You Are Never Too Old to Learn - Delaware County Community

A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College
Spring 2013
You Are Never Too Old to Learn
International
Student Enrolls
at Age 71
Death and the
sage advice of
a loving brother
freed Nobuko
Sugiura, 71, to
come to America
in 2012 to pursue her dream.
Now, Sugiura—
affectionately
known as Noko
to her friends—
is at the College
taking English
as a Second
Language
Japanese international student
classes. She
Nobuko “Noko” Sugiura.
lives with
adjunct instructor Marilyn Kelly and her goal
is to return to her native Japan and write for an
English language newspaper.
Taking English courses at a community college in
America is less expensive than taking the courses
in Japan, Noko said.
For many years, Noko was unable to pursue
her dream. “I really wanted to go to the United
States, but I couldn’t,” she said. She was unable
to come to America because her father forbade
her, and life happened fast. She married at the
age of 20, had two children and started a successful business making clothing patterns.
Her first brush with the personal pain of death
came when her husband died at the age of 50.
She was 47. Her next brush came in 2011, when
her mother who had Alzheimer’s died at the age
of 91 and her best friend and business partner
died. That is when her brother gave her some
advice. “You always did everything for everyone,” she said he told her. “It’s time to do what
you want in life.”
Since coming to the College, Noko and Kelly,
who teaches English, Reading, and English as
a Second Language, have developed a close
friendship and admiration for one another. Kelly
introduced Noko to Trader Joe’s and to a Wegmans; and it was Kelly who convinced Noko to
pierce her ears so she could wear the earrings
she enjoys. On holidays, Kelly takes Noko to stay
with her family in New England. “This woman is
inspirational,” Kelly said, adding that Noko has
“stamina like you would not believe.”
As for being more than three times the age of
many of the students at the College, Noko
said she does not mind. “When I study English,
I don’t worry about my age,” she said.
“I feel good.” n
He’s 73 and in the College’s Police
Academy, But Who’s Counting
Noted attorney Jimmy Binns bench pressed 100 pounds and ran 1.5 miles in a little more than 15 minutes (3 minutes
under what was required) to gain entrance into the College’s Municipal Police Academy. Had it been required,
Binns, 73, said he could have done a lot more. “Age is a number and a state of mind,” said the 193-pound Binns.
Binns is believed to be the oldest student ever to have entered the Academy. “I have had people in their 40s,” said
Bill Davis, director of the Municipal Police Academy. “But never in their 70s.”
A former Pennsylvania boxing commissioner who once played himself in the movie Rocky V, Binns is anything
but shy. He is a well-known trial attorney who has both created and donated money to many organizations and
programs that help police, fire
and other first responders and
their families. He also has donated
motorcycles and other equipment
to police departments in Greater
Philadelphia.
Having passed the Philadelphia Police
motorcycle school exam at the age of
68, Binns sees the College’s Municipal
Police Academy as his next challenge.
For the entire year, he will alternate
between working his full-time job as
a trial attorney and taking courses at
the College four nights a week and
on nine Saturdays. If he completes
the Academy, he will be 74 when
he graduates.
Binns’ goal is not so much to join a
police force—although he says there
are some police departments that
have expressed an interest in hiring
him—but to better understand the
mind of the police officers he so avidly
admires. “I do a lot of charity work for
police departments,” Binns said. “It just
occurred to me, I ought to go through
and see what it means to be a cop.”
Besides, he said, “I like school.
I enjoy it.” n
Jimmy Binns at the 2011 Memorial Day Parade in Margate, N.J.
Delaware County Only PA
Community College to Receive National
Certification for Medical Coding
The College is the only community college in Pennsylvania to have earned a coveted certification for its Medical
Coding Certificate program from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The College
received the certification last year, and is proud that it also is one of only two schools in the state to have achieved
such an accomplishment. (Gwynedd-Mercy College also is AHIMA accredited.) When students earn AHIMA
certification, they join a network of peers recognized nationally as the best in the field, according to AHIMA.
The College’s coding program was rigorously peer reviewed by AHIMA Foundation’s
Approval Committee for Certificate Programs against a national set of standards for
entry-level coding professionals. Employers who hire students who have completed the
College’s program can be assured that the students possess the necessary skills to do the
job well. According to AHIMA, medical coding is the transformation of narrative descriptions of diseases, injuries and healthcare procedures into numeric or alphanumeric
designations (code numbers). The code numbers are detailed in order to accurately
describe the diagnoses and the procedures performed to test or correct the diagnoses. n
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
president’s letter
On July 1, the College will become
campus news
quick hits
100 percent tobacco-free, joining many
colleges, universities and businesses
College President and First Lady Receive YMCA Award
throughout the region and nation in this
For the first time in 12 years, the Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County presented
its Spirit, Mind and Body Award to a pair of people—Dr. Jerry Parker and his wife, Sue
Parker. “Your efforts in the community and your leadership in the community have helped
our community to live, to grow, to prosper,” said Michael L. Ranck, President and CEO
of the Community YMCA, at the awards gala held last November at the Corporate Events
Center at Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill.
health-conscious initiative.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General,
not only can smoking be hazardous to
your health, but secondhand smoke can
College Board of Trustees Chair Raymond G. Toto described the Parkers as a “dynamic duo.”
Marianne Grace, a YMCA Foundation Board member and Executive Director of Delaware
County, said they are “a strong couple that exemplifies the core qualities of the YMCA.” The
Parkers, who will celebrate their 40th anniversary in March, shared the moment with their
children, Jessica and Zachary Parker. Jessica, who was asked to speak about her mother,
described her as passionate about what she does, and said: “She would give the shirt off her
back to anyone to keep them warm.”
be dangerous as well. Therefore, reducing
exposure to secondhand smoke can save
lives. Anti-smoking organizations estimate that
today there are nearly 800 college campuses
that are smoke-free, according to a July 23,
Dr. Parker has been at the College since 1977 and has served as president for nine years. He
is a 34-year resident of Upper Darby and serves on a variety of boards and associations in
the community. Sue Parker is a tireless advocate for the homeless, serving as a board member of Community Outreach Project, a former grass roots homeless advocacy group. She has
served as elder and deacon at Calvary Riverview Presbyterian Church, which has an active
ministry in helping the homeless.
2012 article in Community College Week.
The Board of Trustees adopted the new
Tobacco-Free Campus Policy last year as part
of the College’s commitment to creating a
healthy and sustainable environment for the entire College community. The policy
is intended to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, provide an environment
supportive of tobacco-free lifestyles and eliminate the environmental impact
of cigarette litter. It applies to all faculty, staff, students and visitors (including
contractors and their employees).
Generally speaking, students have been
supportive of the College’s decision to go
tobacco-free. Informing the College family
about the new policy has been a multi-faceted effort that has involved students,
faculty, administrators and staff. A Tobacco-Free Taskforce was established and is
working to make the transition as smooth as possible. The taskforce is handling
communications, training, education, monitoring and other efforts. The College’s
Wellness Center also has increased its tobacco-free programming, including
From left, Raymond G. Toto, College Board of Trustees Chair; Michael L. Ranck, President/CEO of the
Community YMCA; Marianne Grace , YMCA Foundation Board Member and Executive Director of
Delaware County; J. Adam Matlawski, Esq., chairman of the YMCA Board and partner, McNichol, Byrne
and Matlawski, P.C.; Sue Parker; Dr. Jerry Parker; and their children, Jessica and Zachary Parker.
cessation programs.
For more information about the College’s new Tobacco-Free Campus Policy, visit:
www.dccc.edu/tobacco-free.
Jerome S. Parker
president
More Ways to Connect
Announcing the College’s Official Social
Media Pages
Want to know what’s happening on campus? Have you heard about some of
the fabulous things our alumni are doing? Now more than ever, there are more
ways to connect with the College, alumni and students. Like us on Facebook,
follow us on Twitter, watch our videos on YouTube, or connect with our Alumni
Association on LinkedIn. The College’s official social media pages are listed
below. Connect online with us today!
www.facebook.com/
DelawareCounty
CommunityCollege
www.twitter.com/
delawareccc
www.youtube.com/
DelawareCtyCommCol
www.linkedin.com/
groups?gid=105028&trk=
hb_side_g
Art Instructor is Juror for
Local Photo Contest
Art Instructor’s Work
Featured in NYC Exhibit
Richard A. Johnson, a Photography instructor and director of the College’s Art Gallery,
was the juror for the 6th Annual Icons
Photo Contest held by the Media Arts Council at the former White Birch Gallery, above
the Plumstead Inn
in Media. Contestants were asked to
photograph unique
and “closely seen”
aspects of Media,
along with an image
of the subject in its
broader context.
Only the “closely
Photography Instructor
seen” photograph
Richard Johnson
was judged. Johnson
said he selected the winners based “on
what idea or concept visually and emotionally the photographer was trying to relate.”
First place ($300) went to “Pleated Fan”
by Laura Ducceschi which Johnson called
“simply wonderful” because of the lighting,
symmetry and compositional elements.
Johnson has worked at the College for more
than 15 years and has been selected as
an Artist in Residence by the Philadelphia
Museum of Art. He also was honored with
the publishing of his “Respite” photographs
in the May 2012 issue of Lenswork Daily.
(See: http://daily.lenswork.com/2012/05/
respite-by-richard-a-johnson.html)
Congratulations to Art Instructor Donna
Festa who had her work, “Thirty Portraits,”
featured at The Painting Center, a non-profit
cultural organization in New York, from
Sept. 4 – Sept. 29, 2012. Founded and
managed by artists, the Center’s gallery
hosts approximately 20 exhibitions a year. It
celebrates the high standards of excellence
to be found among both emerging and
established artists. “We wear our lives on
our faces,” Festa said. “These portraits are of
people I’ve known or who have caught my
eye. Each face tells a story in its own quiet
way.” Using oil on wood, Festa makes each
painting quickly, in one sitting, in order to
keep the loose, fresh quality of a sketch.
She has worked for museums, art centers
and public school systems teaching art.
She has paintings in both public and
private collections, including the State
Museum of Pennsylvania and the
Robert Fontaine Gallery in Miami,
Florida. View a Festa portrait at:
http://thepaintingcenter.org/exhibitions/
donna-festa-thirty-portraits.
College Receives Award for “Find Yourself Here” TV Ad
Editor: Anthony Twyman
Writers: Kathleen Breslin,
Doug Ferguson, Catherine
Hamby, Daniel Kanak,
Susan Rapp, Michelle Tooker
and Anthony Twyman
Photos: Rowland Barnum,
your Connection is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement, Catherine Hamby, Tom Kelly IV,
Delaware County Community College, Media, PA 19063
and Jim McWilliams
Photography
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: Betty Brown, associate dean for student success, room 2195, 610-359-5320; and/or Connie
McCalla, vice president of human resources, room 3572, 610-359-5094. TTY for the hearing impaired: 610-359-5020.
The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education,
3624 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.
2/13 27K
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The Marketing and Public Relations office received a Silver Medallion Award from District 1
of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) for the College’s “Find
yourself here.” television advertising campaign. The NCMPR is
the only organization of its kind that represents marketing and
PR professionals at community and technical colleges. Daniel
Kanak, Director of Marketing and Communications, attended the
District 1 Conference in Pittsburgh last October to receive the
award, which recognizes the College for outstanding achievement in communications. The College is one of 95 member
colleges that are part of District 1, and the Medallion awards
are given annually on the district level. The College’s 30-second
spots were produced in partnership with Dell Fascione of Schultz
& Williams and Allied Pixel, an integrated media production
company, as part of the College’s advertising campaign. The spots
air on cable channels in Delaware and Chester Counties, as
Daniel Kanak, Director
well as at select movie theaters. View the award-winning spot at: of Marketing and
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmVOFO6oa0&feature=plcp.
Communications
STANDING OVATIONS ALL AROUND
The grand opening event of the newly
renovated Large Auditorium was worthy of
a standing ovation like the one David Kim,
Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra,
and Jeffrey DeVault, pianist and assistant
professor of Mathematics, received on
concluding their performance. The sold-out
event drew 250 people to the new facility on
December 2. Preceded by a reception that
reflected the celebratory nature of the event,
the magnificent performance by the worldrenowned violinist and pianist/faculty member
was more than equal to the occasion.
Expressing appreciation for the
performance of David Kim (third
from right) and Jeffrey DeVault (far
right) are President Dr. Jerry Parker
(second from right) and Board of
Trustee members (from left), Neilda
Mott, Ellen Reap, Robert McCauley,
and Dr. Corrinne Caldwell.
President Dr. Jerry Parker welcomed the
audience, which was comprised of board
members, faculty, students and community
members. Dr. Parker recognized all who
assisted in the development of the Large
Auditorium and thanked donors who had
“purchased” seats as part of the fundraising
campaign. He also thanked PNC, the
event sponsor. Dr. Clayton Railey, Dean of
Communications, Arts and Humanities, joined
Dr. Parker in expressing his gratitude to the
College for undertaking the transformation
of the Large Auditorium, which supports
both music and theatre programs. Dr. Railey
encouraged the audience to attend future
arts performances.
Audience members before the start of
the concert.
Richard Belcastro, assistant professor of
Music, introduced Kim and DeVault, whose
performance repertoire included Brahms’
Sonatensatz, Beethoven’s Sonata No. 1 in
D major, Kreisler’s Liebesleid and Caprice
Viennois, and Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy.
Kim charmed the audience repeatedly with
off-the-cuff comments about his personal and
professional life. Letting the audience in on a
little secret, he revealed an iPad on his music
stand that was controlled by a foot pedal for
turning pages. This was Kim’s first experiment
with the new technology. It was born of
necessity, Kim said, because he frequently
forgot his sheet music when performing
around the world. Because the iPad now
holds all of his music, he no longer has to
inconvenience his wife back home to send
the forgotten music.
College President Dr. Jerry Parker and Dr. Clayton Railey, Dean of
Communications, Arts and Humanities, share a quiet moment, appreciating
the results of the renovated auditorium.
David Kim and Jeffrey DeVault.
In discussing the important relationship
between violinist and pianist in concerts, Kim,
despite having a prolific career on the world
stage, paid DeVault the ultimate compliment
when he said, “I found the best match in a
piano accompanist right here on the Delaware
County Community College campus.”
It was an impressive beginning to a new era
of arts programming that is expected to attract
repeat visitors to the College’s stunning new
venue for the performing arts. n
Jill Sirota, interior designer for Stantec, auditorium architects, delights in
the completed project.
Denise Gargan, Senior Portfolio Manager, PNC Institutional Investments
(left) discusses sponsorship opportunities with Kathleen Breslin, Vice
President, Institutional Advancement, and Executive Director of the
College’s Educational Foundation. PNC sponsored the event and is the
Foundation’s portfolio manager.
The new Large Auditorium features an enlarged stage, theatre-style lighting, a surround sound system and an upgraded audio visual system that allows for transmission to multiple campuses. Among the new furnishings are
upholstered seats, hand rails and lighting along the aisles and ramps for wheelchair accessibility. Improvements to acoustics and the ventilation system were also made.
3
in the news
Students/Eagles Cheerleaders Score Big
with Brains and Beauty
Despite the Philadelphia Eagles dismal season, former student Jessica Gonzalez and current student
Amanda Grace Fattori have plenty to cheer about. Out of 500 women who tried out for the Eagles football team
cheerleading squad last year, they were among only 38 to make the final cut.
For Fattori, 20, it is her second year on the squad. For Gonzalez, 27,
it is her fourth year on the squad, and the first time she was selected
to be one of the squad’s seven co-captains.
Eagles cheerleaders must re-audition every year. Auditions last about
one month for those who reach the finals and involve interviews,
as well as swimsuit, fitness and dance auditions. “It’s fun and
nerve-wracking at the same time,” said Gonzalez, who hit the gym
twice a day to make the squad, and in 2011 was one of the Eagles
cheerleaders selected to perform in a military goodwill tour in Kuwait
for U.S. troops returning home from Iraq.
Exton Center
Renovations
Complete
Last summer, the College completed extensive renovations to its Exton Center, located in the Whiteland
Business Park, 912 Springdale Drive in Exton. There
are a variety of new features, including an enhanced
student lounge and gathering spaces, an expanded
Learning Center, new faculty offices and updated
and expanded restrooms. Upgrades were also made
to the electrical and lighting system, as well as the
heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The
upgrades provide students with a more comfortable
environment in which to study and learn. n
“It’s just a lot of stamina that you need,” said Fattori, who works out at
the gym on average two hours each day, and has traveled to places
like the Bahamas with the Eagles organization.
Fattori is a Science for Health Professions major who expects to graduate from the College this spring. “My goal is to get into a physical
Student Amanda Grace Fattori (left) and former
therapy program at West Chester University,” she said, adding that
student Jessica Gonzalez in their Eagles outfits at last
year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.
she eventually would like to earn a doctorate and become a physical therapist. Many students are unaware she is an Eagles cheerleader; although, she said, some students have
noticed the “rookie ring” with the “Eagles Cheerleader” insignia that she proudly wears.
Fattori said instructors at the College have been “super understanding” of her schedule. Eagles cheerleaders
practice twice a week. Last year, Fattori was allowed to take her finals early because she had a cheerleader
calendar photo shoot in the Bahamas. “The travel experiences are amazing,” she said.
Both Fattori and Gonzalez are appreciative of the College’s online courses. “The online classes and the hybrid
classes are a big help,” Fattori said because of her cheerleading schedule, which involves many monthly
appearances, like last year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.
Gonzalez also took advantage of the College’s online options and took classes in Biology, Math, Psychology and
other subjects while attending Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, from which she graduated in 2008 with
a double major in Biology and in Criminal Justice. She now works as a clinical assistant for a spine surgeon at the
Rothman Institute. Previously, she worked at the University of Pennsylvania where she did research for the surgery
department. She has had some of her research published in medical journals. n
Students study at the new computer stations at the Center.
Administrator
Receives U.S.
“Patriot Award”
Disabled Marine Vet Enters College
Police Academy
Just about no one knew that when Michael Sarro, a student recently accepted into the College’s Municipal Police
Academy, was trying out for the Academy he was doing so with only one leg. And, that is just the way the former
Marine wanted it.
Sarro, 32, of Downingtown, is one of 60 students who started the Academy in January. Despite his disability, he asked
for no special treatment, and he passed both the prerequisite physical, which includes a 1.5 mile-run, and psychological exams. Only Bill Davis, the Academy’s director, and one of his fellow students knew that Sarro was disabled.
“He passed the initial test, and I said, ‘Can you do this?,’ and he said, ‘Yeah,’ and I just left it at that,” Davis said.
“He didn’t ask for anything.” Davis, who spent four years in the Marines and served in Vietnam, said he appreciates Sarro’s can-do attitude, an attitude which Sarro attributes to his five years in the Marines. Rather than dwell on
the negative, Sarro said he views obstacles as challenges that are meant to be overcome. “Anybody can adjust their
training and their success level,” Sarro said. “Get up, put one foot in front of the other and do it.”
Administrator/National Guardsmen Christopher Murphy; Karen
Kozachyn, dean of the College’s Workforce Development and
Community Education; and Dr. Jerry Parker, President.
Karen Kozachyn, dean of Workforce Development
and Community Education, recently received a federal
“Patriot Award” from the U.S. Department of Defense’s
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense in recognition of her support for her staff member Christopher
Murphy and his responsibilities as a member of the
National Guard. Murphy recommended Kozachyn for
the award citing Karen and her staff for valuing his military service and encouraging him to start the College’s
Veterans Club and serve as the Club’s advisor. Murphy
also said the College has been “completely accepting
and understanding of my drill weekend obligations
and has worked around my military schedule.” There
are 282 veterans enrolled in a variety of academic and
technical programs at the College. n
4
From 1998 to 2003, Sarro served in the Marines, and
from 2004 to 2005 he served in the National Guard
and was stationed for nearly six months in Iraq. While
on patrol in Iraq, two anti-tank bombs exploded under
his Humvee, forcing him to flee the vehicle. A firefight
ensued and he was shot in the leg. Back in the United
States, after many surgeries, he finally decided to have his
leg amputated. He now wears a prosthesis.
Sarro describes himself as “hardcore” about his training
regimen. He runs three or four times a week and brings
dumbells to his job as a paramedic for Mercy Fitzgerald
Hospital so that he can exercise in between emergency
calls. A graduate of the College’s Emergency Medical
Technician program in 2007 and a graduate of a paramedic school in West Chester in 2009, Sarro’s immediate
goal is to complete the College’s Police Academy, while
working part-time at the hospital. He then plans to work
part-time as a medic and part-time as a police officer.
Eventually, he would like to become a detective. n
Police Academy Student Michael Sarro with his sons, Michael, 5, and
Tyler, 1, at the Milky Way Farm in Chester County.
alumni awards and accolades
PTK Alums Back on Campus
for a Good Cause
The Alpha Tau Epsilon Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society hosted its annual induction ceremony on November 29 on the College’s Marple Campus. But the night prior, PTK hosted its first welcoming reception for more than 70 students, faculty and family members to celebrate their loved ones joining the world’s largest
international honor society for two-year colleges. It was a collaborative effort between current PTK student leadership, faculty advisors and two recent graduates who have launched an alumni affinity group for PTK members.
The new group is led by Lynda Lichti ’12 and Steffi Reinstein ’12, who want to both keep in touch with other PTK
graduates and support the Alumni Association. “Having active alumni representatives can help the current officers
when they are preparing for service and school-wide, year-long projects that are highly competitive,” Lichti said.
“We want to help them
build the team and become
more competitive at the
national and international
levels, as well.”
With more than 140 members, Alpha Tau Epsilon is
the largest student group
on campus. It is one of
approximately 1,200 PTK
chapters across the world.
Students with a grade point
average of 3.5, or better,
are encouraged to apply.
The PTK alumni group is
seeking volunteers. If you
have an interest, or would
like to reconnect, please
contact the Alumni Office
at 610-359-7399. n
Alumna Lynda Lichti ’12, a former Phi Theta Kappa secretary and member of the 2012 All-Pennsylvania
Academic Team, addresses current PTK officers (foreground) and guests at the College’s Marple Campus.
Alum Keeps Airways
Safe and Flights on Time
Bradley Heilenman ‘01, a Business Administration graduate, is a front line
supervisor for the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center based in Aurora,
Illinois. What follows is a question and answer with Heilenman about how
he came to be responsible for keeping the skies safe and flights on time for
thousands of commuters each day.
Q: Once you graduated from the College, did
you pursue further academic goals?
A:Yes, I continued my education at the
Minneapolis Technical and Community
College in Eden Prairie, Minn. After a
compressed year of specialized training and
testing, I acquired my En Route Air Traffic
Control Certificate in the fall of 2002. This
certificate allowed me the opportunity to
fast-track my hiring process with the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Seattle
Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) in
Auburn, Wash.
Q: Where are you now and what are you doing?
A:After nine years of being an En Route Air
Traffic Control Specialist, I have recently
been promoted to the position of Supervisory
Air Traffic Control Specialist (a.k.a. Front
Line Manager) at the FAA’s Chicago ARTCC
in Aurora, Ill. As Front Line Manager, I am
responsible for the supervision of 40 air
traffic controllers and their ongoing mission
to provide the safest and most efficient
movement of aircraft in the world.
Bradley Heilenman ‘01
Q: What is next for you professionally?
A:My short-term goal is to continue acquiring
the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to
become an Operations Manager. The FAA
has many opportunities for acquiring these
KSAs through training seminars, training
programs, online training classes, study
groups, mentoring programs, leadership
development planning, etc. Eventually, I
would like to be an Air Traffic Manager and
run my own facility for the FAA.
Q:What advice do you have for your fellow
alumni or current students?
A:Get focused. You need to adopt a lifestyle of
continuous learning. Your time at Delaware
County Community College is not just
something to write off your bucket list, but
the beginning of a whole life of learning.
With the current state of the job market,
those individuals who are always learning
tend to get the jobs and get the promotions.
More Alumni
Awards &
Accolades
• Stephen Brown ’80 was one of three runnersup for the 2012 Be Well Philly Health Hero
Challenge, sponsored by Philadelphia Magazine
and UnitedHealthcare. A former winner of
the College’s Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni
Award and a triathlon coach for The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society’s Team-In Training program,
Brown was awarded $250 to give to the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A survivor
of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Brown was
one of 16 semi-finalists for the Health Hero
award, which recognizes individuals who
make a difference in health and wellness in
Greater Philadelphia.
• Patrick Kilroy ’03, deputy chief of Collingdale
Fire Company No. 2, was among 15 department
and family members who donated and delivered
the department’s 1987 Hahn pumper (valued at
$5,000) and other equipment to Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department in Queens, N.Y.
last year in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Broad
Channel’s fire station took in five feet of water,
and lost two fire engines, two ambulances and
nearly all of its fire-fighting equipment. “We
were very well received, and they loved the
truck,” Kilroy said in a story in the Daily Times.
• Judy McCleary ’69 was featured last October
in a Media Town Talk profile. A member of the
College’s first graduating class, McCleary is on
the board of directors for the Bethel Preservation Society and is co-chair of Ridley Township’s
popular Founder’s Day event. She dresses in
Colonial garb and volunteers as a tour guide at
local historic sites. McCleary works for Ellucian
software as a manager of the College’s Banner
Application team.
•Randolph McGoldrick, a graduate of the College’s Municipal Police Academy, last December
was appointed unanimously by Brookhaven’s
Council as acting police chief, while longtime
Police Chief John Eller recuperates from surgery.
McGoldrick has served for 27 years on the
Brookhaven police force, 17 years as a patrol
officer and 10 years as an investigator.
•Robert Nutley ’91 was honored last November by the Springfield Township Board of
Commissioners for “exceptional” detective
work which led to a major federal sting of an
international car theft ring. After learning four
cars had been stolen from Spencer Chevrolet
on Baltimore Pike and another car stolen from
nearby Conicelli Toyota, Nutley developed a
source, who identified the place where stolen
cars from throughout the Delaware Valley were
kept before being shipped overseas. “Detective
Nutley did an exceptional job,” said Springfield
Township Police Chief Joseph Daly, adding that
Nutley’s work led to the formation of a local,
county, state and federal law enforcement task
force that exposed the car theft ring.
•Kelly Seace ’01 and Montess Trapp, both graduates of the College’s Municipal Police Academy, were among 46 recipients last September
of Awards of Valor from the National Liberty
Museum, sponsored by local Chevrolet dealers.
Upper Darby police officers Trapp and Seace
saved the life of a 4-year-old girl trapped inside
a burning house in Drexel Hill. Information
on the 2012 award recipients and their acts of
courage is on display at the museum at 321
Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
5
advancement news
A Time to Celebrate Scholarship Recipients and Donors
The Delaware County Community
College Educational Foundation
plays host each fall to a dinner
that introduces student scholarship
recipients to their benefactors. The
dinner recognizes the generosity
of scholarship donors and the
accomplishments of student
scholars. Approximately 230
guests attended the event held at
the Drexelbrook Corporate Events
Center on November 13.
The keynote address was given
by Lucille O’Neal, author,
motivational speaker and also
the mother of famed athlete
Shaquille O’Neal. Sharing her wit
and wisdom on the challenges
she faced growing up, O’Neal
balanced her struggles with her
accomplishments and those of
her famous son. Among those
accomplishments are obtaining
bachelor’s and master’s degrees as
a non-traditional student, as well
as volunteer work with numerous
charities dedicated to youth and
education.
Among the student speakers were
Wayne Kightlinger, a Liberal Arts
major from Swarthmore, who
received the Marc A. Bender
Endowed Scholarship for students
who have overcome hardship;
Marybeth Hamilton, a David’s
Bridal Scholarship winner and
mother of three young children
who balances work, family and
school as an Accounting major;
and Djakamadi Kaba, winner
of the Nazira Simone Obeid
Scholarship established by ESL
faculty member Rose Obeid and
her husband Dr. James Brown.
Kaba is majoring in Science for
Health Professions and expects
to pursue a baccalaureate degree
in Nursing.
Kathleen Breslin, Executive
Director of the Educational
Foundation, announced that
there were now 117 separate
scholarship programs and that 199
students received scholarships
during the current academic
year. “We do not take for granted
our longstanding scholarship
supporters, alumni, faculty and
corporations like Boeing, Sunoco,
Aqua Pennsylvania, Penn Machine
Works and others,” said Breslin,
who went on to welcome first-time
supporters attending the dinner. n
Wayne Kightlinger, speaking on behalf of his fellow
students, thanked the audience
and particularly the Bender
family, for their encouragement
and support.
Dinner Sponsor Boeing is represented by Phil Iannuzzi (far left) and Bob Cassidy (second from right) and Gerald Garten (far right).
They congratulate their students, all of whom are majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields.
Cassidy is a Foundation Board Member and Director of Plant Operations at The Boeing Company.
College alumna Sue Haindl meets student Andrea
Tucker, recipient of the Marie T. Haindl Memorial
Scholarship established in Haindl’s mother’s honor.
Don Soslow, Chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees,
welcomes the audience of students, donors, board
members, faculty and close constituents of the College to
the annual dinner.
Bill Sockwell, a Foundation board member
and alumnus, proudly accompanies his
daughter Monica D’Agostino to the dinner.
D’Agostino is an alumna of the College and
winner of the Kreitzberg Family Endowed
Scholarship.
Jill Spelina, College Mathematics Professor (center), meets Erin
Emmel (left), the George and Anna Hall Memorial Scholarship
winner, and Linda Johnson, recipient of the Donnelly-Barnes
Scholarship. The two scholarships were established by faculty
colleagues Dotty Russo and Lisa Barnes, respectively. Spelina
also funds a scholarship program.
Kathleen Breslin, Executive Director of the Educational
Foundation (center), congratulates Stephanie Germanoro
(left) and Marybeth Hamilton on being selected for David’s
Bridal Scholarships.
Kati Davis (center) is congratulated by Dr. Richard
DeCosmo, President Emeritus, and wife Dr. Arlene
DeCosmo, on being selected for the Richard D. DeCosmo
Presidential Scholarship.
6
Dr. Virginia Carter, Provost (left), congratulates
Gloria Ahn, one of two winners of the inaugural
Deans’ Scholarship, which Dr. Carter created as a
tribute to the College deans.
Lucille O’Neal (from left) exchanges pleasantries with student speakers, Djakamadi Kaba and
Marybeth Hamilton.
College Partners with
University of Pennsylvania in
Unique Fellowship Program
Delaware County Community College is the only community college in the state
participating in a postdoctoral fellowship program funded by a National Institutes of
Health (NIH) Institutional Research and Academic Career Development
Award. The program is supported by the NIH’s division of Minority
Opportunities in Research. Underrepresented minorities accounted for
fewer than 10 percent of the science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) faculty at U.S. research universities in 2006,
although they made up 28.5 percent of the general population.
The College has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) so
PENN-PORT
that the university’s postdoctoral fellows can have a mentored teaching
fellow Dr. C.
Nicole Sunnen
experience at a minority-serving higher education institution. Penn calls
its program the Postdoctoral Opportunities in Research and Teaching, or PENN-PORT.
The program is designed to enhance research-oriented teaching at the College, foster
collaboration in research and teaching between faculty at Penn and the College, and
encourage students at the College to pursue careers in biomedical research.
Postdoctoral fellows spend most of their time during the first year teaching at their matched
institution: first, an introductory Biology course, and then an advanced seminar that they
design themselves. In the final year, they devote themselves entirely to research. The
College has two PENN-PORT fellows: Dr. C. Nicole Sunnen and Dr. Danniebelle Haase. n
Visual Artist Brings LargerThan-Life Designs to Campus
Towering giants took over the Marple Campus last September compliments of
a mini-grant from the College’s Educational Foundation. The grant enabled the
College to invite visual artist Anna Hepler, renowned for her work with inflatable sculptures, to guide students and faculty on how to design, create and
install inflatable structures that could be displayed outside.
Hepler gave a one-hour lecture, then using her templates, the students created
the colossal inflatable sculptures using packing tape, thin painter’s plastic and a
bounce house blower. “We were calling them pierogies,” said Jaime Treadwell,
an assistant professor of Art, who arranged for Hepler’s visit. “The part I liked
best was the reaction of people.” The hands-on
experience engaged students and helped them
learn about assembling materials, formal aesthetics, installation art and public art, while allowing
them to also enjoy the reaction of fellow students
and people who passed by. n
Students set up the inflatable art they created in
front of the College’s Academic Building on the
Marple Campus.
New STEM Lecture Series, and
You Are Invited
The College is excited to have a new speaker series on campus
called the “STEM Lecture Series.” The brainchild of Assistant
Professor of Mathematics Sidney Kolpas, the lectures take
place once a month on a science, technology, engineering
or math (STEM) topic. The talks feature lectures from faculty
members, PENN-PORT fellows, STEM faculty from transfer
institutions and industry experts. The lectures are open to
students, faculty members, and the general community.
Dr. Danniebelle Haase, a PENN-PORT fellow and adjunct
Chemistry faculty member at the College, gave the first lecture
of the series last November in the Auditorium in the College’s
STEM building. The title of her talk was, “Tales from a Chemist:
Advancing Natural Products. Chemistry and the Synthesis of
Biological Interests.” Dr. Haase also answered questions from
the audience about Chemistry as a career. n
Students stretch to push up the
inflatable art work they created
with the help of guest visual artist
Anna Hepler.
Dr. Danniebelle Haase, a
PENN-PORT fellow and
adjunct faculty member, gives
the first lecture of the College’s
new STEM Lecture Series.
Volunteer Tutors Wanted for
GED Program
Interested in obtaining personal satisfaction and fulfillment by helping adult learners work toward accomplishing their academic goals? Then become a volunteer
tutor! The College’s GED Program is seeking volunteer tutors to assist adult learners
in improving their basic reading comprehension, writing and math skills. Tutors
will support GED classes that are funded through a grant from the Pennsylvania
Department of Education to support Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE).
Volunteers are needed to assist small groups at the following locations:
n
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College Offers Courses at
New Chester County Technical
College High School
The College has collaborated with the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) to
open a second technical college high school called the Brandywine Campus.
Located in Downingtown, it is similar to the first collaboration between the College
and CCIU in West Grove, a facility known as the Pennocks Bridge Campus.
One of the programs the College offers at the Brandywine Campus is a Culinary Arts
Certificate, under the expert instruction of Program Manager Chef Peter Gilmore,
former Chef de Cuisine for Philadelphia’s five-star rated French restaurant Le Bec-Fin.
Through a combination of academic courses, hands-on training and an optional
intern- or externship, students learn about food preparation, cooking, baking, customer
service, safety and sanitation, while working in a brand-new, professional kitchen.
For more information, call 610-359-5278. n
Downingtown Campus (100 Bond Drive, Downingtown, PA)
Exton Center (906 & 912 Springdale Drive, Exton PA)
Marple Campus (901 S. Media Line Road, Media, PA)
Pennocks Bridge Campus (280 Pennocks Bridge Road, West Grove, PA)
Upper Darby Center (1570 Garrett Road, Upper Darby, PA)
J. Lewis Crozer Library (620 Engle Street, Chester, PA)
As part of the ABLE grant requirements, volunteers are required to attend a training
session. Volunteers also must have a bachelor’s degree or be enrolled in a four-year
degree program. This includes community college students who are enrolled in a
transfer program that will lead to a four-year degree. If you are interested in this rewarding opportunity, please complete an interest form at: www.dccc.edu/ged-tutor.
For more information or questions, contact Jody Harman, GED Program
Coordinator, at 484-237-6244, or visit www.dccc.edu/ged. n
Chef Peter Gilmore fascinates students as he demonstrates cooking techniques at the College’s new culinary
arts facility in Chester County.
THE SPEAKERS BUREAU OF DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Speakers Bureau of Delaware County Community College was established in 1973 as a FREE public service to assist area organizations and
groups by providing informative, useful and thought-provoking presentations in Delaware and Chester Counties by faculty and staff.
Speakers offer a variety of topics, ranging from “The Urge to Perfection: Unblocking Writers, Painters, Filmmakers and Other Creative People”; “National
Debt and Its Effect on the Economy”; “Social Security and Its Future”; “Panoramic Photography”; and “The Birth of Bebop.” To see the full list of topics,
visit www.dccc.edu/speakersbureau. Please call 610-359-5134 for more information or to schedule a presentation.
7
page 2
page 4
Please recycle.
page 7
Inflatable Sculptures on
Campus; University of
Pennsylvania’s PENN-PORT
Fellowship Program
Educational Foundation
Dinner
page 6
page 5
Alumni Profiles – Air Traffic
Controller Brad Heilenman
Students Score Big as
Eagles Cheerleaders;
Disabled Vet Enters
Police Academy
page 3
Violinist David Kim Performs
at Grand Opening of
Large Auditorium
President’s Letter;
Campus News
page 1
Students in Their 70s Show
You’re Never Too Old to Learn
Change service requested
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
901 South Media Line Road
Media, PA 19063-1094
www.dccc.edu
2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Sunday, May 5
2 p.m.
Giuseppe Verdi’s
“Un Ballo In Maschera”
Sunday, April 21
W.A. Mozart’s
“The Great Mass”
Sunday, March 17
Stephen Sondheim’s
“Company”
Cash-only tickets at the door.
$20 adults; $15 seniors; and
$7.50 for students and children.
SpectiCast Series
Clipper Erickson, Piano
Sunday, April 28
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Sunday, April 14
Scott Davidson Trio
Sunday, April 7
Mendelssohn Club of
Philadelphia Performs
“BIG SING//Schubert”
Sunday, March 10
Ensemble 54
Sunday, March 3
Free Admission.
3 p.m.
3 p.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
3 p.m.
Concert Series
Season
The College hosts several concerts, SpectiCast HD performances,
visual arts exhibitions and a theatre production each semester,
2013
bringing the arts closer to home for residents of Delaware and Chester
Counties. All performances are held in the College’s newly renovated Large Auditorium
in the Academic Building on the Marple Campus, 901 S. Media Line Road in Media.
For the full spring season schedule and for more information, visit www.dccc.edu/the-arts.
The Arts at Delaware County
Community College Spring
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Media, PA
Permit No. 247
Spring 2013
An artist’s rendering of what the Veterans Memorial
in Newtown Square will look like once it is completed.
For more information about the memorial, or to buy a brick,
contact DCVMA at 610-400-8722 or visit
[email protected]. n
LaMonica said the College will utilize the memorial to teach students
about history through talks, lectures and site visits. The Delaware
County Historical Society’s Passport to History program will feature
tours for K-8 students in which the students will receive a passport that
they can have stamped each time they visit. Children who collect five
stamps in a 12-month period receive an award.
Students at the College have volunteered to fundraise for the memorial
project’s buy-a-brick campaign; have taken photos at fundraisers;
helped research the quotes used on the pillars of the memorial; and
helped design the decal for the memorial. “It’s a nice hands-on thing
for them,” said Jeffrey LaMonica, assistant professor of History at
the College, adding that he offers students an opportunity to receive
partial class credit for volunteering their time.
Assistant History Professor Jeffrey LaMonica (center) with other members of the Delaware County
Veterans Memorial Association’s Education Board at the Veterans Memorial site. Photo courtesy of
Jennifer Kim of MarpleNewtownPatch.com.
The creators of the memorial have enlisted the College, as well as
Neumann and Widener universities, to develop the educational
programs that will bring the memorial to life for area school students,
residents and other visitors. The programs will be based on grade
school, as well as college curriculums that focus on aspects of wars
between the Revolutionary War period and today, according to Karyn
Confer of the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association’s
Education Board (DCVMA).
Located at West Chester Pike and Alice Grim Boulevard, the memorial
is scheduled to open in May. It will include a fountain; a reflecting
pool; a colonnade consisting of nine columns each representing a
foreign war; an eagle statue perched on an obelisk; and black granite
walls etched with the names of those who answered the call to defend
America and an inscription that says, “Lest We Forget.”
Delaware County Community College is one of several colleges playing
a role in the creation of educational programs for the soon-to-beopened $1.5 million Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square.
Lest We Forget
A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College