Unsure of a career path, Nikki El first attended the College in 2002. Her financial situation changed, and as a newly married wife and homeowner, there was little time left for school. When she returned in 2020, she found the guidance and knowledge she needed to achieve her goals.

Nikki works full time as a cardiac surgery nurse at the University of Pennsylvania, where she treats COVID-19 patients and has had to work many overtime shifts during the pandemic. As a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), she needed additional education credentials to move forward in the field. 

“I enjoy cardiac surgery, but I want to advance my nursing career,” she said.

Nikki is graduating with a degree in Health Care Studies and will start the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at La Salle in August. She was recently notified that credits from two of her classes would not transfer, so she will be retaking two courses at the College this summer.

“As a nurse, I understand the ups and downs—it’s like an EKG strip—I just roll with it,” Nikki said.

Being a mom to five- and 12-year old sons, a wife, and a working professional, Nikki benefitted from the part-time class offerings that enabled her to pursue her degree, and she was supported along the way by College staff.

She credits Wataru Nishida, an assistant professor of Counseling, with assisting her throughout her educational journey.

“He was welcoming, and he understood how to guide me. He asked me where I wanted to go. He worked with me every semester. He told me what classes would help me with my BSN—not just to graduate with an associate degree, but he was preparing me for the next level. The College’s counselors are phenomenal—I can’t thank them enough,” she said.

She will re-evaluate her options after earning her bachelor’s, but her future aspirations include becoming a nurse practitioner and opening up her own urgent care clinic.

As a 37-year-old, and being the first in her family to earn a degree, she wants to encourage others like her who may be hesitant about pursuing their education.

“It can be achieved. Slow motion is better than no motion. I feel like my story can give other people hope. Everyone at the College is phenomenal, from the Bursar’s Office [Student Tuition Services] to Financial Aid. I enjoyed going to school. I was very nervous, with other things to worry about like work and bills, but the faculty were very understanding. I’m not computer savvy, but I learned. CCP was my career path to a four-year school,” Nikki said.

Three Community College of Philadelphia students have been announced as semifinalists for the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The students were selected from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants attending 180 community colleges in 35 states. To date, seven College students have been awarded the prestigious scholarship.

This year’s semifinalists include:

• Tahara Garrison-Brown, Health Care Studies major
• Nakita Guiteau, Liberal Arts-Honors major
• Christine Meusz, Social/Behavioral Science major

Through this award, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation supports high-achieving community college students by providing them with a scholarship of up to $55,000 per year to attend a four-year accredited undergraduate school. Each award is intended to cover a significant share of the student’s educational expenses – including tuition, living expenses, books, and required fees – for the final two to three years necessary to achieve a bachelor’s degree.

In addition to funding that covers educational expenses, this highly competitive scholarship also includes: personal advising about selecting a college and navigating financial aid; the ability to pursue any area of study; and multifaceted advising on how to transition to a four-year college and maximize the student experience

 

Above: Christine Meusz poses in the library 

Christine Meusz, a South Philadelphia native, is a Social/Behavioral Science major with a dream of becoming a therapist specializing in relationship and trauma in refugee and BIPOC communities. With a deep interest in sociology, psychology, and neurology, she one day wants to open her own practice and facilitate groups in outdoor spaces as a place of healing.

As a first-generation Vietnamese woman who grew up with her refugee parents in a low-income neighborhood, Christine has long searched for a meaningful career where she could reclaim her unique story as a survivor. Her mantra is that no one should have to feel like they must “do life alone.”

During her summers, Christine works as a National Outdoor Leadership instructor where she leads groups of teenagers out into the Wind River Range and teaches them leadership and wilderness survival skills, as well as how to find joy in community. 

She also wears many hats at Vietlead and Resilient Roots: a community farm that works with Southeast Asian and BIPOC communities in Philadelphia and Camden to provide hands-on, practical education to teach people to grow food organically; using natural ecosystems as a model, they are able to create landscapes that include native plants, regenerate the ecosystem’s health, and insures people and wildlife can thrive. 

In her free time, she volunteers with Crisis Textline as a counselor and has in the past assisted with Boy Scout Troop instruction, and Mazzoni Center’s LGBT HIV volunteer programs.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is expected to announce finalists in mid-May. Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on their exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service, and leadership. 

Additional information on the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship can be found online. 

Deep down, Adam Dickerson, ’21, always knew he wanted to become an x-ray technologist. While it was not until high school that he officially decided to pursue this career, Adam recalls the exact moment he fell in love with medical imaging. 

“I remember being three or four years old and my mom taking me to her job for the day,” Adam says. “One minute I would be playing with my toys on the floor and the next I’d be looking up at the different MRI scans on the monitor. When it came time to decide what I wanted to do career wise, I thought back to what I was most interested in as a kid. The first thing that came to mind was radiology.”

The Delaware County native took a few courses at his local community college and then transferred to CCP to enroll in the College’s Diagnostic Medical Imaging (DMI) Program to follow in his mother’s footsteps. Not only was he pursuing the same career, but he also wanted to get his degree from the same institution she did in 1998. 

His mother – Malgorzata “Gosia” Dickerson – was working at a daycare when she learned about the program. One of her instructors at the time was Elizabeth Garnett. Garnett, who teaches advanced modalities (MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds), is still an instructor at the College and also taught Adam. 

“During orientation, I mentioned to our instructors that my mom completed the same program,” Adam says. “Ms. Garnett was the only instructor who remembered her. She asked for my last name and the year my mom graduated from the program. From there I think she knew immediately that I was her son and was very intrigued that I decided to follow my mother’s footsteps.” 

Although challenging and at times stressful, Adam says that he had a great time in the program. His cohort began in July 2019 and were expected to graduate in spring 2021. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, everything was forced online and their clinicals were delayed a semester. 

He says that Rebecca Peterson – the DMI program director – did an amazing job at moving the program online and making sure that they each received the full experience and were still prepared to enter the workforce. 

“What I loved most about the DMI program was that our clinicals were the perfect combination of learning and hands-on experience,” Adam says. “Not only did we get to practice in the brand-new labs on campus, but we did mock interviews and received help with drafting our resumes and cover letters.” 

“Overall, I had a very positive experience. As a cohort, we were always willing to keep each other up and help each other out.”

Despite the challenges they faced, everyone in Adam’s cohort passed their American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam on the first try. This is the 18th consecutive year that the College’s DMI program achieved an 100% pass rate on the required certification exam on the first attempt. 

When asked what advice he would give anyone interested in becoming an x-ray technologist, Adam says, “Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things.”

This advice led him to win the Clinical Excellence award at the College’s DMI pinning ceremony in November. On Jan. 3, Adam started his job as an x-ray technologist at Penn Presbyterian Hospital – the same place his mom started her career more than 20 years ago.

We’ve asked two 2021 graduates, Cory Matthews and I’shanay Meeks, about their academic experiences. Both earned their high school degree from Parkway Center City Middle College and an associate degree in Liberal Arts simultaneously through the College’s dual enrollment partnership with the School District of Philadelphia.

What advantages did you gain from the College’s partnership with Parkway Center City Middle College? How did this experience shape or further your academic and career goals?

Cory: The biggest advantage I gained from the partnership was that I learned the basic fundamentals of being a college student. I learned how to utilize the many resources (tutoring labs, libraries, etc.), how to communicate with professors and how to be successful independently. It gave me a one up on my peers, who were new to college life. 

The middle college experience put me in a perfect position to succeed. Not only did it give me a head start, but it also gave me the confidence and motivation that I needed to keep pushing forward. Now I could potentially graduate with my bachelor’s degree early, which would mean a lot to me.

I’shanay: One advantage that I gained from the College’s partnership with Parkway is that I was given the opportunity to have a college experience before attending a four-year university. 

How did your experiences at the College prepare you for success?

Cory: I learned everything that I needed to know about College in my time at CCP. So now at Temple, there’s really nothing that is new to me. I’m familiar with the things I need to be familiar with. 

I’shanay: I was able to get an idea of how college classes are set up; not only how the classes will run, but also how it feels to be on campus and to network with many people from different backgrounds.

Would you recommend Parkway Center City Middle College to other students? Why?

Cory: I would recommend Parkway because the program ultimately prepares you properly for the undergraduate life at a university. Parkway has the proper funding and resources that will allow its students to succeed and benefit from the program.

I’shanay: I would recommend Parkway to other students because they will get to experience something during high school that will be very beneficial to them in the future. Of course it’s going to be difficult, but they will have the opportunity to be one step ahead. They will also have great support systems, from both CCP and Parkway, who wants nothing but the best for us.

What are the benefits of learning with the same cohort of students throughout high school, and now as a Cecil B. Moore Scholar at Temple?

Cory: The Cecil B. Moore Scholars Program is similar to how my cohort was at Parkway, so it’s just another thing that I’m familiar with. The benefit is that I have other peers who are in my same exact shoes; I’m not the only one fighting to reach my goals. It’s a great thing.

I’shanay: One benefit of learning with the same cohort of students throughout high school is that it was easier to ask for help or even receive help from my peers, since a good amount of us took the same courses. We often did study groups, etc. to prepare us for most exams in classes that were difficult. 

What are your goals for the future?

Cory: I want to graduate from Temple with a degree in Business Management and hopefully I take on a minor too, and I want to eventually become a sports agent.

I’shanay: My goals for the future are to work in the medical field while specializing in pediatrics. I also plan on starting two business; one for cosmetics, and the other for selling food platters.

Community College of Philadelphia and Saxbys recently announced that a student-run Experiential Learning Café (E.L.C.) will open at the College in spring 2022. This is the first E.L.C. at a community college, making this partnership a latte (lot) more interesting and worth students’ while. 

Saxbys established the Experiential Learning Platform in 2015, providing students with entrepreneurial exposure through real-life experiences that support traditional classroom learning. The College’s E.L.C. will be located in the new Library and Learning Commons and run by the Student Café Executive Officer (SCEO), who will gain instrumental experience and familiarity with the daily tasks of operating a business. The inaugural SCEO will oversee and drive team development, initiate and execute community leadership opportunities, and actively manage the café’s profit and losses financial statement. This individual will oversee duties that move the café forward and provide operational support to staff to maintain efficient business operation. The SCEO will receive a stipend for their work, and applications are now being accepted. 

Student E.L.C. team members will obtain tangible work and leadership experience that transfers into full academic credit and will put extra cash in their pockets. The partnership remains dedicated to offering competitive pay and flexible work schedules to match and support the demand of actively enrolled students.  

The E.L.C. will expose students to various entrepreneurial and leadership opportunities as they take charge of their futures and become standout citizens in the community. Through the means of running and operating the café, team members will secure transferable skills and experience needed as they venture into the workforce post college. Students will grow in their involvement with the café as they engage in active development of social, professional and tactical skills used to sustain a business. 

The College is especially excited to host the café in the Library and Learning Commons as its design is intended to enhance and revolutionize student learning and collaboration. The College and Saxbys believe this partnership will continue to support the College’s initiatives of accessibility and academic excellence. 

Learn more about this exciting partnership here. 

Jensen Toussaint, C’15, never imagined that he would one day be a journalist. When he enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia in 2012, he was unsure of what he wanted to do professionally. A Liberal Studies major, he says during his first year, he would often go to class and then go home.

It was not until the end of his time at the College that he discovered his passion for writing. Not only did Jensen tap into his love for storytelling, but he also learned that it was one of his strengths.

“Growing up I was always told that I was a great writer, but I was extremely shy,” Jensen said. “I wanted to have a career where I would be able to branch out, meet new people, and actively develop my social skills. Journalism seemed to meet both of those needs.”

After obtaining his associate degree in Liberal Studies from the College, Jensen enrolled at Temple University where he majored in journalism. While at Temple, he had the opportunity to intern at the Philadelphia Inquirer as a copy editor and even became a freelance writer with The Temple News.

Upon graduating from Temple in 2018, Jensen secured his first full-time journalism job at AL DÍA News Media – a multi-platform news media organization dedicated to documenting the best of the Latino experience in the United States. The rest is history.

“What I love most about AL DÍA is its mission to showcase the diversity of the Latino experience,” Jensen said. “As a Haitian American, I understand how it feels to be stereotyped. Our work is often community centered, and we seek to tell stories that the mainstream media often overlooks.”

At AL DÍA, Jensen is a feature writer with a focus on leadership within the Latino and Hispanic communities. He covers corporate leaders, CEOs, executive directors, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. He says his favorite part of his job is getting to learn more about different types of people, but also helping to tell their stories.

“Everyone has a unique story and deserves the chance to tell it,” Jensen said. “I’ve learned that it’s important to be a voice for those who don’t have one, or don’t know how to use their voice. Our job as journalists is to listen first. Something as simple as listening allows us to tell stories that properly represent the subject. Listening also allows us to be able to effectively communicate each story to our readers.”

Jensen says that he’s had the opportunity to interview a few amazing leaders throughout his career so far. His most memorable interview is with George Forman III – one of the two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist’s sons. During the interview, they discussed Forman’s journey as an entrepreneur following his boxing career.

In the next few years, Jensen hopes to continue writing and to hone writing skills. He one day would like to become an author and explore different genres of writing.

When asked what advise he would give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in journalism, Jensen says to make sure it’s something you are committed to.

“Journalism is not something you can put partial effort into,” he said. “You have to put the work in completely. While it’s not always easy work, it’s very fulfilling. You get to meet lots of different people and learn who they are beyond their exterior.”

“If you enjoy telling diverse stories, it’s a great career path to take,” he added.

 On Friday September 10, students, staff and faculty gathered outside around the Bonnell Circle to commemorate College alumni and Philadelphians who lost their lives 20 years ago during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.   

Under a clear blue sky, the ceremony began as the American flag was raised and attendees held a moment of silence.   

Around the flag stood 45 small American flags; 30 for the victims of 9/11 from Pennsylvania, three of whom were from Philadelphia, 13 for the service members who were lost recently in Kabul and two for our own alumni who were honored that day. 

Opening the ceremony with a message of gratitude to all of the veterans and active service members in the audience, Dr. Generals, president of Community College of Philadelphia, gave his remarks.  

Each year on September 11, the College comes together to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of our country. “Our freedom, our democracy is not guaranteed, we have to continue to fight for it, we have to continue to believe in it,” he said. Given all of the loss and division that has occurred in our country this past year and a half, Dr. Generals’ words rang especially true.  

Ending on an optimistic note, Dr. Generals encouraged our community to celebrate our country and the contributions we all make towards its success. “I believe in what we are doing to provide education for those of us who will continue to preserve this country in this democracy,” he said. 

Next, Veterans Resource coordinator Steve Bachovin told the stories of Sergeant Brahim Jeffcoat, an alum who lost his life in the Iraq War in 2005, and Army E-4 Specialist Jason Mays, a veteran alum who lost his life in this year.  

On August 6, 2005 Pennsylvania National Guard Sergeant Brahim Jeffcoat died while conducting convoy operations in Iraq. He was a youth counselor before entering the military and was well liked by instructors, faculty and administrators at the College. He left behind his wife and his young daughter.  

Jason Mays passed away on March 4, 2021. He enrolled in the Army in 2001, and was deployed to Iraq in 2003, during some of the heaviest fighting of the insurgency. He was awarded many medals, though he was most proud of his Air Assault badge, “which only the most elite soldiers attain,” said Bachovin.  

While enrolled at the College, he quickly became involved in student life. He was passionate about Latin dance and eventually became an instructor in the College’s Ritmo Latino club. In 2014 he served as President of Student Council and was named Student of the Year. He earned his associate degree in Business Administration here at the College, and both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Temple.  

“To our 911 veterans, thank you for hearing our nation's call and keeping us safe”, concluded Bachovin. “Your service is not only an invaluable contribution to our country, but you remind your fellow citizens of what they can do. We must never forget them. God bless the brave souls of 9/11 and God bless America.” 

Hello, everyone. We are getting close to the end of the semester and finals! I am excited but sad at the same time. I really enjoyed my first semester at CCP, but it is time to move ahead! I have been planning for my summer classes and I was so excited to hear that this summer the Catto Scholarship will be covering last dollar tuition! This is amazing news for me. As of right now, I would have had to come out of pocket a few hundred dollars to cover the rest of my tuition. The Catto Scholarship will be covering that for me, as well as continuing my monthly stipend. This has been such an amazing scholarship and I feel blessed to be one of the first students to receive it. 

During my first semester at CCP, Catto paid for all my book costs, plus I had the monthly stipends, which really helped me cover my cost of living. Had I needed last dollar tuition for the spring, I would have received that as well.

As a student, I feel I am much less stressed out and have more time and energy to focus on my studies when I don’t have to worry about funding. Also, I met with my success coach this month and she helped me with registering for my classes, as well as understanding my financial aid. I really enjoy our meetings and I appreciate how resourceful she is. Whenever I need something, she will either point me in the right direction or contact someone to find out for me. Either way, I always get a quick answer or response. All of the staff at CCP that I have working with that are involved with the recipients of the Catto Scholarship have been so helpful. I have seen each and every one of them work hard to stay on top of things and give us the support that they have committed to.

The activities that Catto has offered throughout the spring semester kept things fun and interesting. Between interviews, meeting on Zoom with Mayor Kenney and the CCP team that started this scholarship, and monthly conferences, it has given me things to look forward to and something exciting to do in between my studies. Especially the Zoom meeting where all of the recipients of the scholarship were sent out surprise boxes to open together where we received several items from the school. That was so nice. Thank you to the Catto team and my professors for helping me earn good grades this semester. I have had so many different resources that I can utilize to help me in my studies.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of Spring 2021!

College President Dr. Donald Guy Generals says the proposal’s expansion of access to community college uplifts Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents 

Community College of Philadelphia President Dr. Donald Guy Generals released the following statement in support of President Joe Biden’s proposed American Families Plan that would direct billions of dollars in funding to support community colleges and low-income students: 

“Community College of Philadelphia fully supports President Biden’s American Families Plan, which would direct $109 billion to boost the efforts of community colleges in providing a high-quality education to every American regardless of their ability to pay.  

“Due to the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of community college students across the country have been forced to delay school or drop out simply because they cannot afford the tuition and other fees. Community colleges like ours often enroll and support large shares of Black, Hispanic and Latin-X students — many who are low-income and require additional support to ensure that they succeed. 

“Even more troubling, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce is expected to issue a report in the near future saying that by 2027, 70 percent of all jobs will require some education beyond high school. It is crucial that we prepare residents to be able to compete in this rapidly changing economy.  

“Community College of Philadelphia has remained committed to expanding access to community college through the Octavius Catto Scholarship, in partnership with Mayor Jim Kenney and the City of Philadelphia, in addition to the 50th Anniversary PROMISE Scholarship and the Joseph and Marie Field Foundation Opportunity Scholarship.   

“Any plan to make community college more accessible must include funding dedicated to overall student success, such as funding to cover the cost of books, and access to resources like housing assistance and child care, as well as funding to provide enhanced academic success and career coaching. 

“Community College of Philadelphia is committed to the eradication of poverty and the creation of a more inclusive economy through equitable access to higher education. We look forward to working with the Biden administration to make this vision a reality.” 

The College celebrated Women’s History Month this year with virtual events and initiatives to inspire and inform our College community. In light of the endlessly faceted nature of womanhood, the events centered around women of all different backgrounds who shared their stories and experiences, creating dialogue that felt relevant to the diverse population of women and femmes at the College.   

Women’s History Month brought women who are leaders in their respective fields into our College community to share their knowledge on topics such as career advancement, workplace diversity, physical and mental health, and more.  

The first event, Challenging the Process, which took place on March 1, was hosted by Judge Maria McLaughlin, who highlighted the tenants of exemplary leadership and spoke to her audience about techniques women can use to enable themselves and their teammates to perform to the height of their ability.  

Next, Leslie Chapman, a distinguished engineer at Comcast, hosted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Your Career on March 5. Demonstrating that diversity in the workplace isn’t just important, but necessary, Chapman shared her experience working as a technical lead for the X1 entertainment platform at Comcast. Due to the need to market this product worldwide, the design process had to be informed by perspectives of people from many different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Chapman proved that companies will need a diverse workforce to compete in the global marketplace, and that women are the leading the charge in diversifying the workplace.  

Helping women to adopt a mindset that will allow them to push through the inevitable difficulties of life while standing tall with “grace, confidence and resilience,” author Kimberly S. Reed discussed her book “Optimists Always Win!” at a virtual event on March 16. Reed is an award-winning speaker, author, corporate trainer, and diversity, equality and inclusion executive. 

On March 18, Class of 2020 commencement speaker Kendall Stephans hosted a panel discussion that illuminated the nuance, joy and difficulties that inform the experience of transgender womanhood with local activists and educators Alonda Talley, Miayanna Brooks, Paris Ryan (aka Lamia) and Sa’mantha Sayten. The group shared the stories of how they came into their womanhood (for lack of a better term, as one panelist, Sayten, identifies as non-binary femme), and discussed the fact that womanhood comes in many shapes and sizes; all that matters is that one must be a woman or femme in heart and mind. They celebrated the joy and resilience that each of them has embodied by honoring their authentic selves and owning their transgender identities and shared some of the barriers that they and other transgender people face due to lack acceptance in society at large.  

One of the most popular events held through the month was Dr. General’s Fireside Chat. The event focused on domestic violence that has targeted women in Asian and Pacific Islander communities both in the U.S. and abroad, discussing the violence specific to the COVID-19 pandemic especially. Dr. Michelle Myers, associate professor of English, performed her spoken word poem, "It's Nothing".  Dedicated to the mother and sister of a young Hmong youth named Fong Lee who was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer in 2006, Myers’ poem speaks to the insurmountable pain inflicted on victims and families of police violence and white supremacy.  

“Just once/ I wish I could help you feel safe, to be happy/ and just simply live again/ I wish I could do more than just / Cry on stage for you, fight for you, be angry for you/ With these never-lasting words/ But this, this is the best that I can do and this is nothing/ Because it is what I must do to demand something/ Something more for you /For us / For Fong.”  

Another widely attended event was Enough Is Enough: Health Care Disparities in Women of Color, featuring Dr. Chidinma Nwakanma and hosted by assistant professor of Nursing, Petrina McFarlane.  “Health care disparities exist because there have been historically and systematically experiencing greater obstacles to health. And that can be based on your ethic group or your racial group, that can be based on your socioeconomic status, mental health, even where you live in this country,” Dr. Nwakanma explained.  

She explored a number of topics, including conscious and unconscious bias, and medical myths that persist in the field of medicine today. Sharing helpful tips, like the fact that patients have a right to request a medical interpreter If English is not their first language, or the importance of getting a second opinion, Dr. Nwakanma empowered women of color in our College community to advocate for themselves when seeking medical treatment. 

“If you feel like your doctor is not listening to you or if you feel like they’re speaking over you or trying to finish your sentences, or if you feel like your complaints are not being addressed or they’re being casually dismissed, or you feel judged or disrespected...these are cues that there might be some implicit or explicit bias at play,” said Dr. Nwakanma. 

Adding to the month’s initiative of women-focused community building and knowledge, a Virtual Reading Room, book giveaway and lists of local women-owned businesses were shared with the College community.