Julian “Jules” Lees is a high school senior and a dual enrollment student at Community College of Philadelphia through a partnership with MaST Charter schools, allowing him to graduate from high school this May with 69 college credits and an associate degree in Health Care Studies. Next up for Jules is embarking on the next leg of his educational journey—an undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College. That degree from Swarthmore will be fully funded by a prestigious scholarship from QuestBridge, a National College Match program that gives students who excel academically an opportunity to attend one of the nation’s top institutions for free, despite their financial hardship.

“I really thought this was like a huge gamble,” Jules said. “I was in my AP Psych class...And all of a sudden, I just see...the email notification of, ‘Your decision has been released.’ So, I opened it. And I was met with confetti. I felt like my jaw literally dropped.” Jules applied to the scholarship thinking it would be a long shot to actually get it. “Immediately I went to my teacher, and I said, ‘Can I go to Miss Taylor?’ Because that was one of the teachers that wrote me a letter of recommendation. I Rocky Balboa’d up the steps.” Even months after receiving the news, Jules still gets excited when he thinks about the fact that he will now go to college for free.

Jules is also grateful for his time at CCP and happy that he decided to pursue dual enrollment. “I'm really glad that I did it because I feel like it challenged me in a way that just purely taking high school classes would not have challenged me,” he said. Jules was looking to push himself a bit more in his last years of high school. And he’s been involved on campus outside of the classroom too. "At CCP, I'm involved in the Student Government Association. I'm the senator at the Northeast Regional Center. Last year, I helped orchestrate a talent show on campus, and we also had a thrift event,” Jules said. 

With all this experience already under his belt, Jules will likely transition smoothly into student life at Swarthmore, a school he chose because it had several of the qualities he’s looking for in an undergraduate institution. “I really wanted to have smaller class sizes and more intimate connections with the faculty members to have that hands-on treatment from professors,” he said. “And I really liked the interdisciplinary approach that they have to education.” 

Thanks to his hard work and personal ambition, Jules doesn’t have to worry about how he’s going to pay for school for the next few years. CCP is proud to offer dual enrollment options for Philadelphia high school students looking to get ahead on earning college credit or just looking for an extra challenge, like Jules. You can learn more about our dual enrollment program here. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2026

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

PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Cherelle Parker and Councilmember At-Large Katherine Gilmore Richardson joined leadership from Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) and the United States Navy on Monday, March 23, to celebrate the inaugural graduating class of CCP’s Naval Welding and Nondestructive Testing programs. The event also marked the unveiling of the College’s new state-of-the-art welding lab at the Career and Advanced Technology Center (CATC) in West Philadelphia, expanding access to hands-on training in Advanced Manufacturing.

Launched in October 2025 through a U.S. Navy-funded partnership with BlueForge Alliance, the programs graduated 22 students: 12 in Nondestructive Testing and 10 in Naval Welding; each prepared with industry-recognized skills for high-demand careers.

“It is a profound honor to celebrate our inaugural cohort of graduates, trailblazers who have completed these rigorous, future-focused Advanced Manufacturing programs,” said CCP President Dr. Alycia Marshall. “These graduates are not merely entering the workforce; they are stepping into essential careers that power our economy, strengthen our national security, and sustain our communities. Through CCP’s Naval Welding and Nondestructive Testing programs made possible in partnership with the U.S. Navy, we are expanding access to opportunity, equipping students with world-class skills, and building a highly skilled workforce prepared to meet the critical demands of shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing. This is the power of collaboration in action, and we invite others to join us in advancing this shared mission and shaping a stronger future.”

Following the ceremony, CCP unveiled its newly completed welding lab, where students will continue to train on cutting-edge equipment as part of their education. The Advanced Manufacturing initiative positions CCP at the forefront of workforce training, with Naval Welding and Nondestructive Testing serving as critical pathways into high-demand careers. In the Greater Philadelphia region, welders earn an average of $54,000 annually, while nondestructive testing specialists earn approximately $77,000.

“This is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we come together to support our young people,” said Philadelphia City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson. “When we provide opportunities to build technical skills, connect them to stable, family-sustaining careers, and set them up, not just to succeed, but to truly thrive, it strengthens our communities and our entire city.  It is why I have been proud to publish the Apprenticeship Guidebook each year and have continued to lead on workforce development and expanding career pathways for our young people.”

"This state-of-the-art welding lab at Community College of Philadelphia's Career and Advanced Technology Center is more than just a training facility; it is the forge where the future of American shipbuilding is being created,” said Joshua Sturgill, submarine industrial base program analyst at the U.S. Department of the Navy. “Here, we are equipping a new generation of skilled artisans with a foundation in the advanced welding techniques required to construct the most complex vessels ever conceived – our nation's submarines. This partnership with the U.S. Navy is a direct investment in our national security, ensuring that the critical skills needed to maintain our maritime superiority are honed right here where the Navy was born: Philadelphia.”

The complete list of speakers at the graduation and ribbon cutting ceremony included Cherelle Parker, mayor of the City of Philadelphia; Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Philadelphia Councilmember At-Large; Dr. Alycia Marshall, president of Community College of Philadelphia; Harold T. Epps, chair of the CCP Board of Trustees; Dr. Lisa Sanders, interim provost and vice president of Academic and Student Success at CCP; Joshua Sturgill, submarine industrial base program analyst at the U.S. Department of the Navy; and Donvail Gray Wilson, Naval Welding graduate and class valedictorian.

The Naval Welding Institute serves as an execution partner in this effort. More information about these programs and opportunities to enroll is available at CCP’s website at ccp.edu/navy.

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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 700,000 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.