Community College of Philadelphia Class of 2017 Features Graduates of the 50th Anniversary Scholars Program, Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Recipient and an All-Pennsylvania Scholar

Contact: Linda Wallace, 215-751-8082, liswallace@ccp.edu
Rhonda L. Lipschutz, 215-751-8021, rlipschutz@ccp.edu

 

PHILADELPHIA – May 4, 2017 – Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, and an advocate for economic empowerment and social justice issues, will serve as Community College of Philadelphia’s 2017 Commencement Speaker.

Lindsay Jackson, an Education: Early Childhood (Birth to 4th Grade) major and mother of seven, will be the student speaker.

Graduation begins at 10 a.m. on May 6 at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street. This year, the College has 1,893 candidates for graduation. Among them are 47 veterans; 27 international students representing 16 countries; 8 employees of the College, a graduate who won the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, and the first of the 50th Anniversary Scholars, who attend College with no pocket expenses for tuition and fees.

Jackson enrolled in Community College of Philadelphia after a 13-year hiatus, and excelled in her first semester. She got involved with Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society for two-year colleges, eventually serving as Vice President for the chapter, Rho Upsilon.

“Whether you’re the recent high school graduate, the single mother with children or the laid off worker trying to find a new career path, the possibilities are endless if you have the perseverance and strength” she said.

While enrolled, Jackson earned the Dean’s Award and several scholarships, including one for $19,000 that will enable her to pursue her bachelor’s. She hopes to transfer to Chestnut Hill College or Temple University.  

Perseverance and determination is a theme that resonates among the 2017 graduating class.

This is the first year students who enrolled in the 50th Anniversary Scholars will be graduating.

This scholarship gives students a remarkable opportunity to earn a college education when faced with one of the largest barriers to student success: the lack of financial resources. The 50th anniversary scholarship covers any remaining tuition and fees not covered by financial aid.

The program was established in 2015 in response to the White House’s America’s College Promise proposal, which enables Pell eligible Philadelphia high school graduates to attend Community College of Philadelphia with no cost or tuition fees.

Peter Mattei, a 50th Anniversary Scholar, will be receiving his associate's degree in internationals studies. He plans to enter the University of Pennsylvania or Harvard University in the fall to complete his bachelor’s in domestic or international policy.

Jennifer Myers, a graduate of the College’s Diagnostic Medical Imaging program is the recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholarship, the largest private scholarship in the nation that provides high-achieving, service-oriented community college students up to $40,000 per year to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Myers is the first African-American and second female from the College to win the award. Nearly 3,000 community college students nationwide applied for the scholarship and only 55 are awarded each year. Myers plans to complete her bachelor’s at Thomas Jefferson University and then pursue her master’s.

“My college experience has been a second chance. When I was young, I didn’t work to my full potential. Tenacity was the key to my success and my hard work has really paid off,” Myers said. “I am so grateful to receive this scholarship that will allow me to continue my journey of academic success.”

Another graduate, Cedric Jouin, was recognized as an All-Pennsylvania Scholar for 2017, an honor that identifies 49 of the state’s community college students for scholarly achievements and community involvement. Completing an associate’s degree in Liberal Studies – General option with a 4.0 grade point average, Jouin enrolled at the College as an adult student looking for a career change. He intends to pursue a career in environmental conservation, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This scholarship will fund up to two years of tuition for a bachelor’s degree at one of the 14 state universities.

 

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