Alumni County College of Morris
advocate CCM AND ITS
HEROES
RESPOND TO COVID-19 WITH EXPERTISE AND PASSION
Sheriff Jim Gannon ’81
Jeremy Friedland ’19 CCM Professor John Williford
Thank You!
Cassidy Grady ’19
SPRING 2020 Eric Pedersen ’06
CCM Professor Gracielle Fong
Ryan Rothschild ’18
|
SPRING 2020 Vol. XLVI No. 1
Table of Contents A Personal Message to Alumni from Dr. Anthony J. Iacono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 CCM Offers Unprecedented Support To Students, Faculty and Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Paul Wiebel of Econo-Pak Packs in a Full Life . . . . . . . 7 Athletic Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Graduate Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Alumni Scholarships Assist Students . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CCM Student Alumni Association Seeks to Foster Student Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Titan Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 What’s New at CCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CCM President Dr. Anthony J. Iacono and Dr. Janet Eber Recognized for Achievements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Titan Emergency Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
From the
Director
What a challenging spring we have had! The past few months have been unprecedented in many ways. CCM managed the crisis by prioritizing the health and well-being of their employees and students. We focused intensely on maintaining a strong teaching and learning environment and doing everything we could to support our students’ academic progress. All instruction was moved to a distance learning format and employees worked remotely. I sincerely hope that everyone in our alumni community remains well. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of our students and graduates in countless ways. Many have lost their jobs and need employment. The staff of CCM’s Office of Career Services remains committed to ensuring that all of our students and graduates have access to the job search support they want and the employment opportunities they need. Please know that they are still there for you and will support you today and every day. Contact them by email at Career-Services@ccm. edu or by phone at 973-328-5245. Their services will be provided virtually to the extent possible. While the campus remains closed, or for those not pursuing a traditional on-campus experience, the Virtual Career Center offers remote services to its students and graduates, supported by the staff of the Office of Career Services at County College of Morris. Go to this link for information: https://www.ccm.edu/student-life/career-services/virtual-career-center/. Please keep sending in your updates so we can feature you in an upcoming issue. This can be done easily from the alumni section of the CCM website or by mailing in the form on page 15. We especially want to hear from our alumni who have been helping to sustain the community during the pandemic, as well as entrepreneurs who own a business to consider for a feature story in “The Winner’s Circle”. The inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame held on November 16, 2019 was extraordinarily successful. Please see page 8 for photos and article covering this wonderful event.
The CCM Alumni Advocate is published by the County College of Morris, Randolph, N.J. 07869. During the COVID crisis we are working remotely. The Alumni Office can be reached by email alumni@ccm.edu or phone 973-328-5059.
Co-Editors:
Our annual bus trip to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular was sold out! But, unfortunately, we will not be offering the Yankees College Hat Day program and bus trip normally scheduled during the summer months due to the uncertainty of continued closures and need for social distancing. Our students need your help more than ever in the wake of the global pandemic. Please consider making a donation to the CCM Foundation Titan Emergency Fund or a designation of your choice to assist us in getting students back on track so they can continue with their education. We are still all in this together!
Barbara Capsouras, ‘82 Director of Alumni Relations Mary Ann Kiczek, MAK Communications
Sports Writer: David Artuso, ‘86 Design and Layout: Gina Garcia
Circulation 42,000
2003 and 2006 Bronze Award winner from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.
| 2 |
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate
Barbara Capsouras ’82, Alumni Director bcapsouras@ccm.edu
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT A Personal Message to Alumni from Dr. Anthony J. Iacono As we navigate through the COVID-19 crisis, many things seem unpredictable, but one thing I can say for certain is that I am proud of the work CCM is doing to address the needs of our students, alumni, faculty, staff, administration and the community at large. I truly hope that you are doing well and managing through the many uncertainties we all face – uncertainties that we could never have imagined even a few short months ago, but uncertainties that we will continue to overcome by making healthy choices and working together. This crisis is unprecedented, but we are more determined than ever to support our students, advance scholarship, and serve our community like never before. I believe our entire college community is doing an exceptional job transitioning to a new reality and helping others along the way. In this special edition of the Alumni Advocate, we share with you some extraordinary examples of what’s being done to make the most of an unfortunate situation. For our students, CCM remains committed to continuing to provide the quality educational experience, strong support services, and engaging programs our students have come to know and expect. I am incredibly proud of our faculty and staff who helped moved the college experience online in a small amount of time. This allowed minimal interruption of teaching and learning, while also ensuring that students' non-classroom needs would be met in a timely manner. To better support our students, the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Management created The Academic Success Center Plus (TASC Plus). This new resource is a virtual one-stop center designed to minimize stress and maximize success by answering students’ questions quickly and accurately and to ensure that they have the resources they need. TASC Plus has received rave reviews from our students who have requested it be continued even after the crisis has passed. For our graduates, our Career Services department allows for virtual access to job listings, resume and interview assistance, and related job search support. The Center for Workforce Development helps individuals develop new skills and competencies. Remember, remaining valuable in the workforce means remaining current in your knowledge and skill set. I encourage you to consider taking a course, earning an industry credential, or simply attend a workshop on a regular basis. Never stop learning! For our healthcare providers, many of whom are CCM alumni (some featured in this edition), please know that you have our full appreciation and support. CCM was honored to loan five ventilators, donate hundreds of N95 masks, provide thousands of gloves, and make hundreds of face shields and masks for hospital and assisted living facility health care providers. We stand ready to provide added support as needed. Rest assured that, like you, we too are in this for the long haul, and we will not waiver until the virus no longer threatens the lives of our friends, families, and community members. Yesterday, many of you were our students. Today, you are our heroes. For our entire community, I encourage you to visit CCM’s website at ccm.edu. There, you will find a wealth of resources, including links to COVID-19 related FAQs, contact information for deans and department chairs, videos on managing stress and anxiety, and more. Hosting Morris County’s COVID-19 testing center in support of the Office of Emergency Management is yet another way we showed our commitment to the residents of Morris County. As we look to the future, CCM is well prepared to support the economic recovery by expanding its workforce development programs. We’re here to help you get a job, get a better job, or simply to help you do your job better through upskilling. For those who do not have a degree or are looking for a new career path, it is never too late to get started. With more than 50 degrees and certificates to offer, and with more than 100 transfer agreements with universities in and out of New Jersey, we can help you realize your dreams. Yes, many things are different, but we are still CCM, and we will get through this together. Early on in this crisis, I encouraged our college community to believe that we CAN do this. These days, we can say with confidence that we ARE doing this. We are doing this because I am, you are, we are CCM. I wish you good health and thank you for supporting County College of Morris. Best,
Anthony J. Iacono, Ph.D., President County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 3 |
CCM Offers Unprecedented Support To Students, Faculty and Staff By Mary Ann Kiczek Because of the severity of the crisis, and to maintain its commitment to supporting the health and well-being of students, in-person instruction on campus ceased as of March 13, 2020. Over the course of the next two weeks, instructional learning transitioned to remote teaching, as online support programs and services were put in place in an effort to continue to provide students with quality educational experiences, strong support services, and engaging programs. Dr. Anthony Iacono acknowledged the dedication of the faculty and administrative staff commenting, “Moving all courses online or into other alternative delivery formats was a huge undertaking that required significant effort, creativity, and commitment. The creative solutions implemented by the faculty and administrative staff, and the many supports put in place for students demonstrated our commitment to ensure that students continue to receive a superior education in these newly implemented virtual classrooms.” Dr. Bette Simmons, Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management, agreed. “I applaud the college community for doing such an extraordinary job to transition to this online format in the effort to continuing providing the quality educational experience, strong support services, and engaging programs for our students,” she commented.
Dr. Bette Simmons and staff from the Division of Student Development assist in the distribution of laptops to students in need of technology as they transition to online learning.
spring semester. CCM President Dr. Anthony Iacono explained, “Given the challenges associated with Jeremy Friedland ’19, a recent the COVID-19 virus, it is not realistic to expect that County College of Morris Nursing a normal grading process in itself will suffice. I want graduate, usually works in the orthoto thank our administrators and faculty for working pedic trauma unit at Atlantic Health’s together to support our students in this manner.” Morristown Medical Center, but currently is on a dedicated COVID-19 unit due to the The College has made many resources available to ongoing pandemic. Friedland took time out of help students manage through the COVID-19 his very busy work schedule to reflect on crisis. All student support services typically the Nursing Program at CCM, noting in place are up and running in a remote It is important that it was extremely challenging and format. In particular, The Academic to remember that we taught him not only how to care for patients Success Center (TASC) was are not treating ‘COVID from a medical standpoint, but also how to expanded to offer online support patients,’ we are caring for care for the whole person. to students. It is a large resource husbands, wives, children and center that will make it easy for friends. The skills and knowledge students to access instructional taught at CCM literally prepared COVID-19 challenges are being met with and non-instructional informame and my peers to hel p tion, receive support with library commitment, creativity and fundraising services, obtain advice on unique save lives during this horrible From the very start, CCM demonstrated its commitment to supporting its situations, get connected to key pandemic. students and staff and implemented numerous initiatives to respond to their faculty, staff, and administrators, needs – both academically and beyond. work with an ombudsperson With all classes online at CCM and the college working remotely, several stuto resolve complex issues, and dents found they were lacking the technology to make the transition. To assist receive information on available social services to help resolve life issues. them, on Saturday, April 4, the college distributed nearly 40 laptops at a special The Office of Counseling and Student Success continues to provide support distribution event staffed by several CCM employees. Also distributed at the and resource referral to all students. In addition, counselors are available to event was other equipment students needed to continue their classwork, such support students and assist in the transition to remote learning and any other as art and photography supplies and pottery wheels and clay. life circumstances that may affect their ability to meet their educational goals. In recognition of the difficult circumstances students were working under, and Dr. Iacono notes that counseling and support services were also made available the complexities encountered by faculty members, the College offered students to faculty and staff members who may be experiencing difficulties in acclimating the opportunity to select a newly implemented Pass/Fail grading method for the and coping with changes related to the virus.
Jeremy Friedland ’19
| 4 |
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate
Dr. Betsy Greenleaf ’92
County College of Morris is proud to support our healthcare providers, including the many who are CCM alumni. For this reason, we often say that today’s graduates are tomorrow’s heroes. ~ Dr. Anthony Iacono For those students facing financial difficulties related to the unanticipated consequences of COVID-19, in addition to financial measures put in place on the federal and state levels, the CCM Foundation increased its focus on raising funds for the Titan Emergency Fund. “The Titan Emergency Fund provides students with financial support to meet unexpected expenses, from car repairs, to food, housing, medical and other issues, so they can stay on track to graduate,” commented Katie Olsen, Executive Director of the CCM Foundation. Alumni and friends of CCM who wish to donate to the fund should go to https://www. ccm.edu/foundation/donate/ to make a contribution.
CCM campus plays critical role in community COVID-19 testing effort Along with supporting the College’s students, faculty and staff, County College of Morris is playing a critical role in offering assistance to address the needs of the greater community during the pandemic. The campus is serving as a COVID-19 drive-through testing center for Morris and Sussex County residents in coordination with the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, the Morris County Sheriff’s Department, Morris County Park Police, Randolph Township Police Department and Atlantic Health
System. Helping with that effort are staff from CCM’s Departments of Public Safety and Plant and Maintenance, who are serving as traffic directors, site monitors and in other roles as needed.
Dr. Betsy Greenleaf ’92 published a letter to students regarding the biology of threat and uncertainty. The article focuses on how the nervous system reacts to stress and how to deal with the biological processes that come as a result of stress. Her advice: Sleep; stay hydrated; eat well and avoid inflammatory foods, such as sugar; find a relaxation technique you enjoy (meditation, yoga, exercise, deep breathing); and, most importantly, give yourself space and understanding.
Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon '81, a CCM graduate, and officers, many of whom are also CCM alumni, are demonstrating exceptional professionalism, courage and service as they assist in this critical function. At the site, on the second day of testing, Sheriff Gannon had this to say, “This is truly the best about partnerships. Not one agency can do it all. This is a serious health event. We are at County College of Morris, and we have the likes of Dr. Iacono right here with us today, the President of CCM, and I really appreciate and thank him for that partnership we have.” Continued on next page. On the scene of the Morris County COVID-19 testing site - Morris County Sheriff's Officers who are past or present County College of Morris students, practicing safe social distancing. CCM Alumnus, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon ‘81, is on the far right, retired Morris County Sheriff's Office Captain, CCM Alumnus and current CCM Director of Security Steve Ackerman ‘84 is on the far left, and CCM President Dr. Anthony Iacono is in the red jacket.
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 5 |
Continued from page 5.
Eric Pedersen ’06
CCM and its Healthcare Heroes respond with expertise and passion
At the request of Atlantic Health Systems, Eric Pedersen '06, CCM engineering lab coordinator and professor, is utilizing the College’s 3-D printers to create face shields for healthcare workers. The shields are being generated based on specifications provided by Atlantic Health. The College is able to create roughly 15 a day.
CCM graduates are working in healthcare facilities throughout the region as nurses, respiratory therapists, radiographers and more. Throughout this issue of the Alumni Advocate, we share their stories, photos and thoughts. “County College of Morris is proud to support our healthcare providers, including the many who are CCM alumni. For this reason, we often say that today’s graduates are tomorrow’s heroes. The men and women who work in healthcare are literally putting their lives at risk to help others. We are extremely grateful to all of them and appreciate their service and devotion to helping those in need,” Dr. Iacono commented.
To support the efforts of those in the healthcare profession who are working tirelessly to treat patients affected by the COVID-19 virus, the College loaned critically needed equipment to Morristown Medical Center, including five ventilators, 325 N95 masks and 3,000 gloves.
John Williford Professor
When not teaching online classes, Professor John Williford, Psychology and Education department chair, has been assisting his wife Maryanna, executive program director of the Willing Heart Community Care Center in Newark, NJ, to support at-risk populations.
| 6 |
County College of Morris
frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the team has made 200 masks, which are being delivered to several medical facilities, with more expected to receive masks as they become available.
I feel very happy and humbled to know that something I love doing can help others stay safe. I believe that every little bit counts, and [with the masks we are making] together we can help stop the spread of the virus. ~ Devyn Orozco Design Student
Six CCM fashion design students, their professors and several CCM staff members are making face masks to protect those working on the
As the Summer sessions and the Fall semester approach, the College is prepared to retain its current students and to enroll new individuals seeking a CCM educational experience, reports Dr. Iacono.
Community colleges traditionally see a big increase in enrollment during times of economic upheaval. “We’re looking at models right now that show increases potentially of 10%, maybe 20%, which we can comfortably manage,” Dr. Iacono commented. “The school has added more than 20 faculty members in the past three years. And there is a pool of longtime part-time faculty that can increase their load.” In addition to being prepared for increased capacity, Dr. Iacono added that the school will be ready for what he expects to be higher demand for specific workforce development programs. “The part that makes us unique from some of the universities is that we have a full-blown comprehensive workforce development program,” he said.
CCM Design Professor Anita Collins and Nieasia Wilkins, of Budd Lake, a student at CCM, work on making face masks for healthcare and other frontline workers.
Alumni advocate
CCM is prepared for a new future
Paul Wiebel of Econo-Pak Packs in a Full Life
Winner's Circle Paul Wiebel '74
By Mary Ann Kiczek Ever wonder how that cereal you’re pouring for breakfast made its way into the box? Probably not – not unless, that is, you’re Paul Wiebel ‘74, founder and Chairman of Econo-Pak, a contract packaging company. Econo-Pak was founded more than 35 years ago by the Wiebel family. The company, which serves a wide range of markets, including the two largest food companies in the world, packages food and beverages.
college student at Utah State University, he focused on painting church steeples and purchasing and renovating houses. Following his college graduation, Wiebel joined his parents in the packaging industry. “Our first office was in my parents’ basement and our first factory was in our garage. From there, we moved into a 4,000-square-foot factory in East Hanover and then
Cookies, crackers, muffins, rice, diet powders, candy and snack foods are among the many products that pass through the company’s 220,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Milford, Pennsylvania. Econo-Pak has roughly 900 employees and operates 24/7 with three shifts. The company utilizes the highest speed packing equipment in the industry and ships more than 500 truckloads a week of finished goods. Wiebel shared the company’s senior management team’s commitment to the development, maintenance and implementation of a high-quality food safety culture. “Econo-Pak has always been fully focused on supplying a safe and high-quality service that meets and/or exceeds regulatory requirements and our customers’ expectations. We ensure that our employees are properly trained, and we regularly reinforce the company’s commitment to high quality standards and customer satisfaction” Wiebel commented. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has further stepped up its efforts. “We are utilizing a high degree of facility sanitizing, supplying gloves and facemasks and taking employees’ temperatures, which is providing us a complete realm of safety,” he added.
An entrepreneur from a young age Wiebel’s attraction to entrepreneurship dates back to his 12-year-old self with a newspaper route that saw him delivering 250 papers a day, six days a week. The house painting business he started at age 16 targeted his parents’ neighbors as customers before developing into a commercial business serving stores, factories and church steeples. As a
is the company’s Director of Operations. Wiebel's wife, Michelle, is Treasurer, and nephew, Nick Curto, is a line operator. Wiebel, who sees himself as a team leader, is proud of the roles his family members play. His daughter, Kelly Wiebel Harrington '14, is also a County College of Morris graduate. In addition to Econo-Pak, Wiebel has owned a number of other companies, including Christie’s Steakhouse, OnLine Design, Captive Audience, North American Sterilization and Packaging, Destiny Packaging, Berthoud Pass ski area, Hydraskin Cosmetics, Creative Design Painting and Contracting,
Econo-Pak prides itself on maintaining a high-quality food safety culture and utilizing the highest speed packing equipment in the industry. a former dairy barn in Franklin. After relocating to Sussex, the company added a 50,000 square foot warehouse to its 40,000 square foot plant there. We acquired our current location in Milford in 2014."
All in the family Wiebel’s two sons both hold senior leadership positions as they help the family business to grow. P.J. Wiebel is Chief Executive Officer and Robert Wiebel
and has been involved in real estate development and industrial rentals.
CCM helped Wiebel build critical business skills Wiebel spoke highly of the role CCM played in his career. “At the time I attended CCM, the professors were all retired business executives. The courses Continued on next page.
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 7 |
Melanie New ’19
Melanie New ’19, another recent graduate of the Respiratory Therapy Program, is working on the front line helping COVID-19 patients at Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center.
Athletic Hall of Fame By Barbara Capsouras On Saturday, November 16, 2019, the Inaugural CCM Athletic Hall of Fame held at the Meadow Wood Manor was a sold-out success. More than 250 attendees greeted each other and reminisced about their memorable times at County College of Morris. Director of Athletics Jack Sullivan thanked the inductees for their success during their tenure at CCM and welcomed these trailblazers into the Titans Hall of Fame. Remarks were made by CCM President Dr. Anthony Iacono and Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Management Dr. Bette Simmons.
Continued from page 7. in business organization and management, business law, and marketing were invaluable to the development of my career,” he commented. His sagely advice to current students, “Follow your dreams, learn from your mistakes and give to those around you. The returns are huge!”
Giving back is a way of life for Wiebel In October 2019, the Boy Scouts of America Patriots’ Path Council recognized Wiebel with the Distinguished Citizen Award. The Award recognizes outstanding men and women of achievement and leadership who through their occupation or interests support Scouting in five New Jersey counties. He is the founder of the Wiebel Family Foundation, a foundation dedicated to assisting local charities, including first responders, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and the Karen Wiebel Memorial Race. He and his family currently live in Sparta, New Jersey.
Coaches Roger Stephens and Aaron Balbor were presenters for the 2008 Men’s Soccer Team. As champions of the Garden State Athletic Conference, NJCAA District IV, and Region XIX, they also finished third in the NJCAA National Tournament. The team’s season record of 18-4 was accomplished by team members: Steve Bostros, Matt Burian, Daniel Clayton, Vincent Connolly, John Fitzgerald, Marc Gaston, Diego Jaramilio, Jeff Jimenez, Rafael Martinez, Eric McPhillips, Juan Mercano, David Mero, Juan Orejuela, Brandon Puello, Tony Ramos, Chris Robinson, Salahedine Saadaoui, Julian Sanchez, Elie Varzee, John Weber and Robbie Zablatsky.
Taking time to enjoy life Despite the rigors of running a business, Wiebel makes it a point to enjoy outside interests and family. An avid skier, he first took to the slopes at the age of three, and skied competitively in both junior high school and high school. Wiebel was a member of the CCM ski team that won two Junior College Championships, and he went on to earn a full ski racing scholarship to Utah State University. After college, he raced in the Benson and Hedges Pro Circuit with the likes of Spider Savich, Jean-Claude Killy, and Andre Molter. Later, he purchased the Berthoud Pass ski area – the first ski area in Colorado, the first Colorado ski resort with a chairlift, and the highest base elevation in North America. In addition to his love of skiing, Wiebel is passionate about his lifelong sports and car collecting hobby and devoted to family life. In closing, he reflected on what keeps him going, “Without a doubt, it’s about waking up each day and realizing how lucky I am to have a wonderful family and a thriving business that allows me to create job opportunities for my employees.”
| 8 |
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate
The Men’s Baseball 1985 Team was presented by Coaches Lee Seras and Dennis Morgan. The 1985 team was the Region XIX and Garden State Athletic Conference champions and finished third at the NJCAA National Tournament. With a season record of 30-6, proud team members were: George Bargefrede, Ron DiGiacopo, Brian Finnegan, Rob Gonzalez, Jerry Green, Jim Janzen, Dan Kreuder, John Kroeger, Mike Maksudian, Andy Mauro, Luis Merejo, Ray Mikell, Tony Moran, Gary Mudoch, John Racioppi, Barry Riehl, Ken Santino, Mike Sebesto, Ken Yonker and Paul Zack. Presenter Coach Ed Nelson posthumously recognized Ice Hockey Coach Bob Natarelli with the Contribution Award for his years of service to the Hockey Team as a volunteer goal-tending coach and mentor.
Dirk Swaneveld was a star on the soccer field. Presenter Coach Jack Martin outlined Swaneveld’s honors while attending CCM from 1974 - 1977 as GSAC First Team, All-Region First Team and All-American and shared that Dirk held the record as high goal scorer for over 20 years. Mountain Lakes High School Coach Alison Preston had the honor of presenting softball standout Rebecca Caruso Williams for her accomplishments as a shortstop. She is the first in CCM history to be named NJCAA AllAmerican 1st Team Shortstop and Distinguished Academic AllAmerican. She was also twice recognized as All-Region and All-GSAC Team as a center fielder and shortstop and named 2001 CCM Woman Athlete of the Year. A personal highlight for Caruso Williams was meeting her husband, Lorenzo, while at CCM, where there is a tree with their initials carved on it. Terry Ryan’s daughter and p r e s e n t e r, Megan, was emotional as she posthumously inducted her dad for his basketball accomplishments. He was co-captain of the 1975 team, was 3rd all-time career assists leader, and was one of Coach Jack Martin’s top point guards. Clarence White was such an outstanding basketball player he earned two NBA tryouts with the Detroit Pistons and the NJ Nets. As presenter
Coach Jack Martin introduced White, he remarked on his outstanding basketball career at CCM and then playing for a team in the Air Force, as well as coaching for the Princeton Recreation Department team and Princeton High School. White brought a cheering section to the event starring girls from Villa Victoria Academy, where he currently serves as Head Coach! Retired Principal of Morris Knolls High School Bill Cleffi, had the honor of presenting exceptional baseball player Dennis Mack, who was the first CCM student-athlete to receive national re c o g n i t i o n being named NJCAA 1st Team All-East at 2nd base. He led the East with a .383 batting average. Mack was co-captain twice while at CCM. Mack met his wife, Dianne, on a CCM soccer field, and they have been married for over 40 years. Presenter Coach Ed Nelson was privileged to introduce prominent CCM Hockey forward Ed Higdon. Higdon led his team and the conference in scoring with 52 goals and 26 assists. At the combined Region III and XVIIII NJCAA tournament, Higdon took home the Most Valuable Player Award. He was named first team all conference. While at CCM, Higdon also played soccer and participated in the first year lacrosse program. His wife, Barbara, is also a CCM graduate. Former CCM Vice President of Students George Dragonetti, initiated the college’s basketball program. Presenter Coach Jack Martin described Dragonetti’s dedication to CCM and its students, as well as his loyalty to the CCM Athletic Department and all the sports programs initiated. While at CCM, Dragonetti received many honors and served as a member of a number of Ethics Committees. He retired after 26 years with CCM and has the distinction of the theater in the Student Center named for him.
HALL OF
FAME
Last, but certainly not least former CCM Athletic Director and Basketball Coach Jack Martin was presented by his fellow CCM colleague Jack Gallagher, detailing a long list of accomplishments and accolades. Martin was named the first Director of Athletics in 1968 and served until his retirement in 2002. He also was the men’s basketball coach from 1968 – 1998. Martin is the winningest two-year college coach in New Jersey history and second all-time among two and four-year colleges and universities. He has been inducted into four other Hall of Fames: 1997 – National Junior College Basketball Coaches (1st NJ inductee); 2011 – Morris Hills Regional High School; 2012 – National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators; 2013 – National Association of College Directors of Athletics. Closing the presentations with a standing ovation, the evening was complete! Jack Sullivan, who followed Martin as Athletic Director in 2002, summed up the event with this comment, “The County College of Morris inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony was a huge success! A very big thank you to the Hall of Fame Committee, CCM Foundation and the College's administration for supporting this endeavor. We are proud and overwhelmed by the turnout. All of the inductees and honorees are truly worthy of distinction. I would once again like to thank all of them for everything they have done for County College of Morris Athletics.”
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 9 |
graduate
Updates
The following class notes information was obtained from submitted Alumni Update forms. Graduates who completed work for their CCM degrees in December are officially recorded and listed under January of the following year. By Barbara Capsouras
1988 Jason Bonafede ’97
Jason Bonafede ’97, manager of a Starbucks in Atlanta Georgia, supported his team members in their vision to make an impactful difference during a time of need by collecting and delivering 300 pounds of coffee to EMS, Fire, Police, and Healthcare professionals at three area hospitals in Atlanta’s northern suburbs.
Jennifer W. Fischer obtained an A.A. in humanities/science. Her creative writing class with Professor Sara Pfaffenroth was one of the highlights of her CCM education and inspired her to publish a book about her travels titled Adventures Across America, On and Off the Trail of Lewis and Clark, available at barnesandnoble.com. Fischer weaves the exciting story of Lewis and Clark, along with more than 150 photographs, into her own account and discoveries across the country. The COVID-19 shut down came just as Jennifer was scheduled to give talks at local libraries on Lewis and Clark and her experience in book writing. Now, with the extra time available, she has begun writing a second book about her travels across the heartland and southwest.
1991 Lorrieann Geyer graduated with an A.A. in humanities/ social science, followed by a B.A. in English Literature from the College of St. Elizabeth in 2007 with High Honors as she raised three sons (15 months apart) with disabilities. Geyer never considered herself a good student and lacked confidence when she began classes at CCM at 19 years old, hiking up “heart attack” hill. But that changed as graduating from CCM on the Dean’s List, gave her a new sense of self. She is very grateful for her experience at CCM and all the wonderful professors she met while there, like Sander Zulauf who brought poetry to life for her. Geyer went on to receive teaching credentials through Rutgers University and
| 10 |
County College of Morris
Alumni advocate
simultaneously completed her Special Education credential. She completed an M.A. in Special Education in May of 2016 from Kean University with high honors. Since 2011, Geyer has been employed by Hunterdon Preparatory School, a private therapeutic high school, as an English/Special Education Teacher where she has been facilitating poetry and biblio therapy. She is in the final stages of training and will be a Certified Poetry Therapy Facilitator this year. She has also been an active board member of The National Association of Poetry Therapy as the Academic and Outreach Chair.
2003 Benjamin Margolis graduated with an A.S. in business administration. He continued his education at Rutgers University, graduating with a B.S. in finance in 2005, and then an M.S. in management/finance from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Margolis is currently employed at MIO Partners, Inc. as an Associate Portfolio Manager focused on global equities. Margolis was formerly an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Co. Earlier in his career he rotated through various finance functions at Alcatel-Lucent.
2005 Marisol Arocho-Feliciano earned an AAS in nursing. She is an Assistant Nurse Manager at Hackensack Meridian Health. Timothy Dixon received an AAS in radiography. He is currently attending Ottawa University studying toward a B.S. in healthcare management. Dixon has been employed at Hackensack Meridian Health since 2013 and is currently the Director of Imaging Services.
2006 Heather Seelinger graduated with an A.S. in public administration. She is employed by the Roxbury Board of Education as the Roxbury High School Head Guidance Secretary.
2016 Michael LankinCerami earned an A.A. in business administration and went on to William Paterson University for a B.A. in business administration in 2018. He is a Recruitment Consultant with Michael Page in the greater Los Angeles area, a professional recruitment consultancy, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world.
2018 Paul Onorati received an A.A. in business administration, followed by a B.A. in finance from Montclair State University. He is an Associate at Onorati Construction Co. Inc., specialists in paving construction of commercial and residential properties for clients in New Jersey and the surrounding area.
in memoriam 1974 – P eter A. Torrance, AAS Business 1992 – Edward J. Du Boyce, A.A. Humanities/Social Science 2001 – Susan Di-Edwardo Kunz, AAS. Information Technology 2006 – N icholas T. Houghton, A.S. Criminal Justice 2007 – D eborah A. Echo, A.A. Humanities/Social Science
Alumni Scholarships Assist Students More than 168 alumni scholarships have been awarded to qualifying students since the Alumni Scholarship program began in 1993. The scholarships are made available to CCM students each year through the generous contributions of alumni. Congratulations to the following recipients of Alumni Scholarships for 2019/2020: Madeline Lake, Collin Leahey, Jennifer Duc and Jeffery Triggs. Applications are reviewed twice a year for Spring and Fall scholarships. Detailed information and an application can be found on the Alumni Section of the CCM website at this link: https://www.ccm.edu/alumni/alumni-scholarships/
Cassidy Grady ’19
New application process dates Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scholarship application process dates have been adjusted for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year to better serve current and future CCM students. Applications for the Fall term will be processed August 15 – September 30. (All scholarships will be posted for the academic year unless otherwise noted). Applications for the Spring term will be processed, January 15 – February 15.
CCM Student Alumni Association Seeks to Foster Student Involvement By Barbara Capsouras
Cassidy Grady ’19 is a graduate of the CCM Respiratory Therapy Program. She The program at is currently working CCM put my thoughts at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and skills to the test, and I in Livingston as couldn’t be more grateful for my a full-time night experience with Professor John respiratory Rutkowski, Professor Gracielle therapist.
Fong and all my other clinical instructors. Respiratory therapy is an amazing and worthwhile career!
Fall 2019 saw the development of the CCM Student Alumni Association, a new student club on the CCM campus. The purpose of this organization is to foster and enhance student involvement in all areas of advancement – from alumni relations and communications to fundraising, marketing and related areas. The CCM Student Alumni Association (SAA) is dedicated to building strong relationships between the students of the past, present, and future. “Members of SAA have access to a variety of exclusive benefits and opportunities, including serving as CCM representatives; traveling to conferences, CCM Foundation and alumni events; attending the Foundation gala; networking with alumni and more,” reports club advisor, CCM Alumni Director Barbara Capsouras.
As a member of CASE ASAP (CASE Affiliated Student Advancement Program), the CCM Student Alumni Association will also benefit from having access to a wide array of resources that enhance the student advancement program, networking with peers from around the world and exploring careers in advancement.
Mathew Pierone ’89
At CCM, student clubs and organizations have long played an integral role in forming a nucleus of co-curricular activity where leadership and life skills are learned and refined both in and out of classroom settings. “We’re proud to have the SAA join in that endeavor,” Capsouras added. Student Alumni Association President, Stephanie Vega, delivers donated Dunkin Donuts and coffee to CCM Testing Site workers.
Matthew Pierone ’89, owner/chef at the Gourmet Café in Parsippany, donated more than 70 dinners to feed front-line nurses at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ. William Schievella from the Italian American Police Society helped to organize and sponsor this effort.
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 11 |
athletics By David Artuso
Lady Titans’ basketball squad looks to build on positive moments
After a sub-par 2019-20 season, the CCM women’s basketball team is looking to improve next winter. The Lady Titans, under third-year head coach Alexandra Katz, turned in a 6-16 record this past campaign. Four of the victories came in against Region XIX foes, including a pair of dominating performances (64-27 and 62-47) over Bucks County Community College of Pennsylvania. All six of the CCM’s victories were one-sided; the Lady Titans posted double-digit triumphs over Middlesex County College, Mercer County College, Orange County Community College of New York and Rowan College at Burlington County.
Men’s hoops finish under .500 for 201920 season One of the characteristics of two-year college sports programs is the difficulty in sustaining success for more than two years in a row. The CCM men’s basketball team found that out this past season. The Titans, who reached the Region XIX championship game in late-winter 2018 and put together an outstanding 23-5 record last year to capture the region title, returned only four sophomores this time around, but they included All-Garden State Athletic Conference and All-Region selection Joshua Morris, a 6-foot-7-inch forward from Ewing. Unfortunately, CCM won just one of its first eight games. And although sixth year coach Anthony Obery’s team rallied valiantly to tally eight victories in a 12-game stretch, they ended the season 10-13. Morris again had a strong year for CCM, including a 25-point, 14-rebound performance in a victory over Rowan College at Burlington County on February 15. CCM Athletic Director Jack Sullivan feels optimistic about the Titan men’s future. “They got a good nucleus there,” Sullivan said in the Youngtown. “Coach Obery has done a very good job. It’s a traditional program here at CCM. I think that’s probably the most successful program over the history of the school.”
Geoff Jeppson ’09
County College of Morris
Playing competitive college soccer is difficult enough with a roster full of healthy players. But what the CCM women’s soccer team did in 2019 was nothing short of sports heroism. Playing every match at least one player short of the usual 11—including a 12-3 loss to Mercer Community College, in which CCM fielded only eight players—the Lady Titans still managed to win two games last fall, finishing 2-7. “We had 10 players in total, but we always felt pretty confident in ourselves,” third-year head-coach Vincent Catizone told the Youngtown Edition in a season recap article. Added Niya Tartaglia, a sophomore defender, “It was pretty good overall, and we were doing very well toward the end. But we were always down at least a player every game.” Despite the rough season, the Lady Titans kept their spirits high. “We always kept our heads up, no matter the game,” said Alexandra Valenti, a sophomore center midfielder. “And that’s not an easy thing to do.”
Young team, impressive seasonending win bode well for men’s soccer It is said only championship teams finish their seasons happy. But that’s not always the case, as the 2019 CCM men’s soccer team proved.
Former CCM Athlete of the Year Geoff Jeppson '09 works for Port Authority Police on the front line, protecting Newark Liberty Airport.
| 12 |
Shorthanded women’s soccer team looking to rebound in Fall 2020 season
| Alumni advocate
The Titans, led by head coach Kevin Rosenberg, may have turned in a disappointing 3-9-2 season last fall, but they wrapped up the campaign with an impressive 5-1 victory over Middlesex County College. The young Titans—14 of the 21 players on the roster were freshmen—were competitive in almost every
the Titan Tradition continues
loss, including suffering three one-goal defeats and a fourth by two goals. Two of those were 1-0 set-
tournament came at the hands of Raritan Valley, in the final match of the regular season.
Ryan Rothschild ’18
One month after avenging its first defeat, CCM dispatched Harcum again, in the Northeast District Tournament, which the Lady Titans hosted. They also defeated the Community College of Rhode Island in a sweep, but their stellar season to remember ended with a four-set loss to Mercyhurst North East. CCM is slated to return five players next season. backs at the hands of Rowan College at Burlington County and Brookdale Community College. CCM also notched a pair of double-overtime ties. And the team lost only once at home, a respectable 3-0 defeat at the hands of powerful Essex County College.
Women’s volleyball team has season to smile about Decades from now, when players from the CCM women’s volleyball team remember the 2019 season, they’ll undoubtedly smile. Fired by a 10-match winning streak, the Lady Titans rolled to a 14-4 record for the fall season, including capturing the regular season co-championship for Region XIX, with five victories in six matches.
Repeat defenders: Golf team captures back-to-back titles 2019 proved to be a season of glorious repetition for the CCM golf team. CCM captured its second consecutive Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX championships last season and finished fifth in the NJCAA Division III National Tournament. The Titans finished the season with a 31-3 match record, culminated with a season- and program-low score of 309 at the national tournament, played in June 2019 at Chautauqua (N.Y.) Golf Club. It was just the latest in a series of outstanding campaigns for the Titans and head coach Jim Chegwidden, who earned his second straight Coach of the Year honor from Region XIX. Over the last five seasons, the Titans’ record is 130-37 with two Region XIX runner-up finishes in addition to the pair of titles, plus three GSAC championships and a pair of second-place finishes in the conference. Sophomore Nick Axelson, from Roxbury High School, took medalist honors in both the Region XIX and GSAC tournaments, while shooting 69-73 to run away with the region title.
CCM, led by first-year head coach Marc Gaydos and first-year assistant coach Paige Culbertson, racked up 10 victories via three-set sweeps. One of the season’s highlights was a thrilling five-set triumph over Harcum, which had swept the Lady Titans a little under a month earlier. The Lady Titans enjoyed a perfect regular season at home, winning all seven matches played in Randolph. Their only other loss before the district
With a 12th-place finish at the national tournament, Axelson became the only two-time AllAmerican in the history of the CCM golf program, having earned third-team All-American status in 2018. For his
Former CCM golfer Ryan Rothschild ’18 who works at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, has been busy as an X-ray technician, but is persevering, along with all of his co-workers, to get the job done. efforts, Axelson was awarded a scholarship to the Savannah (GA) College of Art and Design. Sophomore Ricky Christensen, from Passaic Valley High School, qualified for the national tournament and took home second-team honors for both the region and conference. He shot a 73 at Farmstead Golf Club earlier in the season. Sophomore Steve Strambi, from Morristown High School, saved his best score of the season for the nationals, shooting a 76 in the final round and was awarded third-team All-region and All-conference status. Titan sophomore Gennaro Gencarelli, from James Caldwell High School, turned in his best performance with an 82 at the GSAC championships, plus an 83 at the nationals. He earned second-team All-GSAC honors. Gencarelli was joined as a second-team conference all-star by freshman Nick Civetta, a Randolph High School product. Civetta shot a 79 in the final round of the nationals. (Editor's Note: This article replaces the one in the Fall issue of the CCM Alumni Magazine to reflect updated information.)
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 13 |
What’s New at CCM
Educational Opportunity Fund Program Earns Recognition
CCM is proud to announce the following recognition and initiatives.
The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at County College of Morris (CCM) has received the Silver Award of Excellence from NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education for its record of success in serving first-generation students.
CCM and Stockton University Sign Dual Admission and Transfer Agreement
EOF provides underserved, lowincome and predominately firstgeneration students with academic and financial support to assist them in completing a college education. At CCM, the program also offers comprehensive support services, including a summer orientation, academic counseling, tutoring, mentoring, workshops on study and time management, and opportunities to develop leadership skills.
County College of Morris (CCM) President Anthony J. Iacono and Stockton University President Harvey Kesselman recently signed a dual admission and transfer agreement that will help students make a smooth transition from CCM to Stockton’s bachelor’s degree program. Under this agreement, students from their first semester at CCM will be simultaneously enrolled at Stockton to provide a seamless pathway for earning their bachelor’s degree. The agreement further includes a dedicated scholarship program for CCM graduates to continue their education at Stockton.
Providing Dover Students with Support and Scholarships to Attend CCM Impact 100 Garden State has awarded County College of Morris a $110,000 grant to launch the Dover College Promise (DCP), which will prepare students for college, along with providing them with scholarships to cover tuition at CCM. Working with The Education Center in Dover, DCP will provide low-income middle and high school students with college readiness training and support, along with guaranteed scholarships to attend CCM providing they graduate from high school in good standings. Scholarship funding will be provided by the CCM Foundation. Once enrolled at CCM, students will continue to receive support services.
Randolph High School Students Get Opportunity for Early Start to Higher Education County College of Morris and the Randolph School District signed a dual enrollment agreement to offer high school students the opportunity to begin their higher education early. Through the partnership, CCM will provide Randolph High School students with a pathway to start earning college credits at their high school. Under the agreement, college-level classes at the high school are taught by Randolph High School teachers working collaboratively with CCM professors. Participating students have access to CCM resources, such as the library, tutoring services and academic advisement. To apply to the program, parents and guardians first should complete the application for CCM’s Challenger Program for high school students, which can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/challengerprogram
Faith Markunas ’13
| 14 |
County College of Morris
Dr. Pamela Marcenaro, Dean, Learning Support and Opportunity Services, and Eduardo Lopez, EOF Counselor, receive the Impact 100 grant on behalf of County College of Morris.
Steven Carroll ’06
Working together, Steven Carroll ’06 and Faith Markunas ’13, a nurse at Morristown Medical Center, identified a need among COVID-19 frontline workers for Crocs footwear. The two worked with a supplier to arrange for a donation of the rubber footwear that is favored by frontline workers for its comfort and ability to be easily cleaned.
| Alumni advocate
CCM President Dr. Anthony J. Iacono and Dr. Janet Eber Recognized for Achievements
Gracielle Fong
County College of Morris President Dr. Anthony J. Iacono has been selected by the Aspen Institute to join the 2020-2021 inaugural class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship, a new initiative designed to support community college presidents in the early years of their tenure. Dr. Iacono is one of 25 Aspen Fellows selected from more than 100 applicants nationwide.
Gracielle Fong, a professor in the Respiratory Therapy program, has been working on the frontlines at Morristown Medical Center, while teaching CCM students. Professor Fong teaches Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology and Cardiopulmonary Evaluation and is also the clinical instructor for CCM students at the hospital.
The Child & Family Resources of Morris County has selected Dr. Iacono as a recipient of its inaugural S.H.I.N.E. (Serves, Helps, Inspires, Nurtures and
Alumni update County College of Morris
In order to keep our records up-to-date, we’d like to know where you are and what you are doing. We’d appreciate it if you would take a minute to fill out this form, include a photo if possible, and mail it to: T he CCM Alumni Association, HH 211 County College of Morris Or submit electronically, online, at 214 Center Grove Road https://forms.gle/yZ2XnuPNY5AASJK3A Randolph, NJ 07869-2086
Excels) Award. The Award was established to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to support the development of children and inspire students. He was also recognized by the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce (MCHACC) with the Enterprise Organization of the Year Award. The award was given in appreciation for Dr. Iacono’s and the College’s support of the Hispanic-American Community. The mission of the MCHACC is to advance the interests of businesses and organizations that serve the U.S. Hispanic-American market.
Date:________________ Last 4 digits of Social Security #: X X X - X X - ______________________________ Name:____________________________ _____________________________ _______________________ ____ Last Maiden First MI Address:______________________________________________________________________________________ City:_____________________________________________________ State:_______ Zip:__________________ Are you receiving the Alumni Advocate at this address?
l Yes
l No
Home Phone:________________________________ Business Phone:________________________________ Email Address:________________________________________________________________________________ Year Graduated:_________ Major/Degree: ______________________________________________________
Dr. Janet Eber has been selected by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to receive the Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award. Eber, who is Chair of the Department of English and Philosophy and an English Professor, has been an instrumental leader at CCM. The Award, which comes as Eber marks her 50th year on the CCM faculty, recognizes professors for their passion for students and the classroom, willingness to support students inside and outside the classroom, participation in college committees, and service that exceeds what is required to ensure students are successful.
Additional College(s), Year of graduation, degree, major: __________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Current Employer and Job Title: _______________________________________________________________ Please give us an update on recent accomplishments (for possible inclusion in the Alumni Advocate). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________
“Dr. Eber has impacted the lives of thousands of students. She is a stellar professor with an impact that has a profound influence on CCM,” said Dr. Anthony J. Iacono. “It’s no exaggeration to state that CCM would not be the quality institution of higher education that it is today without her many contributions.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations to Dr. Iacono and Dr. Eber.
$
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
County College of Morris
| Alumni advocate | 15 |
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Dover, N.J. 07801 Permit No. 263
214 Center Grove Road Randolph, NJ 07869-2086 Notice to parents of Alumni: If you are receiving the Alumni Advocate and would like it sent directly to your child, send us your child’s new address. Thank you.
T I TA N EMERGENCY F UND Supporting Our Students’ Basic Needs
w w w .c c m .e d u /d o n a t e Financi
al Aid
Housing
Food
sness
Homeles
*County College of Morris student respondents to the #RealCollege Survey
M a n y C o u n t y C o lle g e o f M o r r is s t u d e n t s w e re e x p e r ie n c in g fi n a n c ia l d iffi c u lt ie s b e fo re t h e a r r iv a l o f C O V ID -1 9 W e n o w k n o w th a t u n e x p e c te d c o n s e q u e n c e s o f C O V ID -1 9 h a v e d is ru p te d o u r s tu d e n ts’ liv e s in u n p re c e d e n te d w a y s. G ifts to th e T ita n E m e rg e n c y F u n d w ill h e lp s tu d e n ts m e e t th e s e u n e x p e c te d e x p e n s e s a n d b e u s e d im m e d ia te ly w h e re n e e d is th e m o s t c ritic a l. S tu d e n ts n e e d o u r h e lp , n o w , m o re th a n e v e r – Yo u c a n h e lp . W e a ll c a n . "T h e n u m b e r o f s tu d e n ts fa c in g fi n a n c ia l is s u e s w a s s ta g g e rin g b e fo re C O V ID -1 9 , a n d n o w th e p a n d e m ic h a s d is ru p te d th e liv e s o f o u r s tu d e n ts in e v e n m o re tro u b le s o m e w a y s,� s a id C C M F o u n d a tio n E x e c u tiv e D ire c to r K a tie O ls e n . T h a n k y o u fo r h e lp in g u s m o v e o u r s tu d e n ts fo r w a rd th ro u g h y o u r s u p p o r t o f th e C o u n ty C o lle g e o f M o rris F o u n d a tio n ! If y o u h a v e a n y q u e s tio n s, p le a s e c o n ta c t th e C C M F o u n d a tio n a t fo u n d a tio n @ c c m .e d u o r c a ll 9 7 3 -3 2 8 -5 0 6 0 .