By Leslie Krowchenko SPECIAL TO THE NEWS

Ten years after naming its first legion of Star Alumni, Delaware County Community College has added a new quintet to the list.

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, the college honored graduates who have achieved success in business, medicine and public safety while affirming the values of their alma mater. More than 110 members of the board of trustees, educational foundation, graduates and staff attended the Sept. 28 event, held at Harrahs Casino and Racetrack.

We are proud of our 45-year history, said President Jerry Parker. The impact of community colleges is seen in our ability to provide an affordable education and transform lives.

With 24 faculty and 307 students, DCCC began in 1967 as an evening program using rented facilities in Ridley High School. The following year, after considering more than 20 possible sites, the 123-acre Gideon Stull property in Marple was chosen as the permanent home and the main campus dedicated in 1974.

DCCC currently serves nearly 28,000 students annually at eight locations in Delaware and Chester counties, including the main campus, Southeast Center in Sharon Hill and newly opened Upper Darby Center in Barclay Square Shopping Center. With the ability to grow in response to workforce demands, the college has become a center of educational opportunity.

The honorees were introduced with videos detailing their lives and accomplishments. The list included Delaware County residents Karen Bogosian, of Newtown Square, President and CEO of Visual Sound Inc.; Bob Boyden, PhD, of Aldan, the owner of Public Safety Concept Group and Carl Needles, of Havertown, the Pennsylvania Market Executive with Beneficial Bank. The group was completed with Paul Adack, Vice President of InvestEdge, and Louise Del Negro DO, an attending physician at Coatesville VA Medical Center.

I went from GED to Ph.D. and the availability of the college afforded me the opportunity to take the first steps towards that accomplishment, said Boyden. It was a major influence in my life.

Rising Star awards were presented to Johnny Archer, news reporter with the ABC affiliate in Louisville, Ky., Esther Castillo and Hiu Sin Cheung, owners of Advanced College Consulting, and Catherine Porter DO, a fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine.

The college also presented the Wong Moss Outstanding Alumni Award to Joseph Oaster Jr., a senior education analyst with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The honor recognizes alumni for professional accomplishments, support of education and active involvement in service to the community and Oasters contribution literacy and math programs for pre-GED students in the Philadelphia School District and 25 years with the Folcroft Fire Company epitomize the true spirit of the award.

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Delaware County Community College celebrates anniversary with new Star Alumni