CCAC Alumnus Designs Eco-Friendly Clothing - Community ...

This e-newsletter is a quarterly
publication of the Alumni program
at the Community College of
Allegheny County. CCAC AlumNet
News provides information about
the college’s alumni, the Alumni
program and college initiatives.
Community College of
Allegheny County
Alex Johnson, PhD
President
Nancilee Burzachechi, Esquire
Vice President, Institutional
Advancement & External Relations
CCAC AlumNet News
Susan Gall
Publisher & Managing Editor
Cara Huey
Editor & Writer
Marketing &
Communications
Tanya Sander-Marks
Elizabeth Johnston
Design
Luconti Design, Inc.
CCAC AlumNet News is produced by
the CCAC Alumni Board for alumni
and friends of the Community
College of Allegheny County. Ideas
for articles, event submissions and
comments on the publication are
encouraged and can be made by
contacting the editor at
alumni@ccac.edu.
CCAC Alumnus Designs Eco-Friendly Clothing
ALUMNI Profile
James Yoest
CCAC North
Com m u n i t y Co l l e g e of Al l e g h e n y Co u n t y
Volume 3, Edition 3
As a child, James Yoest was always interested in his mother’s
old sewing machine. By the time he reached his teens, sewing
became his passion and he began making simple bags. He soon
progressed into making clothes and is now one of the newest
faces in the world’s fashion scene with his eco-friendly
clothing designs.
James was raised in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh and
enjoyed playing dress-up as a child. In addition to playing
dress-up, James also enjoyed costuming and took classes in
acting, dance, drawing, ceramics, pottery and jewelry design.
However, the sewing machine was where he found his creative
niche. “From that moment on, sewing and fashion became an integral
part of my life,” he says. “Fashion became a creative outlet for me and I
dreamed to be a part of it.”
According to James, both his mother and grandmother loved to sew and provided him much
guidance and inspiration. His mother taught him basic sewing skills and his grandmother gave
him all her sewing supplies and critiqued his work. When he was in eighth grade at North Hills
Junior High School, he had a class with Donna Fryer, a family and consumer science teacher.
It was in this home economics class that James discovered he had a talent for designing and
making clothes. “Ms. Fryer was an amazing inspiration for me,” James says. “I continued to work with
her throughout high school and she helped me design and make my very first custom suit during my senior year.”
Throughout high school, James participated in the choir, drama club and the environmental
club. He also worked part-time at an art supply store and taught a macramé class at Michaels
Stores Inc. in the North Hills. In his spare time, he read fashion magazines, watched fashion
programs such as CNN Style on television and continued to sew. It was at this time that
he began to incorporate his love for fashion with his interest in nature, recycling and
environmental concerns.
Following his graduation from North Hills Senior High School in 1998, he decided to
attend the Community College of Allegheny County because it was “affordable, close to home
and offered the courses I wanted to take.” At CCAC’s North campus, James pursued a degree in
general studies with a focus on environmental studies. He worked with several academic
advisors whom he credits with helping him plan his educational path. After two years at
CCAC, James decided he wanted to pursue a career in eco-fashion, with the goal of
someday owning his own clothing store. Rather than staying to complete his associate’s
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CCAC Career Services
Career Services supports the CCAC
community by delivering quality
career and placement assistance
to students, alumni and community
members by engaging them in all
phases of their career development,
from discovering their career path to
finding a position in the job market.
Allegheny Campus
808 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412.237.2545
Robert Kmetz
Career Services Director
Boyce Campus
595 Beatty Road
Monroeville, PA 15146
724.325.6771
Charles Bostaph, PhD
Career Services Director
North Campus
8701 Perry Highway
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412.369.3631
David Young
Career Services Director
South Campus
1750 Clairton Road
West Mifflin, PA 15122
412.469.6214
Melanie Porach
Career Services Director
Career Services offers an array of
on-and off-campus job fairs for
students and alumni throughout the
year. If you are interested in
attending a job fair or need career
assistance, contact the CCAC Career
Services office nearest you, or visit
the CCAC Career Services
website.
degree at CCAC, James decided to transfer to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) to
study fashion merchandising.
While at IUP, he collaborated with other fashion students to host a campus fashion show
entitled “Fashionably Late,” in which he showcased his own designs. After graduating from
IUP in 2003 with a BS in fashion merchandising and a minor in small business management,
James accepted a position as a visual specialist at the former Lazarus-Macy’s department store
in downtown Pittsburgh. He continued to design and make eco-friendly clothing, which he
sold at Luxx, a boutique in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood. James also worked on
several Indie charity fashion shows with Salon Nuvo in downtown Pittsburgh. Although he
enjoyed working and living in Pittsburgh, James soon realized the city was not ideal for
launching a career in fashion. Thus, when Lazarus-Macy’s shut its doors in April 2004, James
decided to take the next step on his educational path and enrolled at the Academy of Art
University in San Francisco.
As a student pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in California, James says internships were
extremely valuable. In 2006, he traveled to New York to intern with Kai Kühne, a German-born
model and designer. As the head intern, James helped prepare Kühne’s fall 2006 and spring
2007 collections. In 2007, James interned for Margaret O’Leary, a San Francisco-based
knitwear company that is currently exploring the use of eco-friendly and sustainable materials
to produce socially conscious clothing. James graduated with a MFA in fashion design from
the Academy of Art University in August 2007, and began working with Nice Collective in
San Francisco, a designer clothing brand for men that is popular worldwide. In addition to
working for Nice Collective, James also works as the men’s sales lead for Urban Outfitters
in San Francisco.
Following graduation, James was one of 11 Academy of Art University fashion design
graduates to showcase their work in the main tent at the 2007 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
in New York City. James and textile designer Sharon Chia-yu Yeh collaborated to design a
sustainable collection of clothing made with organic, conventional and reused fabrics, including
an old parachute. “The Mercedes-Benz show was amazing,” says James. “It was an honor to be a part of
it. It opened my eyes to the fashion world.”
Since eighth grade, James has dreamed of designing eco-friendly clothing, and continues to
pursue his dream today. As an up-and-coming eco clothing designer, James realizes that a
move to New York will eventually become inevitable and possibly life-changing. Not only
could a move to the East Coast help further his career, but it will bring him closer to his
parents, Donald and Nancy, and brother Michael, who all reside in Ross Township and to his
brother, Gary, a 1994 CCAC graduate, who lives in Irwin.
At a time when many industries are attempting to “go green,” James says he is thrilled that
the fashion industry is on the move toward turning green. Many designers are now using
environmentally sensitive fabrics and are turning these fabrics into haute couture. Designers
such as Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Donatella Versace are among the many that featured
eco-friendly designs during New York’s Fashion Week. James says he’s excited that some of
fashion’s top designers are exploring sustainable fabrics—something he has done since he was
a teenager. To view his designs, please visit his website: www.jamesyoestdesigns.com.
Additional alumni profiles are available on the Alumni website.
Visit the Featured Alumni Profile and Alumni Profile Archives section.
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Online Alumni
Mentoring Program
Calling all potential mentors!
In May 2007, CCAC Alumni Affairs
and Career Services jointly launched
CCAC AlumLinks, an online alumni
mentoring network designed to
provide CCAC alumni with the
opportunity to mentor current
CCAC students.
For students exploring career
options and making career
decisions, the most inspiring advice
often comes from professionals
working in the field. CCAC
AlumLinks connects alumni with
current students to help them
develop their career goals and make
more informed career decisions.
Through the program, students link
with alumni mentors who help
students to explore career options,
make career decisions and prepare
for the work world.
Any alumnus interested in mentoring
a current student can visit the CCAC
AlumLinks webpage, follow the
links to the secure website and
register with the network by
completing a mentoring profile.
The online mentoring network
password is AlumLinks.
CCAC AlumLinks was made
available to students in June 2007
through the Offices of Career
Services. Any current CCAC students
interested in working with an alumni
mentor may register with the online
mentoring network and search
among registered mentors to find an
alumnus whose experience
matches their career interest.
Alumni Affairs Announces CCAC Alumni Fall Career Seminars
All CCAC alumni are invited to join us for our inaugural CCAC Alumni Fall Career Seminars
on Saturday, October 11 from 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown
Pittsburgh. This professional development event will feature alumni speakers from CCAC’s
top programs, including business, criminal justice, health careers, education and the Chef ’s
Apprentice/Culinary program.
Six featured alumni speakers will speak during concurrent sessions:
• Sharon Young (’75, South, general studies), co-owner of McGinnis Sisters Special Food
Stores, will speak about expanding a small business.
• David Schwab (‘78, Boyce, administration of criminal justice), currently serves as Director
of Safety and Security at CCAC’s North campus. Dave is a retired 31-year veteran of the
Allegheny County Police Department and will speak about the use of tasers by police
departments.
• Robert Sendall (’78, Allegheny, chef ’s apprentice), owner of All in Good Taste
Productions—an event production company with locations in Pittsburgh and Palm
Springs—will speak about “going green” in the culinary field.
• Patricia Riley (’79, South, nursing), a nursing recruiter for UPMC Mercy Hospital, will
discuss nursing leadership and professionalism.
• Phyllis Friend (’83, North, general studies), a recently retired principal from the Woodland
Hills School District, will speak about leadership in the classroom. Her daughter, Kathleen
Little (’93, Boyce), principal at Dible Elementary School in the Penn Hills School District,
will co-present with her.
In addition to the six alumni speakers, CCAC President Alex Johnson will serve as the
keynote speaker, sharing his vision and priorities for CCAC. Kris Kersey, a 1996 North
campus alumnus and former international president of Phi Theta Kappa, the international
honor society for two-year colleges, will serve as the closing speaker.
All CCAC alumni are invited to attend. Information from Career Services, Community
Education, Workforce Development and CCAC’s Nursing Professional Development will
be available. Tickets for raffle baskets will be sold, as well as CCAC alumni license plates
and CCAC 40th anniversary commemorative DVDs, with proceeds benefiting the Alumni
Scholarship Fund. Light refreshments will be served.
Please join us! RSVP by Wednesday, October 1 to CCAC Alumni Affairs at alumni@ccac.
edu or by calling 412.237.3033. Participation is limited to 600 alumni. There is no fee to
CCAC alumni for this event.
CCAC AlumNet Online Community
Alumni Affairs to Bring Online Community to CCAC Alumni
On September 17, 2008, Alumni Affairs launched the CCAC AlumNet Online
Community in an effort to keep alumni connected with CCAC and fellow alumni. This
comprehensive package of Internet-based services offers a place in cyberspace to reconnect
with old friends and the college, exchange ideas and access career and networking information.
Best of all, it’s completely free! No matter where alumni are in the world, they can be
part of the CCAC AlumNet Online Community any time, online.
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CCAC College Libraries
CCAC graduates are eligible to
obtain a community library card
that entitles them to use any of the
libraries within the CCAC system.
With this card, alumni can borrow
books, journals and audiovisual
materials. The library card can be
purchased for $10 at any of the
campus libraries and is good for
one year. Alumni whose research
skills are somewhat rusty may want
to try out the library’s new online
tutorial, i-CONNECT. This interactive
tutorial will improve their ability to
locate information. To gain a more
comprehensive overview of the
types of resources available at the
various libraries–including hours of
operation–visit the CCAC library
website today.
Allegheny Campus
808 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412.237.2585
Boyce Campus
595 Beatty Road
Monroeville, PA 15146
724.325.6712
North Campus
8701 Perry Highway
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412.369.3681
South Campus
1750 Clairton Road
West Mifflin, PA 15122
412.469.6295
On CCAC AlumNet, alumni can search for friends and classmates, update their contact
information, read the CCAC AlumNet News and upload photos. An additional feature
includes the Class Notes section where you can tell us and your fellow alumni about a new
addition to your family, your big promotion at work or your memorable moments at CCAC.
Membership is open to all CCAC alumni, and we encourage you to log-in often to receive
the latest news on exciting happenings at CCAC. A registration email will be sent to all alumni
with current email addresses. If you have not recently updated your email address, or have
changed your email address, please visit our website to update your contact information.
CCAC Alumni Board Awards Alumni Scholarships to Three Students
The CCAC Alumni Board recently awarded alumni scholarships to three current students
who are the children of CCAC alumni. The three students, Michelle Kubatka, Ashley Johnson
and Nicole Luther will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to be divided between the fall 2008
and spring 2009 semesters. Michelle is a nursing major at South campus with an anticipated
graduation date of May 2010. Ashley is also a nursing major attending Boyce campus with an
anticipated graduation date of May 2010, while Nicole is a paralegal major at North campus
and the Downtown center. She plans to graduate in the fall of 2009.
“The Alumni Board kept the economy in mind when we reviewed the applicants for the alumni scholarships,”
says CCAC Alumni Board President Mary Ann Stoops (’98, Boyce, business). “We strived to
eliminate the financial obstacles these student learners will face while working, attending school and raising a
family. We sincerely hope that with these scholarships, these future alumni will also be able to give back to the
community and to CCAC!”
The Alumni Scholarship Fund was established to fulfill the desire of CCAC graduates to
help future generations of CCAC student learners. This effort focuses on aiding the children
of CCAC alumni who are following in their parent’s footsteps by pursuing an education at CCAC.
The awards can be used for expenses related to education such as tuition, fees and books.
Alumni Day at PNC Park
The CCAC Alumni program hosted its first annual summer activity, CCAC Alumni Day at
PNC Park on Sunday, July 13. More than 140 CCAC alumni, family and friends gathered to
watch the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the St. Louis Cardinals.
Prior to the game, the CCAC Alumni Board hosted a tailgate party during which raffle tickets
for gift baskets were sold to benefit the Alumni Scholarship Fund. After the sixth inning,
Alumni Board President Mary Ann Stoops (’98, Boyce, business) represented CCAC on the
field as she changed out third base.
CCAC alumni enjoyed
the event at PNC Park.
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CCAC Board of Trustees
Thomas J. Santone, Esquire, Chairman
Honorable William R. Robinson
Vice-Chairman
Jerry J. Fedele, Esquire, Treasurer
Mona N. Generett, PhD, Secretary
Martha W. Isler, Assistant Secretary
Elayne Arrington, PhD
Honorable Jay Costa, Jr., Esquire
Jesse W. Fife, Jr.
James M. Flynn
Honorable Melissa A. Hart, Esquire
Alex M. Keddie
Scott Malley
Andrew Russell
Joyce Snell
CCAC Alumni Board
Mary Ann Stoops, President
Kevin Shields, Vice President
Betty Lyons, Secretary
Susan Gall, Treasurer
Robert Calloway
Frances Kralosky Dice
Jason Giulieri
Nina Mulé Lyons
Kraig Makohus
Benjamin Spicer
Nursing Program to Offer Continuing Education Credits for RNs
In June 2006, Pennsylvania enacted Act 58, which requires registered nurses (RNs) in
Pennsylvania to complete 30 hours of nursing continuing education course work during each
two-year license renewal period. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing has announced that
RNs who renew their licenses in the October 2010 cycle will be the first group required to
accumulate continuing education hours. For additional information on the mandatory required
continuing education coursework, please visit the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing website.
CCAC, an approved provider of continuing nursing education*, is prepared to meet the need
for continuing education credits with a comprehensive schedule of programs for nurses in
various professional areas. Upcoming programs for the fall include cardiac assessment; basic
cardiac rhythm interpretation for critical care nurses; medical ethics; pharmacology;
confidentiality issues; nursing leadership; and alternative learning strategies.
CCAC will also offer the RN Re-entry Program for licensed RNs who are preparing to return
to the field. The program provides RNs with 40 hours of lecture and lab time and 80 hours
of clinical work.
For additional information on CCAC’s continuing education programs, please contact
Tomi Waters, director of Professional Development for Health Careers, at 412.237.3029 or
email her at twaters@ccac.edu.
*CCAC is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State
Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s
Commission on Accreditation.
Career Services to Offer Fall Career Fairs
The Career Services department has several job fairs planned for CCAC students and alumni
this fall.
The Boyce campus job fair will be held Tuesday, September 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
in the Student Union. Interested alumni should contact Carol Johnson, interim director of
Career Services, at 724.325.6618 or email her at cjohnson@ccac.edu.
The South Campus Nursing & Allied Health Job Fair will be held Monday, October 13, 2008
from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the B-Building, Fourth Floor Commons. For additional
information, please call Melanie Porach, director of Career Services, at 412.469.6213 or email
her at mporach@ccac.edu.
The Allegheny campus job fair will be held Wednesday, October 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
on the second floor of the Foerster Student Services Center. For additional information,
please contact Bob Kmetz, director of Career Services, at 412.237.2545 or email him at
rkmetz@ccac.edu.
The WestPACS Job Fair will be held Thursday, October 30. Alumni can start registering online
in October and review a list of employers planning to attend the WestPACS Job Fair. For
additional information, please visit www.westpacs.org or contact Career Services at the
campus from which you graduated.
The North Campus Nursing Job Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2008, from
noon until 3:00 p.m. in the Atrium. Interested alumni should contact Dave Young, director
of Career Services, at 412.369.3632 or email him at dyoung@ccac.edu.
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CCAC Vision
The Community College of Allegheny
County maintains a caring educational
gateway to workforce and
academic attainment and provides a
comprehensive and integrated learning
network that unites faculty, staff,
students, community, education and
business partners.
CCAC Mission
Provide affordable access to quality
education, and offer a dynamic,
diverse and supportive learning
environment that prepares the
region’s residents for academic,
professional and personal success
in our changing global society.
CCAC Alumni Program
Mission
The mission of the CCAC Alumni
program is threefold: to create a
sense of advocacy for the college in
the community which CCAC serves,
to connect current students with
alumni to help facilitate their career
and professional development and to
provide additional financial resources
for the college.
Let Us Know
We would like to know how the
college and its Alumni program can
better serve you. If there are
on-campus events or activities in
which you are interested, or if you
would like to volunteer, contact the
Alumni program at 412.237.3006
or email alumni@ccac.edu.
Questions?
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email alumni@ccac.edu.
If you would like to unsubscribe,
please send an email to
alumni@ccac.edu and you will be
removed from the distribution list.
Alumni who are seeking full- or part-time jobs can register, place their résumé online and
search for positions on the CCAC Career Services Central Job Bank. This is a free service
for alumni and students. For additional information, please call the Career Services office
nearest you, or visit the Career Services website.
Community Education Fall trips
CCAC’s Community Education, in partnership with Lenzner Tours will offer three trips this
fall. On Saturday, October 11, travel to Peek ‘n Peak Mountain Resort in Findley Lake, New
York to enjoy the autumn foliage, annual craft fair and farmers’ market. On Saturday, October
25, see Washington, D.C. in a day that includes a guided tour of some of the most famous
and interesting museums and monuments. On Saturday, November 8, travel with CCAC on
the New York Express as we spend the day exploring the historical and cultural sites of
New York City.
All trips will depart from the CCAC Allegheny Campus parking lot, Ridge Avenue, North
Shore. Gratuity for the driver is included in the cost of the tours. Cancellations must be
made 30 days prior to the departure day of the tour.
CCAC Announces Partnership with Allegheny County
In June, CCAC President Alex Johnson and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato
announced the formation of the CCAC–Allegheny County Workforce Alliance. This strategic
partnership between the college and Allegheny County is designed to strengthen workforce
development initiatives in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region.
Charles T. Blocksidge, PhD, will serve as executive director of the CCAC–Allegheny County
Workforce Alliance. Dr. Blocksidge has been employed with CCAC since 2002 and previously
served 14 years on the college’s Board of Trustees. “CCAC and Allegheny County have a rich tradition
of working together in order to address critical workforce needs in the region,” says Dr. Blocksidge.
“This alliance forges a partnership that ensures the development and maintenance of a quality workforce.”
Through collaboration with regional partners, the CCAC–Allegheny Workforce Alliance will
take steps to identify and meet workforce needs, closing the loop in the workforce training
cycle. An advisory council will be established with representatives from business and industry,
labor, economic development groups, foundations and educational institutions. The advisory
council will focus on recruitment, training and retention of qualified employees.
For additional information on the CCAC–Allegheny Workforce Alliance, please visit the
CCAC website.
Upcoming CCAC Events
Second Annual CCAC Skilled Trades Fair to be Held at CCAC West Hills Center
The second annual CCAC Skilled Trades and Services Fair, featuring more than 20 exhibitors,
will be held at the CCAC West Hills center in Oakdale on Tuesday, October 7 from 9:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The 2007 CCAC Skilled and Services Trades Fair attracted more than 500 participants, with
the majority represented by visiting students and teachers from regional high schools as well
as career and technical centers.
“This is a prime opportunity for area students to be exposed to a variety of skilled trades in one place, in a
relatively short timeframe,” says Donna Imhoff, PhD, campus president, CCAC North campus
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and West Hills center. “The CCAC Skilled Trades and Services Fair offers student learners the chance to
get a head-start on their career decision making in these lucrative careers.”
The Laurel Foundation is the lead sponsor of the Second Annual CCAC Skilled Trades and
Services Fair. With a priority interest in supporting the trade programs, the Laurel Foundation
has provided a generous grant to host the fair and to purchase equipment needed for training
at the CCAC West Hills center.
For more information, contact 412.788.7500.
CCAC South Campus Theatre Presents “Black Comedy”
CCAC South Campus Theatre will present Peter Schaffer’s English Farce “Black Comedy”
November 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 with an 8:00 p.m. curtain.
This one act play is about a poor, young sculptor trying to show his work to a German
philanthropist. All is well, until there is a power outage. In a twist of light and dark, the show
opens to total darkness. However, the characters can “see” and talk about the furnishings and
brilliant colors of “borrowed” items from the very fussy next-door neighbor, Harold. Then,
their lights go out and the audience’s come on.
General admission is $5; student, faculty and staff admission is free. There are no reserved
seats. For more information, contact the box office at 412.469.6219.
Class Notes
1970s
Michael Choma (1973, Boyce, banking & finance) transferred to Robert Morris University
after completing an AS in banking and finance from CCAC. He completed a BS in business
education from Robert Morris University in 1975, and a master’s degree in adult education
from Penn State University in 1993. Mike has held various positions at Newport Business
Institute, and now serves as dean of students.
He resides with his wife Cathy and son Ken in Brackenridge, PA, and is very active in his
community and local school district. He serves as “the voice of the Golden Rams” for the
Highlands School District football and basketball teams on Comcast Cable, and also provides
guidance and tutoring for athletes in both programs.
Jeffry Davis (1975, South, psychology) says he is proud to be among one of the first to
graduate from CCAC’s new West Mifflin campus. After graduating from South campus, Jeffry
transferred to the University of Pittsburgh where he earned a BS in psychology and an MBA.
He held a variety of jobs since graduation and currently works as a business intelligence sales
specialist with the Oracle Corporation in Pittsburgh. Jeffry resides in Bethel Park with his wife
Cheryl and son James. He is proud to report that his daughter recently graduated from
Washington and Jefferson College.
1990s
Derek Curry (1998, Boyce, art) moved to Tampa, FL after graduating from CCAC to accept
a job as a lawn mower tester with Toro. After a few years, he purchased a landscaping
business, and in 2001, enrolled at the University of South Florida, where he received a BFA
in photography in 2007. While pursuing his degree, Derek ran his landscaping business and
established himself in the Florida art scene, showing his work in many galleries and museums.
7

He plans to begin classes this fall toward a Master of Fine Arts at the University of California
at Los Angeles, as well as work as a graduate assistant teaching undergraduate courses. He
plans to graduate in 2010. Derek maintains a website of his work, www.derekcurry.com.
2000s
Vanessa A. Johnson (2007, Allegheny, business management) is a service–connected disabled
veteran who earned her degree through the Veteran’s Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation
program after serving in the US Army. She has been employed with Duquesne University’s
School of Leadership and Professional Advancement since graduating from CCAC in May
2007. Vanessa is presently attending Duquesne University in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree
in leadership and communication, and plans to graduate in 2010. Some of her greatest
memories from CCAC include the diverse population of students and the instructors, and the
willingness and support of the faculty and staff to go above and beyond to provide help
toward achieving educational goals.
Michael T. Soltis (2007, South, building construction estimating; 2004, North, carpentry
apprentice) obtained a certificate in the carpentry apprentice program at CCAC in 2004 and
then received a full-tuition scholarship from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) to
complete an AS in building construction estimating. Today, Mike remains a proud member of
the UBC and praises the union and CCAC for providing him with the means to pursue a degree.
He is currently enrolled in a collaborative program in organizational management at Indian
River State College in Florida, and hopes to receive his bachelor’s degree in a few years.
Jason Giulieri (2008, Allegheny, general studies) is an international student from Australia
who was recently named to the CCAC Alumni Board following his 2008 graduation from
CCAC’s Allegheny campus. While a student, Jason was the editor of the Allegheny View and
the Phoenix Magazine. He has a strong interest in politics, and was involved with Governor
Ed Rendell’s reelection campaign.
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