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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 n n n n n

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.

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Please recycle.

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Inflatable Sculptures on Campus; University of Pennsylvania’s PENN-PORT Fellowship Program

Educational Foundation Dinner page 6

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Alumni Profiles – Air Traffic Controller Brad Heilenman

Students Score Big as Eagles Cheerleaders; Disabled Vet Enters Police Academy

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Violinist David Kim Performs at Grand Opening of Large Auditorium

President’s Letter; Campus News

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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