Pennocks Bridge Center Offers First-Ever Nurse Aide Program
Last fall, the Pennocks Bridge Center offered its first-ever Nurse Aide Program, welcoming eight students to the program. The 133-hour intensive course prepares students for employment in acute care, acute rehabilitation, hospice, home healthcare and long-term care facilities. Along with classroom instruction, participants complete 60 hours of hands-on clinical experience. With a projected growth of 8.9 percent between 2020 and 2030, nursing assistant is a high-priority occupation for Chester County.
Southeast Center Bulletin Boards Provide Sense of Community
Two bulletin boards at the Southeast Center help busy students feel connected. The “Take 5 Mindfulness Board” offers rotating activities like journaling prompts and community collaborations such as coloring or adding songs to a community playlist, which counselor Ryan Jaffe compiled in a Spotify playlist she then shared during finals week. The “Balance Bulletin Board” focuses on personal, academic, and career development, highlighting the importance of a healthy balance. For students who may not be able to attend an hour-long lecture, the bulletin boards offer a sense of community and connection while also promoting healthy practices.
Downingtown Culinary Arts Students Practice Cooking Skills in Professional Kitchen Setting
DCCC’s Downingtown branched hosted its first Culinary Arts classes in the kitchen of the Phoenixville Area Senior Center as part of a new arrangement aimed at giving DCCC students firsthand experience in an industrial kitchen setting. Beginning in January, six students in “Food Sanitation” and “Professional Cooking I” used the Senior Center’s kitchen to engage in hands-on learning. “Professional Cooking I” topics included cutting skills and making broth, while the “Food Sanitation” class included food-service workers interested in keeping up to date with professional food safety standards.
Athletics
Six Phantoms Qualify for Nationals in Track and Field in 2024 and 2025
Delaware County Community College student athletes put on stellar performances at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Meet, held May 8-10, 2025, in Utica, N.Y.
The Phantoms achieved multiple podium finishes, including 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th.
Fatumata Kaba of Sharon Hill; Fred “Tre” McCray of Upper Darby; Daniel McLaughlin of Rutledge; Aidan Heppard of Swarthmore; Jimmy Love of Ridley; Daishon Billops of Darby Township all qualified for the meet, and Dennis Omane-Nketia of Collingdale made the trip as the relay alternate.
“From Penn Relays to weekly regional and national accolades to top eight Nationals performances, this season has truly been historic,” said Coach Cara Fordenbacher. “Our athletes have risen to the occasion, competing against the best in the country.”
“I’m so proud of our team and everything we’ve achieved this season,” said McCray, who posted a school record of 10.74 in the 100 meters in his last race as a DCCC Phantom.
The Phantoms’ fantastic 2025 season follows a break-through 2024 campaign that saw the team send six athletes to the Division III national championships.
Omane-Nketia, Joseph Faye, Jadon Thomas, and Heppard competed in the 4×100-meter relay, while Bintu Sheriff ran the 100-meter dash in 14.13 seconds.
Ramadan Amm also accompanied the group. Coach Cara Fordenbacher said, “The meet capped a season of growth for us.”
Men’s Soccer Team Are Conference Champions
DCCC’s men’s soccer team were Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) Tri-Champions and qualified for the Region 19 playoffs.
This team achievement comes on top of a number of individual honors for team members, including the naming of Lawrence Buigbo, Abdul Sheriff and Michael Haley to the First Team All EPAC. Haley also earned recognition as a member of the All-Region 19 Second Team.
Women’s Volleyball Returns to DCCC
After a hiatus, Delaware County Community College fielded a women’s volleyball club team during the fall 2024 season, with eight students participating. After the club’s successful relaunch, the team hopes to transition to compete against area colleges in the 2025 season as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Intercollegiate Athletics at DCCC
DCCC competes in National Junior College Athletic Association Division III. The College offers the following sports:
- Baseball
- Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
- Men’s and Women’s Basketball
- Men’s Soccer
- Women’s Volleyball
To support DCCC Athletics, visit dccc.edu/makeagift