Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Your Connection - Summer2016
Your Connection - Summer2016
U.S. Postage
PAID
West Chester, PA
Permit No. 472
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094
www.dccc.edu
Summer 2016
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Vanessa Beltran Velez, the 2016 Commencement student speaker, with her family at the
Her extraordinary life consisted of being president of the Colleges
graduation ceremony.
student-led Latin Flavor Club; a member of the faculty-led Latino
Initiatives & Outreach Network (also known as LION); vice president of the Student
Government Association; a Phi Theta Kappa honor society member; a student ambassador;
and a mentor. She intends to transfer to a four-year school, and her goal is to put her graphic
design skills to use in the fields of product management and marketing.
Stellar graduates, like Beltran Velez, joined stellar alumni, like Dr. Luli Akinfiresoye 04,
who received the Colleges Alumni Professional Achievement Award, to make
Commencement memorable. Though there were obstacles and challenges I did not
become distracted because I understood that the road to success is paved with hard work,
Dr. Akinfiresoye said. A native of Nigeria who became a U.S. citizen and enrolled at the
College in 2003, Dr. Akinfiresoye is a neuropharmocologist working with the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency and an assistant professor of General Chemistry and Pharmacology
at Northern Virginia Community College.
Summer 2016
The first cohort of 10 students to take advantage of the new Delaware Valley University
bachelors degree completion program at the Marple Campus started on January 19.
The students, who have all earned associate degrees at Delaware County Community
College, will be earning DelVal bachelors degrees in Counseling Psychology, and at a
reduced tuition rate.
The students are thrilled with the idea of completing their bachelors degrees on a
campus they are already familiar with, said Linda Lefevre, director of Continuing and
Professional Studies Admission at DelVal. The cohort model accommodates students with
busy lives and provides a support network for their academic and professional careers.
Eric Hoffman 15 said he enrolled in the DelVal program because it fits his hectic
schedule and is affordable. The reduced tuition was a big plus because I am working
full-time, said Hoffman, 22, of Malvern, adding that he works as an assistant manager
at a fast-food restaurant.
continued on page 5
Dr. Frank G. Pogue, interim president at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Jerry Parker, president
of Delaware County Community College, sign a guaranteed admission and core-to-core transfer agreement
between their two schools.
continued on page 4
presidents letter
campus news
Recently, I had the privilege of attending the opening of a new County Cup at the Colleges Pennocks
Bridge Campus in West Grove. During the February opening, I called the County Cup a win-win
opportunity because of the unique way it provides
food service, while helping to educate students.
Everyone wins because of the cooperative agreement between the College and the Chester County
Intermediate Unit (CCIU) that created the new
County Cup at our Pennocks Bridge Campus,
a site that we share with the CCIU, which operates
the Technical College High School out of the
same location.
The County Cup Pennocks Bridge features a
Grab-and-Go Caf with food served by students
from the Technical College High School. The caf provides breakfast sandwiches,
bagels, muffins, soups, salads, desserts, coffee and cold beverages Monday through
Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Student workers and volunteers from the CCIU Discover program, with guidance from
CCIU job coaches, support the day-to-day operation of the caf. The Discover program
is for students with disabilities. It offers students an integration of classroom and prevocational instruction with on-the-job training. Its primary goal is to prepare students
for independent living and success in the workplace.
The Chester County commissioners have been important partners in the growth of
the County Cup concept. Since the first County Cup opened in December 2012 at
the Government Services Center in West Chester, the program has expanded to three
additional locations, including the Justice Center, the Chester County Learning Center,
and now at the Colleges Pennocks Bridge Campus.
During the Pennocks Bridge County Cup opening, Chester County Commissioner
Michelle Kichline commented: People use the term students with disabilities. I dont
see it that way. I see it as students with opportunities. The County Cup initiative is one
of those opportunities.
Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone summed up my thoughts when she said:
I can tell you first hand, when you walk up to the counter, or interact with one of the
students at the County Cup, you will find yourself being rewarded.
The County Cup celebrates its fourth location opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Colleges
Pennocks Bridge Campus.
Jerome S. Parker
president
Delaware County Community College is an equal employment and educational opportunity institution conforming to all
applicable legislation that prohibits discrimination. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by state or federal
laws in its educational programs, activities, admission or employment policies, as required by Title IX of the Educational
Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other applicable statutes. Inquiries concerning Title IX
and/or 504 compliance should be referred to Connie L. McCalla, vice president of human resources and Title IX Coordinator,
(cmccalla@dccc.edu), 610-359-5094; Betty Brown, associate dean for student success, (bbrown1@dccc.edu), 610-359-5320.
Inquiries related to accessibility services for students should be directed to the office of disability services, (abinder@dccc.edu),
610-359-5229.
The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education,
3624 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267) 284-5000; email info@msche.org.
6/16 29K
AMERICA IN CRISIS
HOSTED AT THE COLLEGE
In April, as part of an ongoing series of events created and sponsored by the Colleges
Business, Computing and Social Science division, a panel of community leaders and
experts discussed the rising problem of addiction in America. The discussion was
moderated by 6abc Action News Anchor Matt ODonnell.
Among the panel speakers were, left to right, Stephen Smith, an associate professor
of Theatre at the College; Dr. Vincent E. Miles, an assistant professor of Social &
Behavioral Studies at
Cheyney University of
Pennsylvania; ODonnell
from 6abc; attorney
Nancy Newman Marcus,
a certified recovery
specialist and advocate
for The Council for
Southeast Pennsylvania,
Inc.; the Colleges Dr.
Hayley Nelson, an
assistant professor of
Psychology; and Captain
Thomas A. Johnson,
Jr., of the Upper Darby
Police Department.
Robo-Mom/Alumna Teams-Up
with STEM Students for
All-Female Robotics Team
You have soccer moms and tennis moms. I am a RoboMom, says Susan Miller 85.
Miller is one of an army of devoted parents and friends
who assist Erin McCullough, a dual enrollment high
school student at the College, in running the Tin Mints,
an all-female robotics team believed to be one of only a
handful of Girl Scout robotics teams in the nation.
Under the guidance of their mentors, the Tin Mints
design, program and build a robot for For Inspiration
and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)
Robotics Competitions in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Last year, in just six weeks, the team built a
120-pound robot, which they took to the FIRST Robotics
World Championship in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Millers 16-year-old daughter, Jordan, is a devoted Tin
College dual enrollment student Erin McCullough (standing, 2nd from left) with
fellow robotics team members, including Jordan Miller (kneeling, left), daughter of
Mints member thanks to the leadership of McCullough
Susan Miller 85.
and the friendship of her fellow teammates. Jordan
plans to be a science technical writer. I want to work in technology. I want to explain how things are made, Jordan said.
Helping students like Jordan is what Tin Mints founder McCullough had in mind when she started the group in 2010. Now, a
Ridley High School senior, McCullough said her idea was to give girls like her, who have an interest in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), a nurturing environment to cultivate their interest. We wanted to give girls who did not
have confidence, the chance to grow, said McCullough, who has seen the Tin Mints grow from 14 members to 70 members today.
Its very easy to be intimidated when youre a girl walking into a room full of guys, said Joseph McCullough, Erins father, a
retired contractor who helps Erin run the Tin Mints, which consists of girls from 9th through 12th grades. Most robotics teams
are male. Our mission is to get more girls involved in STEM, he said. Worldwide there is a dearth of women in STEM careers.
To help address this problem, the College has a Women in STEM Club and each year hosts a STEM Career Night.
McCullough said after she completes her dual enrollment classes, she plans to transfer the College credits she earns to a
four-year school and to pursue a mechanical engineering degree with a concentration in material science.
Miller spoke highly of McCullough. Im like a droplet in a bucket. It is like 100 percent her, Miller said. A single mom who holds
an Associate in Science from the College, Miller spreads the word about the team on social media and the Internet, seeks corporate
and individual sponsors, and of course, helps shuttle her daughter to Tin Mints practices, which are held in a 4,000-square-foot,
rented warehouse in Broomall. Learn more about the Tin Mints at http://frc4575tinmints.net/about-first-robotics/. n
Student
Earns Girl
Scouts
Highest
Honor
Student Alicia Rohr of Coatesville
recently earned the Girl Scouts Gold
Award, the Scouts highest and most
prestigious honor, for spearheading and
overseeing a team that designed and
planted a 26-foot-by-18-foot butterfly
garden. Rohr, who received the award
during a ceremony at the Doubletree
Hotel in King of Prussia, not only
helped beautify Coatesvilles Hibernia
Park, but exhibited leadership, teamwork and communications skills in
coordinating the beautification project.
The parks entrance now includes a variety of plants, bushes and flowers that
attract butterflies and bees, which are
important threads in the fabric of nature.
So what does Girl Scouts mean to me?
Empowerment! Being part of an organization that promotes self-esteem and
teaches girls to be confident citizens
of our country and our world, turning
todays girls into tomorrows leaders,
said Rohr, a Psychology major at the
College, whose goal is to earn associate,
master and doctoral degrees in Child
Psychology.
It is refreshing to know that our students are making a significant difference
at the College and in their communities, President Dr. Jerry Parker said
in a letter congratulating Rohr on her
achievement. n
in the news
State Secretary of Education Speaks at Colleges
Second Annual Latino Conference
Before a standing-room-only audience at the Colleges
Marple Campus, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education
Pedro Rivera was the keynote speaker for a wideranging discussion about Latinos, education and his own
background growing up in a low-income neighborhood
in North Philadelphia.
My mother did not finish high school until I was in
College, Rivera said. She dropped out of high school
to have me. From humble beginnings, however, he
said he was able to overcome many obstacles, from
discrimination because of his Puerto Rican heritage to
coming from a low-income neighborhood. He became
a college graduate, a teacher, a school principal, a
superintendent for Lancaster County, and eventually a
member of Governor Wolfs cabinet.
One of only 10 people nationally honored in 2014
by the White House as a Champion of Change for his
efforts to transform urban education, Rivera was one of
a multitude of speakers at the Colleges Second Annual
Latino Conference, Beyond Multiculturalism:
Audience members, many from schools and colleges in Delaware and Chester
Counties, listen to panelists talk about strengthening Latino communities through
mentoring, leadership and college access.
Marian Schneider, deputy secretary for Elections and Administration with the Pennsylvania
Department of State, talks to students about voter registration during a recent visit to the Colleges
Upper Darby Center.
This agreement expands the many educational opportunities available to our students to achieve academic
success, College President Dr. Jerry Parker said.
It is entirely appropriate for these two institutions to
jointly create opportunities for students to benefit,
Cheyney University Interim-President Dr. Frank Pogue said.
The agreement has two complementary components
Guaranteed Admission and Core-to Core Transfer.
In 2010, he was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan. Theres nothing else like it, and as much as I had some of
the worst times in my life there, I also had some of the best, he says of his military experience, which he also
credits with giving him an unrelenting drive that has impacted his musical and academic pursuits.
After completing his military service, he struggled to readjust to civilian life and faced alcoholism. He sought
treatment at an outpatient rehabilitation center for veterans and has been sober since July 2012. In August
2012, he dusted-off his keyboard and reawakened his passion for music. I realized that if I didnt return to
piano right then and there, I would let go
of the potential opportunity that I still had
to become the greatest pianist my talents
would allow me to become, he said.
The program is open for DelVal bachelors degrees in Counseling Psychology; Business Administration;
Criminal Justice; and Media and Communication. Students pay a reduced tuition of $425 per credit,
and can transfer up to 77 credits from the College toward a DelVal bachelors degree. DelVal is an
independent, comprehensive university with more than 1,000 acres in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
To learn more, visit: www.delval.edu/dccc. n
advancement news
New Educational
STEM Career Night
Foundation Board Members
Three new members were recently appointed to the Colleges Educational Foundation.
Dylan Atkins, a wealth management advisor, senior vice president
and portfolio manager, joined Merrill Lynch in 1998. Along with a
team of specialists, Atkins works with a select group of families and
businesses in developing strategies to manage their wealth. He has
proficiencies and certifications in skills such as Portfolio Manager,
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Certified Financial
Planner, and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. He has a Finance
and Accounting certificate from the University of Pennsylvanias
Wharton School, and is working toward obtaining a Chartered Special Needs
Consultant designation.
Joseph McGinn, Jr., senior manager of public affairs for Sunoco
Logistics, leads external affairs for both Sunoco, a leading fuel
retailer and convenience store company with approximately 5,000
locations, as well as Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P. McGinn has
more than eight years of experience in corporate communications
and political messaging. He holds a masters degree in Government
Administration from University of Pennsylvania and bachelor
degrees in English & American History from Columbia University.
Maria Navarrete-Olvera is branch manager for Fulton Bank.
Previously, she was branch relationship manager for Susquehanna
Bank. She also is the former program director for the Kennett AfterSchool Association, After the Bell Program, and a former Family &
Diversity Educator with the Penn State Cooperative Extension 4-H
Youth program. She is on the board of the Historic Kennett Square,
as well as Youth Community Forward, and is resource development
committee member for 4-H Creating Community Networks.
The Colleges Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose
purpose is to develop resources for students, faculty, programs and capital projects at
the College. n
John Lazarich
Foundation Awards
Nursing Scholarships
Trustees of the John Lazarich
Foundation of Exton recently
awarded Nursing scholarships to
students of the College who reside
in Downingtown or Phoenixville.
Foundation trustees (top row,
from left) William Kronenberg,
Jim Sacchetta, Len Olsen, and
(bottom row, right) Dorothy
Kronenberg congratulate students
at a luncheon meeting in January.
Students at the luncheon are (top
row) Phelicia Laffredo, (bottom
row from left) Kelly Lees and Elise
Pegram, both from Downingtown.
Student Ashley Powers of
Phoenixville is not pictured.
Kathleen Breslin, vice president
for Institutional Advancement and
executive director of the Colleges
Educational Foundation, is seated
second from right.
For the ninth consecutive year, STEM Career Night drew more than 200 high school
and college students from throughout the region on February 25 to learn firsthand
about challenging and rewarding careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM).
The Colleges STEM Center is the backdrop for the annual exhibition of local
businesses and industries that rely on a workforce educated in STEM disciplines.
Among those exhibiting were Boeing, Sunoco Logistics, SAP America, Southco, SEPTA,
UPS and Urban Engineers. For students needing an advanced degree, colleges and
universities, such as Widener and Drexel, also exhibited and discussed their special
transfer partnerships with the College. The event kicked off with a keynote speaker and
concluded with a panel
of faculty, alumni and
employers who touted the
benefits of STEM careers.
Jonathan A. Hunt, senior
director of terminal
operations for Sunoco
Logistics Partners, delivered
the keynote address.
Hunt is responsible for 46
liquid products facilities
in 11 states providing
logistics services for
marine, rail, truck and
pipeline operations. With
Sunocos decision to exit
the refining business in
2012, Hunt led the effort
to repurpose the Marcus
Hook refinery to provide
storage and logistics
services for the growth in
natural gas liquids from
the Marcellus and Utica
regions. A graduate of
Temple University, Hunt
has a degree in Mechanical
Engineering and a Master
of Business Administration
from the University of
Delaware. n
STEM Career Night keynote speaker Jon Hunt (right), senior director
of terminal operations and facility manager at Marcus Hook for
Sunoco Logistics.
Engineering Student
Receives Inaugural Award
The Delaware County Transportation Management Association (DCTMA)
awarded its first annual scholarship to student Adam Berridge of Glenolden
at a ceremony at the College in April 2016. The DCTMA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the transportation network serving
the county. Berridges $1,000 award was based on an essay that successfully
addressed the transportation needs in Delaware County. To be eligible for the
award, applicants had to be enrolled at the College full time and have at least a
3.0 grade point average. n
Presenting a check from the Delaware County Transportation Management Association (DCTMA)
are (from left) Lauren Turton and Cecile Charlton; John Grant of Stantec; student Adam Berridge;
Eric Ostimchuk of Traffic, Planning and Design, Inc.; Jeff Roken of Urban Engineers. Also pictured
is Kathleen Breslin (right), the Colleges vice president for Institutional Advancement and the
executive director of the Colleges Educational Foundation.
2016 Gould
Award Winner
Dr. Sidney Kolpas
During Commencement, Dr. Sidney Kolpas, assistant
professor of Mathematics, received the coveted Gould
Award, which is presented to a faculty member whose
dedication, achievement and love for teaching inspire
both students and colleagues. Students are primarily the
nominators for the award, which was established by the
late Jerry Gould, a founding trustee of the College.
In nominating Dr. Kolpas, students described him in
glowing terms as a teacher who not only imparts book
knowledge, but gives students wisdom about life. They
described him as hands down the best professor Ive
ever had; the kind of teacher every teacher needs to be
like; truly inspirational; an awesome instructor; and
dedicated and understanding. n
2016 Lindback
Award Winner
Lauren Donovan
Lauren Donovan, assistant
professor of Business, received
the 2016 Lindback Award
from Interim-Provost Dr. Eric
Wellington at the Colleges
faculty meeting in May. Since
1961, the Lindback Award has
recognized outstanding faculty
members at 52 colleges and
universities in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. Individuals
are nominated based on their
commitment to the intellectual
and social development of
students. Donovan has a Master
of Business Administration and
received tenure at the College
in January.
Penn Wood High School student Kenny Nguyen (second from left) with, from left, the Colleges
Robert Jones, professor of Art and coordinator of Graphic Design; Jaime Treadwell, assistant professor
of Art, Foundations; and Bertha Gutman, professor of Art, and Studio Art coordinator.
Audience members
enjoy the high school
art exhibition which was
on display in the Gallery
at the Colleges Marple
Campus from January 20
through February 19.
Students from Paxon Hollow Middle School in Marple visit the SimMan
in the Colleges Simulation Lab at the Marple Campus.
Paxon Hollow students visit the Welding Lab in the Colleges Advanced
Technology Center.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
West Chester, PA
Permit No. 472
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094
www.dccc.edu
Summer 2016
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Vanessa Beltran Velez, the 2016 Commencement student speaker, with her family at the
Her extraordinary life consisted of being president of the Colleges
graduation ceremony.
student-led Latin Flavor Club; a member of the faculty-led Latino
Initiatives & Outreach Network (also known as LION); vice president of the Student
Government Association; a Phi Theta Kappa honor society member; a student ambassador;
and a mentor. She intends to transfer to a four-year school, and her goal is to put her graphic
design skills to use in the fields of product management and marketing.
Stellar graduates, like Beltran Velez, joined stellar alumni, like Dr. Luli Akinfiresoye 04,
who received the Colleges Alumni Professional Achievement Award, to make
Commencement memorable. Though there were obstacles and challenges I did not
become distracted because I understood that the road to success is paved with hard work,
Dr. Akinfiresoye said. A native of Nigeria who became a U.S. citizen and enrolled at the
College in 2003, Dr. Akinfiresoye is a neuropharmocologist working with the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency and an assistant professor of General Chemistry and Pharmacology
at Northern Virginia Community College.