On Aug. 4, nine Community College of Philadelphia students celebrated the completion of the Biomedical Technician Training Program (BTTP) at The Wistar Institute on the University of Pennsylvania campus. The ceremony represents far more than a graduation: With each certificate of completion comes new employment opportunities, career connections and the confidence that drives scientific research and innovation.

Success starts with the students, who complete the apprenticeship program over the course of two summers, gain intensive classroom and hands-on, laboratory experience, and leave prepared to work as research technicians within the robust biomedical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

“I feel proud and a little in awe right now,” said David Caref, a graduate whose mother traveled from North Carolina to attend the ceremony. Of the program he added: “It was intense, but it was worth it.”

Since the program’s inception in 2000, 130 students have received their certificates. Fifty-six of them have found full-time or part-time research assistant positions within the first year. In fact, Philadelphia-based Wistar has hired 31 of the program’s graduates.

The initiative’s success piqued the interest of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, which recently awarded The Wistar Institute a $199,385 Nontraditional Apprenticeship Grant to explore ways to expand the program and consider how to develop the novel apprenticeship program into a model that can be replicated across the state.

“This Nontraditional Apprenticeship Grant lets us explore the full potential of the program with the goal of making it more widely available,” said Dr. William Wunner, Wistar’s director of Outreach Education and Technology Training. “We can analyze how to implement, sustain and support a BTTP model for the entire region.”

The 2016 graduates are ready to harvest a field of varied science dreams. Caref eventually plans to transfer to Temple, earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology and work in a research lab, something he never would have considered previously.

Classmate Nhu Lu says the program has given her the confidence to do independent research, which will greatly help her studies at Temple University’s School of Pharmacy. Omotayo Ope, another 2016 graduate, came into the program with a bachelor’s degree in biology. During his studies, he worked at Meenhard Herlyn’s lab at Wistar, and will continue working there through the end of the year.

“I knew what I wanted to do, but until I went through the biomedical program, I didn’t understand what was required to get there, said Ope, who will now continue his education with

goal of becoming a cardiologist. “ It’s extremely important for medical school that you understand how science affects patients, and this program taught me that.”

Indeed, some of the biomedical technicians have also gone on to pursue doctorate degrees and have completed board-certified physician assistant programs.

These graduates are tomorrow’s leaders, Dr. Mary Anne Celenza, dean of the College’s Division of Math, Science and Health Careers, told family members.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice. The students finishing today made a choice to move in a direction that allows them to choose their own destiny in a field that has a history of changing the world.”

The BTTP provides Community College of Philadelphia students with a career path to today’s diverse and highly skilled STEM workforce,” said Dr. Dario C. Altieri, president and CEO of The Wistar Institute. “If the BTTP expanded throughout the entire region, it has the potential to have a major and long-last impact.”

On July 30, more than 50 student runners and their mentors crossed the finish line at Community College of Philadelphia, concluding a five-mile run and college tour that introduced many of them to the College for the first time.

The “Run to College Tour” was conceived by the staff of Students Run Philly Style (SRPS), a local nonprofit made up of runners from middle and high schools throughout the city, which helps students increase their capacity for success through mentoring and distance running. SRPS typically schedules training runs to prepare for November’s Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon, but its partnership with the College and Temple University allowed students the added bonus of touring college campuses while getting in their training.

Braving oppressive heat and humidity, the student runners and their took off from City Hall, ran three miles north to Temple, then two more miles south to the Main Campus in the Spring Garden area. Once they reached their final destination, Diane Kae, manager of the College’s Student Outreach and Recruitment, and her team rewarded them and with ice cold bottles of water, protein bars and gifts.

The runners, some of whom said they had only seen the campus while passing by on the bus or walking to the subway, were impressed with the surroundings.

“This is a nice campus,” said Tavionn Taylor, a 17-year-old senior from Bodine High School for International Affairs as he surveyed 17th Street. “A lot of my friends go here, but this is my first time here.”

When Taylor mentioned he was unsure where he wanted to attend college next year, Kae gave him a packet of information and suggested he consider community college with lower tuition and multiple paths for transfer. “You can be earning credits here while you’re trying to decide,” she told him.

“It’s nice to bring students on campus early,” Kae said. “We want to let them know that the College welcomes and supports them.”

SRPS running mentors Malachi Shell and Le Roy Miles also pitched the value of community college to the students, and for good reason. Both Shell (Class of 2006) and Miles (Class of 2009) graduated from the College before earning baccalaureate degrees.

“Community College of Philadelphia is one of the city’s best-kept secrets,” said Shell, who received a B.S. in accounting at Temple. “I loved my professors here. Plus it’s affordable. It definitely has its perks – and it also has best Jamaican food truck in the city!”

The idea of free community college has gradually moved to the forefront of the higher education debate. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both agree that college tuition should be free for families making under $125,000, and Clinton has made the initiative part of the official Democratic Party platform.

While the Democrats hashed out their ideas at the Democratic National Convention in South Philadelphia, Community College of Philadelphia and the College Promise Campaign hosted a special screening of “No Greater Odds,” a documentary that highlighted the stories of five community college students at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) as they overcame challenges faced by students who pursue higher education.

Following the screening, Dr. Donald Guy Generals, president of Community College of Philadelphia, joined Mary Cathryn Ricker, executive vice president, American Federation of Teachers; Michael Flores, communications and government affairs director, College of Southern Nevada; , Patrick Wirtz, the documentary’s director; and Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor of West Sacramento, for a panel discussion  that underscored the important relationship between community colleges and the actual communities they serve.

“Some of the issues we’ve seen daily through the news relative to our politics, relative to our policies, relative to our social engagement, relative to our economy—all have answers and solutions in what community colleges do,” Dr. Generals said. “For those who are disadvantaged and ostracized to the marginal parts of our society, it is the community colleges that make the difference.”

Community College of Philadelphia, along with other community colleges across the country, is making strides towards a more affordable, universal model. Last year, Community College of Philadelphia introduced its 50^th Scholars program, which offsets the remaining tuition balances for incoming Philadelphia high graduate students who qualify.

According to the College Promise Campaign, the average college graduate accumulates $28,000 in student loans. The increasing tuition costs cause low-income families and first-generation college students to lag behind in college enrollment by over 30 percent, compared to their higher income peers.

The College Promise Campaign is focused on driving non-partisan public support to make the first two years of community colleges across the nation as universal, free, and accessible as high school.

“We have to look at the importance, the public good aspects of community colleges, relative to our democracy, our economy, and our way forward as a nation,” Dr. Generals said.

The focus on student success begins long before students actually enroll in college. More and more students are gaining an edge by participating in dual enrollment programs.

On July 14,  nearly 100 higher education practitioners from across the region came together to share best practices in the first-ever Mid Atlantic conference on dual enrollment sponsored by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) and Community College of Philadelphia.

Conference-goers shared information about their policies and programs, funding models and recent innovations and trends. They eagerly exchanged strategies because they all had one goal in common: creating a more effective academic bridge between high school and college for students.

Dr. David E. Thomas, associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives and dean of the College’s Division of Access and Community Engagement (DACE), declared the day-long conference a “smashing success,” and thanked College organizers for their hospitality and “making a positive lasting impression.”

The College serves an average of 1,000 students who are part of dual enrollment programs, including early and middle college programs, such as Gateway to College, Master Charter Schools @ CCP and the Early College Program, its new partnership with MaST Community Charter School, which operates out of the College’s Northeast Regional Center.

For students like Jalil Ross, the Gateway to College program allowed him to get back on track toward achieving his academic goals.  “I was tired of failing, tired of things not working,” said Ross, 20, who entered the program after dropping out of high school during his junior year.

He went on to earn his diploma while earning college credits toward an associate’s degree. “Being in this program has completely changed how I operate in school. I wanted something to work,” Ross said. “This works.”

Don’t expect business as usual at Community College of Philadelphia. The city is growing and changing, and the College stands ready to meet the needs of Philadelphia and the students it serves.

Since his arrival two years ago, College President Donald Guy Generals has worked tirelessly to foster a quality learning experience that leads to degree and credential completion, workforce readiness, civic engagement and most importantly, student achievement.

“We know from the research amassed by Columbia University’s Community College Research Center, that for students to persist and to achieve academic success, they need clear direction and guidance leading toward a career goal,” Dr. Generals said. “They need to be assisted in identifying that goal and they need to have structures that provide the necessary guidance to ensure that they are in pursuit of their goal. This is a student-centered approach that requires institutional commitment and organization.”

This year, as the College re-positioned itself as the go-to institution for students aspiring for greatness, it welcomed two new deans and an associate vice president who share in that mission. Dr. Pam Carter, Chae Sweet and Dr. Jennifer Roberts all play vital roles in enhancing quality teaching, engaged pedagogy and organized and  proactive support services – all game-changing aspects of the learning experience that help ensure student success.

As Dean of Business and Technology, Dean Carter provides leadership by promoting instructional innovation, enhancing curricular offerings and strengthening program services to meet the diverse needs of students.

Prior to coming to the College, Dean Carter served as assistant dean at the School of Business and Technology Management at Northcentral University. She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration from Florida State University; a MBA from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Individualized Studies from George Mason University.

 “We want to engage in continuous improvement efforts to strengthen our academic programs, making sure they best align with Philadelphia workforce needs and transfer institution requirements,” she said.

Sweet, dean of Liberal Studies, is responsible for overseeing the College’s largest division. The nine departments of Liberal Studies comprise most of the general education courses in the Liberal Arts program.

Dean Sweet has been instrumental in developing programs for the Guided Pathways model, a ground-breaking initiative focusing on giving students a highly structured learning experience that keeps them on a timely track to achieving their goals.

Beginning in Fall of 2016, her division will launch “First Year Experience 101,” a mandatory first-year course for all Liberal Arts majors that introduces students to ideas and strategies required for college success. At the end of the course, students will be able to map out an academic, financial and transfer/career plan for themselves.

“I intend to make sure the commitment and passion felt by the faculty is translated to students in the form of quality learning experiences and successful completion of academic goals,” Dean Sweet said. “I want students to feel as if they are in a wonderland of opportunity when they are in our programs. I do not want them to feel lost or confused.”

Before coming to Community College of Philadelphia, Dean Sweet served as associate dean of Developmental Education at Passaic County Community College. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from Rutgers University; an M.F.A. in Fiction from The New School and is currently completing doctoral research in Higher Education Administration at Grambling State University. She is the author of Novel Strategies: A Guide to Effective College Reading.

As the College implements the Guided Pathways model at scale, Dr. Roberts stands on the front lines of ensuring that programs of study are focused, effective and lead to completion.

Dr. Roberts, the College’s new associate vice president for Academic and Student Success, has made a career of examining and assessing student learning outcomes. At Community College of Philadelphia, she will work with faculty and staff to promote more effective and clear pathways for students.

“Part of my mission is helping students achieve their goal,” she said, adding that she will be reviewing with others multiple student success metrics to determine ways for continued improvement. She will also work with programs regarding academic pathways and various curriculum topics.

 Most recently, Dr. Roberts served as associate vice president for assessment at Northern Virginia Community College. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in German from the University of Rhode Island and her master’s and Ph.D. in Germanic Studies from the University of Texas.

Two years ago, in an effort to lose weight, Bill McDowell began taking daily lunchtime strolls around the indoor walking path on the second floor of the Mint Building — one of Community College of Philadelphia’s many wellness activities which promote a culture of fitness.

Fifty pounds and five waist sizes later, McDowell understands the power of a fit-friendly work environment.

“I was surprised quite a bit at the results,” said McDowell, an employee in the registration office on the Main Campus. “I definitely enjoy it, especially in the winter when the weather is bad. There’s no excuse not to do it.”

The half-mile walking path, along with many other campus health initiatives, have earned the College national recognition as a gold-level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association for the fourth consecutive year. The honor acknowledges the College’s “Your Wellness Matters” initiative, which encourages and places special focus on weight management, physical activity and smoking cessation to help employees comply with a smoke-free campus in January.

Additionally, the College has implemented incentives for employees for wellness points earned. All employees will receive a booklet explaining when and how they can accrue points for over $100 in prizes.

For McDowell, the walking path served as his road to wellness. During the winter, he walked four to six loops on the path depending on how much time he had. He also gave up processed foods, but walking the path was the only exercise he did. Not only did it pay off in pounds lost, but in relationships gained.

“I consider it part of the many benefits the College offers to their employees,” McDowell said. “You get to walk through the various buildings and see what’s going on at the College and see your colleagues that you otherwise might not get to see, which makes it nice if you haven’t seen anyone for a while.”

Community College of Philadelphia welcomed a very special guest to its 2016 Respiratory Care Technology Program Completion Ceremony last week, thanks in part to a unique relationship cultivated between a student and a politician, nurtured over frequently-served meals, heartfelt chats and words of encouragement.

Despite his hectic schedule, Mayor Jim Kenney found time to stop by the College and speak to the students and their families. He attended at the invitation of graduate Jamie Sliker, who first met the mayor when he was a city councilman and she was a server at a restaurant in Old City, where Kenney is a regular. The two have been on friendly terms ever since, but even Sliker wasn’t sure if he would accept her graduation invitation– so she didn’t invite him.

“He was kind of offended that I didn’t invite him,” said Sliker, who still works at the restaurant and, for now, serves the Mayor when he comes in. “When graduation came up, he said he was going to come and he was going to say something. I was like, ‘Okay.’”

The 21 graduates, who represented all ages and stages in their professional lives, listened as Kenney thanked them for their persistence and praised the College for establishing a program that has distinguished itself over time. Since 1963, the program has graduated 766 students and currently enjoys a 100 percent pass rate at the Certified Respiratory Therapist level, compared to a national pass rate of 73 percent. Students must pass all level Board exams offered through the National Board for Respiratory Care before obtaining a professional license to practice as a respiratory therapist in Pennsylvania.

Mayor Kenney’s praise was rooted in his deep appreciation for their skills, and stemmed from witnessing first-hand the power of respiratory professionals to save lives.

The mayor shared that his 81-year-old father, James, a retired firefighter, was recently hospitalized for what was thought to be a routine procedure, but wound up in intensive care because of fluid buildup in his lungs. “We thought we were going to lose him,” he said.

Mayor Kenney marveled at how the respiratory therapists, along with the doctors and nurses, assisted his father with his breathing exercises, and eventually got him out of ICU and out of the hospital. “He’s on oxygen, which he hates, “the mayor reported, “but the fact that he’s stubborn means he’s getting better.”

The mayor reiterated to the graduates the importance of choosing careers to improve their lives and the wellbeing of the city.

“The fact that you’re entering the profession is good for you because it’s a longstanding career that makes you good money,” he said, “but it’s critical that you’re part of our medical community because it’s what keeps our city’s economy strong.”

More than 100 thoughtleaders from across the Philadelphia region gathered last month for a workforce forum at Community College of Philadelphia. The forum was sponsored by Roadmap for Growth, a multiyear initiative of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. The panel members, comprised of some of the city’s most recognized educators and business executives, shared their agendas to promote economic growth and job creation — actionable ideas that Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration can work on to bring its vision of growth into fruition.

Community College of Philadelphia’s president, Donald Guy Generals, proposed an idea that he has woven into the fabric of the College’s administration. “Facilitating relationships between the business community and the educational sector are key. For the College to maintain its rightful place as a premier institution of higher education, it must strengthen its traditional focus while embracing an expanded mission put forth by new realities. An important part of the mission is taking a primary role in workforce development, readiness and economic innovation.”

The idea was met with a hearty round of applause by community stakeholders in attendance — the politicians, educators, business and nonprofit leaders, and activists — all with a shared mission to work together to connect young people to careers. Such partnerships not only help align the needs of industries seeking skilled and trained employees, but they strengthen the pipeline of graduates to satisfy workforce demands.

In addition to Dr. Generals, panel members included Dr. William T. Hite, superintendent, School District of Philadelphia; Nicole Anderson, president, AT&T Foundation, and associate vice president of social innovation, AT&T; and Robert M. Poliseno, regional executive officer, Mid-Atlantic Region, Chubb, a global property and casualty insurer. Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, president and CEO, Citizens Bank of PA/NJ/DE/NY, also delivered remarks.

During the dialogue, panelists addressed changes in the workforce landscape. Poliseno equated the approaching retirement of baby boomers in the insurance industry to a “silver tsunami;” noting that the city’s future workforce skews younger, very often requires more training and education, and is more racially and culturally diverse.

Otis Hackney, Philadelphia’s chief education officer, pointed out that in a city with one of the highest poverty rates, the challenge is to identify how to balance the needs of the workforce while addressing issues such as high school completion rates that fall below the national average, academic proficiency and family stability. Additionally, the city must determine a process in which businesses and community colleges can work together to expand job opportunities for young people.

One of those businesses, Starbucks, has already created such pathways through the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, a coalition of leading U.S.-based employers; it aims to provide youth who face systemic barriers to jobs and education with internships, along with part-time and full-time jobs. Recently, Starbucks partnered with Community College of Philadelphia for a job fair that drew more than 200 invited job seekers. Starbucks interviewed applicants for 150 openings on the spot.

Dr. Generals has frequently engaged in conversations with community and business leaders about ways the College can best connect with businesses to produce an educated and skilled workforce. His overriding conclusion? “We need to be more comprehensive and more organic in everything we do,” he said.

Some of the ideas highlighted included:

• Supporting a more holistic approach to education through a community schools model
• Offering more high school internships so students can learn what having a job entails
• Facilitating a more substantial dialogue between business executives and higher education leaders to better serve evolving workforce needs
• Making Philadelphia a destination for educators and teachers potentially through incentive programs
• Exposing students to potential careers — especially insurance, finance and accounting — at an early age
• Using technology to scale the impact of education at a reduced cost

The gap between workforce development and placement must be closed, Dr. Generals said. “We need to have real-time, right-now job opportunities for our students,” he said. “We can train them and get them ready, but we need to know jobs are there today to have a more effective system of workforce innovation.”

Community College of Philadelphia has served as the springboard for every professional leap Luis Torrado of Northeast Philly has made over the past 30 years.

Community College of Philadelphia enabled Torrado, a 1987 graduate, to land his first professional job drafting at one of the region’s largest electrical companies. Fast forward 27 years. Torrado, now owner of Philadelphia-based Torrado Construction, credits the College, specifically its Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, for equipping him and other graduates with the tangible and intangible tools needed to grow. And grow he has.

Torrado’s Port Richmond-based general construction firm saw revenues skyrocket from $4 million in 2012 to a $13.7 million in fiscal 2015, an increase of over 200 percent over three years, and is projected to add 50 more employees over the next five years.

That’s phenomenal growth, by any standard.

“The program gave me the confidence I needed to move forward,” said Torrado, a 2014 graduate of the Goldman Sachs program for up-and coming entrepreneurs. “I learned I was much smarter than I thought I was. I became a leader.”

Since it came to the region, 10,000 Small Businesses-Greater Philadelphia has graduated 251 area business owners, putting them on a path to sustained growth. A new study recently released by Babson College found that small business owners who complete the program in this region report creating new jobs just six months after graduating, and 61 percent report increase in revenues.

The program provides entrepreneurs with best practices and strategies to help create jobs , plan for future growth , and, in Torrado’s case, gain more confidence.

Not that Torrado was ever a shrinking violet. Even back when he was a student, he never shrunk away from achievement.

Nobody in Torrado’s close-knit family had any ties in construction. Torrado had no reputation, no references, no proven track record, which are all must-haves for success in a business that relies on referrals. But that never stopped him. He possessed a relentless work ethic, instilled by his parents, as well as a belief in himself, even in the early days when he ran his business out of his parents’ home with only two employees in the field.

“I always had a feeling I would do something,” he said.

As a college student, he also took advantage of every opportunity. In 1986, when Community College of Philadelphia made an internship available at Forest Electric Corp., one of the premiere electrical companies in Philadelphia, Torrado jumped on it.

He wound up working for Forest Electric five years and learned all operational aspects of the sprawling business. By 1996, Torrado was ready to incorporate his own firm.

Business grew slowly at first. Torrado Construction initially renovated residential properties, then graduated to commercial renovations, ink removal and painting services. The firm was getting the business, but had no cohesive blueprint for growth .

By the time he enrolled in the 10,000 Small Businesses program, “I was at a place where I was driving blind,” he says. “I was just bidding work without really focusing on where we were and where we wanted to be.”

Since completing the program, Torrado has learned, with the assistance from Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, how to put a line of financing in place, increased his knowledge of forecasts and budgets and has put more strident deadlines in place for completion of projects.

The College and the contractor have grown older and stronger together. “It felt good to contribute to a college I attended,” Torrado said.

Not to mention a College that has reinvented itself to meet the needs of successful graduates.

Forty-nine Community College of Philadelphia employees who have a combined 785 years of service were honored last week during the 32nd Annual Classified/Confidential Employee Luncheon in the Great Hall.

More than 250 employees celebrated their colleagues and friends for their continued dedication to the College and its students. Amidst a festive atmosphere filled with balloons and music, employees who had accumulated five years of service up to 40 years were recognized with applause, certificates, a lunch buffet and a special thank you from President Donald Guy Generals.

“This is my favorite event aside from graduation,” Dr. Generals said. “It’s an opportunity to say thank you to all of you who work in this space where the rubber hits the road, where the aspirations of the college are able to move forward, and our students are served in ways that enable them to be successful.”

His sentiments were echoed by the College’s Board of Trustees Vice Chair Suzanne Biemiller, who also offered heartfelt thanks to the honorees.

Linda Guertin, the College’s sole 40- year veteran listed among the ranks of classified/confident employees, received special recognition. Guertin, who serves as a cataloger in the College’s library, said the reason for her longevity is simple: “I love what I do here.”

Events such as the luncheon “bring a sense of community,” Guertin added. “I have a lot of friends here and they are all at this table. I’ve known them for years and they’re like my second family.”

Guertin’s feelings reiterated Dr. Generals’ view regarding why so many employees enjoy long tenures at Community College of Philadelphia.

“It’s a great institution to work for,” he said. “If you’re looking to do important work, make a change in the community and add value to your life, this is the place to be.”