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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)

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)

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)

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)

A day in the life of a CCP dual enrollment student Daisy McDonagh is not your typical 18-year-old. This month, she will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA at the College and a 4.4 GPA at MaST Community Charter School in Northeast Philadelphia with both her high school and associate degrees. Daisy is one of ten students graduating this May from MaST’s dual enrollment program in partnership with Community College of Philadelphia. Daisy says she learned about the opportunity to graduate high school with an associate degree while in middle school from a MaST student enrolled in the dual enrollment program at the time. Once she entered the ninth grade, she took the placement exam and tested into the college-level ...(Read more)

College President Dr. Donald Guy Generals says the proposal’s expansion of access to community college uplifts Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents Community College of Philadelphia President Dr. Donald Guy Generals released the following statement in support of President Joe Biden’s proposed American Families Plan that would direct billions of dollars in funding to support community colleges and low-income students: “Community College of Philadelphia fully supports President Biden’s American Families Plan, which would direct $109 billion to boost the efforts of community colleges in providing a high-quality education to every American regardless of their ability to pay. “Due to the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of community college students across the country have been forced to ...(Read more)

The College celebrated Women’s History Month this year with virtual events and initiatives to inspire and inform our College community. In light of the endlessly faceted nature of womanhood, the events centered around women of all different backgrounds who shared their stories and experiences, creating dialogue that felt relevant to the diverse population of women and femmes at the College. Women’s History Month brought women who are leaders in their respective fields into our College community to share their knowledge on topics such as career advancement, workplace diversity, physical and mental health, and more. The first event, Challenging the Process, which took place on March 1, was hosted by Judge Maria McLaughlin, who highlighted the tenants of exemplary leadership and ...(Read more)

With support from the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center, Kasara was able to obtain her degree despite additional hurdles she encountered during the COVD-19 pandemic. The way Kasara Pompey was introduced to the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center (Women’s Center) was truly a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and trying one’s luck. Today, Kasara, a Health Care Studies student, is on track to completing her final year at the College and looking forward to graduation in May. But even a year ago, her vision of graduation didn’t look so clear. In January 2020, Kasara was drawn to a flyer on campus that read, “Do you need help with child care?” She knew she did, ...(Read more)

In January 2021, Community College of Philadelphia’s Nursing program was recognized with the Innovations in Social Mobility: Workforce Development award powered by the Social Innovations Journal for its work to provide health care in the community . Laureen Tavolaro-Ryley, associate professor of Nursing and the Independence Foundation chair in Community Nursing at the College, accepted the award. Days after COVID-19 shut down Philadelphia in March 2020, many higher education nursing programs and medical institutions sent students home and transitioned to virtual learning, but Tavolaro-Ryley went another route. She began advocating to get funding for a summer internship for students that would provide care to the homeless, food insecure and other susceptible groups making up some of the most vulnerable communities ...(Read more)

With a passion for grassroots organizing and connecting underserved communities to valuable resources, Benjamin Nixon, ’20, is using his voice and providing College students across the country with a platform to make a difference. On Feb. 8, he helped launch the Student Voting Network (SVN) Podcast: a nonpartisan platform for and by students to express their views, share insight, organize for a better future and learn efficient methods of reaching student voters in meaningful ways. The podcast is a Campus Vote Project initiative he worked to launch as a Democracy Fellow. “For some time, we were looking for ways to be more engaging outside of social media. That’s where the idea for the podcast came from,” said Nixon. “We wanted ...(Read more)

Community College of Philadelphia would like to congratulate its president, Dr. Donald Guy Generals, for being named the 2021 National Pacesetter of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations ( NCMPR ). The Pacesetter of the Year Award recognizes a community college president or CEO who has demonstrated special leadership and support in college communications and marketing. Dr. Generals received the award for his exceptional work to successfully leverage marketing and public relations strategies to advance the College and its mission. He has presided over the College since 2014, and has introduced and enhanced many initiatives and efforts to increase student success, including additional student support services and Guided Pathways, a nationally recognized degree completion strategy. ...(Read more)

Honoring Black History throughout the month of February, the College organized a wide array of events that highlight the rich heritage and unique cultures of the African Diaspora. From Africa Repatriation to discussions on the difficulties faced by Black Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, students, faculty and staff spent the month discovering the diverse history that informs the lives of our Black colleagues, classmates and fellow citizens of the world. On Feb. 1, the College kicked off its celebration with an Enough Is Enough teach-in series session, Enough Is Enough: COVID-19 Vaccinations, Myths vs. Facts. With Dr. Tamika Curry serving as moderator, Dr. Ala Stanford of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium led a discussion covering topics like the safety of ...(Read more)

Reconnecting with her former professor through a meeting at a College alumni event in 2019 has led Malika Rahman to a different career trajectory. “I didn’t know I wanted to teach in that moment. I knew I wanted to give back, perhaps through my nonprofit, Be A Great You, Inc. Once the opportunity presented itself to guest lecture, it all made perfect sense. I got to come back to the place where it started for me. I started teaching one class, and it has transcended into so much more. The opportunities at the College kept expanding and growing. I can bring my life, career and field experience to the next generation of law enforcement professionals. I had finally arrived at ...(Read more)

Uniting paralegal skills, law firm experience and a desire to help others, Karla Rosario, ’15, is making a difference in the lives of refugees stranded at the United States-Mexico border. Since February 2020, she has been the coordinator for Project Corazon , an initiative of the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation. Rosario has been living in Brownsville, Texas, helping individuals seeking asylum as they are forced to await their court hearings from Mexico. “We find them volunteer attorneys to help with asylum paperwork, and we coordinate the translations and psychological evaluations to produce reports for their immigration applications,” she said. With a federal policy requiring asylum seekers to stay in Mexico, Rosario works with individuals across the border from Brownsville ...(Read more)

In a huge step towards creating a n accessible higher education system for all Philadelphians, the first cohort of Oct avius Catto S cholars ha s begun classes this Spring 2021 s emester . The group o f new, f irst - time students is the first to participate in this groundbreaking program , which will provide free t uition for thousands of students at Community College of Philadelphia. Created in partnership with the City of Philadelphia and M ayor Jim Kenney, t he Octavius Catto Scholarship will become an integral part of the Cit y’s “continued commitment to expand quality education for all,” and will ultimately benefit 4,500 students in the next five years . “As we look to ...(Read more)

As the United States struggles to redefine its history through activism and the Black Lives Matter movement, CCP alumnus Pedro Regalado is both an attentive observer and a scholar. Regalado, who received his Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University and is currently a Junior Fellow of the Society of Fellows at Harvard University, went from a life as a community college graduate to the halls of some of the nation’s most famous universities. He belongs everywhere—a fact he discovered one day while living in Philadelphia. “I remember I had finished CCP. I was working at Au Bon Pain, but I was still pretty confident in myself. I had worked hard at my classes,” Regalado said in a recent interview. ...(Read more)

“From a really young age I loved food,” recalls Liam Spady, a recent graduate of Community College of Philadelphia who received his associate degree in Culinary Arts. “I loved cooking, which is what I did because in school, I got kind of bullied. I was always into books... I didn't do what the other guys did. So, I went into the kitchen.” Although Liam found respite in cooking at a young age, his passion for food eventually led him to discover some troubling inequities in food access throughout our city. He explained, “I had the privilege of going to a school in South Philly. So, I would leave West Philly and go all the way down there each morning and ...(Read more)

When first he enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia in 2017, Andreas Copes believed he wanted to pursue a degree in Liberal Arts and eventually end up in the field of public relations. Now, as he finishes up his associate degree at Community College of Philadelphia, Copes will move on to the next stage of his academic career having discovered a new career trajectory in journalism and media, and having earned multiple awards and scholarships, work experience and professional connections. An enthusiastic member of the College’s campus community, Copes embraced every opportunity to get involved on campus, proving that higher education can illuminate parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed, and lead us down new pathways. Immigrating from Germany to ...(Read more)

Every year the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) recognizes students across the state who display academic excellence and are active in their own campus community. T wo of the 47 outstanding community college transfer scholars hips were awarded to Community College of Philadelphia sophomores Andreas Copes and Kendall Stephens , with Copes being named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team and Stephens to the All-USA Community College Academic Team. Stephens was also distinguished as a Coca-Cola New Century Transfer Scholar , which is awarded to students who receive the highest All-USA Community College Team application scores in each sta te . Both All-Pennsylvania and All-USA Academic Team members receive a two-year tuition waiver for any school in the Pennsylvania State ...(Read more)

Kendall Stephens: improving Philly, one person and one college class at a time Kendall Stephens has pushed through adversity, giving her deeper insight and a quiet strength that she weaves into college courses and daily life. “We claim our power,” she says. “When we are affirmed, it begins the healing process.” As a trans woman, she has not had the full acceptance of her family or her community for much of her life. At first, her mother struggled with Stephens’ identity, and refused to provide information that would allow her to apply for financial aid and attend college. Without these crucial supports at various times, Stephens has experienced homelessness, life in a shelter, couch surfing, violence and life on the ...(Read more)

Some associate degree and certificate programs provide a less expensive and faster on-ramp to the middle class than a bachelor's degree, according to the findings in a new report from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW). According to the report, "The Overlooked Value of Certificates and Associate’s Degrees: What Students Need to Know Before They Go to College," the field of study a student selects greatly influences future earnings, as many of these programs are linked with specific occupations. “Field of study matters most when it comes to certificates and associate degrees,” said Dr. Anthony P. Carnevale, lead author of the report and CEW director. “A worker with an associate’s degree can earn more than a worker ...(Read more)

On Friday, January 17, Community College of Philadelphia professor Pascal Scoles was honored with the 2020 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition. Named for a former AACC President, this award highlights the dedication and achievement of professors who work to make a positive impact within their schools and communities. Professors who are given this award display a strong passion and support for students inside and outside of the classroom, participate in campus committees and programs, and “go above and beyond what is required to ensure that students are successful in their academic endeavors.'' With over fifty years of experience in his field, Scoles has become known at Community College of Philadelphia and beyond as ...(Read more)

More than 530 entrepreneurs have completed Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses training at Community College of Philadelphia. Twenty-three of the fastest growing privately held companies in Greater Philadelphia in 2019 are alumni of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses , a free business education program designed to provide practical skills and professional support for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurs Forum of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Inquirer announced the Philadelphia 100 award winners at a ceremony in October 2019. They revealed that the fastest growing business in the region in 2019 was Kapital Data Corp., whose owner, Kumar Mangala, completed Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses -Greater Philadelphia. The free program is hosted by and held at Community College of Philadelphia. Equally as ...(Read more)

As Roary brings new excitement and a renewed campus spirit, the Community College of Philadelphia Lions are showing the city that gritty teams that play together, win together. This fall, the men’s and women’s basketball teams at CCP have displayed endurance, courage, athleticism and a hunger for victory. Much is at stake right now, as the Lions are garnering both local and national recognition. The women (10-3) face off at noon Sunday, Dec. 15, at home against Southern Maine Community College. Southern Maine is a basketball powerhouse, ranked first in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). The men’s team (12-1), which moved up three spots this week and is now ranked seventh among the National Junior College Athletic Association ...(Read more)