Community Scholars News
In the News
July 2025
Congratulations Class of 2025!
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!!! You worked hard, pushing through assignments and projects. During those crunch times, that graduation stage seemed far away and you may have wondered if you would make it. Now, on the other side, you hold your degree in your...
Meet Robert Simpson.
Robert trained as a medical assistant for 18 months before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. While working in an afterschool program, he discovered his passion for working with children. He added a daycare assistant teacher role to his schedule and earned his Child...
Summer Fun in Philly!
You don't have to leave the city to enjoy summer 2025! There is much to do right in Philly and even more in next door counties. Below are some ideas to inspire getting out and about! Spruce Street Harbor Park has become the waterfront's most iconic outdoor...
March 2025
FAFSA and Flowers
May is a month and a bit away - time to do that F A F S A! As you likely well know, May 1 is the FAFSA renewal deadline. Why not get it done now? Renew that FAFSA. Remember to update any information that has changed over the last year: address, household size, income,...
Meet Ernestine Volcy.
Ernestine Volcy’s journey is one of perseverance, determination, and a deep commitment to personal growth. Her story began as a young, single mother who had always known the value of education, but the timing never seemed right. While college was expected in her...
Job Fairs!
Spring brings up FAFSA renewal, flowers, and job fairs! A quick scan of instagram highlighted the following opportunities for job seekers to meet with employer representatives in both the public and private sectors. Career Fairs typically include opportunities to:...
December 2024
Stretch those Holiday Bills!
With or without Forman Mills! Planning holiday spending can free your mind to focus on joy and connection instead of financial regret in the new year. Forbes magazine shares these tips to keep holiday spending from breaking the bank. Manage gift spending. Set a total...
Nakia Quinn.
Nakia Quinn, a Harcum College graduate and current bachelor’s degree student, was a teen parent who left high school in her senior year and did not complete a GED until her mid-twenties.The dream of a college education was always there and she managed to enroll for...
Holiday Light Shows for All!
Journey through this list of free things to do with family and friends when gathered during this holiday season. Macy’s Christmas Light Show — in the Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker Building, The seven-decade-running event features thousands of twinkling...
September 2024
Goals for Fall
A new season can be a good time to refresh or establish goals. What do you want to accomplish from September to December? What makes for a happier, healthier you at the close of 2024? Below please find some goal setting tips and tools to help you get started. And...
Meet Mark Isom.
Mark’s college journey began at a difficult time in his young life. He sought guidance and help from a professional therapist, but didn’t relate. He was drawn then to the older guys in the hanging out near home, but soon realized that in spite of the advice they...
Does voting matter?
Does voting matter? The clear answer is “yes!” Voting is a key element of civic engagement and a critical part of the democratic process. As the late civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis said, “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful...
June 2024
Congratulations Class of 2024!
Congratulations to the Class of 2024!!! We hope you continue to celebrate your achievement as we at ACE do! You worked hard, pushing through assignments and projects. During those crunch times, that graduation stage seemed far away and you may have wondered if you...
Meet Linda Murphy.
Linda Murphy went back to school as a working adult - and you can too! Although she navigated the evolution of health technology through 25 years of work experience in the field, her latent fear of math posed a major barrier to pursuing the college degree she always...
Summer in Philly!
The heat is up, the camps and fun in the sun events are on! There are (almost) an innumerable amount and variety of camps for kids available across the city with all interests represented! Sports, theater, art, adventure, faith-based, technology, cooking, fashion,...
March 2024
Tax Credits for Education!
It’s tax time again! This season, don’t forget to take advantage of the tax credits available to you as students! AND get FREE help file your taxes from the Campaign for Working Families! Make a virtual appointment or visit a tax site. American Opportunity Tax...
Meet Joy Crudup.
Joy had tried college earlier in life as a young adult, but it just wasn’t the time for her to take higher education seriously. She pursued full time work and started a family instead. But the thought of getting a college degree never fully left her mind. Years later,...
Did you know…
You don’t have to panic over student loans?! There are many flexible and affordable repayment plans available! In one plan, eligible borrowers only pay 10% of their discretionary income. For those graduating soon or alumni engaged in repayment, make sure you know...
December 2023
Find your scholarship!
Over the break, consider dedicating some time to search for scholarships. There are scholarships out there for every interest and career area - you just need to find the right match! Easier said than done, of course, but below please find a list of sites that can make...
Meet Antoinette Perry.
Antoinette Perry is a current ACE student, studying Criminal Justice. Antoinette entered the workforce as a nursing assistant, but quickly learned health care was not for her. Far more suited for corrections, she applied for an opening in a nearby correctional...
To BA or not to BA?
Break is also a great time to take a step back and reflect on your education journey thus far, and identify a next step to keep moving forward. One place that can be of service to you on this journey is the Office of Career and Transfer Services at Harcum. The team...
September 2023
SAVE on Student Loan Payments!
If you have student loans - SAVE can help you save money. While Biden’s initial loan forgiveness plan wiats for it’s day in court, the President announced the passage of the SAVE Plan. SAVE is a revised version of the income-driven repayment plan. Essentially, more...
Meet Brandi Lewis-Anderson.
Ms Brandi Lewis-Anderson has had more than her fair share of barriers in this life. The first occurred when she was only 9 years old. A terrible car accident wiped her childhood memories and knowledge of self and family. The accident and Brandi’s injuries also...
Online Learning Tips
We’ve all engaged with online learning at some point and some may be quite immersed now as current students. Even if you have set routines, it always helps to remind ourselves of small changes that can have a big impact on our experience and maximize learning...
June 2023
Congratulations Class of 2023!
Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2023!!! What an achievement! You pushed through covid, online classes and confusion, and balancing school, work, and household life. It has been a journey. A journey you made possible for yourself. You kept that vision of a...
Alvernia @ Deliverance!
That's right! ALL Harcum Partnership Site grads can now earn a bachelor's degree on-site at Deliverance with Alvernia University! Alumni can transfer credits to Alvernia and pursue a bachelor's degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, or Business Administration. The...
Useful Resources
Free computers are available from PCs for People for qualified individuals. Eligible households must be receiving an income-based form of government assistance or have an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level per household size (check...
March 2022
Your Career & Transfer Services!
While in the ACE program, Icylee L. Basketbill was one of the first student stories to be told here. At the time she was midway through the associate degree program in human services, and still a bit unsure about herself in the classroom. A high school graduate...
Meet Icylee Basketbill
While in the ACE program, Icylee L. Basketbill was one of the first student stories to be told here. At the time she was midway through the associate degree program in human services, and still a bit unsure about herself in the classroom. A high school graduate by...
Claim those Credits!
Make sure you get ALL of the Tax Credits available to you! Have you filed yet? No? Good! Important information below that may put more money back in your pocket. Yes? It may be worth filing an amended return to claim additional money! See below… First – Why waste...
December 2021
Meet Herbert Brown.
Meet Herbert Brown. A dedicated family man, Herbert always wanted to go to college, but with six children to provide for, working as much as possible had to be top priority. Now that his children are grown and graduated from college themselves, earning a degree became...
November 2021
Let More Light In
If you’ve been feeling a little off since the end of daylight savings time last week, you’re not alone and it’s not you. Our bodies and biology are connected to and interact with sunlight. Exposure to sunlight affects the production of serotonin in our brains (one of...
Meet Candace Pressley.
Meet Candace Pressley whose inspiring story shows you it’s never too late to go back to college. Before enrolling in the ACE program, Candace tried college right after high school, but was intimidated by the pressure to choose a major and stopped out sophomore year....
Financial Aid Workshop
Ask your financial aid questions and get straight answers! How much can I get? Is there a deadline? What if I defaulted on a loan? Learn about free federal and state money to help pay for college. I-LEAD will be hosting a representative from the Pennsylvania financial...
October 2021
How to Turn off the Worries
Everyone feels anxious now and then. But there are things you can do to minimize those feelings. Mayo Clinic Health System staff suggests trying the exercise below the next time your mind is stuck on the worry setting. Sit quietly. Look around you and notice: 5 things...
Meet Edward Martinez.
Edward Martinez’s first experience with college is a familiar one. Eager to pursue a degree, he arrived on campus with high expectations. However, as is often the case at large schools, Edward was scheduled for classes that didn’t make sense for him academically, he...
Leadership Training
We celebrated the first cohort of Community Scholar Leadership Training graduates and welcomed the 2021-22 cohort in the same weekend! It was delightful to meet in person even though we had developed a solid sense of community via the zoom workshops last year. We...
September 2021
Community Scholars Leadership Training!
We want to invite you to register for the Community Scholar Leadership Development Program beginning this Fall. It is offered by I-LEAD, founder of ACE and the Partnership Site program, which has...
Meet Joan Majors.
Joan majors is a current student, enrolled in the business management program at the Delaware County Partnership Site. Like many students, Ms. Majors had a unique pathway into the program. She...
Don’t “Should” on Yourself
Ever heard the phrase, “Don’t should on yourself?” It refers to automatic negative thoughts like I should do that...I should have already done that...I should be more like them.. For those of us...
August 2021
In Case You Missed It…
The following remarks were shared by David Castro, Co-Founder and President of I-LEAD, Inc. and the ACE Program, welcoming new students for Fall 2021. We’re on a journey together… we are on a quest together. Right now I want you to visualize yourself completing our...
Meet Shantelle Thomas.
“College is for smart people, I didn't feel smart, college is not for me.” This was the internal dialog of Shantelle Thomas before she began her higher education journey with ACE. Although Shantelle grew up in a household where plans for the future weren’t discussed,...
Resources for Entrepreneurs!
There are many among our outstanding alumni and current student body who are current or aspiring entrepreneurs. Some of you have started businesses, some are making plans for a start-up, and others are looking to begin a nonprofit to serve the community. We at I-LEAD...
June 2021
Cheryl Lang Memorial Scholarship Fund
Announcing and inviting donations for: The Cheryl Lang Memorial I-LEAD Scholarship Fund to provide grants to adult working learners enrolled in the Partnership Site Program of Harcum College. Mrs. Cheryl Lang served as Director of Community Engagement with I-LEAD,...
Meet Barbara Hankinson.
Barbara Hankinson is a force in her family for education. Never allowing others to define her ability or her self, Ms. Hankinson forged her own path in life and blazed a trail for multiple generations. College was not a topic of conversation in her household growing...
Tips for Transitioning from COVID Restrictions
by Tori Partridge, PBS.org With vaccines widely available and case numbers dropping, cities around the U.S. are dropping restrictions and focusing on “getting back to normal” for the summer. But for many — after more than a year in isolation — “normal” feels scary....
May 2021
Memorial Day Family Activities
Philadelphia is a city in a park, which means there’s always green space, towering trees and stunning landscapes to be found just a heartbeat away from Center City. Check out all the ways to get outside this weekend without leaving the city: Look for impressive floral...
Meet Nazia Adeyemi.
We all have wake up moments. Sometimes they have to do with our current pattern of life and its contrast with our desired futures. Sometimes these moments generate a new outlook or perspective about ourselves and our relationship to others. Sometimes, it’s all of the...
Get Outside & Renew!
Want to get the kids (and yourself) offline to unwind this weekend? How about a scavenger hunt? Or hunting for treasure via geocaching? You don't have to travel far to reconnect with nature. Here are some easily accessible park and nature trail links for both the...
Congratulations Class of 2021!!!
You did it! Your hard work and dedication to invest in yourselves has (and will) paid off!!! Congratulations for persisting through the chaos covid-19 brought to your college and learning experience. And though it's continued presence prevents an in-person...
Meet Barbara Blunt.
A retired grandmother. An image of a woman sitting and knitting quietly on the porch comes to mind, right? Not this grandmother!!! Barbara Blunt is a self-described “mover-and-shaker.” After 25 years as a home health aide, a restful retirement may seem in order. But...
Happy Mother’s Day!
Shout out to all the Moms among our students and alumni! You are loved and appreciated. We know how hard you work and are always doing for others. Be encouraged to make some time for self-care amidst all the caring you do. Enjoy your day and soak in the love of your...
April 2021
FAFSA Renewal Time!
It’s FAFSA Renewal Time! For all who are in school or know someone who is, the due date for renewing the FAFSA is fast approaching: May 1st. Don’t let money for education slip through your fingers! It can be completed in much less time than binge watching the latest...
Meet Regla Baez.
The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Regla Baez watched her parents and those around her struggle just to get by. She wanted a different life for her future and knew she needed to surpass her parents’ ninth grade education and graduate high school. Proud to be the first...
Scholarships! Scholarships! Scholarships!
The other way to get your hands on some money for school. Yes, they require research. Yes, they require a written application. And also yes, they are the equivalent of grants and can reduce or eliminate student loan debt. Even scholarships of smaller amounts add up...
March 2021
A Proud Chester Native & Community Scholar
You don't often get flowers while you are living, nor many awards for doing the right thing. If you knew my story you would cry tears of joy. Making my own executive decision for my life, exactly two years ago I came back to my forgotten city of Chester, Pennsylvania...
Meet Stephanie Hunt
Sometimes believing in yourself is the hardest part of the journey to success. This was the case for Stephanie Hunt who found the ACE program from a friend who was enrolled .She had decided that continuing her education was a way to get her life back on track after...
An Excellent Book List!
You may not think you have time to read a good book, but we think if you choose one of the 12 on this list that we found on www.blackmilkwomen.com, you’ll make the time to finish it! 1. Becoming : Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama In her memoir, a work of deep...
February 2021
Faith Bartley and The People’s Paper Co-Op
The close of 2020 was a glad event for many of us. It was even sweeter for Faith Bartley, who graduated in December from the ACE Partnership Site program of Harcum College at Deliverance with an Associate Degree in Human Services. Faith chose to begin her college...
Meet Novena Chanzu
Novena Chanzu was an early childhood teacher in Kenya. Her mother, already a long time resident of the United States, longed to reunite the family. In 2014, green card approvals finally came through and Novena, her daughter, and her brother joined their mother in...
Every Day, Creativity
“Creativity” is one of those buzzwords that gets tossed around a lot. How many times a week do you encounter messages in magazine articles, on websites, in books, that tell you to be creative, to think creatively? We are told to be creative at our jobs, in our...
January 2021
Graduation: It’s Closer Than You Think!
Have you figured out yet what you want to do after you graduate, especially those of you graduating in Spring 2021? You already have so much on your plate that you might think you can’t handle one more thing. You have help! The Career Office at Harcum has all kinds of...
Meet Jamoca Harkins
Jamoca Harkins Many adults seeking college education find that when the burden of finding and registering for programs is all on them, the dream falls into the background when you already have a career, and life is moving forward. For Jamoca Harkins, a mother and...
Harcum Community Scholars
Anybody who is receiving a Harcum Community Scholarship is eligible to take the HCS Leadership workshops which happen twice a month on Zoom. The workshops complement the academic work you’re doing — they help you to become the very best possible version of yourself...
December 2020
Finals. You can do it!
You’re in the final stretch of the fall semester! Congrats for making it through and imagine how good it will feel when you have taken the last exam, submitted the final paper. And if you need a little help getting to the finish line, there are tutoring and essay...
Meet Evelyn Rawls
Ms. Evelyn Rawls earned her GED as an older adult but was not content to stop her educational journey there. She always had the goal of going to college but didn’t know where to start. Then she saw an ad on television for the ACE program and learned there was a path...
Zoom & MOVE!
Suffering from Zoom meeting fatigue? Wondering how to get through these last hours of online learning for 2020? Engage your body. Movement stimulates circulation, and circulation carries necessary oxygen to your brain. So...movement = brain food! Repetitive movement...
November 2020
Thanksgiving…what 2 do?
There is no way to perfectly simulate an in-person Thanksgiving in covid-surge virtual space. There just isn’t. We all long for a semblance of normalcy and may want to claim Thanksgiving as a marker. But, the risk is real. Covid is surging in the Greater Philadelphia...
A New U.S.
It may already seem like a long time ago, but just last week at this time Pennsvylania and Philadelphia in particiular were in focus and on point as votes were tallied in the national election. It bears repeating that there hasn’t been a more important election during...
Meet Porsha Harris
Congratulations to Porsha Harris, a current student at Harcum College in Delaware County who is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship awarded by the Riddle HealthCare Foundation. Porsha began her higher education journey in Fall 2019 as a Human Services major and has...
October 2020
Time Management Principles
Most of you are juggling multiple responsibilities every day. Work schedules, childcare, ZOOM learning for your kids, household chores, grocery shopping. Whew! And on top of it all, you decided to go back to school adding yet another layer of complexity to your...
Meet Jovani Soto
Meet Jovani. A single mother of two from the city of Chester, Jovani was anxious about returning to school as an adult, having so much time out of the classroom. She would ask herself “Am I too old? Will I remember anything? Will I look stupid?”. But she put those...
Stress Less
The pandemic. It’s literally...everywhere. It has become the filter through which all daily life activities and interactions must be sifted and adjusted. Necessary changes have caused upheaval in routines, patterns, relationships. “Normal” life was always a bit...
September 2020
Leadership Program
Take Advantage of a Life-Transforming Opportunity: I-LEAD’s Leadership Development Program A Program Specially Designed for Harcum’s Community Scholars One of life’s most important lessons is that success and happiness do not...
Meet Thomas Jarrett
Meet Thomas Jarrett. An honors graduate of Harcum College, who is now pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at West Chester University. But he didn’t start there. Like many adult students, Thomas had tried college before. He dropped in and out of classes at...
ACE for Foster Care
Since I-LEAD launched the Achieve College Education (ACE) program in 2005, more than 1000 of you have earned your associate degree and many of you have gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree. It took a lot of heart and courage and determination to get through school...
July 2025
Congratulations Class of 2025!
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!!! You worked hard, pushing through assignments and projects. During those crunch times, that graduation stage seemed far away and you may have wondered if you would make it. Now, on the other side, you hold your degree in your...
Meet Robert Simpson.
Robert trained as a medical assistant for 18 months before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. While working in an afterschool program, he discovered his passion for working with children. He added a daycare assistant teacher role to his schedule and earned his Child...
Summer Fun in Philly!
You don't have to leave the city to enjoy summer 2025! There is much to do right in Philly and even more in next door counties. Below are some ideas to inspire getting out and about! Spruce Street Harbor Park has become the waterfront's most iconic outdoor...
March 2025
FAFSA and Flowers
May is a month and a bit away - time to do that F A F S A! As you likely well know, May 1 is the FAFSA renewal deadline. Why not get it done now? Renew that FAFSA. Remember to update any information that has changed over the last year: address, household size, income,...
Meet Ernestine Volcy.
Ernestine Volcy’s journey is one of perseverance, determination, and a deep commitment to personal growth. Her story began as a young, single mother who had always known the value of education, but the timing never seemed right. While college was expected in her...
Job Fairs!
Spring brings up FAFSA renewal, flowers, and job fairs! A quick scan of instagram highlighted the following opportunities for job seekers to meet with employer representatives in both the public and private sectors. Career Fairs typically include opportunities to:...
December 2024
Stretch those Holiday Bills!
With or without Forman Mills! Planning holiday spending can free your mind to focus on joy and connection instead of financial regret in the new year. Forbes magazine shares these tips to keep holiday spending from breaking the bank. Manage gift spending. Set a total...
Nakia Quinn.
Nakia Quinn, a Harcum College graduate and current bachelor’s degree student, was a teen parent who left high school in her senior year and did not complete a GED until her mid-twenties.The dream of a college education was always there and she managed to enroll for...
Holiday Light Shows for All!
Journey through this list of free things to do with family and friends when gathered during this holiday season. Macy’s Christmas Light Show — in the Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker Building, The seven-decade-running event features thousands of twinkling...
September 2024
Goals for Fall
A new season can be a good time to refresh or establish goals. What do you want to accomplish from September to December? What makes for a happier, healthier you at the close of 2024? Below please find some goal setting tips and tools to help you get started. And...
Meet Mark Isom.
Mark’s college journey began at a difficult time in his young life. He sought guidance and help from a professional therapist, but didn’t relate. He was drawn then to the older guys in the hanging out near home, but soon realized that in spite of the advice they...
Does voting matter?
Does voting matter? The clear answer is “yes!” Voting is a key element of civic engagement and a critical part of the democratic process. As the late civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis said, “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful...
June 2024
Congratulations Class of 2024!
Congratulations to the Class of 2024!!! We hope you continue to celebrate your achievement as we at ACE do! You worked hard, pushing through assignments and projects. During those crunch times, that graduation stage seemed far away and you may have wondered if you...
Meet Linda Murphy.
Linda Murphy went back to school as a working adult - and you can too! Although she navigated the evolution of health technology through 25 years of work experience in the field, her latent fear of math posed a major barrier to pursuing the college degree she always...
Summer in Philly!
The heat is up, the camps and fun in the sun events are on! There are (almost) an innumerable amount and variety of camps for kids available across the city with all interests represented! Sports, theater, art, adventure, faith-based, technology, cooking, fashion,...
March 2024
Tax Credits for Education!
It’s tax time again! This season, don’t forget to take advantage of the tax credits available to you as students! AND get FREE help file your taxes from the Campaign for Working Families! Make a virtual appointment or visit a tax site. American Opportunity Tax...
Meet Joy Crudup.
Joy had tried college earlier in life as a young adult, but it just wasn’t the time for her to take higher education seriously. She pursued full time work and started a family instead. But the thought of getting a college degree never fully left her mind. Years later,...
Did you know…
You don’t have to panic over student loans?! There are many flexible and affordable repayment plans available! In one plan, eligible borrowers only pay 10% of their discretionary income. For those graduating soon or alumni engaged in repayment, make sure you know...
December 2023
Find your scholarship!
Over the break, consider dedicating some time to search for scholarships. There are scholarships out there for every interest and career area - you just need to find the right match! Easier said than done, of course, but below please find a list of sites that can make...
Meet Antoinette Perry.
Antoinette Perry is a current ACE student, studying Criminal Justice. Antoinette entered the workforce as a nursing assistant, but quickly learned health care was not for her. Far more suited for corrections, she applied for an opening in a nearby correctional...
To BA or not to BA?
Break is also a great time to take a step back and reflect on your education journey thus far, and identify a next step to keep moving forward. One place that can be of service to you on this journey is the Office of Career and Transfer Services at Harcum. The team...
September 2023
SAVE on Student Loan Payments!
If you have student loans - SAVE can help you save money. While Biden’s initial loan forgiveness plan wiats for it’s day in court, the President announced the passage of the SAVE Plan. SAVE is a revised version of the income-driven repayment plan. Essentially, more...
Meet Brandi Lewis-Anderson.
Ms Brandi Lewis-Anderson has had more than her fair share of barriers in this life. The first occurred when she was only 9 years old. A terrible car accident wiped her childhood memories and knowledge of self and family. The accident and Brandi’s injuries also...
Online Learning Tips
We’ve all engaged with online learning at some point and some may be quite immersed now as current students. Even if you have set routines, it always helps to remind ourselves of small changes that can have a big impact on our experience and maximize learning...
June 2023
Congratulations Class of 2023!
Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2023!!! What an achievement! You pushed through covid, online classes and confusion, and balancing school, work, and household life. It has been a journey. A journey you made possible for yourself. You kept that vision of a...
Alvernia @ Deliverance!
That's right! ALL Harcum Partnership Site grads can now earn a bachelor's degree on-site at Deliverance with Alvernia University! Alumni can transfer credits to Alvernia and pursue a bachelor's degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, or Business Administration. The...
Useful Resources
Free computers are available from PCs for People for qualified individuals. Eligible households must be receiving an income-based form of government assistance or have an income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level per household size (check...
March 2022
Your Career & Transfer Services!
While in the ACE program, Icylee L. Basketbill was one of the first student stories to be told here. At the time she was midway through the associate degree program in human services, and still a bit unsure about herself in the classroom. A high school graduate...
Meet Icylee Basketbill
While in the ACE program, Icylee L. Basketbill was one of the first student stories to be told here. At the time she was midway through the associate degree program in human services, and still a bit unsure about herself in the classroom. A high school graduate by...
Claim those Credits!
Make sure you get ALL of the Tax Credits available to you! Have you filed yet? No? Good! Important information below that may put more money back in your pocket. Yes? It may be worth filing an amended return to claim additional money! See below… First – Why waste...
December 2021
Meet Herbert Brown.
Meet Herbert Brown. A dedicated family man, Herbert always wanted to go to college, but with six children to provide for, working as much as possible had to be top priority. Now that his children are grown and graduated from college themselves, earning a degree became...
November 2021
Let More Light In
If you’ve been feeling a little off since the end of daylight savings time last week, you’re not alone and it’s not you. Our bodies and biology are connected to and interact with sunlight. Exposure to sunlight affects the production of serotonin in our brains (one of...
Meet Candace Pressley.
Meet Candace Pressley whose inspiring story shows you it’s never too late to go back to college. Before enrolling in the ACE program, Candace tried college right after high school, but was intimidated by the pressure to choose a major and stopped out sophomore year....
Financial Aid Workshop
Ask your financial aid questions and get straight answers! How much can I get? Is there a deadline? What if I defaulted on a loan? Learn about free federal and state money to help pay for college. I-LEAD will be hosting a representative from the Pennsylvania financial...
October 2021
How to Turn off the Worries
Everyone feels anxious now and then. But there are things you can do to minimize those feelings. Mayo Clinic Health System staff suggests trying the exercise below the next time your mind is stuck on the worry setting. Sit quietly. Look around you and notice: 5 things...
Meet Edward Martinez.
Edward Martinez’s first experience with college is a familiar one. Eager to pursue a degree, he arrived on campus with high expectations. However, as is often the case at large schools, Edward was scheduled for classes that didn’t make sense for him academically, he...
Leadership Training
We celebrated the first cohort of Community Scholar Leadership Training graduates and welcomed the 2021-22 cohort in the same weekend! It was delightful to meet in person even though we had developed a solid sense of community via the zoom workshops last year. We...
September 2021
Community Scholars Leadership Training!
We want to invite you to register for the Community Scholar Leadership Development Program beginning this Fall. It is offered by I-LEAD, founder of ACE and the Partnership Site program, which has...
Meet Joan Majors.
Joan majors is a current student, enrolled in the business management program at the Delaware County Partnership Site. Like many students, Ms. Majors had a unique pathway into the program. She...
Don’t “Should” on Yourself
Ever heard the phrase, “Don’t should on yourself?” It refers to automatic negative thoughts like I should do that...I should have already done that...I should be more like them.. For those of us...
August 2021
In Case You Missed It…
The following remarks were shared by David Castro, Co-Founder and President of I-LEAD, Inc. and the ACE Program, welcoming new students for Fall 2021. We’re on a journey together… we are on a quest together. Right now I want you to visualize yourself completing our...
Meet Shantelle Thomas.
“College is for smart people, I didn't feel smart, college is not for me.” This was the internal dialog of Shantelle Thomas before she began her higher education journey with ACE. Although Shantelle grew up in a household where plans for the future weren’t discussed,...
Resources for Entrepreneurs!
There are many among our outstanding alumni and current student body who are current or aspiring entrepreneurs. Some of you have started businesses, some are making plans for a start-up, and others are looking to begin a nonprofit to serve the community. We at I-LEAD...
June 2021
Cheryl Lang Memorial Scholarship Fund
Announcing and inviting donations for: The Cheryl Lang Memorial I-LEAD Scholarship Fund to provide grants to adult working learners enrolled in the Partnership Site Program of Harcum College. Mrs. Cheryl Lang served as Director of Community Engagement with I-LEAD,...
Meet Barbara Hankinson.
Barbara Hankinson is a force in her family for education. Never allowing others to define her ability or her self, Ms. Hankinson forged her own path in life and blazed a trail for multiple generations. College was not a topic of conversation in her household growing...
Tips for Transitioning from COVID Restrictions
by Tori Partridge, PBS.org With vaccines widely available and case numbers dropping, cities around the U.S. are dropping restrictions and focusing on “getting back to normal” for the summer. But for many — after more than a year in isolation — “normal” feels scary....
May 2021
Memorial Day Family Activities
Philadelphia is a city in a park, which means there’s always green space, towering trees and stunning landscapes to be found just a heartbeat away from Center City. Check out all the ways to get outside this weekend without leaving the city: Look for impressive floral...
Meet Nazia Adeyemi.
We all have wake up moments. Sometimes they have to do with our current pattern of life and its contrast with our desired futures. Sometimes these moments generate a new outlook or perspective about ourselves and our relationship to others. Sometimes, it’s all of the...
Get Outside & Renew!
Want to get the kids (and yourself) offline to unwind this weekend? How about a scavenger hunt? Or hunting for treasure via geocaching? You don't have to travel far to reconnect with nature. Here are some easily accessible park and nature trail links for both the...
Congratulations Class of 2021!!!
You did it! Your hard work and dedication to invest in yourselves has (and will) paid off!!! Congratulations for persisting through the chaos covid-19 brought to your college and learning experience. And though it's continued presence prevents an in-person...
Meet Barbara Blunt.
A retired grandmother. An image of a woman sitting and knitting quietly on the porch comes to mind, right? Not this grandmother!!! Barbara Blunt is a self-described “mover-and-shaker.” After 25 years as a home health aide, a restful retirement may seem in order. But...
Happy Mother’s Day!
Shout out to all the Moms among our students and alumni! You are loved and appreciated. We know how hard you work and are always doing for others. Be encouraged to make some time for self-care amidst all the caring you do. Enjoy your day and soak in the love of your...
April 2021
FAFSA Renewal Time!
It’s FAFSA Renewal Time! For all who are in school or know someone who is, the due date for renewing the FAFSA is fast approaching: May 1st. Don’t let money for education slip through your fingers! It can be completed in much less time than binge watching the latest...
Meet Regla Baez.
The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Regla Baez watched her parents and those around her struggle just to get by. She wanted a different life for her future and knew she needed to surpass her parents’ ninth grade education and graduate high school. Proud to be the first...
Scholarships! Scholarships! Scholarships!
The other way to get your hands on some money for school. Yes, they require research. Yes, they require a written application. And also yes, they are the equivalent of grants and can reduce or eliminate student loan debt. Even scholarships of smaller amounts add up...
March 2021
A Proud Chester Native & Community Scholar
You don't often get flowers while you are living, nor many awards for doing the right thing. If you knew my story you would cry tears of joy. Making my own executive decision for my life, exactly two years ago I came back to my forgotten city of Chester, Pennsylvania...
Meet Stephanie Hunt
Sometimes believing in yourself is the hardest part of the journey to success. This was the case for Stephanie Hunt who found the ACE program from a friend who was enrolled .She had decided that continuing her education was a way to get her life back on track after...
An Excellent Book List!
You may not think you have time to read a good book, but we think if you choose one of the 12 on this list that we found on www.blackmilkwomen.com, you’ll make the time to finish it! 1. Becoming : Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama In her memoir, a work of deep...
February 2021
Faith Bartley and The People’s Paper Co-Op
The close of 2020 was a glad event for many of us. It was even sweeter for Faith Bartley, who graduated in December from the ACE Partnership Site program of Harcum College at Deliverance with an Associate Degree in Human Services. Faith chose to begin her college...
Meet Novena Chanzu
Novena Chanzu was an early childhood teacher in Kenya. Her mother, already a long time resident of the United States, longed to reunite the family. In 2014, green card approvals finally came through and Novena, her daughter, and her brother joined their mother in...
Every Day, Creativity
“Creativity” is one of those buzzwords that gets tossed around a lot. How many times a week do you encounter messages in magazine articles, on websites, in books, that tell you to be creative, to think creatively? We are told to be creative at our jobs, in our...
January 2021
Graduation: It’s Closer Than You Think!
Have you figured out yet what you want to do after you graduate, especially those of you graduating in Spring 2021? You already have so much on your plate that you might think you can’t handle one more thing. You have help! The Career Office at Harcum has all kinds of...
Meet Jamoca Harkins
Jamoca Harkins Many adults seeking college education find that when the burden of finding and registering for programs is all on them, the dream falls into the background when you already have a career, and life is moving forward. For Jamoca Harkins, a mother and...
Harcum Community Scholars
Anybody who is receiving a Harcum Community Scholarship is eligible to take the HCS Leadership workshops which happen twice a month on Zoom. The workshops complement the academic work you’re doing — they help you to become the very best possible version of yourself...
December 2020
Finals. You can do it!
You’re in the final stretch of the fall semester! Congrats for making it through and imagine how good it will feel when you have taken the last exam, submitted the final paper. And if you need a little help getting to the finish line, there are tutoring and essay...
Meet Evelyn Rawls
Ms. Evelyn Rawls earned her GED as an older adult but was not content to stop her educational journey there. She always had the goal of going to college but didn’t know where to start. Then she saw an ad on television for the ACE program and learned there was a path...
Zoom & MOVE!
Suffering from Zoom meeting fatigue? Wondering how to get through these last hours of online learning for 2020? Engage your body. Movement stimulates circulation, and circulation carries necessary oxygen to your brain. So...movement = brain food! Repetitive movement...
November 2020
Thanksgiving…what 2 do?
There is no way to perfectly simulate an in-person Thanksgiving in covid-surge virtual space. There just isn’t. We all long for a semblance of normalcy and may want to claim Thanksgiving as a marker. But, the risk is real. Covid is surging in the Greater Philadelphia...
A New U.S.
It may already seem like a long time ago, but just last week at this time Pennsvylania and Philadelphia in particiular were in focus and on point as votes were tallied in the national election. It bears repeating that there hasn’t been a more important election during...
Meet Porsha Harris
Congratulations to Porsha Harris, a current student at Harcum College in Delaware County who is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship awarded by the Riddle HealthCare Foundation. Porsha began her higher education journey in Fall 2019 as a Human Services major and has...
October 2020
Time Management Principles
Most of you are juggling multiple responsibilities every day. Work schedules, childcare, ZOOM learning for your kids, household chores, grocery shopping. Whew! And on top of it all, you decided to go back to school adding yet another layer of complexity to your...
Meet Jovani Soto
Meet Jovani. A single mother of two from the city of Chester, Jovani was anxious about returning to school as an adult, having so much time out of the classroom. She would ask herself “Am I too old? Will I remember anything? Will I look stupid?”. But she put those...
Stress Less
The pandemic. It’s literally...everywhere. It has become the filter through which all daily life activities and interactions must be sifted and adjusted. Necessary changes have caused upheaval in routines, patterns, relationships. “Normal” life was always a bit...
September 2020
Leadership Program
Take Advantage of a Life-Transforming Opportunity: I-LEAD’s Leadership Development Program A Program Specially Designed for Harcum’s Community Scholars One of life’s most important lessons is that success and happiness do not...
Meet Thomas Jarrett
Meet Thomas Jarrett. An honors graduate of Harcum College, who is now pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at West Chester University. But he didn’t start there. Like many adult students, Thomas had tried college before. He dropped in and out of classes at...
ACE for Foster Care
Since I-LEAD launched the Achieve College Education (ACE) program in 2005, more than 1000 of you have earned your associate degree and many of you have gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree. It took a lot of heart and courage and determination to get through school...
Helping you take the complicated out of college
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