Alumni Award Winners: Where Are They Now?

James Pearson

"One of my favorite memories at Delaware County Community College was writing and being a member of the Communitarian newspaper staff. I enjoyed the friendships that I created and being able to see my stories featured in the college newspaper. I am proud of the opportunity that I received from having a great education at Delaware County Community College. "

Scott Neely

40th Anniversary Rising Star Award

"Since receiving the Rising Star Award in 2007, I'm still drawing and in my 17th year of drawing Scooby-Doo for Warner Bros stuff. I also have worked with licenses for Disney such as Phineas and Ferb and Power Rangers Jungle Fury and several Dreamworks licenses that include: Shrek, MegaMind, Kung Fu Panda, Penguins of Madagascar, and Puss in Boots.

Over the last three years, I've drawn Scooby-Doo for Capstone Publishing and have close to 30 Scooby books that I've drawn.

Probably getting the Rising Star Award was my favorite moment as my father was alive to see me receive it."

Dori Lawson '03 DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC

2014 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

"I currently live in the home of my ancestors, Adams County, PA. I live and work in the historic center of Gettysburg and now enjoy walking everywhere from my job as a Nurse Practitioner with Wellspan Cardiology to the grocery store. My family moved here from Germany in the 1750s and my Grandmother, also a nurse, grew up not far from here. I am happier and healthier at 60 than I have been in decades. I continue to love my work, mentoring student nurses and nurse practitioners and encouraging students to avail themselves of the high quality Community College education as I did at DCCC. Oh, and I do sneak in a trip to California to visit my granddaughter once a year! I look forward to seeing you in September."

Jim Benoit '95

2006 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

Jim Benoit was in the construction industry full time for 32 years. Jim has a degree in Applied Sciences in Construction Technology from the College, earning an Excellence Award for Construction Technology and graduating with high honors. His design/build construction company was in the top 50 in the country for residential remodeling and was consistently ranked in the top 200. Benoit & Czarnecki Design/Construction won numerous awards for their work at the local, regional, and national level.
After closing his design/build construction company of 18 years last year, Jim Benoit currently only does consulting and construction management on a select basis part
time.

He launched Cajun Arms five years ago and is a Federal Firearms Licensee, selling firearms and accessories and performing gunsmithing and custom enhancements. In tandem with the retail part of the business, Jim teaches defensive firearms classes full time. He has earned many teaching certifications including NRA Advanced Instructor, ALICE, PPCT, and USCCA Instructor. Jim is also an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer. He teaches at many local ranges and also owns and teaches at his range in central PA, Tuscarora Tactical Training.

Rena Huntsman '78

1996 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

"After graduation from DCCC, I attended The Insurance Institute of America and received an Associate in Risk Management (A.R.M.) degree. For seventeen years, I worked for Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1000 company in Malvern as their Corporate Risk Manager where I helped manage the global insurance program. As a benefit of that position, I was able to visit Vishay's factory worldwide including Israel, Portugal, Germany, India, Singapore and China. I was a member of the national Risk and Insurance Management Society. I retired in 2008. Presently, I work as a Caregiver for the elderly. I also volunteer at Longwood Gardens as a Garden Ambassador and for the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville as a ticket seller. I am also taking courses at the Lifelong Learning Institute at Immaculata University in Malvern. My favorite pastime in international travel.​"

Keith Huss

2004 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

"I am retired and keeping busy renovating our houses in Concord, MA and Bronxville, NY. One of my hobbies was always home renovation and after leaving work a few years ago, I am able to devote all my time to it. A fairly recent bit of fun was thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (all 2100-ish miles of it) with my son, Matthew.

I have attached three photos. One from DCCC days, one from the last day of our hike at the summit of Mt. Katahdin, ME, and another recent one without the beard I grew during the 6 month hike.

My favorite memories from DCCC are two professors: Stan Cherim and Dave Gates. In my many, many years of school post-DCCC, I never met more dedicated, inspiring mentors. They are the reason I pursued Chemistry and I will never forget them."

 

Louis Bellace '88

2014 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

“I am currently employed as a Critical Care Transport Nurse for Nemours Children’s Hospital Transport Team in Wilmington Delaware. I started working there in October 2016 and continue to provide Neonatal and Pediatric Critical care transport to kids of all ages in the tri-state area. I have been employed at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania’s PennStar Flight program as a Flight Nurse and I am also still serving as a Lt Col, Flight Nurse in the USAF reserve. I am living in Upper Providence Township, Delaware County with my Wife Cindy and 2 Boys CJ and Justin. We are grandparents of two wonderful girls Evelyn and Natalie from my Daughter Kate."

Favorite Memory

“My Favorite memory has to be the time I spent here learning Emergency response in EMT school and my firefighter training all taught onsite at the college.  An added bonus-My son Justin nominated me for the Wong Moss award by way of his scholarship application that year.  Had he not mentioned me in his application and hoping to try and follow my example after graduation, I would not be part of this group today.”

Denise Romanelli

2012 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

Denise Romanelli has 20 years experience in the field of training and development creating and delivering educational programs for public and private sectors. She currently works at Sun East Federal Credit Union for 13 years where she established a leadership development program and a credit union university. Denise also teaches Business Communication at Delaware County Community College and holds the office of president of the College’s alumni committee.

Dan McCormick

40th Anniversary Rising Star Award

“In the years since receiving the Rising Star Alumni Award for my playwriting, I still continue to live in New York City and am now represented for my literary work by the Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency. And as well as being a long standing member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity, I am also now a proud member of The Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop, The New Jersey Repertory Company, The Recording Academy and ASCAP . I have numerous projects in development, both theatrically and musically, and a few of the highlights as of late, include the recent option of my play THE VIOLIN by Shadow Catcher Entertainment; it is now in pre-production and is set to feature me and Oscar and Golden Globe Nominee Danny Aiello in the title roles. My play, HOMELESS AND HOW WE GOT THAT WAY was produced by The Detroit Repertory Theatre in their 2016 season, with both actors being nominated for the Wilde Awards; the best in theatre for the state of Michigan. I also received a $25,000 grant from The Arcus Foundation to produce, HOMELESS AND HOW WE GOT THAT WAY for its NYC Showcase Premiere in 2015. My play THE MORONS was also nominated for Best Production in The First Irish Play Festival 2013 at The Cell Theatre NYC. As a singer-songwriter, I self-produced two Grammy Ballot Entry cd's EDGE OF AMERICA BOUND and BROADWAY LIGHTS along with my recent single BROTHER WE'RE AMERICANS. All of which can be found on iTUNES, AMAZON and other digital music sights. My favorite memory is not one specific moment per say, but rather an overall memory of my experience on campus. And that for me has always been the welcoming feeling that all the teachers gave to their students. They wanted us to learn what they were teaching and they wanted us to do well. They always took the time and a personal interest in our success in not only the classroom, but more importantly in life. And so it continues today, as through the many years since my graduation, the outstanding Alumni Association continues to show immense interest and support of me and my work. And for that, both past and present, I am forever honored to a proud member of the College family!”

Linda Vona-Davis ‘74, PhD

2005 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

Dr. Linda Vona-Davis provides leadership and support for the students in the Biomedical Master of Sciences in Health Science Program. She works with pre-health program students by providing academic and career advising and by coordinating curriculum and research experiences designed to prepare them for careers within the School of Medicine and Dentistry. She oversees student recruitment, program admission process and enrollment management.

"The major theme areas to the Davis lab are: (1) Obesity and the risk and progression of breast cancer; (2) Biological factors (specifically, adipokines cytokines and growth factors) that contribute to obesity-induced dysregulation of adipocyte-tumor cell interactions; (3) Clinically relevant inflammatory targets underlying the risk of obesity and breast cancer. For over a decade, my experimental laboratory work has focused on obesity-related adipokines as mediators of breast and prostate cancer progression. As PI or co-Investigator on several university-funded projects, I have developed expertise using in vivo mouse models of mammary cancer (transgenic, diet-induced obesity models), to study how adipose tissue influences the metastatic potential of tumors. I have a broad technical background in molecular cell, tumor, and adipocyte biology. My population interests are related to obesity and triple-negative breast cancer in underserved populations. I have worked closely with oncologists to understand breast cancer pathology, receptor status, and patterns of metastasis in Appalachia."

"In an effort to advance the research mission, I actively engage faculty, residents, postgraduates and undergraduates on translational and basic science projects. I enhance the research mission by providing research training in the experimental science of cancer biology, accelerating multidisciplinary collaborations between clinical faculty and trainees, and coordinating career development activities within the Breast Cancer Research Program. My efforts assist our junior members with understanding how cancer biology and the tumor microenvironment intersect in human cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.  In an effort to advance the education mission of our Cancer Center, I stay current on cancer biology curricula, best practices for translational training for cancer biology students and career development by serving on the Executive Board of the Cancer Biology Training Consortium who share the National Cancer Institute’s goal of producing the highest quality cancer researchers. We are publishing a white paper on the “Essential Components of Cancer Education” in Cancer Research (PMCID: PMC4681646). I oversee the Cancer Cell Biology curriculum and coordinate annual scientific forums for pre-doctoral training. Administratively, I direct the Biomedical Masters in Health Science Program where I advise students on clinical and translational education and research.” 

Capt. Edward J. Quinn '94

40th Anniversary Star Award
 

"After 37 years active duty service as both an enlisted Sailor and commissioned officer that included four command tours, I retired in October 2011. My wife and I lived another four years in the Smithfield, VA area before moving to Annapolis, Maryland in 2015. I am fully retired, but remain active in local politics and military professional associations. I was recently confirmed by the Maryland Senate to membership on the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. Additionally, I read and score essays submitted to the U.S. Naval Institute on professional topics chosen by the organization. We very much enjoy living among old shipmates in this Navy town. The sports, arts and guest lecture series at the U.S. Naval Academy is a highlight of living in what still is a small town, but a college town also."

"Some favorite memories from my days at DCCC are of the intellectual awakening I experienced in Sam Finkelstein’s political science classes, and in Harry LeFever’s creative writing class. In the best Liberal Arts tradition, I honed both my analytical skills as well as my ability to articulate an argument, and express my thoughts and sentiments clearly to others."

Dan McCormick '83

35th Anniversary Star Award

Jim Battagliese '83 is currently the Director of Traffic and Weather Operations for WTOP, in Washington, DC, the area’s leading News, Traffic and Weather station. Jim helped the nation’s top billing station take their traffic service in-house in 2010, to better service the listeners of the Nation’s Capital.

Jim’s had a long, storied career; recently published by Amazon in the novel he wrote “Stuck in Traffic.” His career began in Philadelphia, in 1982 for Shadow Traffic, where Jim, still a college student and running WDCR-AM, the college radio station, worked part-time as a mobile reporter, producer and fill-in on-air reporter, before becoming a full time on-air reporter in 1983, after his graduation from the College. At the height of his career with Shadow, Jim was on 14 radio stations in the Philadelphia area, including KYW Newsradio. Jim’s personality became as well-known as his traffic reports, collecting many famous fans, including MLB Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Actress Brooke Shields and The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart. In 1987, Philadelphia Magazine readers voted Jim their “Favorite Traffic Reporter”.

After the terrorist attacks on September 11^th, Jim did the first national traffic reports for CNN during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. He covered traffic for the entire country during twice an hour traffic reports over the busy Holiday getaways.

With Traffic.com up and running, Jim left, in 2003, to help another new venture, DC based XM Satellite Radio, as they launched 21 exclusive Traffic and Weather Channels. All cities were covered by a staff of 50 reporters at their DC headquarters.

After XM merged with Sirius and the Traffic and Weather Channels were consolidated, Jim did some consulting before landing with WTOP in 2010. WTOP wanted to take traffic in-house for better control of the quality of their information, something no other major market News station in the country had done.

Jim currently resides in the DC suburb of Reston, VA, with his wife, Kimberly and their two dogs. His children are all out west. His oldest daughter, Anna, works in Marketing for E! Entertainment Television. His son, Weston, is a cameraman for Fox 40, in Sacramento and his youngest daughter, Julia, is a sophomore at Colorado State University and on-air for KCSU-FM, her college radio station, following in her father’s footsteps

Mitchel D. Robbins '75

2000 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

"Since that award, I moved my business (Mitchel D. Robbins Jewelers) from a rental space in Newtown Square to my own building in Broomall. Being a small business owner, I know the importance of giving back to the community.  Therefore, I have donated over $100,000 back to our community and continue to donate.

Mitchel D. Robbins Jewelers received many awards including Best of The Main Line, Talk of The Town and Excellence in Youth. My wife helped me create a website and Facebook page with many followers! 

My favorite memory of DCCC was the unique spin that my professors put on learning. They made learning fun and challenging."  

Nick Pacitti '74

2004 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

Nick resides in Hudson, OH, which is in Northeast Ohio. He recently sold his consulting business that he started over 20 years ago to a global company. He continues to work in the food industry as the head up business development for Tippmann Innovation, the premier designers and builders of refrigerated facilities. He also continues to lead a multi-year, major industry research initiative with Georgia Tech’s Supply Chain and Logistics Institute.

"My favorite memory of DCCC was being on the old Concordville campus, where the vast majority of my classes were in mobile trailers, as was the cafeteria. It is in these meager settings that I realized it was the professors and their talent, gift and love for teaching that spurred me on to bigger and better things. But, I can never forget what a gift it was for me to be in an environment that didn’t matter much, as it was a highly efficient and effective means to an end that worked out quite well for me, and by extension, my family. Simply put, when it comes to DCCC, I have much to be thankful about, as that was my base."

Rosario Maiolino '77

35th Anniversary Star Award

"Currently I work self employed in private anesthesiology practice for a corporation I founded: CRNA Anesthesia Services Inc. in Rancho Santa Fe, CA (outside of San Diego.I contract out my services ranging from anesthesia for pediatric patients to all ages through age 90 years old.Common surgery that I provide anesthesia is a variety from head and neck, tonsil/adenoid/ear surgery, orthopedic, general surgery, ophthalmology, and pain intervention procedures as well as plastic cosmetic surgery which tis big here in southern California. I also have attended acting school and was part of some TV and film in Hollywood.I am listed on IMDB and in The Academy Players Directory in 2003. Here is a film clip when I did the TV show 'Untold Stories of the ER.' Note: I am listed on IMDB under my stage name-Rosario Alair."

I am currently married to my wonderful wife, Gina Maiolino, we have three children and four grand children and reside in and live in Rancho Santa Fe, California. We enjoy traveling to Europe and Hawaii and of course film cinema."

John (Jack) P.K. O’Connor ‘74

35th Anniversary Star Award

Jack O’Connor was selected as the first NGA Chief Learning Officer in November 2009. In this position he is responsible for assessing learning needs and requirements for the Agency. Mr. O’Connor joined CIA in October 1981 as an editor in the National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC). From 1982 through 1988, he worked in managerial positions of increasing responsibility for intelligence support and production.

After a detail to a CIA/OD&E development effort, he began to manage analysis and imagery exploitation in January 1991 as an operations chief at the Priority Exploitation Group. There, he led a team supporting military operations, warning of impending events, and reporting on crises during Desert Storm/Desert Shield, the fall of the Warsaw Pact, the Russian coup, and the rise of Balkans unrest. In 1992, he was selected as a representative to the intelligence collection community and as a deputy in the division that developed advanced tools and methodologies for imagery analysis.

He returned to managing analysis in 1996 and managed regional, functional and crisis issues of increasing size and complexity through 2001. In July 2001 he became Chief of Staff for the Imagery Analysis office, and in late-September 2001, Chief of the Middle East and Central Asia Division.

In 2002, Mr. O’Connor became chief of the Iraq Division which he managed through the combat phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In that year, he was selected to the Senior Intelligence Service. He was awarded the DCI National Intelligence Medal of Achievement in 2004 for his planning and management of imagery analysis in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In November 2003, he was selected as Deputy Director of the NGA support team at CIA. He served a rotational assignment in the CIA Human Capital Office in 2005. During this assignment his paper on recruiting foreign language speakers was selected for the ODNI Galileo prize in 2006. He returned to NGA as the first National-Geospatial Intelligence Officer for the Persian Gulf before being selected as the Deputy Chief of the Office of Central and Southwest Asia in November 2007, and he became acting chief of that office in mid-2008. He was selected to be the NGA Executive Secretary in January 2009.

Prior to government service, Mr. O’Connor taught at colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area. He holds an AA (honors) in Liberal Arts from Delaware County Community College, an AB (cum laude) from St. Joseph’s College, and a MA from Bryn Mawr College. He has been selected as an MIT Seminar XXI fellow, and he holds a certificate in executive coaching from Georgetown. Throughout his government service, Mr. O’Connor has continued to teach. In addition to designing government courses to teach managers how to manage GEOINT and review analytic papers, he has taught writing for the University of Virginia.

“Since retiring, I've published a book about leadership in the intelligence community, and I've been busy working as an ICF-certified executive and leadership coach, a consultant, and a researcher. And I still am using, more than 40-years later skills that I learned at the College.”

Mel Lindauer '81

2007 Professional Achievement Award

Mel is the author of two highly-successful investment books, writes columns for Forbes.com and serves as the President of The John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy. He’s also the founder and moderator of two Internet investment forums and leads a team that puts on national financial conferences. In the November 2016 election, Mel was elected to serve as a City Council member in Daytona Beach Shores FL, where he and his wife, Marlene, reside.

Dr. Jim Mendez '93

2001 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

Dr. Jim Mendez is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at Villanova University where he teaches courses in Adult Health/Acute and Critical Care, Clinical Ethics and Basic Concepts in Pharmacology. He holds a Bachelor’ s degree with a major in Biology from Swarthmore College. He then graduated from Delaware County Community College in 1993 with an Associate’ s Degree in Nursing having earned the college’ s Marion Heisler Faculty Award for Clinical Excellence. He completed a BSN at Wilmington University and obtained an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Adult Primary Care. He is certified as an adult nurse practitioner by The American Nurses’  Credentialing Center. He completed his PhD at Villanova University.

Dr. Mendez  also maintains a clinical practice at The Penn Transplant Institute of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) where he has served since 2001. Prior to that, he held positions at HUP as a critical care nurse and as a research coordinator. His own research evaluates the role that psychosocial factors play in determining outcomes after transplantation. He has published multiple articles on topics related to advanced lung disease and lung transplantation and is sought out as an editorial reviewer by publishers of allied health and nursing materials. He is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing, The American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the National League for Nursing.

Dr. Mendez has fond memories of DCCC and his cohort of nursing students, especially his study group (Karen Hartley, Carol VonColln, Jim Mulholland, Karen Dengle, Trish Manion, et al.) which met consistently for support and assistance. That study group was instrumental in learning required material, but most importantly in managing the demands of being an adult learner. He extols the excellence of the faculty in contributing to his professional success and the persistence of his peers in completing the rigorous program. He was honored to have participated in efforts to plan for the renovation of the Simulation Laboratory at DCCC.

Stephen S. Brown '80

2011 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

Steve and his wife Mary Grace live in Upper Darby and spend a lot of their down time in the Ocean City New Jersey area where they enjoy the company of their two daughters and three grandchildren every chance they get. Steve is a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Co., working out of their Wilmington Delaware office. Steve is an endurance sports enthusiast, having racked up as many as 26 marathons and 12 Ironman triathlons in addition to countless other events of all distances. Steve is also a triathlon coach with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program and is himself an 11 year survivor of a chronic form of leukemia. Steve’s story of the intersection of endurance sports and cancer has often been featured in many different media outlets and he has written five books on his experiences. You can learn more at www.remissionman.com.

Jack Taddeo ‘73

35th Anniversary Star Award

“At the time I won the award I was working out of Chicago but I’ve since relocated farther west to Iowa and am the General Manager of a four-station cluster of radio stations for Cedar Rapids (IA) based NRG Media. For a guy who started working as a DJ, then a Program Director, moving into the GM job has been a lot of fun. And it all started in 1974 when I joined WDCR as a college DJ and advanced to the Station Manager position at the new Marple campus. I oversee four distinct brands under one roof and I really enjoy all of them."

"News/Talk 1540 KXEL is 75 years old this year and was the first U.S. radio station to be license with 50,000 watts. We regularly get emails from people all over the world. The station can be heard in 24 states and most of Canada after dark! We also have one of the most powerful FM stations, 100,000 watt Rock 108 (KFMW) and Classic Hits 105-7 KOKZ as well as a Top 40 station called 107.3 The Party." 

David Horvath

35th Anniversary Star Award

"I graduated in May 1985 with an A.S in Engineering – the same day I received my Bachelor of Arts in Computer and Information Sciences from Temple University. I last attended classes at the College in the summer of 1983 and transferred to Temple in the fall. I continue to enjoy volunteering for the College on the Alumni Association, the Artists Showcase or the former Career Alumni Mentoring Program.

It’s important to note that my mother is also a graduate as well as my wife, Mary, who I met while taking classes. For our 20th anniversary, we went to Egypt, which in hindsight turned out to be good timing due to recent events, and then spent several days in England and Wales on the way home. On our 25th anniversary, we purchased a Volvo for Overseas Delivery – we picked the car up at the factory in Gothenburg, Sweden and then spent 21 days covering 3,000 miles in six countries. At the end of the trip, we returned to the factory in Gothenburg so it could be shipped back to the United States, where we picked it up two months later at our local Volvo dealer. I’ve given presentations at Oxford and Dartmouth Universities while making sure to leave time to travel abroad as well.”

Favorite Memory

“Our whole family was highlighted in the 25th anniversary since my mother, middle brother, and I attended the College, my youngest brother 'attended' day care. By the time the College celebrates the 50th anniversary, Mary E. Geno-Horvath and I will have celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.”

Luli Akinfiresoye '04

2016 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

Luli Akinfiresoye ‘04, a scientist who holds a Ph.D. in neuropharmacology, considers enrolling at the College one of the best choices of her life. “My story is never complete without talking about Delaware County Community College,” Akinfiresoye said.

A native of Nigeria, she came to America with her family, became a U.S. citizen and enrolled at the College after considering other options, such as the University of Pennsylvania. “I knew I wanted to go to medical school, but Penn was too expensive and large,” she said, adding that she wanted a school with smaller class sizes."

Today, Akinfiresoye is a Pharmacologist with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. She also is an adjunct Pharmacology professor at Northern Virginia Community College Medical Education Campus. While she enjoys research, she takes great pride and joy in teaching students. “It’s the core of my being,” she said, adding that it is a privilege to be in a position where she can make a difference in someone’s life. “We could really use a lot of vibrant scientists across the world,” she said. “It adds value to human existence.” 

Kenneth J.D. Boyden '84

1998 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

Ken is serving as the Associate Dean at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy where he leads fundraising, alumni and CFR relations. He resides in Rydal, Montgomery, PA and fondly recalls the support and education he received while a student at the College.

Phyllis Corsi Sockwell

35th Anniversary Star Award

"Fifty years ago I was a high school senior unsure of my next chapter in life. While at graduation rehearsal, an announcement was made that the Community College of Delaware County’s charter was approved and applications were being accepted for the fall semester. I immediately submitted my application along with a letter (at my father’ s suggestion) requesting employment as a student worker. Soon I was one of the first students enrolled and had a part-time job working in the library.

DCCC has remained a constant in my life. I met my late husband, Bill Sockwell, our second semester and we were two of the first twenty-four graduates in 1969. We were both members of the Alumni Council and supported many of their activities. We also donated our professional expertise during the construction of the nursing simulation lab.

Early in my career I worked for First Pennsylvania Bank in their international division specializing in Far Eastern and Canadian banking. Later I joined my husband in our medical equipment management company. Our business took us all over the U.S. but the highlight was when we traveled to Moscow, Russia for a project in a neurological hospital. 

Our daughter, Monica, was born in 1980 and is also a graduate of DCCC, making it a family affair. I have many fond memories associated with DCCC, but one of the funniest is from the early days at the Dante Campus. Determined to have a college yearbook, Bill and I gathered a small staff of fellow students and administration gave us an inactive shower room as a work area. As a prank, Bill and another student turned the water in one of the shower stalls as I attempted to set up a small desk. Unfortunately for me, the water had never been turned off and I ended up getting soaked. As pioneers of DCCC, Bill and I often reminisced about those early days. While they were challenging times, the bonds we formed and experiences we had can never be replicated. I realize this was supposed to be about me, but somehow to not include Bill, my memory would be incomplete."

Michael Duff

35th Anniversary Star Alumni Award

“I'm currently Centennial Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Wyoming, College of Law. I served as Associate Dean here from 2015-2016 and have been competing for law school deanships during the last couple of years (I'm getting close, I think). I am considered a national authority in labor relations and workers' compensation law. I have lived in Laramie, Wyoming for the last 11 years with my wife, daughter (age 13) and son (age 11). My mom, one sister, and my brother continue to reside in the Delaware Valley.”

Favorite Memory

“My favorite memory is working in the staff of the Pegasus literary magazine (I'm not sure if it is still extant).”

Bob Downey '74

2011 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

"I retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the Former Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Office after 24 years and I am currently in search of my next career. I reside in Marlton, New Jersey with my wife, Karen. It was an honor to be chosen as the Professional Achievement Award winner and be able to give the Commencement speech at the 2011 ceremony.”

Favorite Memory

“My favorite memory was coming to college each day and working in a diversified community with one common goal of getting a college education.  Since most of us came from a blue collar family, we understood the value of a degree in future job prospects. It constantly reminded to strive to achieve that goal. I also enjoyed the intramural flag football games!”

Albert Kendro '72

35th Anniversary Star Award

"Presently in addition to traveling the Globe together with my wife of 44 years Sandy, now as a tourists 3-4 months per year, I am assisting and mentoring my daughter Allison Kendro Co-Founder of Solid Surf Adventures LLC., a cross-cultural experiential travel company that provides all-inclusive surf, adventure and volunteer packages as well as host’s group yoga and company retreats; while providing economic opportunity in under-developed communities putting social conscious, integrity and professionalism at the forefront and existing as a model for expansion and growth in Central America."

Bruce Madariaga '00

35th Anniversary Star Award

"In May 2000, former President DeCosmo invited me to give the annual DCCC Commencement Speech. He did so in part because of my unusual educational background. Growing up in Delaware County, I was a “schoolophobic” child who rarely attended school and never attended high school. I was saved by the GED Exam, and most importantly, DCCC. Eventually I collected four college degrees, the last from Harvard University, and became an award-winning official within the United States Environmental Protection Agency. But in my Commencement Speech, after telling my story, I told the audience that I planned to leave the federal government and teach at a community college, like the one that saved me. One year later I became a Professor of Economics at Montgomery College, a community college in Montgomery County, Maryland. I have been teaching and serving community college students (like I was 40 years ago) happily at Montgomery College ever since."

Dr. Rosa Cooper

2016 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

"Since receiving the award, I have accepted a position at my place of employment as the Research/ Telemedicine Program Manager. I engaged in research projects that range from patient quality improvements, to clinical trials in an effort to improve patient outcomes. I also help facilitate telemedicine appointments between patients and physicians for out-patient consultations and follow-ups appointments while the patient remains in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. This prevents the patient from having to cancel a follow-up appointment or have to be transported out to the appointment during their in-patient stay.

My updated favorite DCCC memory, I must say, was the night I received the Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award. Being recognized and considered an outstanding alumnus was an honor. Plus, being giving the opportunity to be a part of the women in science session, where I had the opportunity to share my experiences, and provide encouragement and advice to students and others who are seeking higher education and various career paths. That was truly the most favorable DCCC moment that will be etched in my memory for ever."

Brian Ciach '98

40th Anniversary Rising Star Award

"I am an Instructor of Music Theory at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California and the Assistant Director, Co-Founder, and Instructor of Music in Piano, Piano Improvisation, Music Theory, and Composition at the Hunter School of Music in San Jose, California.

My favorite DCCC memory is performing the "Waldstein" Piano Sonata by Beethoven for the music theory classes as a student in 1997."

Joseph DiJulio ‘74

35th Anniversary Star Award

“After living in Delaware and Chester County for over 50 years I Moved to Paducah, Kentucky, a river city on the Ohio river and live in the historic district. I moved there  four years ago to be the  area director for Mediacom cable having responsibilities for system in Southern IL,  KY, Missouri  and TN. Prior to that I worked for Suburban Cable, Comcast and Atlantic Broadway in MD, Del and PA.”    

Favorite Memory

“My favorite memory was hanging out with old and new friends in the parking lot at the old campus in Glenn Mills.  Let me know if you need anything else, hope things and good for you and the college. We drove that 62 ford econoline to California.”  

Melissa Maani ‘94

2015 Alumni Professional Achievement Award

“Melissa is the Manager, Graphic Design for the Philadelphia Phillies and the only student out of nearly 29,000 graduates who has the unique distinction of owning a 2008 World Series ring in conjunction with the Phillies win that year.

She has been with the team for 17 seasons now and manages the majority of all Phillies promotional products and stadium pieces, including photos of the Philadelphia Phanatic. She received her award in front of a packed house of Phillies colleagues, previous Alumni Professional Achievement Award recipients, and alumni guests at a ceremony hosted at Citizen’s Bank Park in June, 2015.”

Frank McKee '70

2013 Alumni Professional Achievement Award 

Frank J. McKee is President of The McKee Group, a real estate building and development firm located outside of Philadelphia in Springfield, Pennsylvania (PA). With Frank as its leader, The McKee Group has developed significant expertise in residential and commercial construction, property management, and real estate development. He and his wife, Karen, are residents of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and have three grown children, two granddaughters and two grandsons. “

Favorite memory:

“Brand new trailers were brought in to replace old buildings during that time, including the Student Center. It was really neat to watch the new trailers being brought in and the growth at the College.”

Joseph J. Oaster Jr. ‘89

2012 Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award

Oaster received his outstanding alumni award for his dedication to teaching literacy in inner city Philadelphia. His passion for helping others was described by John Moss in presenting the award on behalf of his mother, the late Barbara Moss, a former member of the College Board of Trustees.

In his professional role, Joe is a Senior Education Analyst for the University of Pennsylvania Health System where he is responsible for numerous ongoing e-learning projects for hospital administrators. Joe is a former instructor with Harcum College and holds both a Bachelors and Masters from West Chester University as well as a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Adult and Continuing Education from Walden University.

Karen Bogosian '85

45th Anniversary Star Award

"Since receiving my Business Administration Associates degree from DCCC, I worked fifteen years in Retail as a Marketing Director for a Photographic Retail Chain, The Camera Shop, Inc. and currently am President of a Commercial Audio Visual company, Visual Sound. I serve as a Board member on DCCC’s Foundation Board and have done so for nine years. I truly found my niche at DCCC."

Dr Louise DelNegro '96

45th Anniversary Star Award

"Here is the latest on my job here at MacDill Air Force Base where I take care of the medical needs of the active duty military at Central Command including all the Generals and Admirals. It has been an exciting past 3 years being here where Air Force One often visits us. I have to medically clear the military for deployments and also perform their retirement physicals. I run a concierge practice within the military active duty officers who, must be medically ready at a minute's notice to leave to the Middle East. I will be continuing as a government servant physician and will be transferring in late summer to the Dept of Health and Human Resources as a physician at the Fort Yuma Indian Health Service site where I will serve the medical needs of the Quechan and Cocopah tribes on their reservations at a new clinic that has just been built . This site offers student loan repayment through which I need prior to any future retirement plans. Will let you know how the Wild West goes."

Patricia H. Donnelly, Esq. '79

35th Anniversary Rising Star Award

"I transferred to Rosemont College after DCCC where I graduated summa cum laude. I then enrolled at Villanova University School of Law and graduated with J.D. degree in 1984. I am a practicing attorney in Media, PA. I am a Domestic Relations Master for the County of Delaware. In that capacity I hear and decide various family law cases involving such issues as child support, spousal support, and alimony pendente lite as well as various other petitions.