A Community College All-Star

Alumnus Makes 2017 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team

Community College of Philadelphia alumnus Cedric Jouin has been named to the 2017 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team—an honor that recognizes 49 of the state’s community college students for scholarly achievements and community involvement.

Jouin was nominated before he graduated in December 2016 with an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts.

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges paid tribute to the All-Pennsylvania Scholars at an event on April 3 in Harrisburg, PA. To make the statewide academic team, scholars must maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. Team members are eligible for two-year scholarships offered by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education that may be used at any of the system’s 14 universities.

Jouin, 41, moved to the United States from France 7 years ago with his family. Having spent most of his professional life working in the music industry, Jouin enrolled in Community College of Philadelphia to pursue his other passions—environmental studies, geography and graphic design. He graduated this May with highest honor, maintaining a 4.0 grade average while serving as a peer tutor in the College’s Learning Labs and balancing a job at the PSECU credit union on the Main Campus. He graduated from the College ahead of schedule.

Jouin is enrolled at Temple University and hopes to pursue both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He dreams of becoming an environmental specialist and contributing to global conservation efforts.

“I grew up in France, where there have been stricter environmental regulations as well as more public awareness about environmental issues for a long time. While I knew that I needed as an individual to be ecologically responsible, I did not have a deep understanding of the issues that we are facing on a global scale,” Jouin said. “My aspirations, as a professional, would be to be a part of an organization that is making significant efforts to provide a better future to the next generations through sustainability and fairness.”

During his studies here, he established himself as a leader amongst his peers, and many look to him for help—especially in the Learning Labs. He assists students in Earth Science, Humanities, Geography, French and English. “I try to evaluate and understand where the students are having difficulty, and try to help them by focusing on those specific issues,” he said. “Most times, the students merely need some encouragement, and an opportunity to ask questions.”

Jouin is a firm believer that hard work and dedication to both his own endeavors and to those of others will pay off. His efforts previously earned him the Florence Fishman Humanitarian Award for Outstanding Service by a Tutor and the Jane G. Pepper Scholarship during his 2016 spring semester.

“I truly hope to one day be a part of an organization that shares my vision of providing a better future for the next generation through sustainability and equity,” he said.