This month, Community College of Philadelphia announced that two students were awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a prestigious award that provides last dollar funding to community college students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. In recent memory, this is the first time that CCP has had two students chosen for this opportunity in a single year. Kamal Rhodes and Olivia Schade were recently surprised with the news, congratulated by their faculty, staff, friends and of course, Roary.

Kamal is pursuing a degree in Architecture at CCP and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (PTK). He is also the recipient of the Hayward L. Bell and the Joseph and Marie Field Foundation Opportunity scholarships, in addition to now being a Cooke Scholar. Kamal plans to transfer to Temple University to continue studying architecture. He is particularly interested in enrolling in their accelerated 4+2 Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture dual degree program so he can move quickly to graduate with a master’s degree. Kamal’s long-term goal is to become a licensed architect and to eventually own an architecture firm of his own, using his knowledge to invest in real estate development opportunities. In addition, Kamal owns a catering business, BBQ Clubhouse, which he founded during the pandemic after learning the trade from his father.

"I’m living proof that there’s nothing God won’t do for you when you stay focused and locked in on your goals,” Kamal said. “Your dreams are worth fighting for.”

There was a time in Kamal’s life when he had to put a pause on his education. Kamal became a father at a young age and was forced to focus on working and providing for his family. “No matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to go back and get your education—especially when amazing organizations like The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and CCP are there to support your journey." Today, Kamal is so proud of investing in his and his family’s future by starting his higher education pathway at CCP.

Olivia studied Biology and is proud to be the recipient of the Muriel Shapp Excellence in Biology Award and the American Association of University Women-Landsdale Branch Scholarship, in addition to now being named a Cooke Scholar. She also participated in the competitive Bucknell Community College Scholars Program, which provides for select CCP students to take part in a free, six-week residential program at Bucknell University during the summer and ultimately receive financial and administrative support to earn a bachelor’s degree at Bucknell if they choose to do so. Olivia plans to transfer to a four-year institution this fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Neuroscience. Her long-term goal is to work in the medical field. She hopes to eventually attend medical school or study to become a physician assistant once she receives her bachelor’s degree.

“I feel incredibly appreciative for the opportunity, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and the Community College of Philadelphia,” Olivia said. “I am eager to continue furthering my education and becoming the best version of myself, with the blessing of this scholarship.”

CCP is so proud to have been a part of both Kamal’s and Olivia’s educational journey. This scholarship opportunity is one of the most competitive in the country, and Kamal and Olivia are both so deserving. Join us in celebrating their wonderful achievements.
 

A few years ago, Kara Crombie, associate professor and department head of Photographic Imaging at CCP, had the idea to create a fashion zine inspired by the work of Jamel Shabazz, a prominent fashion, fine art, documentary, and street-style photographer. “I’ve always loved street fashion zines,” Kara said. “There are some that come out of Japan and countries in Africa. And I think some of the most beautiful people are right here on this campus.” So, Kara wanted to showcase just what Philly style is made of. This year, the zine, titled Philly’s Finest, is in its third iteration and is helping to showcase not only incredible student work, but our city’s unique fashion scene too.

“This is our chance to represent Philly and all different subcultures of Philly,” said Hannah Price, instructional aid for the Photographic Imaging department. Hannah is the leader of this project and the one who makes it come to life. She collects submissions from students, chooses the images and the order in which they will appear, and works with a student graphic designer to create the zine. “Terry Peterson is one of the Graphic Design professors here, and he always links me with a great student designer,” Hannah said.

This year’s student designer was Connor DiMartino. “I had a lot of fun with it,” Connor said. “Hannah gave me a lot of creative freedom.” But Connor didn’t take his freedom too far. He wanted to do each photograph justice and create something that really brought out the talent of each photographer. “I didn’t want to obscure people’s photographs. So, I took extra care with it.”

Students from across campus are invited to submit their photographs for inclusion in the zine, and Hannah encourages them to approach this project in the same vein as the inspiration, Jamel Shabazz. “Students always kind of have a harder time approaching a stranger,” Hannah said. “So, I see this as the catalyst of them approaching people they’ve never met before.” Sanaa Desper, a student in the department, said she was nervous to ask people at first. “I was shooting in between classes and doing a loop around City Hall, and I saw this guy in a red jacket,” Sanaa said. “I was scared that if people were around when I went up to him and he said no, that I would feel embarrassed.” But Sanaa mustered up the courage to ask him once there were fewer people around. And she’s so glad she did. “When I asked him, he was like, ‘Of course! How should I pose?’”

This year is also the first year that the book launch event was accompanied by larger format printed versions of a select number of the photographs included in the zine. “I think the physical aspect that it’s like in your hands, and they get to take it home and being published on print, I think that’s really exciting for [students],” Hannah said. In the digital age, students tend to feel more accomplished seeing their work published physically. In addition to feeling proud to see her own work in print, Sanaa is also happy to have something with her peers’ work in it too. “We’re all here together. I love it,” she said.

As for future plans for the zine, Hannah said she wants to be able to make it available for purchase someday or have it displayed in local shops and stores. “I would love to put some in like brunch waiting rooms you know, or coffee shops, the city library.” She hopes someday it becomes well-known enough that people will recognize when students are taking photos for the zine and feel excited to be included.

Until then, the zine can be viewed online at sites.google.com/view/ccp-photography/home.