Commencement: A Time to Celebrate and Congratulate

A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College
Summer 2015
Commencement: A Time
to Celebrate and Congratulate
This year’s Commencement saw the return of the Jedi as Canadian-born student
speaker Nathanaëlle Dubreuil reminisced about one of her
and her father’s favorite movies,
“Star Wars,” and the symbolism it
held for her at graduation.
“Unlike other Jedi, Luke started
training as an adult, not a child,”
Dubreuil said of the main character
in the movie. “He got a pretty late
start in achieving his dream, and I
identify with that. I started college
when I was 26 years old. Why so late?
I often ask myself that. The truth is that
I didn’t think I could succeed. I was too
scared of failing to even try.”
Thankfully, Dubreuil said, she conquered
her fear and enrolled at the College,
where she blossomed and became an
Commencement student
speaker Nathanaëlle Dubreuil.
All-PA Scholar, earning a full-tuition
scholarship to East Stroudsburg University
(see story on Page 5). Dubreuil was one of more than 1,400 associate degree and certificate
recipients at the 2015 Commencement ceremony held at Villanova University on May 21.
Commencement keynote speaker Jeanie Heffernan, senior vice president for Human Resources
at Independence Blue Cross, told the grads how she felt when she graduated from
the College in 1985. “When I look upon all of
you, I see a group of vibrant and
capable individuals who are eager
to take the next step in their careers.
I was you 30 years ago,” she said.
Heffernan, who received the 2015
Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni
Award at Commencement (see story
on Page 5), advised the graduates to
“embrace learning, value diversity,
be true to yourself and your values,
be generous in all that you do, and
adopt a positive mindset and attitude.
In short, focus not only on what you do,
but how you do it.” n
Commencement keynote speaker
Jeanie Heffernan ‘85 receives the Wong Moss
Outstanding Alumni Award from John Moss.
College Trustee Bernice Clark-Dickerson
and husband Vincent Dickerson
congratulate their daughter Katrina
Dickerson, who graduated from the
College with an Associate in Science
degree this year and plans to become
a nurse.
A Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of Delaware County Community College
Summer 2015
Delaware Valley University Now Offers
Bachelor’s Degrees at the College
Delaware Valley University and Delaware County
Community College signed an agreement in April
that will allow Delaware County Community College
students to earn a DelVal bachelor’s degree without ever
having to leave the community college’s campuses in
Delaware or Chester Counties.
DelVal (formerly DelVal College) plans to offer courses
this September at Delaware County Community
College’s Marple Campus and Exton Center. Bachelor’s
degree programs to be offered include business
administration, counseling psychology, criminal justice,
and media and communication. Student tuition for
the DelVal Degree Completion program will be $425
per credit, a reduced partnership rate that is less than
DelVal’s on-campus tuition. There are no additional fees.
To be eligible, students must have already earned an
associate degree from Delaware County Community
College and have met the minimum grade point
averages required for admission into DelVal’s specific
baccalaureate program. To further assist students with
the cost of earning their bachelor’s degree, students will
be able to take up to 12 additional credits at Delaware
County Community College beyond those required for
their associate degree at the community college tuition
rate. Those courses can be applied to the total credits
required for the DelVal bachelor’s degree.
The new on-site bachelor’s degree completion program expands on the Guaranteed Dual Admission and
Core-to-Core Transfer agreements that both institutions
signed in June 2014. “Our students will benefit greatly
Delaware County Community College President Dr. Jerry Parker signs a new transfer agreement with Delaware Valley University President Dr. Joseph
Brosnan that will allow students to earn DelVal bachelor’s degrees at the College.
from this opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at a reduced tuition rate without having to leave our College’s
campuses,” said Dr. Jerry Parker, president of Delaware
County Community College. “The convenience and cost
savings represented by this agreement greatly expand the
educational options available to our students.”
“The expansion of our partnership agreement with
Delaware County Community College is reflective of
Delaware Valley University’s commitment to being a
major resource for education and training in the region,”
said Dr. Joseph Brosnan, president of DelVal, which is
located in Doylestown, PA. n
Alumnus Speaks at United Nations on
World Autism Awarenesss Day
Patrick Viesti ’08 will never forget April 2, 2015 because it is the day he visited the
United Nations in New York City, not as a spectator, but as a guest speaker.
commit to hiring people with autism; and,
he cited Viesti as a prime example.
Viesti, who has the
autism spectrum disorder
Asperger’s Syndrome,
spoke on World Autism
Awareness Day to UN
officials and hundreds of
people in the audience
and online about how
people with autism can
be valuable employees
for businesses seeking
to succeed. Viesti
should know. He was
hired in March 2014 by
SAP America, Inc. and
works in the company’s
Newtown Square
headquarters as an
information technology
project associate.
“Patrick Viesti is an IT Project Associate at
SAP, a multinational software corporation,
where he has worked for nine months,”
Ki-moon wrote, adding that despite
research that suggests that people on
the autism spectrum have heightened
pattern recognition and logical reasoning,
as well as greater attention to detail,
more than 80 percent of adults with
autism are unemployed.
Patrick Viesti ’08 addresses United Nations delegates on World Autism
Awareness Day.
While speaking at the
UN was the day’s highlight, it did not end there. Impressed by Viesti, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon posted an Internet blog that day titled, “Why you should hire
people with autism,” in which he issued a call to action to businesses worldwide to
According to SAP, Viesti has thrived at
the company and is a bright, productive
and valued member of the staff. He also
is an advocate for SAP’s “Autism at Work”
Patrick Viesti speaking in 2013 at a Project Twenty1
Filmmaking Competition where he won a Best
program and has volunteered to share
Marketing Campaign award.
his perspective with news media, most
recently with the “CBS This Morning” television news show. In his spare time, Viesti also
is an award-winning marketing campaign film producer working for Inglorious Splicers,
an independent, Conshohocken-based film studio.
SAP started “Autism at Work” in India in 2012, but has since expanded the program
to the United States, Germany, Canada and Ireland, and this year is expanding it to
Brazil, the Czech Republic and other countries. SAP currently has 40 people who are
part of the program. n
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
president’s letter
campus news
The College is beginning a new planning cycle
for the years 2016-2020. To set the stage, we obtained independent information on the national
and regional economy and demographic trends,
as well as on trends in technology, educational
best practices, governmental requirements and
accreditation standards.
COLLEGE WELCOMES NEW DEAN OF COMMUNICATIONS,
ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Dr. Robert Kleinschmidt became the College’s new dean of
Communications, Arts and Humanities in March. Prior to
arriving at the College, he served as dean of Creative Arts at
Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio, and as both dean and
assistant dean of the School of Language and Arts at Ocean
County College in New Jersey. Kleinschmidt also has served as
executive director of the Kinser Jazz Festival and as a member
of the Music and Jazz Studies faculty at Casper College;
director of Instrumental Music at Tiffin University; and assistant
director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado.
Kleinschmidt also is an accomplished jazz musician.
Our most critical input comes from our College
community—students, faculty, staff, administrators and trustees for a perspective from within
the College; peer colleges, business and community groups, and our College Education Foundation board for a perspective from outside the
College. Based on the information we gathered,
we have identified key trends and challenges
that will frame our planning:
Communications, Arts
and Humanities Dean
Dr. Robert Kleinschmidt
STUDENTS AND FACULTY TAKE TIME TO FIND INNER-SELVES
ECONOMIC
• The economic status of the College’s students, our core constituency, has deteriorated because of the lingering effects of the Great Recession (family incomes flat or
declining and borrowing capacity reduced)
• The portion of the College’s budget funded by public funds continues to decline,
thereby increasing the proportion paid by students through tuition and fees
DEMOGRAPHIC
• The number of people in the traditional-age (age 18-24) student demographic is
declining by 4-6 percent over the next decade
• Meanwhile, students 24 and older are often already in the workforce and continue
to seek education that they can balance with their other life commitments
Twenty students joined College professors Francesco Bellini, Tanya Gardner and
Jeffrey LaMonica in March for a trip to the Blue Cliff Monastery Retreat Center in
the Catskill Mountains of New York. The trip was designed to introduce the students
to the practices of mindfulness and meditation through experiential learning. The
Buddhist retreat
center is nestled
on 80 acres
of beautiful
woodland in the
southern Catskill
region, just two
hours from New
York City.
TECHNOLOGY
Students and faculty
participating in a
retreat at the Blue
Cliff Monastery.
• Employers have raised the skill level required of new and existing workers
• New, rapidly emerging technologies will change students’ preferences and
expectations for educational delivery
GOVERNMENT/ACCREDITOR/PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS
ENTIRE COLLEGE READING ABOUT GARBAGE
• Governmental agencies and accrediting bodies are placing more emphasis on
assessment data, outcomes and accountability in achieving student success
In April, the entire College community nominated and voted on a book for the
2015-16 College-Wide Reading Program. The selected book is Garbology:
Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward Humes.
Garbology has applications in health care; Science, Technology, Engineering
Mathematics (STEM); business; social sciences; and the arts and humanities.
Students and staff are looking forward to a year of lively conversation, debate and
learning about the consequences of living in a culture of consumption and waste.
Led by the College-Wide Reading Planning Committee, the College is planning a
year of activities, events and action around this important book. To learn more about
the book, visit: www.edwardhumes.com/.
• Constituencies at all levels want to see the cost of higher education stabilize
To address these significant challenges, the Strategic Plan will be organized around
five key goals:
Student Success: Measuring achievement by improvement in student retention,
progression through programs of study and, ultimately, completion of a degree
or certificate
Growth: Extending our reach, despite adverse economic and demographic trends, to
steadily increase enrollment and ensure revenue sufficient to invest in student success
Effectiveness: Continuing our focus on delivering quality, affordable and responsive
educational opportunities in a technologically rich and supportive learning environment
Financial Strength: Maintaining a prudent financial structure and allocating resources toward uses that will cost-effectively meet the College’s mission
Employee Capacity and Commitment: Strengthening our investment in our
faculty and staff to enhance their satisfaction, commitment and capacity to learn and
contribute positively to the achievement of the College’s mission and goals.
Going forward, we will keep you informed of our progress toward the completion of
our Strategic Plan. I encourage you to share your views with us by contacting me at
president@dccc.edu.
CULINARY ARTS STUDENTS BAKE FOR A GOOD CAUSE
More than 20 students from the College’s Culinary Arts program recently created
several scrumptious desserts for the American Culinary Federation’s Chefs (ACF)
Food and Wine Festival, which took place on April 9 at the Desmond Hotel and
Conference Center in Malvern. The event raised funds for Exton-based organization
Home of the Sparrow and the ACF’s scholarship program.
Students from the College’s Baking and Pastry classes created a pastry buffet that
featured mini cheesecakes, financier, triple chocolate mousse cake and raspberry
gelée chiffon cake. Students accompanied instructor Lynn Lindquist to the event
and helped to serve the guests. The College’s Culinary Arts program is offered at the
Brandywine Campus in Downingtown, located within the Technical College High
School at 443 Boot Road. The space features a new kitchen with the latest equipment and is managed by renowned Philadelphia chef Peter Gilmore. Students can
choose to take an associate degree or certificate program and benefit from a flexible schedule and hands-on training. To learn more, visit www.dccc.edu/culinary.
Jerome S. Parker
president
your Connection is published by the Office of Institutional
Advancement, Delaware County Community College,
Media, PA 19063
Editor: Anthony Twyman
Writers: Kathleen Breslin,
Doug Ferguson, Catherine Hamby,
Daniel Kanak, Susan Rapp, Michelle
Tooker and Anthony Twyman
Photos: Rowland Barnum,
Catherine Hamby, Tom Kelly IV,
Anthony Twyman, 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.
06/15 29K
2
Students in the College’s Culinary Arts program at the American Chef Federation’s Food and Wine Festival,
which raised funds for Home of the Sparrow.
Alumna Scores Grand Slam
with Phillies Baseball Organization
Of the thousands of students who have graduated from the College, only one, Melissa
Maani ’94, is believed to have the unique distinction of being the proud owner of a
2008 World Series ring, professional baseball’s highest honor.
It is a fitting tribute to a woman who, as
manager of graphic design for the Philadelphia
Phillies major league baseball team, readily
attributes her success to hard work, a belief in
herself in the face of adversity and a network
of caring family, friends and supporters.
“I always believe I did not get here by myself,”
Maani said.
A close-up of Melissa Maani’s World
Series ring.
In recognition of her accomplishments, the
College awarded Maani its 2015 Alumni
Professional Achievement Award on June 5.
“Delaware County Community College gave me
the fundamentals necessary to strive for even
more than I ever thought I could be,” she says.
After Rosemont, she worked for Philadelphia-based Aramark making menu designs,
logos and graphics. Later, she responded to a non-descript newspaper ad that
turned out to be the job as graphic designer for the Philadelphia Phillies. Today,
working for the Phillies, she designs captivating graphics for banners, brochures,
logos, posters, giveaways, DVDs and
other memorabilia.
In her office, there is a framed photo of the
Phillie Phanatic, the team’s green, furry mascot,
immersed in water reaching for a baseball.
“This is your Masterpiece. You Rock!,” is written on the photo, a gift from the
mascot. Maani digitally created the illusion that makes the Phanatic look as if
he is swimming underwater reaching for the baseball. The idea came from the
“Nevermind” album cover of the rock band Nirvana, which depicts a naked baby
floating in water reaching for a dollar. The Phanatic’s gift, reminds Maani of what
she enjoys most about her job. “I play all day,” she said. n
It has not been an easy journey. Maani, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit
Disorder as an adult, grew up in a low-income, single-parent household dreaming that
she would one day play baseball. But girls did not play big league baseball; and while
she could throw, she could not hit. “I can throw like a champ … but if you ask me to
bat, I strike out every time,” she said.
After an average academic performance at Archbishop Prendergast High School,
Maani, a native of Aldan now residing in Chester County, enrolled at Delaware County
Community College’s former Collingdale Campus, where she found her academic
footing. She so appreciated English professor Richard Mulvaney, who she said wore
somewhat outdated ties, that she folded a navy blue, silk tie into her final exam
booklet and turned it in as a way of thanking him.
Not sure what she wanted to do after graduating, Maani held a series of jobs,
including pre-school teacher and optician for an eye doctor. It was while working
for the eye doctor that she discovered her calling, when he asked her to create some
ads for his business. Later, after the ads helped increase sales, she became manager
of three of his stores. At some point, she decided to go back to school, enrolling at
Rosemont College, where she graduated in 1998 with a degree in Fine Arts with a
concentration on graphic design.
Melissa Maani ’94 in the stands at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
An Alumna with a Lion Heart
Elvelyna Beaubrun ’12 is a bright, effervescent
young lady with a malady that oft times makes her
writhe in excruciating, debilitating pain. Yet, this
23-year-old Delaware County woman who suffers
from sickle cell anemia, graduated from the College
with high honors and is about to
graduate from Drexel University’s College of Nursing
and Health Professions next year.
“You can’t let it break you,” she says of sickle cell
anemia, a disease which causes the body’s red blood
cells to take an abnormal sickle, or crescent, shape
making it difficult for the blood to flow and causing
extreme pain during an anemia crisis.
A graduate of Archbishop Prendergast High School,
Beaubrun shares her indomitable spirit in a book
she wrote called “The Girl with the Lion Heart”
by Trafford Publishing, 2014. In it, she tells of her
ability to work and achieve through the pain as she
garnered trophy after trophy in sixth through eighth
grade for her public speaking prowess. She attributes
her ability to rise above the pain to faith, family,
friends, instructors, nuns and nurses. The book’s title
came from her dad, who nicknamed her “the girl
with the lion heart” because she does not let pain
stand in her way.
In the future, Beaubrun plans to be a nurse
practitioner or anesthetist. She wants to care for
others as the nurses at Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia (CHOP) cared for her. “They are like
family,” she said. “I grew up with the nurses.”
Front cover of
Elvelyna Beaubrun’s book
“The Girl with the Lion Heart.”
Impressed by her public speaking ability, CHOP
asked Beaubrun to be the spokesperson for
an experimental medical procedure which
they hope will eliminate sickle cell anemia.
Although the procedure involves transplanting
Elvelyna Beaubrun ’12 after graduating from Delaware County
Community College.
stem cells while a baby is still in the womb, CHOP
believes Beaubrun is the perfect spokeswoman.
She has twice been interviewed on TV news. One
interview was for Sickle Cell Research for a Cure
and the other interview was for her book. “I feel like
I can give so much to it because I know what it’s
like to be a patient,” she said. n
3
in the news
Students Lobby in Harrisburg for Community Colleges
Legislators in Harrisburg may have felt a bit
bombarded by students from the College on
April 14.
Ten students, accompanied by Communications
Associate Professor Tanya Gardner, joined
College President Dr. Jerry S. Parker, as well as
College trustees and administrators on visits
to legislators’ offices to lobby them on behalf
of the state’s 14 community colleges. Another
eight students joined Kathleen Schank, assistant
professor of Behavioral Science, and students
from Widener University to separately lobby
legislators for funding for programs that train
people to do social work. Five of the Widener
students, including 2014 All-PA scholar Sandra
Lewis, had previously transferred to Widener
from Delaware County Community College.
Students accompanied by Professor Gardner
included: Adam Alfonsi, Mawra Ben AhmedAli, Jaren Canty, Nafisa Chowdhury, Gregory
T. Johnson, Daniel Marshall, Matt Pellegrini,
MaryLeigh Sharp, Takeena White and Tashea
White. Students accompanied by Professor
Schank included: Mohammad Alkurdi, Courtney
Clark, Tiffany Jones, Brett McDevitt, Ali Mujahed,
Amanda Mulhern, Grace Tolvaisa-Weaver and
Danielle Wiegand. n
Students from the College and
Widener University met with
legislators to discuss funding for
social worker programs. The students
are shown here with Pennsylvania
Senators Dominic Pileggi and
Thomas McGarrigle on the
Senate floor.
Students accompanied President
Dr. Jerry Parker and College
trustees Stephen Gambescia
and Donald Heller to the
State House to meet with
legislators and discuss funding
for the state’s community
colleges. The students are
shown here with Pennsylvania
Senators Dominic Pileggi
(front row, second from left)
and Thomas McGarrigle
(front row, second from right)
on the Senate floor.
First Latino Conference at the College a Huge Success
As part of the College’s commitment to providing access and quality education to
Latino students, the College held a free “Beyond Multiculturalism: Empowering Latino
Students and the Community” conference on April 24th in the College’s STEM
Building on the Marple Campus.
It was the first conference held at the College specifically focused on Latino issues in
education and Latino youth leadership and advocacy, and it was sponsored by the
College’s faculty-led Latino Initiatives and Outreach Network (LION) in collaboration
with the College’s student-led Latin Flavor Club.
The first keynote presentation, “The Path to College Graduation: Latino Student
Success and Concerns,” by Dr. Idna Corbett, dean of Undergraduate Student Support
Services at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, focused on the factors influencing
the Latino achievement gap in college. The second keynote presentation, “A Conversation with Hernán Guaracao,” founder and CEO of AL DÍA, a Philadelphia-based,
Hispanic-owned news media organization, was held during lunch.
Members of the faculty-led Latino Initiatives and Outreach Network (LION) and the student-led Latin Flavor Club.
4
In addition, two panels of experts discussed the effects and factors influencing the
Latino achievement gap in college and the importance of youth leadership and
institutional support at college campuses. There also was a panel of Delaware County
Community College Latino student leaders who discussed their experiences at the
College and the role of student involvement and leadership in their academic success.
The conference concluded with a
screening of the 2014 award-winning
documentary “Underwater Dreams,”
which explores the story of a team of
undocumented Mexican high school
students, who enter the Marine
Advanced Technology Education
(MATE) Center’s International
Remotely Operated Vehicles
competition and win first place,
defeating teams from elite colleges,
such as the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. After the documentary
screening, students featured in the
film participated in a questionand-answer session via Skype with
conference participants. n
Hernán Guaracao, founder and CEO of AL DÍA, a Philadelphia-based, Hispanic-owned news media organization,
fields questions from Communications Professor Fernando
Benavidez and audience members at the conference.
Delaware County Community College Latino students participate in a panel discussion on their experiences
at the College and the role of student involvement and leadership in their academic success. From left to right:
Selena Mercado, graduate Katherine Cartagena, Jarely Becerra, Carla Yanes and Brenda Hernandez.
alumni awards and accolades
Two All-PA Students Selected as
Top Scholars
Students Elizabeth Betancourt of Clifton Heights and Nathanaëlle Dubreuil of Havertown recently were recognized by
the Phi Theta Kappa honor society of two-year colleges and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges for
academic achievement and community volunteerism.
Betancourt and Dubreuil were among 44 scholars from Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges honored on April 13 at
the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges’ annual banquet at the Hilton Harrisburg hotel in Harrisburg. The
scholars were named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, which requires students maintain at least a 3.5 grade point
average and be about to graduate with an associate degree. All-Pennsylvania scholars are eligible to receive a full-tuition
scholarship for up to two years at one of the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Elizabeth Betancourt, 34, of Clifton Heights has a 3.92 GPA, majored in Administration of Justice and graduated with an
Associate in Arts degree from the College in May. Betancourt plans to transfer to West Chester University in September
to study Criminal Justice. Her long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree and become a juvenile probation officer.
Betancourt is the vice president of scholarship for the Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, which involves
teaching and guiding fellow students through the often challenging task of applying for scholarships and attaining their
academic goals.
Nathanaëlle Dubreuil,
28, of Havertown has
a 4.0 GPA, majored in
Mathematics/Natural
Science and earned an
Associate in Science
degree in May. Dubreuil
plans to transfer to East
Stroudsburg University
where she will major in
Biology, with a minor
in Chemistry. After
completing her bachelor’s
degree, she plans to earn
a master’s degree and
a Ph.D. in Biology and
then conduct research
and teach college-level
Biology. “I want to help
students develop trust in
their ability to learn,” she
says. A native of Montreal,
Canada, Dubreuil’s first
language is French. She
learned to speak English
about a decade ago. At
the College, Dubreuil is
a statistics tutor and is
secretary for the Alpha
Tau Epsilon chapter of
Phi Theta Kappa. n
Alum Receives
$25,000 Grant
for Theater
Production in
New York
Dan McCormick ’99 received a $25,000 grant
in March from the Arcus Foundation for his
two-character play, “Homeless and How We
Got That Way.” The play is a one-set drama
that explores the lives of homeless people and
how they became homeless. It focuses on the
characters Eloise and Sidney and sheds light
on people like them who have had dreams,
families, careers and love, yet tragically
succumbed to the weight of the world.
The play was workshopped last year at
The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors
Workshop, of which McCormick is a
member. It also had two staged readings
at Saint Malachy’s—The Actors’ Chapel in
Manhattan in April 2014 and The New Jersey
Repertory Company in June 2014 in its
Monday night Reading Series of New Plays.
“Homeless and How We Got That Way”
is being produced as a 16-performance
Actors’ Equity Association approved
showcase by The Roust Theatre Company
at the Access Theater, 380 Broadway,
4th floor, New York, N.Y. It will run from
mid-October through mid-November.
For tickets, visit www.rousttc.com. n
Elizabeth Betancourt, President Dr. Jerry Parker and Nathanaëlle Dubreuil at the All-Pennsylvania Awards Banquet
in Harrisburg.
Playwright Dan McCormick ‘99
2015 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award Winner
Regina “Jeanie” Heffernan is senior vice president, Human Resources at Independence Blue Cross. In this role, she is responsible for the
people strategy of the Independence Blue Cross Family of Companies. A trusted advisor to senior leadership, she provides strategic
counsel regarding talent, organizational alignment and culture.
A champion for increasing focus on talent as a driver for organizational success, Heffernan oversees IBC’s Benefits, Talent Management,
Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, Independence University, Associate Communications and Engagement and Human
Resources Operations, Metrics and Technology functions. She graduated from the College in 1985 with an Associate in Arts degree in
Liberal Arts. Her husband, son and sister also are graduates of the College.
Heffernan has 25 years of experience in health care insurance, banking and technology. She has held a role in almost every HR
discipline. She joined IBC in 2011. Prior to IBC, she was senior vice president for Human Resources for Keystone Mercy Health Plan/
AmeriHealth Mercy Health plans. Prior to that, she was the chief people officer for CoreTech Consulting Group, an information
technology solutions company. Earlier in her career, she was vice president of Human Resources for CoreStates Financial Corporation.
Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni
Award winner Jeanie Heffernan, senior
vice president, Human Resources at
Independence Blue Cross.
In her spare time, Heffernan has served on the boards of the People’s Emergency Center and The Veterans Group, a nonprofit group home
for veterans. Currently, she is on the board of Graduate! Philadelphia, which helps adults complete college. For more than a decade,
she has been an active volunteer with Rebuilding Together Philadelphia. She also coached track, basketball, softball and soccer for her
daughter’s sports teams for more than 10 years with the Aldan Girls Club. n
5
advancement news
50th Anniversary on the Horizon
The College will celebrate its 50th anniversary in
2017 and has launched a fundraising campaign to
prepare for the next chapter in its history. So far,
28,000 alumni have been solicited and asked to
5,000
$
4,000
$
3,000
$
2,000
$
1,000
$
Alumni
Challenge
Grant
respond to challenge grants from fellow alumni. Over
the next three years, three alumni have offered up to
$5,000 as a matching gift to alumni who contribute to
the College for the first time.
In reflecting on its first 50 years, the College has a lot
to be proud of and has much to show for it. While
public support has played the primary role in the
College’s growth and expansion, private support has
greatly enhanced what the College has been able to
accomplish, thanks to many loyal supporters.
At this important milestone in the history of the College,
we are asking all friends and family of the College to
make a contribution. Your gift will be well invested in
STEM Career Night Offers
Options and Opportunities
The 2015 annual STEM Career Night attracted 200 high school and college students,
their parents, as well as potential students to an agenda packed with information
relevant to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academic and
career paths. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with 17 local employers and 11
local colleges and universities to which students frequently transfer for bachelor’s
degrees in STEM disciplines. Attendees were also informed of how to apply for
scholarship funds totaling $100,000 for students enrolled in STEM majors in fall 2015.
Kicking off the event was a welcome by President Dr. Jerry Parker. “Whether you
pursue a career in the natural sciences as a conservationist, in technology as a
game programmer, in engineering designing bridges, or in mathematics deciphering
encryption methods—you will earn about 70 percent more than the national average.
And, the demand for workers in STEM fields is also higher than the national average.”
The impact of that message was repeated in the keynote address of Michael Fitzgerald,
president and chief executive officer of Acero Precision, a manufacturing firm based in
Newtown Square that engineers products for the medical, motor sport and life science
industries. A mechanical engineering major and business minor from Drexel University, Fitzgerald launched his business in his dorm room while most of his classmates
were still preparing their resumes.
Fitzgerald, who helped to sponsor the career night, has made it his mission to develop
the next generation of manufacturing engineers. The focus of his remarks was on the
abundant opportunities in the manufacturing industry, with generous benefits offered
by most employers.
Attendees also benefited from the experiences of a panel of faculty and students led by
Sandra Devenny, associate professor of Biology, and Robert Suran, assistant professor
of Biology. Student Biology majors Liliana Lobaton Devers and Antonio Thompson
also participated. n
scholarships, facilities,
or, if unrestricted, in
emerging opportunities. There is no
better investment for your philanthropic dollar than
the Delaware County Community College Educational
Foundation. And, there is no better time than now to
contribute to the College’s future.
You may pledge your gift over three years, or make
a gift today via PayPal by visiting the Educational
Foundation’s website at www.dccc.edu/makeagift.
If you, or your spouse, work for a matching gift
company, you will be able to determine eligibility and
guidelines by entering the company name. n
Phoenixville Community
Health Foundation Supports
Phoenixville Residents
Since 2005, the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation has provided half-tuition
for students enrolled in health-related or public safety academic programs attending any of the College’s campuses. Overall, the Foundation has awarded $260,000
and supported 354 students. A $25,000 grant awarded in March will provide for the
students enrolling in fall 2015 and spring 2016 classes in relevant majors.
“With tuition in non-sponsoring districts double that of sponsoring school
districts, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation has been an equalizer for
Phoenixville residents,” said Kathleen Breslin, executive director of the College’s
Educational Foundation. Ever since the College opened its first campus in
Downingtown, the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation became aware
of the cost of tuition for Chester County residents and has stepped up to offset the
costs of tuition in Phoenixville.
As enrollment
of Phoenixville
residents has
increased over
the years, Dr.
Louis Beccaria,
president and chief
executive officer
of the Foundation,
and his board
members have
increased the
pace of their
grant awards.
The mission of
the Phoenixville
Foundation is
to improve the
health and quality
of life in their
community. n
Dr. Louis Beccaria, president and chief executive officer, Phoenixville
Community Health Foundation, congratulates nursing student Amy
Hitchcock-Light of Phoenixville on receiving a scholarship at the College’s
Educational Foundation Scholarship Dinner in October 2014.
PECO Recognizes
50th Anniversary
In recognizing the contribution of community colleges to the region, PECO has awarded
the Delaware County Community College Educational Foundation a $25,000 grant for
scholarships. Targeting students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic
(STEM) majors, the scholarships will be presented in $500 increments to 50 students in
the 2015-2016 academic year.
Michael Fitzgerald, president and chief executive officer of Acero Precision, speaks at the College’s STEM
Career Night.
6
At PECO’s request, the majority of the scholarships will be awarded to residents of Delaware County, with a balance of 25 percent for residents of Chester County, reflecting
the current geographic composition of the student body. Kathleen Breslin, executive director of the Educational Foundation, said that PECO also has a preference for minority
populations, including women, veterans and non-traditional students. Students must
have a 3.0 GPA to be considered and financial need must be documented. Breslin
added that a special event may be held in the fall to honor the PECO scholars. n
From Crack House to Frat House—
the Incredible Story of 2015 Graduate
Michael Bates
It is a wonder student Michael Bates is alive, let alone an honor roll student and recent
graduate. Alcohol, cocaine, crack, crystal meth–Bates, now age 48, used them all at
one time or another, starting when he was just 11 years old and continuing well into
his adult years. A victim of sexual abuse at a young age, Bates says he used drugs to
escape and soon became an addict.
It was not until 2011 that Bates received a wake-up call when his mother died.
“Mom’s death left me with courage to get back what was rightfully mine and take this
world on ….,” he says on his blog site. By the fall of 2012, he had enrolled at Delaware County Community College. A year later, he attended a Narcotics Anonymous
convention in Philadelphia, which cemented his decision to stay clean.
His life spiraled out of control putting him in touch with the underbelly of society and
landing him in crack houses and other seedy places in New York and Philadelphia. “I
sometimes wonder, what with all that has transpired in my life, why the hell am I still
around,” Bates says on his Internet blog site, “Confessions of an Angry Gay Male.”
“When I came in, I fell in love with learning,” Bates said of the College. “When I’m at
home, I don’t feel alive; when I’m here, I feel alive.” In particular, he credits Mathematics professor Grace Jones and counselor Ryan Jeral with helping him as he says
they would not let him give up on himself. Others also helped including Bernadette
Mills, a former counselor in the College’s Act 101 program, and assistant professor of
Allied Health Susan Scalzi. “This student has been through so much and to accomplish
what he has is an inspiration for others,” Scalzi said.
Over the years, Bates hopscotched across the country. A native of Drexel Hill, he
moved to Appleton, Wisconsin with his parents for a few years, but was expelled from
a high school there in the 11th grade. He moved with his parents to New Jersey, where
he attended Ocean City High School, but that only lasted a few months before he
decided to leave his parents and move to New York City.
In New York, he volunteered for the Gay and Lesbian Youth of New York, an advocacy
organization, while working for a trendy furniture gallery and living with two roommates. He also was involved in the Institute for the Protection of Gay and Lesbian
Youth. For a brief period, Bates also attended the Harvey Milk School in New York,
named after the late gay-rights advocate and groundbreaking San Francisco politician.
But he soon succumbed to the fast-paced, New York night club life and fell even more
heavily into addiction.
He eventually left New York and returned to the Philadelphia area, where he held a
series of jobs, such as customer service at an Atlantic City casino, hairdresser on the
Main Line, bartender and data entry clerk for TV Guide magazine. All the while, he
kept dabbling in alcohol and drugs. In 2003, with the help of Narcotics Anonymous,
he kept drug and alcohol free for two years, only to
relapse in 2005.
Now, two years off drugs and alcohol, Bates, a Psychology major and winner of the
College’s Optimist Award, was accepted for transfer to Saint Joseph’s, Temple and
Drexel Universities. This fall, he plans to transfer and major in Behavioral Health
at Drexel, where he received a scholarship. Eventually, he wants to earn a master’s
degree in Social Work, then work as a therapist and help troubled youth. “I want to
give back,” he says. A gifted writer, he also plans on using his life experiences and
much of the diary
posts he has shared
on his blog to write
a book. He jokingly
says he may call it,
“From Crack House
to Frat House.” n
Student Michael Bates receives tutoring
in the College’s Mathematics Lab in the STEM Center.
Graduate Michael Bates
at Commencement.
ALUMNI – FIND
YOURSELF HERE
Visit the Alumni and Friends website at www.dccc.edu/alumni-friends
and browse through our scrapbook. If you find a photo of yourself, tell
us what you have been up to and you will receive a 50th anniversary
memento and
a brief profile
in the alumni
newsletter. n
At Commencement, Jaime Treadwell (left), an assistant professor of Art, receives the College’s
Gould Award for outstanding teaching from Donald Heller, vice chair of the College’s
Board of Trustees.
Recognize anyone
in this photo from
the College’s
Student Lounge,
circa 1970s? This
is an example of
the kind of photo
you will find in the
College’s online
scrapbook.
7
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
Serving Delaware and Chester Counties
Change service requested
Brainstorming in Phoenixville
Delaware Valley University Now Offers
Bachelor’s Degrees at the College;
Alumnus Speaks at United Nations on
World Autism Awareness Day
page 1
President’s
Letter; Campus News
page 2
Alumna Scores Grand Slam with
Phillies Baseball Organization;
An Alumna with a Lion Heart
page 3
Students Lobby in Harrisburg for
Community Colleges; First Latino
Conference at the College a
Huge Success
page 4
Two All-PA Students Selected as Top
Scholars; 2015 Wong Moss Outstanding
Alumni Award Winner; Alum Receives
$25,000 Grant for Theater Production
in
New York
page 5
Area business leaders, community organizers and the College’s
educational partners gathered for a “Breakfast and Brainstorming
Session” on March 18 at the College’s Phoenixville Campus,
inside the Technical College High School Pickering Campus on
Charlestown Road. Hosted by Dr. Shantelle Jenkins, director of
the College’s Phoenixville Campus, the session provided an
introduction to the College’s newest campus, including insight
into the student experience. Participants also took part in breakout
sessions, giving them a chance to discuss educational issues unique
and important to northern Chester County. To learn more about
the College’s Phoenixville Campus, visit:
Dr. Shantelle Jenkins,
www.dccc.edu/phoenixville. n
director of the College’s
Phoenixville Campus.
50th Anniversary on the Horizon;
PECO Recognizes 50th Anniversary;
Phoenixville Community Health
Foundation Grant; STEM Career Night
Offers Options and Opportunities
page 6
From Crack House to Frat House—
the Incredible Story of 2015 Graduate
Michael Bates; Alumni—
Find
Yourself Here
page 7
Participants share ideas at the
Breakfast and Brainstorming Session at the College’s Phoenixville Campus.