大发六合彩Student Success Stories
Shane Justice
Shane Justice of West Chester landed a summer internship in digital marketing and merchandising through a Business Communication class at the College. 鈥淢y professor, Dr. Lauren Donovan, invited students to participate in a meeting with DCCC's Business Advisory Board. At the meeting she connected me with local business leaders, including Rosati Water Ice owner Richard Trotter. Rich graciously offered me an internship. He allowed me to combine my marketing background as a realtor with knowledge gained in my 大发六合彩business courses to take ownership of an email marketing campaign promoting the launch of a new Rosati business initiative.鈥�
That experience helped Justice land his current internship鈥攁s a personalization and dynamic digital marketing intern with SAP America Inc. in Newtown Square. After he graduates from 大发六合彩in December, he鈥檒l complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree at Drexel University, with a major in Marketing and a co-major in Business Analytics. He plans a career in Data Marketing, interpreting and analyzing data to inform personalized digital marketing efforts. 鈥湸蠓⒘喜蔳ave me access to real-world experiences that let me combine my classroom curriculum with hands-on work skills, making me a stronger candidate for job applications, and a more well-rounded person overall,鈥� Justice says. 鈥淲hat I鈥檝e enjoyed most is the diversity. We all come from different backgrounds yet share a common goal鈥攖o educate ourselves to pave the way for bigger and better things. I find it inspirational.鈥�
Chloe Johnson
Chloe Johnson is going straight from community college to the Ivy League. She was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where she will complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree. Johnson earned her associate degree in Business Administration from 大发六合彩in May 2024 while working full-time. Eighteen months ago, after a decade in the culinary industry, she was at a crossroads. 鈥淚 decided to take the chance to pursue new goals and revisit shelved dreams,鈥� she said. 鈥湸蠓⒘喜蕄rovided me with a fresh start and reignited hope that my goals are attainable.鈥�
She was named to the 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, an award that came with a two-year, tuition-free scholarship to attend any one of the 10 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities. Encouraged by 大发六合彩faculty to explore all transfer scholarship opportunities available to community college students, Johnson applied to and was accepted to both the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University. All of her 大发六合彩credits will transfer to Penn. As a non-traditional student balancing full-time work and studies, 鈥淚 found comfort and support within the 大发六合彩community,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭he College gave me confidence. It was one of the first places I felt really seen, where my hard work was being recognized.鈥澨�
Elif Isman
Elif Isman left her native Turkey to pursue a better education in the U.S. She chose to raise her children first, but never lost sight of her educational dreams. She finally returned to college鈥攁nd is thriving as a Computer Science major. 鈥淎s a hesitant mother starting back after many years and a considerable break from education, I chose to enroll at 大发六合彩because the environment is very supportive,鈥� says Elif, whose three children range in age from 14 to 22. 鈥淭he aim of the faculty and staff is to help. From the beginning, I could see it in their eyes. I thought, 鈥楾his is a very good atmosphere.鈥欌��
After Elif earned an A-plus in her first Computer Science class, her professor, Glenys Gustin, Ed.D., recommended her for a position as a paid peer tutor. Elif enjoys helping her fellow students learn coding. 鈥淢y peer tutoring job is very special; I feel that I am giving back.鈥� She鈥檚 taken taking JAVA classes and鈥攅ncouraged by another Computer Science professor, Michael Whitehead鈥攖ackled a class in Cloud Computing, a career field she may pursue. 鈥淎rtificial Intelligence is becoming essential right now, and Professor Whitehead has made students aware of the many job opportunities in Cloud Computing,鈥� Elif says. Grateful for the support she has received since returning to college, she says, 鈥湸蠓⒘喜蔵s like family.鈥�
Jay Rhoades
A Mathematics/Natural Science major focused on Biology, Rhoades was one of seven 大发六合彩students selected to take part in advanced biomedical research for a summer as part of the highly competitive Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training Program. While at 大发六合彩Rhoades served as a work-study student with the Earth and Space Science department as a laboratory assistant, assisting in creating microscope adapters that provide a higher level of accessibility to students in Biology courses.听
Rhoades was named to the 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team in recognition of his academic achievement, leadership and community service. The award came with a two-year, tuition-free scholarship to attend any one of the 10 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities. He will attend West Chester University to major in Cellular and Molecular Biology. After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree, he plans to attend graduate school related to medicine and pathology and hopes to work in a pathology lab. 鈥淢y goal is to work in the field of medicine. My experience volunteering in the emergency room has confirmed it is where I belong. Understanding and diagnosing disease in the pathology lab is where I see myself.鈥�
Ben Katze听听
Ben Katze considered the traditional four-year college route after high school but decided to reduce his higher education costs by enrolling in the short-term Carpentry certificate program at the College. He took classes in the mornings at 大发六合彩and worked for a local remodeling company in the afternoons. In his spare time, he joined a local hockey league.
Thanks to a tip from a hockey teammate鈥檚 mother, Katze applied for and received a Kelleher Connect Career Opportunity scholarship, which allowed him to earn an industry-recognized Carpentry certificate free of charge in about a year. Kelleher Connect was created at the College by wife and husband philanthropists Sharon and Andrew Kelleher to help offset the costs for students interested in workforce training and skilled trades careers. 鈥淚 saw the demand and how well the trades pay,鈥� Katze says. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to the Kellehers for the scholarship opportunity.鈥�
Erisa Murati听
Erisa Murati graduated from 大发六合彩in May 2024 with an associate degree in Science for Health Professions. During her time at the College, she worked part-time as a laboratory assistant and served as an officer of the Student Government Association. She was also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.听
Murati was awarded the Neumann University Full-Ride Scholarship, which will cover the full cost of tuition for two years at Neumann for her to complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree. Her goal is to become a physician.听
大发六合彩provides one of the most affordable ways to start a post-secondary education. Among the benefits of attending the College is the range of transfer agreements to four-year institutions to continue the pursuit of higher learning.
Joshua Contrucci听
鈥淢y goal is to obtain a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Meteorology and/or Atmospheric Sciences,鈥� says Joshua Contrucci. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to work for the National Weather Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.鈥� He is off to a great start. He earned an associate degree in Science, Mathematics/Natural Sciences and this past spring presented research at an academic conference, the 2023 Geological Society of America Section Meeting in Reston, Va. He shared research conducted under the guidance of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics professors Daniel Childers, Ph.D. and Christopher Etherington, Ed.D. 鈥淒r. Childers was a great mentor! I learned about the research process and about what the soil and terrain on campus鈥攕pecifically in and around the creek next to the STEM Center鈥攊s like. I really enjoyed the smaller class sizes in the Sciences. It made it easy to form relationships with my professors and get one-on-one assistance.鈥澨�
Alana Robinson听
鈥淚'm proud to say the College has shaped who I am as a student,鈥� says Alana Robinson. A passionate believer in the power of community colleges, she assisted the College president in advocating for the Commonwealth鈥檚 15 community colleges at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. and she delivered remarks at the May 6 Groundbreaking Ceremony for the College鈥檚 new Southeast Campus in Drexel Hill. 鈥淭his new full-service campus will continue the legacy of serving students in the heart of Delaware County as well as bring new students to the table by providing access to those who need it.鈥� Robinson will attend Drexel University this fall as a recipient of The Drexel Promise scholarship for community college students. Her goal is to become a lawyer and to advocate for criminal justice reform.听
Tadiwanashe Tuwacha听
鈥淏eing part of the College community broadened my intellectual capacity through its immense availability of growth opportunities,鈥� says Tadiwanashe 鈥淎ntony鈥� Tuwacha. As a student ambassador and student mentor, 鈥淚 had the chance to explore and share information about the many resources the College offers its students. I was selected along with one of my mentees to represent the College at the 2022 Presidents鈥� Round Table Men of Color Student Leadership Institute held in Pittsburgh. I also served as president of the Business Society鈥攐ne of my best College experiences, as I was able to implement what I had learned in class by brainstorming and executing fundraising ideas for the club.鈥澨�
He earned an associate degree in Business Administration and was awarded a Neumann University Full-Tuition Partnership Scholarship, available to community college students. 鈥淚 am excited to begin my studies in Computer Information Systems at Neumann this coming fall. I will also be minoring in accounting and aspire to be a Certified Public Accountant.鈥� 听
L. Patrick Weishew听
鈥淲hat I enjoyed the most about majoring in History at 大发六合彩were the teachers,鈥� says L. Patrick Weishew, who majored in History. 鈥淎ll of my professors were very well versed in their knowledge of their areas of specialty, and it made the classes very enjoyable. Most of my history classes had lively class discussions, an upbeat environment, and great narration from the teachers.鈥� While at the College he was a member of the College鈥檚 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Alpha Tau Epsilon Chapter. He graduated in May 2023 with an associate degree in History and was recognized with the Langford A. Wilson History Award for academic excellence. He was awarded the TAAC Hailey King Memorial Scholarship, a merit-based transfer scholarship, and is now attending West Chester University, where he plans to major in History with Social Studies Teacher Certification.听
Ariel Whaley听
鈥淚 would like to be able to connect communities with the land they live on to ensure its conservation for future generations,鈥� says Ariel Whaley. After earning an associate degree in Science for Health Professions, she is headed to West Chester University to enroll in its Biology with concentration in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation Program. She plans to pursue a career in environmental education and to help guarantee it will someday be a requirement in public school curriculums. She enjoys tutoring children for a nonprofit organization called Mighty Writers, a bilingual program specifically tailored for Spanish-speaking students. She was a member of the College鈥檚 Phi Theta Kappa honor society and was named to the 2022-2023 All-Pennsylvania (All-PA) Academic Team, which Phi Theta Kappa and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges sponsor, earning two years of free tuition to West Chester.
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