Five Delaware County Community College Students Named to 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA - Friday, April 5, 2024)—April is Community College Month, and five Delaware County Community College students have been recognized as part of the 2024 All-Pennsylvania (All-PA) Academic Team for their academic achievement, leadership and community service. Three of the students also are eligible to attend any one of the 10 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities tuition-free for two years.
Anuradha Anuradha of Boothwyn, Chloe Johnson of Paoli, Tashi Kandeh of Darby, Jamie Lynch of Philadelphia, and Jay Rhoades of Ridley Park were recently selected to the 2024 All-PA Academic Team, which is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. This recognition honors an exceptional group of community college students. The students were recognized at a special banquet on April 2 at the Hilton Harrisburg in Harrisburg.
The College had three Transfer Pathway honorees—Anuradha, Johnson and Rhoades—and two Workforce Pathway honorees, Kandeh and Lynch. Transfer Pathway honorees will receive a full-tuition scholarship for two years to one of the ten universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. They must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Workforce Pathway honorees plan to enter the workforce after completing a certificate or associate degree at a community college. They must have a minimum of 12 college-level credit hours at a community college and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Anuradha Anuradha
Anuradha is a Computer Science major with a career goal of working with Artificial Intelligence. “My dream is to develop groundbreaking algorithms that make a tangible difference in the world, from healthcare to climate change,” she says. She plans to attend West Chester University to complete her bachelor’s degree with the goal of continuing her education further to obtain a master’s degree in Computer Science. She is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.
Chloe Johnson
After a successful culinary career spanning a decade, during which she did volunteer work in Thailand, Cambodia, Haiti and the U.S., Johnson is majoring in Business Administration at the College. Inspired by her volunteer experiences and global travels, “I envision creating a nonprofit center that can be a refuge for at-risk youth, integrating traditional therapy, arts, and trades to nurture holistic healing, creativity, and empowerment.” She plans to complete her bachelor’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Beta Psi Pi chapter.
Tashi Kandeh
A professional home health aide with several years of experience in long term care, Kandeh is currently pursuing certification in Medical Coding and Billing at the College. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings including, but not limited to palliative care, assisted living, physical rehab and outpatient physical rehab. She is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.
Jamie Lynch
Lynch is working towards her associate degree in Science for Health Professions, Surgical Technology. “I plan to jump right into the field following certification,” she says. “I come from a long history in veterinary medicine and shelter work. I found my interest in surgery while working for a low-cost, high-volume clinic in Philadelphia.” Lynch is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.
Jay Rhoades
Rhoades is a Mathematics/Natural Science major focused on Biology. He is a part of the National Science Foundation-funded STARS program on campus that provides community college students with the opportunity to participate in research and learn more about careers in STEM. He was awarded a $4,800 tuition waiver through STARS for the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, Rhoades serves 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. He will attend West Chester University next fall to major in Cellular and Molecular Biology. After earning his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend graduate school related to medicine and pathology and hopes to work in a pathology lab. “My 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.” Rhoades was awarded a DCCC Educational Foundation scholarship of $1,000 through PECO and serves as president of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.
Photo caption: DCCC President Marta Yera Cronin, Ed.D. and DCCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair David H. Grossman, Ph.D., congratulate DCCC’s All-PA Academic Team awardees. L to R: Anuradha Anuradha, Dr. David H. Grossman, Jamie Lynch, Dr. Marta Yera Cronin, Chloe Johnson and Jay Rhoades. Not pictured: awardee Tashi Kandeh. Courtesy DCCC.
