After attending a vocational program for automotive technology, Teya Botte found herself in Community College of Philadelphia’s Toyota T-TEN program at the recommendation of a well-respected teacher. Now, she’s planning to attend West Chester University to study Business Management and blend her interest in automotive technology with her natural leadership skills in the hopes of one day owning her own automotive business.

“This was not what I originally wanted to be growing up. But I couldn't do what I wanted to do because of some medical stuff,” Teya said about finding her career path. “I knew I couldn't sit at a desk, I needed to be working with my hands. I got a flyer for vo-tech schools from my high school. I was like, ‘I like cars. Why not?’ And I just kind of enrolled.” Teya has a natural ability for managing and directing projects, which her teacher quickly noticed. “He saw that and was like, ‘All right, I'm going to train you.’” He asked her to take the lead on managing one of the bays, which launched her career trajectory in leadership.

While she was still in high school, Teya’s teacher helped her get a co-op position with Toyota, which is what then led her to CCP’s T-TEN program. What Teya has appreciated most about CCP is the small class sizes and the quality education she has received. “[In] my program specifically, it's different from other programs because you get a very specific diagnostic knowledge, but it's a lot cheaper than what other programs are asking,” she said. In addition to getting a quality education at a lower cost, Teya has enjoyed the personalized attention she’s experienced in the program. “You actually get to interact with everybody. Like I know everyone in my class, there's only 13 of us,” she said. “You get more hands-on work and one-on-ones with the teacher.”

More recently, Teya has had the opportunity to mentor other women coming into the automotive field. Given the field is heavily male-dominated, Teya enjoys getting to help support first-year women by answering their questions, giving advice and occasionally teaching certain skills. “I also did a student panel for the Business Entrepreneurship Week summit,” Teya said. “That was pretty cool.”

Teya is planning to attend West Chester University in fall 2026 to study Business Management and Entrepreneurship. “I want to have other avenues,” she said. “And mainly I want to be able to teach automotive to younger kids, so I wanted to get business that way I can at least kind of branch off.” Teya is excited to see the different career pathways available to her with the unique combination of automotive technology and business.

The only Toyota T-TEN (Technician Training and Education Network) offered in the region, this program combines automotive education and work-based learning at dealerships, where you earn money while going to school. Your time at a dealership lead to a permanent position there after you complete the program. The Toyota T-TEN program enables you to reach a skill level in two years which would otherwise take five years. Learn more about the program. 

Felix Rosado first began working with Community College of Philadelphia in 2023 when he was asked to join the advisory board for a new Restorative Justice certificate program. After a few months, it occurred to him that he was well-suited to assume a teaching role within the program as well. Now in its second cohort, the program offers students an opportunity to gain skills in building community, addressing harm through active accountability and healing.

When Rosado first encountered the concept of restorative justice, he was serving a sentence of death by incarceration—more commonly known as life without parole. He was reading a book assigned to him through a class called Inside Out, which was facilitated by a faculty member at Temple University. “So, yeah, over a decade later, I'm sitting here face to face with this really hard truth [about the harm I had caused]. And so I asked myself, ‘Now what? What should I do? What can I do?’” Rosado said. “And at the end of the book, the author started talking about this thing called restorative justice. And my mind was blown. A way of doing justice that seeks to heal harm by involving those directly impacted by it, including the person who caused it. And to me, that was revolutionary.”

Rosado started to envision what some restorative justice concepts could look like in practice within his own circles and situation. “I connected with someone on the inside who was equally passionate about restorative justice,” Rosado said. “His name is Charles Boyd. And we created this Intro to Restorative Justice workshop. And we started to pilot it.”

Rosado and Boyd started developing a curriculum and sharing it with other folks in the prison, leading weekly workshops together. Eventually, Rosado began to form a relationship with the author of the book that inspired him, Howard Zehr, who then connected him to a publishing company called Living Justice Press that releases restorative justice books. Rosado began writing and editing a facilitator’s manual titled Justice from the Inside Up via email, 15-minute supervised phone calls, and snail mail with the goal of helping others understand how to facilitate experiential restorative justice education. “I’m editing through these three channels, an entire book. And then in the middle of that, the miracle of my freedom happened,” Rosado said.

In 2022, Rosado was able to escape his sentence through clemency under Governor Tom Wolf. “After 27 years, during a brief alignment of political stars, our last governor, Wolf...opened up a window and...I squeezed out of that little crack.” As soon as Rosado came home, he hit the ground running as program manager of Healing Futures, a youth restorative justice diversion program in Philadelphia. And in 2023, Let’s Circle Up, the restorative justice project he and Boyd founded inside, became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Now, Rosado is executive director of Let’s Circle Up and is an adjunct instructor at CCP and Chestnut Hill College. What he loves most about CCP is the community environment and sharing in that spirit with his students.

“So, we put on [our playlist], and then the students start coming in and it feels like family,” Rosado said. He said each week his class is different but always filled with experiential, creative and fun activities. “I love being able to share that with them. You know, this isn't the kind of class where you're going to come and sit down and listen to a professor speak for three hours.” Rosado values learning in a supportive and communal environment, where he learns just as much from his students as they do from him.

CCP’s Restorative Justice proficiency certificate program aims to deepen students' understanding of restorative justice; help them become skillful facilitators of restorative processes; and contribute to efforts to implement restorative justice practices, programs and policies. Learn more about this program.

A proud CCP graduate, retiring U.S. Representative Dwight Evans was first elected to Congress in 2016 after serving as a state representative for 36 years. He became the first African American chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, serving in that role for 20 years.

Dedicated to expanding educational opportunities, increasing affordable housing and strengthening the social safety net, Congressman Evans serves on several committees to benefit Philadelphians: Ways and Means, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and Black Maternal Health Caucus.

Preparation for his 45 years of public service career began at the College, and  Congressman Evans enthusiastically served as our Commencement keynote speaker in 2019, telling our graduates, “You are prepared to begin to move on—to move this county and this world forward.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2026

CCP media contact: 
Antwon R. Martin
armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu)
267.666.7881

Jack Kent Cooke media contact:
Lela Randall
media [at] jkcf.org (media[at]jkcf[dot]org)
 

Daniel is the only student in Pennsylvania to earn this year’s scholarship.

PHILADELPHIA — Daniel Emdin, who graduated Community College of Philadelphia on May 2, is one of 60 high-achieving community college students selected to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. He is the only student in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to receive this year’s scholarship.

The highly competitive national scholarship aims for Cooke Scholars to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide Daniel with as much as $55,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“The entire College community stands immensely proud of Daniel,” said Dr. Alycia Marshall, president of CCP. “I had the distinct privilege of witnessing firsthand the strength of his leadership, the clarity of his vision, and the depth of his commitment during his service as Student Government Association president and through his advocacy to elected officials. His impact on CCP is not momentary, it is lasting, and it will continue to shape CCP long after he embarks on the next chapter of his journey. We look forward with great anticipation to following his academic path and celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments that undoubtedly lie ahead.”

Daniel is one of five CCP students selected as semifinalists for the 2026 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship—the most of any community college in Pennsylvania. In 2024, his brother David Emdin received the honor.

Daniel earned his associate degree in Chemistry at CCP on May 2. During his time at the College, he received the Octavius Catto Scholarship, the Dr. Lynnette Hammond McNeal Award, the Cox-Shafter Chemistry Award, a PECO Scholarship for STEM Majors and is part of the All-PA Academic Team.

“I was extremely grateful for the CCP community,” Daniel said. “Each and every single person I interacted with from the students to administration served as contributing factor towards this achievement, so thank you to Community College of Philadelphia.”

In addition to his studies, Daniel also served as president of the Student Government Association and spent his extracurricular time volunteering and doing service work. He was president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and vice president and co-founder of CCP’s chapter of the American Chemical Society. Daniel was a Catto team captain and a student ambassador, as well as a member of the Center for Male Engagement. He also worked as a student researcher in the Biotech program at CCP.

Daniel accomplished all that and more while volunteering with the Institute of Community Engagement and Civic Leadership and mentoring with Project Career Launch Mentorship Program, a project that pairs peer mentors with high school students on the autism spectrum to help them navigate through the college/university setting.

The Cooke Foundation is committed to expanding access to high-quality, debt-free pathways for high-achieving students with financial need. While nearly 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 16% reach that goal within six years. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship aims to help more students persist and complete their degrees by reducing financial barriers and providing the academic and advising support needed to navigate the transfer process.

“These Scholars reflect the depth of talent and determination found in community colleges across the country,” said Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili, Chief Executive Officer of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “They’ve demonstrated what they’re capable of, and we’re proud to help ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent them from continuing their education and realizing their full potential.”

Beyond financial support, Scholars receive personalized advising to guide their academic and professional journeys. They also gain access to a nationwide network of more than 3,400 Cooke Scholars and Alumni, along with opportunities for internships, study abroad, and graduate school support, ensuring they have the tools needed to thrive beyond community college.

This year’s selection process drew more than 1,300 applications from community colleges across the country. The 60 new Scholars were selected from a semifinalist pool of 485 students. Applicants were evaluated based on academic achievement, perseverance, and leadership.

A complete list of the 2026 Cooke Transfer Scholar finalists and their respective community colleges can be found here. To learn more about the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, visit the website here.

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About Community College of Philadelphia 

Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For more than 60 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 750,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.

A reception for the 60^th exhibit on March 31 brought faculty and staff, past and present, and alumni together for a look back at CCP through the years. Through audio clips, vintage CCP ads and materials from each decade of the College, attendees had the opportunity to take a look back at the institution’s history and see how we’re moving forward.

Over the last six decades, countless individuals have formed unique and strong bonds with the College. As we celebrate 60 years as an institution, we are honoring those connections and the momentum they’ve helped build for the College by highlighting the stories of some reception attendees.

One of those individuals is Bill Jones, a member of the first graduating class of Community College of Philadelphia and co-founder of the College’s Alumni Association. “Well, it's a journey and...those that were in the first class had a stronger identification, I think, than a lot of people,” Bill said. When CCP opened its doors in 1965, it quickly began filling a large gap in the city, making college degrees possible for people who were historically shut out of higher education.

“Back in those days, there wasn't a lot of scholarship money around, period. And going to four-year schools like Temple and Penn were expensive,” Bill said. “And I came from a blue-collar neighborhood, so the community college opened the door, the opportunity. I appreciated it.”

For David Berg, retired professor of Psychology, one of his favorite memories from working at CCP was during the time that Dr. Judith Eaton served as President. After Dr. Eaton came to visit his classroom to meet with him and his students, she asked if a photographer could take photos of him teaching. “[The] next year, a catalog came out with my picture on the cover. I...looked like the colossal 50-foot man standing over the Mint building," David said. “Everybody howled. It was great peals of laughter all over the College, and that was my 15 minutes of fame.”

Retired Art and Design faculty member Jeffrey Reed spent 40 years at the College preparing students for transfer by teaching fundamentals they would need to be successful as they worked toward their bachelor’s degree and careers. He also realized the classes he taught served as an introduction to the arts for some of his students.

“I really feel as faculty we could have a big impact on our students. A lot of our students never visited a museum or took an art class. That type of impact was wonderful to be a part of,” he said.

Collaborating with student service areas across the College helped Jeffrey and the department connect students with assistance that led to success.

“The whole College had that goal in mind to support students,” said Jeffrey.

The exhibit in the Library and Learning Commons is open through the end of June and can be visited during regular business hours.

Rhythm and RISE celebrates 60 years of CCP with a music-filled, house party on the College’s home court

PHILADELPHIA — Community College of Philadelphia is proud to announce Patti LaBelle as guest of honor at the College’s upcoming Rhythm and RISE celebration on June 9. The music superstar and Philadelphia native will be presented a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 60th anniversary event.

Rhythm and RISE commemorates 60 years of CCP through a musical journey of Philadelphia’s sound, past and present, with live performances by CCP students and Spring Garden Records artists. DJ TouchTone will set the energy all night and attendees will hear from Vertical Current, led by past Artist in Residence Christopher Michael Stevens. Every ticket purchased supports CCP’s mission of helping students rise up and complete their higher education goals.

As part of the community celebration, College leadership will present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Patti LaBelle for her musical, entertainment, and humanitarian influence in Philadelphia.

“Few voices have shaped our culture as profoundly as Patti LaBelle’s. A true Philadelphia icon, her artistry and humanitarian spirit, especially her support of the United Negro College Fund’s mission to expand educational opportunity, reflect the very values we uphold at CCP,” said Dr. Alycia Marshall, president of CCP. “As we mark our historic 60-year anniversary, it is our honor to celebrate her legacy and invite our community to join us for an inspiring evening of music, love, learning, and unity in the heart of Philadelphia.”

An award-winning entertainer, author and entrepreneur, LaBelle evolved from a choir member to lead vocalist for Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles and, later, Labelle, to a solo artist. Belting out classic rhythm and blues renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets have created the unique platform of versatility that she is known and revered for.

“I am truly honored to receive this most prestigious honor from Community College of Philadelphia!” Patti LaBelle said. “Everything I’ve tried to build in my life began with the people who believed in me here in Philadelphia, long before I believed in myself. And to the students here just beginning your journey, may you discover the people who believe in you, and may you become someone who believes boldly in yourselves.”

In addition to her contributions to entertainment, LaBelle’s work as a humanitarian is also particularly noteworthy. She remains an advocate for adoption, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS and many other causes and nonprofit initiatives.

The event also serves to showcase the College’s talented students, and includes student artwork on display; a live pottery wheel and other art demonstrations; hors d’oeuvres created by Culinary Arts students and served by Tourism and Hospitality Management students; performances by Theater students; and a kit car activation by Automotive Technology students.

Rhythm and RISE will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. June 9 in the CCP Athletics Center, 1700 Spring Garden Street. Dinner and libations will be available. This year’s event will take the place of the College’s annual Black & Gold Gala.

Tickets to Rhythm and RISE are available at ccp.edu/rhythm60.

The College is celebrating its 60th anniversary throughout the year. Engage with stories about the people, events, and issues important to the College over the years at ccp.edu/60.

If you would like to attend CCP’s Rhythm and RISE 60th anniversary celebration on behalf of your news organization, please email Antwon R. Martin at armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu).

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About Community College of Philadelphia 

Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For more than 60 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 750,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.

Community College of Philadelphia officially opened their Health Care Simulation Lab in February, where students can practice working under the pressure of an emergency in a safe and supportive environment. The lab is made up of six patient rooms and two medication rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology and realistic patient mannequins, all designed to mimic a real-life hospital setting. In this space, students will have the opportunity to care for patients across the lifespan, from newborns to older adults in a wide range of medical scenarios, from routine procedures to critical emergencies.

“This new health care simulation lab represents our commitment to excellence, innovation, and most importantly, to our students and to the patients in the City of Philadelphia,” said Dr. Lisa Johnson, professor and department head of Nursing. “This simulation lab is designed to allow the flexibility to replicate a variety of real-life health care settings and ensures that every student has the opportunity to perform key skills while managing high-risk, high-impact situations.”

Since students are not able to take the lead in a real emergency scenario by themselves during their training, the simulation lab provides them with an environment to deliver care, build confidence and learn where they may need improvement.

“What makes a space like this so special is that it allows us to learn in ways we simply can't anywhere else,” said Sheridan Salazar, a recent Nursing graduate. “In the textbook, you can read about CPR. In CPR training, you can memorize the steps. Even in clinical, you may not always get the opportunity to lead or participate in an emergency. But, in a simulation, you are placed right in that moment.”

After participating in a simulation with a group of fellow students, Sheridan very quickly saw a difference in the way him and his peers were operating. “Even in just three short hours, I saw growth, not only in myself, but in my classmates as well. We became more decisive, our communication improved and our confidence grew.”

Students are just as eager to use this space as their faculty are to introduce them to it.

“What excites me the most about this space is the opportunity for hands-on experience,” said Jose Rosario, a first-year, second-semester Nursing student. “During clinical hours as a student, we are often limited with the tasks that we can perform. Many times, we observe and assist seasoned nurses, and while that's valuable...I want to think critically, make decisions and take accountability for my actions.”

Community College of Philadelphia is proud to be able to offer this kind of learning to students in the College’s health care programs, including Nursing, Digital Medical Imaging and Respiratory Care Technology. This lab was made possible through a Perkins Grant.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2026

Contact:
Antwon R. Martin
armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu)
267.666.7881

Community College of Philadelphia hosts 60th Commencement Ceremony to honor Class of 2026
The College celebrated 1,968 graduates during this year’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 2

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia hosted its 60th Commencement Ceremony today in the Liacouras Center on Temple University’s campus, honoring CCP’s 1,968 graduates.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the College, this year’s keynote Commencement speaker was Cherelle L. Parker, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Mayor Parker is a former public school teacher, a state legislator who headed the Philadelphia delegation, and member of Philadelphia City Council, where she represented the 9th District and rose to become majority leader. She is the 100th mayor of the City of Philadelphia and the first woman elected to lead the city.

Graduates, their families, and their loved ones also heard from College President Dr. Alycia Marshall, College Board of Trustees Chair Harold T. Epps, interim provost and vice president of Academic and Student Success Dr. Lisa Sanders, and Class of 2026 student speaker Jessica Dobney.

During her remarks, Dr. Marshall applauded the graduates for their perseverance and encouraged them to continue their journeys.

“How you succeeded in overcoming doubts and barriers is a template for your next challenge and your next victory,” Dr. Marshall said. “Through your studies, you have learned how to balance responsibilities, set priorities, address conflicts and know sacrifices are worth the end result. You have learned, and have demonstrated, how to rise from within.”

Jessica Dobney told her classmates about her time as a student at CCP, including her packed courseload, her full-time job, her part-time internship with the City of Philadelphia, her household responsibilities, and her volunteering and leadership activities both on- and off-campus. The 2026 summa cum laude graduate acknowledged the systems of support at CCP that helped her find success.

“Rather than bestowing students with only knowledge for their chosen degrees and certifications,” Dobney said, “CCP faculty have been working to ensure that important life skills, like prioritizing tasks, punctuality, communication, and other aspects of professionalism, are crucial as we look forward to life after graduation.”

This year marks a special milestone as CCP celebrates its 60th anniversary as the city’s only open-admissions institution. For six decades, the College has made higher education accessible and affordable to more than 750,000 individuals.

Among the 1,968 graduates from the Class of 2026 are 122 dual enrollment students who will be earning their associate degrees in addition to graduating from high school. This includes 103 students from Parkway Center City Middle College, 12 students from MaST Community Charter School, five students from Boys' Latin Charter School and two students from School of the Future who earned proficiency certificates. This is the first year that dual enrollment students at Boys’ Latin Charter School and School of the Future have graduated from CCP.

Additionally, more than 300 Octavius Catto Scholars are projected to graduate this year—the largest group of graduating Catto Scholars to date. The Octavius Catto Scholarship, supported by the City of Philadelphia, provides financial and academic support to empower students as they complete their college education.

Additional information about the College’s Commencement Ceremony, including our virtual yearbook and our Class of 2026 message wall, is available here.

Immediate photos of Commencement are available at @CCPedu on the College’s Instagram and Facebook. To request additional photos, please email Antwon R. Martin at armartin [at] ccp.edu (armartin[at]ccp[dot]edu).

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About Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in the City of Philadelphia. With an open admissions policy, the College serves all who may benefit – regardless of age, income, or ability. For 60 years, the College has lived up to its mission and goals by providing educational access for over 750,000 Philadelphians, setting families, businesses and neighborhoods on the path of shared prosperity and opportunity. For information on the College's degree and certificate programs, workforce development strategies, and community engagement initiatives, visit ccp.edu and follow us on social media @CCPedu.