County College of Morris Alumni Advocate, Fall 2018

Alumni County College of Morris

advocate

TES A R B CELE

S E D A C N CE E D 5 ELLE

CCM

X OF E P. 4

C

FALL 2018

Dance Project Builds and Strengthens Community Bonds, Eli Kababa '01 – P.6 “I Started Right” Billboard Campaign Relaunches – P.8

|

FALL 2018 Vol. XLIV No. 2

Table of Contents

From the

Director

Advocate's New Format and Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Forward – 50th Anniversary Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 CCM Celebrates 5 Decades of Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Well, we experienced a ‘first’ at our Yankee Bus Trip this year.

On Friday, July 27, the bus was full with fans as we traveled to the storied stadium with great anticipation to see the Yankees play the Kansas City Royals. A great movie played on the bus, a variety of raffle items were won and we all got our Didi Gregorious bobbleheads.

50th Anniversary Bus Trip – Pretty Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Titan Weekend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Winners’ Circle – CCM Alumnus Dance Project Builds and Strengthens Community Bonds through the Arts . . . . . . . 6 Acclaimed “I Started Right” Billboard Campaign Relaunches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Graduate Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 CCM Nursing Degrees: A Tradition for Agnihotri Family . . 11 Jorge Escobar: From CCM Student to Leadership Role at California Community College . . . . . . 11 Titan Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Association of Community College Trustees Honors Venancio Fuentes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Graduate Assumes Leadership Role at CCM . . . . . . . . . 14 CCM Alumni Survey Seeks to Uncover Alumni Interests and Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

The CCM Alumni Advocate is published by the County College of Morris, Randolph, N.J. 07869.

The Alumni Office is located in Henderson Hall, Room 211 and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Co-Editors: Barbara Capsouras, ‘82 Director of Alumni Relations Mary Ann Kiczek, MAK Communications

Sports Writer: David Artuso, ‘86 Design and Layout: Gina Garcia

Circulation 40,000

Then, we watched as the rain came down non-stop causing first a game delay, and then, to our disappointment, a game cancellation! Each attendee’s ticket serves as a rain check and can be exchanged for a ticket to another game through July 2019.

In other news, the Yankees have launched a new program for college participants. Watch for an innovative opportunity to participate in a new “CCM at Yankee Stadium” experience next year!

This year, there will be more firsts for the CCM Alumni Association.

Welcome to our new four-color magazine format! I’m confident that this will spark your interest to quickly open the pages and enjoy the color and, of course, the stories!

Speaking of stories, we are always looking for interesting and successful alumni to profile in the Alumni Advocate. There’s also our Alumni Update page where we publish brief details on where our alumni are and what they have been doing since graduation from CCM. I encourage you to complete the form on the inside back cover to update new contact or career information. You may also update your information electronically on the alumni section of the website or by simply sending an email to the address in my signature below.

Other new Alumni initiatives: • The Office of CCM Admissions is forming a “Street Team” of alumni volunteers to represent CCM at area fairs and festivals. Based on the information provided in our alumni survey it appears many alumni are interested in supporting CCM in this way.

The Admissions Office will be contacting those who expressed interest.

• The CCM Office of Marketing and Communications has relaunched the “I Started Right” billboard campaign featuring our alumni. Learn more in the article on page 8.

• The CCM Alumni Association held its first Networking Event at the Famished Frog on October 18, 2018. This will be scheduled each semester.

• Alumni Night at the Department of Music, Dance and Performing Arts musical productions, will feature a reception for participants.

• An Alumni Survey was conducted this past year. See story on page 15.

CCM will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary with year-long events. Look for these on the CCM website as noted in the article in this issue. Join us for the combined Alumni and Student Special 50th Anniversary Bus Trip to Broadway’s “Pretty Woman” in March 2019. See the announcement for this on page 5 of this issue! Most important – save the date for the closing events on Titan Weekend, May 3, 4 and 5, 2019! Plan to come to attend the Foundation Gala and Alumni Awards on Friday night. Return to campus on Saturday and Sunday for Planetarium shows, music, family activities, alumni picnic, 5K run and more!

The 50th Anniversary Alumni Bus Trip to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular will be Thursday, December 6, 2018. See back cover for details. Be sure to get your reservations in early to see the Rockettes perform in this special holiday production.

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

Alumni County College of Morris

advocate

Welcome to The Alumni Advocate’s New Format and Design Time for a change. “As we celebrate CCM’s 50th anniversary, we’re pleased to present the Alumni Advocate in a new format. We think the new design is easier to read, more colorful, and more visually appealing. We hope our readers agree,” commented the publication’s Graphic Designer Gina Garcia.

Barbara Capsouras, Alumni Director and long-time editor of the semi-annual publication, added her perspective. “In this issue and going forward, you can expect to read many of the same features you’ve come to expect like Winner’s Circle, Alumni Updates, Sports News and Foundation News.

We’ll also be introducing some new columns in upcoming issues. Watch for it.”

We want to hear from you Did you know that “feedback” is the shortest word in the English language containing the letters a-bc-d-e-f? Aside from this fun fact, feedback is vital to any publication’s success. We want to hear from you about our new design, the kinds of stories you’d like to see more of, and any other suggestions you may have. Please send your feedback to bcapsouras@ccm.edu

Forward – 50th Anniversary Campaign Education, Experience, Engagement The leadership of County College of Morris is thrilled to begin the next phase in celebration of its 50th anniversary with the launch of the Forward campaign.

With the support of CCM alumni and the overall community, the comprehensive campaign spotlights the opportunity for donors to contribute to the Investors Bank Cyber Security Suite, the Paragano Family Foundation Healthcare Simulation Center, the new Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Center, the Culinary Arts program, scholarships and college programs.

The Paragano Family Foundation Simulated Medical Center will support the demand for the healthcare industry.

Katie Olsen, Executive Director of the CCM Foundation, noted, “The College has been the direct beneficiary of the extraordinary confidence of our graduates, individuals, businesses and private foundations throughout Morris County and beyond. Having raised over $1.8 million in the past 12 months, the Forward campaign is just the beginning of the next chapter in CCM history. We are grateful to our leadership donors who stand with the College in recognition

of its history and in support of the vision for tomorrow.

We are excited about what’s ahead for CCM and look forward to keeping our graduates apprised of the campaign’s milestones and accomplishments.”

Under the leadership of Chairman William McElroy '83 and a committed Board of Directors, the purpose of the CCM Foundation is to raise funds that allow the college to maintain the highest quality academic programs and support services for students.

To learn more about the Forward campaign, contact Katie Olsen at 973-328-5060 or at kolsen@ccm.edu.

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate | 3 |

CCM Celebrates 5 Decades of Excellence

By Barbara Capouras The year-long celebration began on May 4, 2018 with the County College of Morris (CCM) Foundation Gala themed “Dancing Through the Decades” at the Hanover Marriott with over 100 attendees. Dressed in their favorite decade attire, this year’s participants enjoyed a video montage of CCM that looks back at 50 years of American culture and CCM history. This quick six-minute video can be viewed on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FabtFVCXBtM. Also, on YouTube, you can view audio and video content from old guest lectures on the CCM campus throughout our history from John Glenn to Ralph Nader and many more.

Much more information can be found on the 50th Anniversary section of the CCM website at this link: https://www.ccm.edu/ccm50/. Please take this opportunity to explore CCM’s past and present through photo galleries, see the sights and sounds of CCM in the video gallery, see historic documents, view a timeline history of your alma mater, learn about upcoming events, read about alumni success stories, and consider submitting and sharing your own success story on the form provided.

On September 13, 2018, the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center Art Gallery opened with a reception for the “Into the Future” CCM 50th Anniversary Exhibition. This exhibit, which continued through November 12, 2018, offered a mix of historical records, photographs, announcements and videos, alongside recent

Performing arts students entertain the audience at the Dancing Through the Decades foundation gala.

At right: CCM student Heather Stevenson, of Oak Ridge, was commissioned by CCM to develop this fashion piece depicting her vision of the college’s future.

| 4 |

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate

works by six students who were commissioned by the college to present their version of the future of CCM. The combination of archival material and futuristic renderings celebrated the tradition of the college and its people.

The CCM Foundation held the 50th Anniversary Golf Outing on September 13, 2018 at the Rockaway River Country Club. A record 108 golfers participated in this fun event that benefitted Titan Athletics, CCM Scholarships and Programs. This outing included the highest number of women (12) and alumni (13) ever who participated! Hole-in-one cars and prizes were provided by Lexus of Route 10 and Schumacher of Denville. Special prizes were given to the winners of the Corporate Challenge, First – Second – Last Place Teams, Longest Drive, and Closest to

the Pin. A variety of raffle prizes were also won by many. The Foundation Team and the volunteer crew did an awesome job organizing and coordinating throughout the day. A little rain at the end of the day did not dampen the spirt and enthusiasm of all.

On October 9, 2018 the college community gathered on the lawn in front of the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center to form a human 50 to participate in a drone video celebrating the 50th Anniversary! A still photo of this endeavor is the cover photo of this new Alumni Magazine. The video featuring a welcome by CCM President Dr. Anthony Iacono and the cheering group can be viewed on the College’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages and the 50th Anniversary section of the website.

The Alumni Association held a 50th Anniversary Networking Event at the Famished Frog in Morristown, NJ on Thursday, October 18, 2018. Alumni brought business cards to exchange and won a variety of prizes, while enjoying appetizers and drinks.

A 50th Anniversary pie and cake sale featuring delicious products from Mara’s Bakery and Bakers Perfection was offered to the campus community and alumni for Thanksgiving delivery with profit benefitting the Alumni Scholarship.

Jim Chegwidden '86 with his Titan athlete team showed everyone how it's done at the 50th anniversary Foundation golf outing.

50th Anniversary

BUS TRIP Broadway’s

Pretty Woman Thursday, March 21, 2019

A special anniversary bus trip to Broadway’s “Pretty Woman” will be offered in March 2019. See information about the trip on this page. Please check the website and your email for notification of anniversary events through May 2019.

You can also find 50th Anniversary celebrations, lectures, performances other special events for the public at this link to the performing arts brochure: https://tinyurl. com/yab7qceb

Tickets go on sale February 5, 2019. For more information, call 973-328-5059 or visit www.ccm.edu/alumni/.

Come One Come All

County College of Morris

Titan Weekend MAY 3 - 5, 2019 CCM’s closing ceremonies of the 50th anniversary year and opening ceremonies on the future!

• Friday: Foundation Gala, Hanover Marriott • Saturday: Titan Family Fun, CCM Campus › Planetarium Shows › Live Music › Family Activities • Sunday: 5 K Run . . . and so much more!

| 5 |

CCM Alumnus Dance Project Builds and Strengthens Community Bonds through the Arts

By Mary Ann Kiczek “Uh, yeah, we gonna make it pop. Eli, Eli, take it to the top.” That’s just one of the ways Eli Kababa ’01 might introduce himself to the students, teachers and dance educators he meets in his life as a business owner, gifted dancer, choreographer and instructor.

But it was his drive to inspire children, tweens, teens, and adults through dance instruction and education that led Kababa to co-found the Garden State Dance Project in 2007.

The Garden State Dance Project (GSDP), which provides dance instruction at studio locations in Wayne and Montville, NJ, has come to be regarded as one of the hippest and most reputable dance companies in the metro area. The school pairs a variety of dance genres – such as urban movement, including hip-hop and break dancing – with the fine art forms of ballet and modern dance as it works toward cultivating the performing arts in New Jersey.

All GSDP teachers adhere to the Standards for Learning and Teaching Dance in the Arts, as established by the National Dance Education Organization, as well as the New York City Blueprint for Learning and Teaching Dance. “Adhering to these standards provides students with a unique competitive advantage, as the curriculum is designed to apply to all genres. “Dance becomes more than movement to create true artists,” commented Kababa who is also the school’s artistic director.

From Tae Kwon Do to Hip Hop

| 6 |

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate

Photos by Todd France

Kababa’s dance career began when he discovered his love of hip-hop culture and dance while earning his black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Martial arts helped hone his skills of mental discipline, focus and dexterity and Eli combined these with passion, devotion, and experimentation.

At County College of Morris, Kababa was a criminal justice major. But when the director of the dance department saw him break dancing on campus, she invited him to check out some of her classes. By 2001, Eli earned a degree in Fine Arts from CCM. A few years later, he began his work in the field of dance education as a Teaching Artist for New York City Ballet’s School Programs Department. This eventually led him to study, graduate and facilitate for the 92nd Street Y’s Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) that trains and supports the work of dance educators, known as the art of the heart of teaching™.

Winner's Circle

Eli Kababa '01 The Garden State Dance Project’s classes in dance instruction is focused on hip-hop and break dancing, while being inspired by and drawing from a fusion of other art forms such as ballet, acro, modern, and contemporary.

School Assemblies and DJ Entertainment Round Out GSDP Offerings In addition to dance classes, GSDP offers school assemblies, in-school residencies, and after-school programs. “Wherever I am teaching, it’s all about building and strengthening natural community bonds through the arts,” he commented.

Kababa finds it rewarding to see others practicing some of the big ideas he built into the curriculum he pioneered for the 92nd Street Y’s Center for Arts Learning and Leadership titled “Hip-Hop to the Top” like, “Come as you are, we all have a history and something to contribute to our future,” “Don’t be afraid to be awesome,” and “Take it to the next level and own it.”

Another popular arm of the GSDP is its professional DJ entertainment team that brings entertainment and fun to weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, birthday parties, sweet sixteens, corporate events and more. “Our DJ’s bring the party to the next level, with powerhouse talent and heavy hitting mixes.

They are skillful in reading the event’s crowd, getting them on the floor, and keep them there all night long,” Kababa said with a sense of pride.

on creating the best experience for your clients.

Step outside of your business, experience it, stay humble, notice what can be improved upon and repeat this process until you have created a wonderful experience for your clients.”

In addition to the daily attention Kababa devotes to his company, he is a teaching artist at the New York City’s Center for Arts Education. Each summer, Eli teaches at Brant Lake Dance Camp, a prestigious private dance program that students attend from throughout the U.S. and internationally In reflecting on his CCM experience, Kababa had this to say, “CCM was a great choice for me – it was with me when I changed my major and found my calling. Once set in my area of study, I was taught well and encouraged to excel. Some of my best memories took place on that campus. And I will long remember that the college had enough confidence in me to send me to Prague for an international dance festival. I received honorable mention for my work in dance theater, confirming I was heading in the right direction. I always wanted to thank them for that. I owe lot to my time at CCM.” Kababa welcomes those interested in learning more about the Garden State Dance Project and its offerings to contact him at eli@gsdanceproject.com

A Day-in-the-Life of Entrepreneur Eli Kababa When asked to describe a typical day-in-the-life of Eli Kababa, he shared that “Every day is a little different, but I am always directing and running my own company, with a focus on providing community-oriented arts and entertainment.” For those interested in starting their own company, Kababa offered this advice, “You need to know your business in and out along with your strengths and weaknesses. Have a strong team of people that are good at what you’re weak at. Keep focused

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate | 7 |

They’re Back: Acclaimed “I Started Right” Billboard Campaign Relaunches

By Mary Ann Kiczek With the launch of the “I Started Right” billboard campaign in 1988, more than 100 alumni have been featured on billboard ads throughout the state.

The campaign, which began under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Nazzaro, the former executive director of college Advancement and Planning, was designed to both honor exceptional graduates and promote the CCM experience.

With variations over the years, including featuring family members, the “I Started Right” campaign easily withstood the test of time as attested to with its recent relaunch. The first series of the new billboards appeared over this summer. A second series started this fall.

Congratulations to the following alumni who were featured in the first series:

Ray Martinelli

Holly Lusardi

Class of 2017 Associate in Science, Business Administration

Class of 2007 Associate in Science, Computer Science

After leaving the Marine Corps, Ray Martinelli, of Flanders, discovered that finding employment was a challenge. Noting that most businesses today want people with a college degree, he turned to County College of Morris (CCM) to earn an associate degree in business administration.

Holly Lusardi is an avid supporter of women making their mark in science and technology, something she has done since the 1980s.

The Parsippany resident is also a believer in CCM, which supported her in updating her technical skills after a 10year hiatus following the birth of her third daughter.

Now program manager for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program’s transportation, logistics and distribution talent network, he says “I would not be where I am today without County College of Morris.”

As the father of three young girls and in his mid-40s, he attended CCM in the evenings while working for a healthcare company. “It was a lot to juggle, but everyone at CCM was willing to assist.”

Martinelli speaks highly of the Veterans Services Department. “Dean Caffie and the Veterans Services team were the key reasons I was able to succeed at CCM,” he says.

Along with working full-time, Martinelli is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree through a University of Alabama online program. His credits from CCM were easily transferred to the program, adding to the value of his associate degree.

“I feel very strongly that it was a wise investment to earn my degree from County College of Morris,” he says.

| 8 |

County College of Morris

“In 2006, I took a course at CCM to see if I was still interested in software development,” Lusardi says. “I had a great professor named Nancy Binowski. It made me decide I wanted my degree in computer science.”

Lusardi followed through, graduating with honors and as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society in 2007.

Lusardi later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Delaware, and a master’s degree in software engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. Since 2008, she has been working for UTRS, Inc. as a software engineer. Earlier in her career, she worked for Electronic Data Systems.

“What I enjoy about software engineering is always learning something new. Every day is challenging,”she said.

Lusardi has remained connected to CCM, serving on the Information Technologies Advisory Committee since 2012. She also has presented to students on the topic of women participating in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

| Alumni advocate

fields and served as the keynote speaker at CCM’s annual Women Who Dare conference. Lusardi has served on the CCM Alumni Board and received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2016.

Mustafah Williams Class of 2014 Associate of Arts, Communication Mustafah Williams may have been as young as seven years old when he came to the realization that he was born for the arts, an affirmation to which he has dedicated the recent years of his life. “I am hungry for knowledge that

will allow me to progress my craft. I write and learn something new every single day,” he comments.

After extensive experience in theater arts, Williams transitioned to film and television production and has never looked back. For two years he worked in film and television production, for both AMC Networks and Belladonna Productions.

Today, Williams owns Unchained Creatives, a company he launched for the sole purpose to create groundbreaking content. Through his time spent on producing, he has discovered a talent for organization and implementation and has helped build a strong team that is highly skilled in fulfilling clients’ production needs. As an independent producer, Williams has produced more than 25 productions including short films, promos, music videos and trailers.

Williams earned his degree in communications and media arts at Montclair State University.

Andrea Lucia Alfonso and Family Class of 2018 Associate of Science, Engineering Science and Associate of Science, Math Andrea Lucia Alfonso knew at an early age that she wanted to focus her professional life in a field combining science and math. What Alfonso did not envision was that before age 20 she would be performing research in artificial tissue engineering and presenting her findings to a national audience.

She has spent three years working on artificial tissue engineering with the goal of playing a role in developing a cure for diabetics. She has presented her research at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) conference and was the lead author of an article about her work in the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practices.

no question where she would begin her college education. “My parents and I knew this would be the right place for me,” she says.

A New Jersey STAR student, Alfonso served as president of CCM’s Student Activities Programming Board and vice president of service for the college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

As a native of Colombia who came here as a child, she also wants to serve as a role model for others.

“In most of my classes, I am the only girl and only Hispanic,” she says. “It gives me the extra motivation to succeed and to provide other minorities with a voice and a pathway to follow.”

Alfonso is continuing her education in biomedical engineering with the goal of a career in either tissue engineering or medicine.

For Alfonso, whose brother, Juan ’12 (A.S. Engineering Science), and sister, Lina Maria ’13 (A.S. Chemistry) both attended CCM, there was

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

1971 William Koellhoffer graduated with an AAS in Business Career and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson in 1973 with a B.S. in Marketing. He retired in 2012 from General Mills as Account Manager in the consumer foods industry. His oldest son Bill Jr. works for the Bolton Group and his younger son Ted is graduating in Spring 2019 with an MD/PhD degree from Houston Medical. Koellhoffer is a board member and treasurer of BARKS - Byram Animal Rescue Kindness Society - a no-kill all-volunteer animal rescue organization located in Byram, NJ.

1977 Debra DeBiasse, M.D., R.N. earned an AAS in Nursing. After receiving her degree at CCM, she worked as a Labor & Delivery R.N., while she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Marymount College in 1983.

DeBiasse graduated from University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1987. She completed a residency in pediatrics and then practiced pediatrics at the Salina Clinic in Salina, Kansas for 22 years.

DeBiasse retired from private practice in 2014. She has very fond memories of CCM.

1980 Mark Arnowitz obtained an A.A. in Humanities/Social Science.

He continued his education at Montclair State University with a B.A. in Sociology, followed by an M.A. in Educational Administration from St. Peter’s University. He is employed at NJIT as Director of Intensive First-Year Writing. He is the author of 4 novels: “Brown Eyed Girls”; “In the Summer of Bryan Hyland”; “That Which is Danced”; and “The Charm of the Heart”;

| 10 |

County College of Morris

and one book of short stories. He is an educator, writer, and traveler.

1981 Lisa (Romanchik) Kish received an AAS in Office Systems Technology. She has been an Executive Assistant for 24 years, working with the same CEO for 20 years at East Point Sports, a local company located on Commerce Blvd. in Succasunna, NJ. Kish says she was fortunate to get her college education at CCM, which has made her successful in her career.

1985 Dr. Melissa Davis graduated with an AAS in Nursing, followed by a Doctorate Nursing (DNP) at Northern University in 2014 and a FellowAmerican Association Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in 2018.

She holds the title of Nurse Practitioner/Program Coordinator at the Center for Diabetes and Bariatric Surgery of the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

1992 Colleen Wallace obtained an AAS in Nursing. She is employed by Broadspire in North Carolina as a Certified Case Manager.

1998 Robert Motzenbecker received an A.A. in Humanities/Social Science. He continued his education at the School of Visual Arts earning a B.A. in Advertising/ Graphic Design and a degree in Flash and Interactive Design. He has been employed at Showtime Networks Inc. since 2007, first as Senior Art Director, becoming Creative Director in 2013.

2006 AnnMarie Ferran graduated with an A.A. in Musical Theatre. Ferran is an Office Assistant at the Academy of Dance Arts and resides in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

2009 Gary Giardina earned an A.S. in Criminal Justice, followed by a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Jersey City State College in 1997. He earned an MAS from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2005.

He was Chief of

| Alumni advocate

2010 Charmaine LeFevre received an AAS in Nursing. She is currently a Registered Nurse employed by Atlantic Health System.

2014 Denise Washington graduated with an A.A. in Humanities/Social Science, summa cum laude. She continued her education at Rutgers University where she studied Psychology.

She holds the title of Medical Coding Supervisor at Zelis Healthcare. Since 2013, Washington has been a tutor with the Literacy Volunteers of America, where she is changing lives by teaching people to read.

2017 Danica Ellis earned an A.S. in Criminal Justice. Ellis works at the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center as a Juvenile Detention Officer.

in memoriam

1988 Hazel Whitty earned an AAS in Nursing, followed by a BSN in 1995, an MSN in 1999 and a Post Masters all from UMDNJ. She also holds a Certificate in Bioethics and Public Health. Whitty was previously employed at the Christian Health Care Adult Medical Day Care Center, in Wayne, NJ, retiring in 2012. She has been the Director of Nursing at the Visiting Angels of Wayne and a volunteer for the TriBoro First Aid Squad for the past 11 years. Whitty has also spent 38 years as the Secretary of the Board of Health in Butler, NJ. She has been married for 52 years and has four children and eight grandchildren.

Police for the City of Clifton Police Department until 2014. Giardina currently serves as Business Administrator for the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department.

1972

1984

Deborah Stumpf AAS Computer Information Systems

Barbara K. Bromirski AAS Computer Information Systems

1975

1986

Sadie Ruth Jacobe A.A. Business Administration

Dolores Mary Gross AAS Nursing

1976

1990

Phyllis Aquino A.A. Humanities/Social Science

Lynne Combs AAS Nursing

1977

2013

Allen Roger Foote A.A. Business Administration

Laurel Chasmar A.A. Humanities/Social Science

CCM Nursing Degrees: A Tradition for Agnihotri Family

By Mary Ann Kiczek

“We love this college and all it has done for this community,” says Dr. Vivek Agnihotri ‘88, associate professor of nursing at County College of Morris (CCM).

control. In 2003, an adjunct faculty position opened up at CCM and he was hired for the position.

The Agnihotri family, of Rockaway, has been a part of the CCM community since 1986 when Vivek enrolled in the Nursing Program at CCM. After two years of education, he landed his first job at Dover General Hospital, now part of Saint Clare’s Health System, where he met his wife, Ngawang ‘88, who is also a CCM graduate and nurse.

“I love teaching and giving back,” says Vivek. “I always wanted to be in health care but being able to teach is something I really enjoy.”

Vivek immigrated to America in 1984 from India after attending Bombai University. Like many students, he needed to work to pay for his education. He worked full-time in K-Mart and went to school full-time.

After earning his master’s degree at William Paterson University, he continued to work for St. Clare’s Health System and published several articles on infection

His daughter, Natasha, graduated from Rutgers University where she pursued a degree in public health. Unsure about her next step, her father encouraged her to enroll in CCM’s Nursing program, which is now a family tradition. She graduated as part of the Nursing Class of 2014.

“The graduation was special because my dad was able to pin me at graduation,” says Natasha.

Vivek’s son, Akash ‘17, also attended CCM. Vivek notes, “We all started right.”

Jorge Escobar: From CCM Student to Leadership Role at California Community College

By Mary Ann Kiczek For Jorge Escobar ’90, serving the community and influencing social change and social justice have long been key priorities. As a Latino educator, he relies heavily on his bicultural experiences and bilingualism to achieve his goals.

Escobar joined San Jose City College in 2014 as Vice President of Administrative Services – Chief Business Officer. In June 2018, he was appointed as acting president of the college.

Escobar has extensive experience in the development and oversight of programs and initiatives across diverse industries, including his work

at Merrill Lynch, Princeton University, Laureate International Universities and the National Hispanic University.

Escobar holds a Master of Science in Education from Walden University; a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Finance from Rider University; a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management from Thomas Edison State College; and an Associate degree of Applied Science in Administration and Accounting from CCM. In reflecting back on his CCM experience, Escobar commented, “When

I first arrived to the United States, I enrolled at County College of Morris as an English as a Second Language student, and I quickly developed relationships with other international students and teachers. At the time, it would have never crossed my mind that 30 years later I would be serving in a leadership capacity at a community college in California. While at CCM, I met wonderful people and was hired to run the Math and Writing center. I will never forget that my supervisor actually drove me to the Division of Motor Vehicles on Route 10 to take my driving test.”

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate | 11 |

athletics

By David Artuso

Golf Team Enjoys ‘Best Year in Program History’

(l-r) Assistant Coach Mike Mrugal, Ryan Ruban, Nick Axelson, Kyle Kepler, Tommy Apostolico, Ricky Christensen and Head Coach Jim Chegwidden You don’t have to search far to find the right superlative for the season had by the 2018 golf team. Just ask head coach Jim Chegwidden.

“We had our best year in program history, and this season by far was the most enjoyable coaching experience I have had at the college over the last 32 years,” Chegwidden told the Alumni Advocate.

“Assistant coach Mike Mrugal and I are extremely proud of the way these guys handled themselves, on and off the course.”

The historically successful season included a 36-1 record in matches, with the lone loss coming in midMarch. CCM won the Garden State Athletic Conference title and Region XIX championship—both the first since 2015. And the Titans turned in an impressive fifth-place finish at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III National Championships. It was the top finish for the Titans in the nationals since 2007.

Off the course, the golfers shone in other ways. “Along with that list of playing accomplishments, we were named an All-NJCAA Academic Team for our overall 3.1 grade point average,” reported Chegwidden.

Individual honors weren’t in short supply, either.

Nick Axelson, a freshman from Roxbury High School, became the first CCM golfer every to attain all-American status by finishing 14th at the national championships and earning a spot as a third-team NJCAA all-American. Axelson also was named second-team all-conference and all-region.

Kyle Kepler, a sophomore from Wharton, was an all-conference first-teamer by shooting 74 to win the conference tournament. He also earned secondteam all-region honors. Ricky Christensen, a freshman from Little Falls, grabbed a first-team all-region spot and was named second-team all-GSAC as well. Tommy Apostolico, a sophomore from Sparta,

finished the year as a first-team all-conference player and third-teamer for the region.

Ryan Ruban, a freshman also from Sparta, the No. 5 player for the Titans, turned in his best performance when it counted most, shooting a team-low 78 to secure the Titans’ No. 1 seed for the national qualifying tournament.

“Ryan came up big,” Chegwidden noted. “We all set some lofty goals in the preseason and we accomplished every one of them by year’s end.”

Next year’s squad could be setting similar goals.

“With our two top players returning for the 2019 campaign and the addition of some high-quality players,” Chegwidden said, “we look to better our performance on the local and national level.”

Brian Eberly Sets Baseball Record for Coaching Victories On March 24, the CCM baseball team won the back end of a doubleheader, 9-7, at Delaware Tech Owens. It was the Titans’ third victory on the way to overall record of 18-26, but to the coaches, team and school it meant much more.

With that triumph over Delaware Tech Owens, the Titans gave head coach Brian Eberly his 216th career win and made him the winningest baseball coach in CCM history. And with every one of the next 15 wins CCM earned in 2018, the ninth-year coach extended his mark. He finished the spring with 231 wins—an average of nearly 26 victories per season.

Eberly’s impressive record is the latest accolade in a CCM program with a long tradition of excellence. The school has produced more than 50 professional players—including more Major League Baseball players than any other junior college in New Jersey—and has earned three trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series. Most recently, in 2017 CCM won the Garden State Athletic Conference title and finished the season ranked No. 8 nationally.

| 12 |

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate

Unfortunately, the Titans couldn’t repeat the success this past spring from the perspective of their overall record. But the schedule wasn’t without highlights over and above Eberly’s record.

For example, the Titans boasted 20 games scoring at least seven runs, including 10 games with double-digit runs. The milestone victory over Delaware Tech Owens started a four-game winning streak in which CCM tallied 43 runs, including 38 in the first three of those triumphs. CCM also finished 2-2 during a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Head baseball coach Brian Eberly

the Titan Tradition continues Roxbury’s Lloyd Leads Lady Titans’ Softball Team to 34-Win Season What had 34 victories, an all-American star and four all-region players this past spring? The CCM women’s softball team.

The Lady Titans rolled to a 34-9 record this season, including a 12-0 start on a spring trip that included three impressive shutouts and victories over schools from Iowa, Missouri, Rhode Island and Virginia and ended with the team ranked No. 14 in the country among Division II junior college programs.

Fourteen-year head coach Greg Wardlow’s team also reached the finals of the Region XIX Tournament for the fourth consecutive year—hosting it as the No. 2 seed— before bowing to top-seeded Mercer Community College. Mercer had handed CCM two of its eight regular-season losses by a combined total of three runs.

The brightest star on a CCM team of standouts was Katlyn Lloyd, a freshman outfielder from Roxbury. Lloyd, an Exercise Science major, earned NFCA FirstTeam and National Junior College Athletic Association 2nd Team All-America honors, after being named Region XIX Division II Player of the Year. She also earned first-team all-region and all-conference accolades and, to top it off, was named CCM Freshman Female Athlete of the Year.

Lloyd was joined on the all-conference squad by sophomore outfielder Ally Tufaro from Andover and infielders Carly McDaniel (sophomore, Lincoln Park) and Nicole Catalina (freshman, Andover). That trio, plus freshman pitcher Kelly Faber, from Butler, also earned all-region honors.

Women’s Basketball Notches Pair of Victories in 2017-18 Season The 2017-2018 CCM women’s basketball season can probably be summed up in one phrase: a step in the right direction.

The Lady Titans, under first-year head coach Alexandra Katz—a former CCM basketball and soccer player— struggled to a 2-20 record this past winter. But Katz’ young squad—six of the eight players on the roster were first-year Lady Titans—played well at times. The high point of their season was a 14-point victory at Valley Forge Community College in Pennsylvania.

And three of their losses on the court came by 14 or fewer points. They lost by 12 to Delaware Tech Stanton, by 14 points at Northampton (Pa.) Community College and by only a six-point margin at home versus Rowan College-Burlington County.

“Coach Katz has the team going in the right direction,” says CCM Athletic Director Jack Sullivan. “She is a tireless worker and is determined to have this program succeed.”

Outstanding performances weren’t limited to the all-stars, though. For example, Melissa Ackerman, a freshman outfielder from Denville, earned Garden State Athletic Conference Division II Softball Player of the Week accolades at one point during the season by smacking two doubles, knocking in seven runs, scoring another six and delivering a game-breaking three-run homer in a victory over Spoon River College of Canton, Illinois.

So what’s in store for Lloyd and her fellow Lady Titans in 2019? It could be another excellent year. Of the 14 players on the Lady Titans’ roster this past spring were first-year competitors.

8-Game Streak Propels Men’s Basketball to GSAC Title and Region XIX Finals Exactly halfway through the 2017-18 season, the CCM men’s basketball team was 8-7 and had gone 2-4 in a six-game stretch. But then the Titans rolled to eight consecutive victories, a streak that propelled them to one championship and within two points of another.

After the midway point—which hit with a 19-point loss to Harcum—fourth-year coach Anthony Obery’s Titans lost only two games the rest of way—just once in the regular season—as they cruised to a 21-9 record. During the streak, CCM’s average margin of victory was more than 16 points, including 23-point and 44-point routs of the junior varsity from Mount St. Vincent, out of Bronx, New York, and a 25-point triumph over Manor College of Pennsylvania.

The surge helped CCM capture the Garden State Athletic Conference championship with a 12-4 record, and they ultimately earned an appearance in the finals of the Division II Region XIX Tournament, where they suffered a heartbreaking 76-74 loss to Ulster County Community College (SUNY Ulster) of New York.

Second-seeded CCM had reached the title game with a 91-80 victory over thirdseeded Raritan Valley Community College.

In individual honors this past winter, the Titans placed two hoopsters as allregion all-stars. Sophomore guard Lamont Williams, who led CCM in scoring average with 15.8 points per game, earned a first-team spot. Freshman center Ishmil Raymond, who topped CCM in rebounds for the season, was named to the region’s second team.

Head women's basketball coach, Alexandra Katz '08

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate | 13 |

Association of Community College Trustees Honors Venancio Fuentes Venancio “Venny” Fuentes, professor and chair of the Department of Engineering Technologies and Engineer Science at County College of Morris (CCM), was selected as the sole recipient of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2018 Faculty Award for the Northeast region.

The ACCT made its award announcements on August 14, and the award was presented to Fuentes at the Regional Awards Luncheon on October 26.

“This is a highly prestigious and competitive award and we are delighted that Professor Fuentes has been ranked the best professor in the Northeast by ACCT,” said Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of CCM. “Venny’s excellence and vision both as a teacher and department chair are outstanding and have led to the success of countless CCM students during his 25 years of service at the college.”

“It is such an honor to be recognized by ACCT,” said Fuentes. “I really enjoy teaching and as chair helping students accomplish their goals. It’s a privilege to receive this award for doing what I love.”

Fuentes is also credited with overseeing the implementation of a share-time Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing (EDAM) program with the Morris County Vocational School District at CCM.

Alumni Awards To nominate someone for an Alumni Award, please print the form from the following link on the CCM website and return by December 31. www.ccm.edu/alumni/alumni-awards-2/ The award categories are: •A lumni Achievement Award: Specific, outstanding achievements and/or accomplishments in his/her profession. Have received honors from associations or employers, or whose work has proven beneficial to a pronounced segment of society.

• Alumni Service Award: Recognition of outstanding service to County College of Morris Alumni Association or some other segment of the College.

•A lumni Humanitarian Award: Dedication to humanitarianism and serving the public good. Unique contribution to society or the community. Lengthy volunteer service to community.

•A lumnus/a of the Year Award: Highest honor given by the Alumni Association and recognizes the exceptional achievements of graduates of the college.

Nominees must have shown outstanding performance in their professions, should be recognized as leaders, and should have made outstanding contributions to the community, state, or nation.

| 14 |

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate

Fuentes earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Stony Brook University and his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Prior to coming to CCM, Fuentes worked for Sperry Electronics Systems and Kearfott Guidance and Navigation. While working at Kearfott, he began teaching at CCM as an adjunct professor and made the decision to pursue a full-time job as a professor.

Graduate Assumes Leadership Role at CCM George Milonas ‘98, a lifelong resident of Morris County, recently was appointed a Trustee of the college by the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Milonas is a Director of Corporate Security and Investigations for Avis Budget Group, based in Parsippany. He was previously a Vice President with JP Morgan Chase, where he worked in the Global Anti-Money Laundering Compliance department. He has extensive experience with managing compliance and security risk programs, investigations and implementing policy resulting from law and regulations.

Earlier in his career, Milonas was a municipal police officer in Morris County and later a detective with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.

He has been an adjunct instructor at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU).

Milonas received his Associate in Science in Criminal Justice from CCM, his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Centenary University and a Masters of Administrative Science from FDU. In 2017, Milonas was honored with the CCM Alumni Achievement Award.

CCM Alumni Survey Seeks to Uncover Alumni Interests and Preferences

Alumni Most Strongly Identified With

By Mary Ann Kiczek This spring, County College of Morris launched an Alumni Survey to collect feedback and gain insights from the CCM alumni community. Emails were sent to the more than 7,000 alumni with email addresses on file. To date, the college has received close to 400 responses.

The overall goal of the survey is to learn more about how best to move forward with alumni activities and efforts. Through the survey, the Alumni Office also hopes JOB/CAREER to recruit volunteers who can support the FAIRS alumni association by representing the college at community and college events.

NETWORKING

Alumni Events That Were of Greatest Interest

ACADEMIC MAJOR

FRIENDS MADE AT CCM FACULTY

Alumni update County College of Morris

“We are grateful to the hundreds of alumni who have responded to our survey request. Your opinions will help guide us in the coming years.,” commented CCM Alumni Director Barbara Capsouras. “We would love to hear from more of you – especially as we celebrate the college’s 50th anniversary. The more responses we receive, the more meaningful the data. It takes our many collective voices to unite us as one alumni organization,” she added.

PROFESSIONAL For those who have not yet completed the survey, SPORTS EVENTS you can access it at https://tinyurl.com/ycdqu4lh.

The survey takes less than a few minutes to complete.

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, 214 Center Grove Road on-line, at www.ccm.edu/alumni/ Randolph, NJ 07869-2086

Abbey Samuelsen Wins $50 Amazon Gift Card for her Thoughts

Date:________________ Last 4 digits of Social Security #: X X X - X X - ______________________________

Abbey Samuelsen '17 who was selected ranOFF CAMPUS domly from those MEET-UPS who completed the survey prior to June 8, 2018, received a $50 Amazon gift card. Samuelsen is a Registered Nurse at Summit Medical Group’s MD Anderson Cancer Center in Florham Park, NJ, where she finds caring for oncology patients “very humbling and rewarding.”

Address:______________________________________________________________________________________

She is studying for her bachelor of nursing degree from Southern New Hampshire University’s online undergraduate program. Looking further ahead, Samuelsen hopes to earn her oncology nurse certification.

Name:____________________________ _____________________________ _______________________ ____ Last Maiden First MI

City:_____________________________________________________ State:_______ Zip:__________________ Are you receiving the Alumni Advocate at this address?

l No

Home Phone:________________________________ Business Phone:________________________________ Email address:________________________________________________________________________________ Year Graduated:_________ Major/Degree: ______________________________________________________ Additional College(s), Year of graduation, degree, major: __________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Current Employer and Job Title: _______________________________________________________________

BUS TRIPS

Please give us an update on recent accomplishments (for possible inclusion in the Alumni Advocate). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

In reflecting on her CCM experience, Samuelsen said. “I am grateful to CCM for providing a rock-solid foundation. The professors and resources made all the difference in getting me to where I wanted to be. There are just not enough words for how proud I am to be an alumna of such a wonderful institution.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

FAMILY ORIENTED PROGRAMS

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

$

Samuelsen lives in Morristown, NJ with her husband Keith and their son Hakon. Watching her 10-month-old son grow, learn, and develop is her-favorite past time.

l Yes

County College of Morris

| Alumni advocate | 15 |

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Dover, N.J. 07801 Permit No. 263

County College of Morris 214 Center Grove Road Randolph, NJ 07869-2086

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 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.

Campus

Events

Titan Weekend May 3–5, 2019 Go to www.ccm.edu/ccm50/50th-anniversary-events/ for complete list of events Scholarship Gala and Alumni Awards Friday, May 3

Titan Family Fun

5K Run

(planetarium shows, music, family activities)

Sunday, May 5

Saturday, May 4

Commencement and Diploma Frame Sale

Spring Musical: “The Secret Garden”

May 23, 2019, 10:00 a.m.

April 2 - 6, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

CCM Winter Music Concert

CCM Spring Music Concert

November 29, 2018, 7:30 p.m.

April 26, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

CCM Music Theatre Drama: “It’s A Wonderful Life”

Longo Planetarium: “A Holiday Under the Stars”

December 6-8, 2018, 7:30 p.m.

December 14 & 15, 2018 (Reservations must now be purchased at this website: https://bookstore.ccm.edu/ longo-planetarium)

50th Retrospective of Dance March 1-2, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 Leave CCM Health Phys/Ed Bldg. at 4:00 p.m. • Leave Radio City at 9:30 p.m.

Price includes round trip transportation by charter bus, Orchestra seating.

Tickets: $90 Alumni • $92 Guests Must be a CCM alumnus(a) to order tickets, MAXIMUM 4. Tickets must be used by the CCM alumnus(a) purchaser and his/her guests. Must show a valid CCM Alumni Identification Card to board bus. If you need a new card, please include $5 replacement fee with your ticket payment.

Please send order form below with check payable to CCM. Be sure to include your Student I.D.# or the last four digits of your S.S.# and your cell phone number. Tickets will be sent out in the order requests are received. Order early; limited seating available.

For more information call 973-328-5059.

$ RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR BUS TRIP THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 Name:____________________________________________________________________ No. of Tickets:__________

Alumni Information: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973-328-5059

Address:___________________________________________________________________________________________

Athletics: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973-328-5253

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

CCM Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973-328-5060 General Information on Campus Events (Campus Life): . . . . . . 973-328-5225 Performing Arts: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973-328-5427 Planetarium: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973-328-5076 Special Events: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973-328-5054

Home Phone:____________________________________ Cell Phone #:____________________________________ Amount Check Enclosed $____________ Email Address:________________________________________________ Student ID or S.S.# (last 4 digits)__________________ Make check payable to CCM and mail to: Alumni Director, HH Suite 211, County College of Morris 214 Center Grove Rd., Randolph, NJ 078692086

heck here if you need a new l CAlumni I.D. Card (Add $5 Fee)