a dual enrollment student at Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). Instead of heading outside after school, many times, Luvlee needed to stay indoors to do homework. While she admits it was hard work and required sacrifices she didn’t think she’d have to make at such a young age, one thing was very clear: Luvlee was not going to quit. The path she chose would teach her a good lesson about the impact of making sacrifices and doing the work. “It taught me to keep going,” ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Meet Ahmad Mitchell: aspiring chef, activist, and Community College of Philadelphia’s outgoing Student Government Association (SGA) president. Ahmad wears many hats both on and off campus. After graduating from Central High School in 2018, Ahmad joined Job Corp’s Advanced Career Training program to pursue his passion for culinary arts. With a grandfather who owned a deli, and family members who own land to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, Ahmad explains that he has always understood what it means to be a land steward. This understanding further fueled his desire to become a chef. He says that he’s always wanted to go to college but didn’t want to take out debt to do so. Upon completion of the Job Corp program, ...(Read more)
Submitted 10 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Winners give a presentation each spring to Community College of Philadelphia faculty and staff. Watch Dr. Nagaswami’s Lindback Lecture, Path to a Growth Mindset: A Personal Narrative , and learn more through Dr. Nagaswami’s Q&A: . What are the reasons you have dedicated 30 years of your career to the College and its students? I began my teaching career at CCP and never looked back. The student populations at the College are amazing, resilient and inspiring. The students’ desire to learn and accomplish their academic goals despite all the hardship they go through in their complex lives are the main reasons that have sustained my interest and dedication to teach at the College. It is always a gratifying experience to ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 2 days ago by MLaggan.
Each time Natalya Topova wanted to expand her career possibilities and challenge herself, she’s turned to Community College of Philadelphia. During her first experience at the College, she obtained a Clinical Assistant proficiency certificate in 2017, which led to a job in the field. “After a while, I felt I could do more,” said Natalya. Her proficiency certificate provided stackable credits, which enabled her put those earned credits toward a degree in Health Care Studies, which she received in 2020. She also received a certificate in Phlebotomy. Natalya discovered her strength, and a career path became clearer. “I never thought I would like phlebotomy or would be around blood,” she said. Again building on her education, phlebotomy led her to ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 3 days ago by MLaggan.
Afshan Khan will be graduating from Community College of Philadelphia this June with an associate degree in Health Care Studies. While she has always dreamed of obtaining both her high school diploma and associate degree by 18, things did not necessarily work out how she originally planned. Despite the hiccups she’s faced along the way, Afshan has valued education for as long as she can remember.> Originally from Pakistan, she says her family moved to Philadelphia for her to get a better education—and a better shot at life. “In my country, women don’t get a lot of opportunities,” Afshan said. “Education for women is not the main goal. That’s why when I was seven, my dad moved us to Philadelphia.” ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 6 days ago by MLaggan.
Nathaniel “Nate” Gordan was only 13 years old when his parents sent him to live with his aunt in North Philadelphia. Born in Covington, GA – a small city about an hour outside of Atlanta – Nate says he at first had a hard time getting used to the hustle and bustle of a big city. Covington has a population of nearly 14,000 people versus the 1.6 million Philadelphians who live in the city. When asked why he moved to Philadelphia in 2017, he says his parents wanted him to get a better education. Nate says that personally, he was looking for a much-needed change. In fact, Nate has experienced a great deal of change over the past five years. ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 6 days ago by MLaggan.
Unsure of a career path, Nikki El first attended the College in 2002. Her financial situation changed, and as a newly married wife and homeowner, there was little time left for school. When she returned in 2020, she found the guidance and knowledge she needed to achieve her goals. Nikki works full time as a cardiac surgery nurse at the University of Pennsylvania, where she treats COVID-19 patients and has had to work many overtime shifts during the pandemic. As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), she needed additional education credentials to move forward in the field. “I enjoy cardiac surgery, but I want to advance my nursing career,” she said. Nikki is graduating with a degree in Health Care Studies ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
On Friday, April 1, the College welcomed esteemed author, lyricist, essayist and playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes to our (virtual) campus to talk about her career and her latest book, My Broken Language. Alegría Hudes is a native Philadelphian and wrote the book for In the Heights, which was turned into an extremely popular Broadway musical and a major motion picture. In 2012 she also received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Water by the Spoonful. She also co-founded Emancipated Stories, which helps incarcerated people write about and share their life stories. The talk was moderated by English professor Jeff Markovitz, and organized and funded by the Liberal Arts and Communications pathway in the Division of Liberal Studies. Hudes ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
Meet Ahmad Mitchell, a second-year student who is participating in the self-study process for accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education . Accreditation by the Commission is important because it ensures academic excellence for students. Learn more about Ahmad and the reaccreditation process in this brief Q&A! Q: Who is Ahmad? Tell us about yourself. A: I am a Culinary Arts student in my final semester of study at CCP. My expected graduation date is in May. After graduation I plan to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Food Studies/Hospitality Management. Q: What is your involvement and participation in College organizations? A: I am the president of the SGA , a Democracy Fellow with the Campus Vote Project , ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
Terry Peterson is a graphic designer, and has been teaching Design, Computer Art, and Graphic Design courses at Community College of Philadelphia for more than 25 years. When asked what originally sparked his interest in the graphic design field, he recalls watching a 1980s Diet Pepsi commercial , when he was younger (pictured right). He notes while most people may have been focused on the fancy jingle and the body types of the models, he felt he was the only one who noticed how the lines in the backgrounds matched the lines on the can of soda He says there was something about those lines – a subliminal message – that literally made a connection. At the time he says ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 1 week ago by MLaggan.
Three Community College of Philadelphia students have been announced as semifinalists for the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The students were selected from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants attending 180 community colleges in 35 states. To date, seven College students have been awarded the prestigious scholarship. This year’s semifinalists include: Tahara Garrison-Brown, Health Care Studies major Nakita Guiteau, Liberal Arts-Honors major Christine Meusz, Social/Behavioral Science major Through this award, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation supports high-achieving community college students by providing them with a scholarship of up to $55,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate school. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 2 weeks ago by MLaggan.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Dr. Generals led a Fireside Chat that delved into the inspiring and sometimes overlooked legacy of Angela Davis, from influences in her youth and early career to how she began her work in prison abolition by successfully defending herself in court after being placed on the FBI’s most wanted list and death row. The discussion illuminated the historical context of her work, as well as the substantial role she has played in shaping contemporary social justice dialogue. Although the Jim Crow Era of the United States can seem like a distant past, it was a bitter reality for the now 78-year-old Davis. She witnessed atrocities committed by the Ku Klux Klan, as well as the ...(Read more)
Submitted 11 months 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Yolanda Brutley-Dugger says that in almost every space she’s in, she is most often the only person in a wheelchair. However, she notes that this doesn’t slow her down on her “journey of trying.” Born in Texas and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Yolanda moved to Philadelphia at 13. While she says her transition to Philadelphia was a culture shock, one thing remained the same: her love of learning – especially for math. “Growing up I always wanted to learn, and math was something that just came easy,” Yolanda says. After graduating from Olney High School, Yolanda briefly pursued a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at La Salle University but said that her program of interest was dissolved. At that point, ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 1 week ago by MLaggan.
Deep down, Adam Dickerson, ’21, always knew he wanted to become an x-ray technologist. While it was not until high school that he officially decided to pursue this career, Adam recalls the exact moment he fell in love with medical imaging. “I remember being three or four years old and my mom taking me to her job for the day,” Adam says. “One minute I would be playing with my toys on the floor and the next I’d be looking up at the different MRI scans on the monitor. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do career wise, I thought back to what I was most interested in as a kid. The first thing that came ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Black music is one of the largest cultural exports of the United States. From jazz and rock and roll to hip hop, country music and more, billions of people all over the world enjoy the musical inventions of Black Americans daily. That said, the centuries-old origins of the African rhythms and rhymes that were molded into modern music remain obscure to most. On February 16, Dr. Ardencie Hall-Karambe, associate professor of English and Theater, honored and shed light on how Black music in America came to be. In her presentation “Power in the Word: African Traditional to African American Spiritual Music,” Dr. Hall-Karambe invoked the grand tone of a natural storyteller and started off the talk with an expedition into ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Hi everyone! My name is Iraida (they/them), and I am 20 years old. I was born in Puerto Rico but was raised here in Philly. My family and I moved from Puerto Rico back in the early 2000s and we’ve been here ever since. I graduated from Northeast High School – MAGNET in 2020, and I am currently a sophomore at Community College of Philadelphia majoring in Digital Video Production. I originally did not plan to attend CCP, but due to some personal situations, I did end up choosing to attend CCP. It was genuinely the best decision I have ever made for my future. A few months after first applying to CCP, I was quite literally bombarded with emails ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
Hello, my name is Dayanna but I prefer to go by my last name Shomo. I am from the West Oak Lane area of Philadelphia. I graduated last summer from George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science, also known as HSES. I choose to attend Community College of Philadelphia simply because it was more affordable and understanding that we receive the same quality of education as many of the other four-year schools here in Philadelphia. Also, past family members have either gotten a degree here or used the transfer program here at CCP, so CCP was always going to be the first choice for me. I am studying Communications as a way to continue my work with nonprofits. ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 3 weeks ago by MLaggan.
The Men’s basketball team have advanced again and now they’re District champions. Our CCP Lions won the Region 19/North Atlantic District Championship on Saturday, Feb. 26 after defeating nationally ranked Brookdale Community College 78-58. The team will advance onto Nationals where the Lions will participate in the NJCAA DIII Men’s Basketball Championship at Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL from Wednesday-Saturday, March 9-12. Saturday's game brought out the best in the players and coaches who hustled hard to secure the win. Sophomore guard Amir Woods was named the game’s MVP, and CCP’s men’s coach Joe Rome was named the North Atlantic District Coach of the Year. Most recently, freshman Ryan Holmes was recognized as the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 1 month ago by MLaggan.
We’ve asked two 2021 graduates, Cory Matthews and I’shanay Meeks, about their academic experiences. Both earned their high school degree from Parkway Center City Middle College and an associate degree in Liberal Arts simultaneously through the College’s dual enrollment partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. What advantages did you gain from the College’s partnership with Parkway Center City Middle College? How did this experience shape or further your academic and career goals? Cory: The biggest advantage I gained from the partnership was that I learned the basic fundamentals of being a college student. I learned how to utilize the many resources (tutoring labs, libraries, etc.), how to communicate with professors and how to be successful independently. It gave me ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 4 months ago by MLaggan.
Community College of Philadelphia and Saxbys recently announced that a student-run Experiential Learning Café (E.L.C.) will open at the College in spring 2022. This is the first E.L.C. at a community college, making this partnership a latte (lot) more interesting and worth students’ while. Saxbys established the Experiential Learning Platform in 2015, providing students with entrepreneurial exposure through real-life experiences that support traditional classroom learning. The College’s E.L.C. will be located in the new Library and Learning Commons and run by the Student Café Executive Officer (SCEO), who will gain instrumental experience and familiarity with the daily tasks of operating a business. The inaugural SCEO will oversee and drive team development, initiate and execute community leadership opportunities, and actively manage ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 5 months ago by MLaggan.
New to the College, Dr. Vishal Shah was appointed the new dean of Math, Science and Health Careers in June 2021. A role that comes during a transformative time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the new dean is excited to work with students. We sat down to talk to Dr. Shah about his journey to the College and his plans for his new role. Read the conversation below. 1. Please tell us about yourself and your background. I have an academic background across three different continents that first include India and the Czech Republic, and from there, I came to the United States. Here, I completed my post-doctorate at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. I was a faculty member and department ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 5 months ago by MLaggan.
Jensen Toussaint, C’15, never imagined that he would one day be a journalist. When he enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia in 2012, he was unsure of what he wanted to do professionally. A Liberal Studies major, he says during his first year, he would often go to class and then go home. It was not until the end of his time at the College that he discovered his passion for writing. Not only did Jensen tap into his love for storytelling, but he also learned that it was one of his strengths. “Growing up I was always told that I was a great writer, but I was extremely shy,” Jensen said. “I wanted to have a career where I ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 6 months ago by MLaggan.
On Friday September 10, students, staff and faculty gathered outside around the Bonnell Circle to commemorate College alumni and Philadelphians who lost their lives 20 years ago during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Under a clear blue sky, the ceremony began as the American flag was raised and attendees held a moment of silence. Around the flag stood 45 small American flags; 30 for the victims of 9/11 from Pennsylvania, three of whom were from Philadelphia, 13 for the service members who were lost recently in Kabul and two for our own alumni who were honored that day. Opening the ceremony with a message of gratitude to all of the veterans and active service members in the audience, Dr. ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 6 months ago by MLaggan.
Recently, the City of Philadelphia announced a mandate stating that all higher education students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15, 2021. As a result, Community College of Philadelphia has had to reevaluate our fall plans in accordance with local regulations. In order to prioritize the safety and security of the community as the Delta variant of COVID-19 becomes more prevalent, the College has made the difficult decision to delay the majority of in-person, on-campus classes until Oct. 15, and instead offer these courses online and on their original days until then. Starting Oct. 18, courses will be offered in their original format (hybrid or in-person), as listed on students’ class schedule. Classes in the 7A term ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 6 months ago by MLaggan.
This fall, Community College of Philadelphia will introduce two new certificate programs, one new degree program and three updates to current certificate and degree paths. In doing so, the College hopes to help students stay on the forefront of today’s job markets and to give professionals new opportunities to supplement their skillsets. New and improved two-year degree programs include Public Health, Biomedical Equipment Technology and Education, while new certificate programs have been created for Project Management, Personal Training and Religious Studies. For students who want to study the broader effect of disparities within health care systems and look to create change in the communities they serve, a Public Health degree will be added to our renowned Department of Allied Health. ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 7 months ago by MLaggan.
Connecting people to resources is not only a passion for Tia Watson; it’s what she does for a living. Tia serves as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Director for United States Sen. Bob Casey and has been assisting the community to find and utilize helpful resources through strategic planning and advocacy efforts. “I love my job, and I love what I do,” Tia said. “It brings me so much joy knowing I’m in a position to help people who look like me and live in the neighborhoods like where I grew up.” But to get where she is now, the connection was Community College of Philadelphia. Tia was born and raised in Philadelphia, and grew up in Frankford, a low-income section ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 7 months ago by MLaggan.
Earning an Automotive Service I proficiency certificate in 2019 was the culmination of Jovie Last’s lifelong interest in mechanics, tools and working with her hands. Later in life, she realized that automotive service represents an industry where all three components, plus problem solving, are used all day, every day, and would be an enormously satisfying career choice. “Toys had a great effect on me growing up, especially Erector and Tinkertoy sets,” said Jovie. She is now taking the PennDOT Emissions Inspector Certification course and is already certified to perform all other functions for PennDOT annual safety inspections of automobiles and light trucks. With previous positions at a dealership and as a technician at Girls Auto Clini c in Upper Darby, ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 8 months ago by MLaggan.
George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science graduate Essence Gaines had no doubt that she would go to college. It was which university she would attend that was up for debate because there were many factors to consider -- costs, distance, and personal financial ability and freedom. As part of a college tour hosted by Mighty Writers, a non-profit program that teaches kids to write, Essence visited Community College of Philadelphia, less than 2 miles away from her high school. During the visit, the tour guide showed the group around the College and provided great insights to success, including how to apply to scholarships when applying. Essence, not thinking much of it at the time, applied. “I was ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 8 months ago by MLaggan.
Andreas Copes is a Community College of Philadelphia Mass Media alumni who was named one of 24 Point Foundation Community College Scholars in spring 2020. Now he/they is being recognized once again for contributions made to local media discourse, as well as for volunteer work in his community. In the spring of 2021, Andreas was selected once again for a prestigious Point Flagship Scholarship out of more than 2,000 applicants. When Andreas graduated from Community College of Philadelphia in 2020, he moved on to Temple University with a plan to not only succeed academically, but to make positive changes in Philadelphia as well. Having been awarded the 2020 Point Scholarship for Community College Students, Andreas was first recognized for his ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 9 months ago by MLaggan.
A second chance. That’s what Leroy Brown, a Black Studies major, found in one Community College of Philadelphia program as a young Black male. Leroy is expected to complete his degree program in fall 2021 and largely credits this accomplishment to the Center for Male Engagement (CME), a program that he calls “a mecca for young Black men, navigating life and higher education.” Leroy started at the College in fall 2019 as a transfer from a 4-year college. He was certain that attending a community college would be a walk in the park. “I came in with an ‘I can do it myself’ mentality,” Leroy said as he talked about his choice to transfer. “But it hit me like a ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 10 months ago by MLaggan.
Hello, everyone. We are getting close to the end of the semester and finals! I am excited but sad at the same time. I really enjoyed my first semester at CCP, but it is time to move ahead! I have been planning for my summer classes and I was so excited to hear that this summer the Catto Scholarship will be covering last dollar tuition! This is amazing news for me. As of right now, I would have had to come out of pocket a few hundred dollars to cover the rest of my tuition. The Catto Scholarship will be covering that for me, as well as continuing my monthly stipend. This has been such an amazing scholarship and I ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 10 months ago by MLaggan.
In order to better meet the needs of his growing family, Chris Robin sought an educational path that would enable him to change careers. “It was a perfect storm of events that brought me to CCP,” he said. The owner of his own yoga studio in Northern Liberties, Chris was seeking more financial security after the birth of his second son. The College’s Nursing program provided a quick entrance to an in-demand profession. “In three years, I’ll have received an associate degree and be eligible to take my exam to become a licensed Registered Nurse. It set me up for a good position in life,” he said. During his time in the program, the clinical rotation in community health left ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 10 months ago by MLaggan.
Jaron McNeil, ’21, says attending Community College of Philadelphia was one of the best decisions he’s made. “CCP was not only affordable, but it gave me a great start,” Jaron says. “I’ve gained some amazing mentors who have provided a lot of support since I arrived at the College.” He says that in addition to the support from his academic advisors, career counselors and professors, much of his success comes from his mentors at the College’s Center for Male Enagement (CME). Geared towards African-American males, CME provides its members with targeted academic and non-academic supports designed to enhance their skill sets, cultivate a sense of belonging and build resolve as they pursue a degree at the College and beyond. “CME ...(Read more)
Submitted 1 year 10 months ago by MLaggan.
With some trepidation, Jameelah Hairston enrolled at the College in 2017, unsure she would be successful in higher education. This week, she will graduate with her Nursing degree from Community College of Philadelphia. “I stopped and started at the College after high school. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked in health care. I’ve been a psychiatric technician, EMT and Certified Nurse Assistant,” Jameelah said. Jameelah’s knowledge impressed the nurses and doctors she worked with, and they recognized her potential. “I had learned more than I realized, and they told me I needed to go back to school,” said Jameelah. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she briefly relocated to Maryland, where she was working two jobs at times. She began ...(Read more)
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