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When �Թ��� alum Michael Thornburg found himself unemployed with four kids to support, he knew he had to pivot in a big way. That’s when he turned his attention to RCBC’s Cisco CCNA program. There, he gained a broader knowledge of technology, including internet protocols, network security and router configuration. 

When a person stays in the same field for over 30 years, it’s safe to bet that it’s their passion. And for �Թ��� paramedic science instructor Tracy Iglesias, that passion is EMS, and her background is extensive.

Her background, passion and expertise recently culminated in earning Nurse of the Year from the 2021 National Conference on EMS.

February is the perfect month to catch Punxsutawney Phil, watch the Big Game and take care of your teeth? That’s right. It’s Give Kids a Smile Month! This national initiative helps underserved children get the dental care they need - for FREE. �Թ��� will join the charge along with over 30,000 dental professionals across the country on the first Friday in February. 

Whether taking a public speaking course incites anxiety, excitement or indifference, it’s typically a requirement for many students looking to major in communications. The good news? �Թ���’s third episode of “The Program Pod” aims to unpack how students can overcome their fears of public speaking and increase their confidence and hire-ability in the communications sector. 

For Michael Chulsky-Lopez and Scott Kubic, �Թ��� offers flexibility, guaranteed admission to the four-year college of their choices and the invaluable experience of overcoming their anxieties. 

Chulsky-Lopez, who studies creative writing and business, transferred to RCBC from Brookdale Community College after realizing he couldn’t complete his full degree online. When it came time for him to nearly finish his studies, he found that several critical classes were not offered online.

For the past six years, �Թ��� student Owen Taylor has been teaching himself how to write music, as well as how to sing, play guitar and dabble in the piano.

“I spend a lot of my time writing and releasing songs under the name ‘Shulin’ on streaming platforms and making videos for them on YouTube,” Taylor shared. “Aside from music, I love reading and writing stories, hiking and camping, spending time with friends and exploring new places.”

Moving to a new country can feel daunting, and taking steps to learn a second language requires courage, patience and the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone. Many choose to take that leap with English as a Second Language (ESL) courses offered through community colleges. �Թ��� is no exception – providing small ESL classes that offer personalized attention with patient and experienced instructors. 

For as long as she can remember, Olga Berry has had a penchant for mathematics. Her father, a remarkable mathematician, taught her through ancient math tasks – a form of intellectual games. 

“I remember pleading with him that I wanted to play sports like all the other kids, to which he replied: ‘You can play chess – the mind sport.’ Since then, I have loved to play chess and still do with family and friends,” Berry shared. 

Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she studied and taught mathematics in her home country before coming to the United States in 2000. 

In 1999, the National Security Agency launched the Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) program. Under this program, colleges could earn a CAE-IAE designation upon passing rigorous curriculum and program requirements. 

�Թ���’s culinary program offers an internship with Deborah Heart and Lung Center, New Jersey’s only specialty heart, lung and vascular hospital. Launched in January 2021, the Culinary Internship Program includes a structured curriculum that aligns with Deborah’s corporate governance and mission and values, while carefully following New Jersey State Sanitation Code and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points – vitally important regulatory checks in safe food handling.