Ever since he was a little boy, Charlie Mayer Zagdanski has been a student of history. Growing up he can remember being fascinated with historic documentaries and was an avid fan of The History Channel.

“I remember that while my other friends would be watching the latest film, I would be at home engulfed in the period I was watching,” he said.

Little did he know that one day his passion for the past would serve him well in the future. Zagdanski, 24, of Bala Cynwyd, is a Criminal Justice major at Montgomery County Community College and was recently named a recipient of The Ryan Johnson, PhD., Endowed Scholarship.

This prestigious award is given to a graduating student who has displayed academic excellence, a passion for history coursework, commitment to ongoing education, and resilience in overcoming obstacles. Each year, the funding is awarded directly to the recipient’s student account at the four-year institution to which they are transferring to celebrate the journey of continued education.

In 2013, Dr. Ryan Johnson, a beloved professor of History at MCCC’s Pottstown Campus passed away at 32 years old. Dr. Johnson was a dedicated educator with a passion for history and a belief in the importance of higher education and lifelong learning. Students eagerly signed up for his courses and fellow faculty and staff enjoyed working alongside him. It was a significant loss to the College, his loved ones, and the community at large.

In honor of Dr. Johnson’s love of history and devotion to education, his family and friends established the scholarship.

“I felt very honored and humbled by receiving the scholarship,” said Zagdanski. “To be able to meet the parents and learn about their son was very impactful, especially finding out some commonalities shared between us. Also, it makes a big financial difference to me as it will help with buying textbooks, while also helping me create a positive learning environment for the time I’ll be at Penn State.”

Zagdanski’s story begins when his family moved from the United States to Israel when he was 9 years old. He comes from a Jewish family and his family felt a connection with the country. They settled in a predominantly English-speaking American community and stayed there for about seven years.

“I spent most of my upbringing there and enjoyed long hikes, going to the beach with family and friends, and camping,” said Zagdanski. “In short, if it has to do with the outdoors and nature then count me in.”

When he was about 16 years old, his dad moved to New York for business. His mother followed shortly there after to be closer to family. Zagdanski said he finished high school in East Brunswick, N.J.

As a result of his dual citizenship with Israel, Zagdanski, like all Israeli residents was drafted into mandatory two-year, eight-month military service. Rather than wait until after college to fulfill his duty, Zagdanski decided to move back to the country and complete his service.

Military service was challenging. At 19 years old, Zagdanski served under a lone soldier status, meaning he had no immediate family in the country to support him, which permitted him money for an apartment for himself. However, there would be days where he’d be awake for over 30 hours and then have to come home to run errands and do chores around the house. The experience though was rewarding.

“I made lifelong friends,” he said.

As a machine gunner and pointman, both highly coveted positions, Zagdanski learned valuable lessons leading platoon formations. He was stationed primarily along the Jordanian border but also spent a fair amount of time by the Egyptian border. In addition to border patrol, Zagdanski worked joint missions with special forces units where they searched for illegal firearms; he was also part of many other night missions that led to the arrests of wanted terrorists and people in question.

His time leading troops inspired him to go to the Small Tactics Leadership Course, where he was selected to become a squad leader and was later put in charge of eight soldiers.

“During one of my other roles, I taught as an instructor at the very same leadership school that I went to,” he said. “This was truly a life-changing experience as through long nights, and early mornings I learned a lot about myself, about leadership, and about how much potential we truly have.”

After his military contract expired, he flew home to the United States. In the fall of 2020, six months after returning home, he enrolled at MCCC as a Criminal Justice major. Due to the pandemic, he completed all of his coursework online.

“My family joked that the first time I stepped on campus was for graduation,” he said.

During his time at MCCC, Zagdanski rediscovered his love of history, starting with U.S. History I with History Assistant Professor Dr. Catherine Parzynski.

“I would ask for external reading material from the teacher and saw myself buying diaries of Marcus Aurelius, Henry David Thoreau, and Emerson,” he said. “As someone who had a diary in the military, I was drawn to other people’s words and views from the past as it helped me feel like I was there alongside them, seeing what they had seen.”

He followed that course with U.S. History II and then Ancient History as an elective with Professor Powell, where he found himself watching many of the same documentaries he watched as a child. He said he enjoyed learning about the foundations of various societies and religions.

Overall, his experience at MCCC was extremely positive.

“I really enjoyed it. I had high quality instructors and courses. It was a very good experience overall,” he said. “It was very rewarding. I had to work very hard for my grades and ended up doing OK.”

This fall he’s transferring to Penn State University as a Criminal Justice major and History minor.

“I am also planning on participating in the ROTC program where I will surely use the life lessons and the reason why I decided to further my education in history is not only because of my love for it but because I think it will be an integral part of where I tend to apply myself,” he said. “While it is true that in any profession history could be useful, I think that looking at both the criminal justice system and the military that there is a specific affinity that relates to the discipline of history. So, ultimately through my experience, knowledge, and love for history I hope to better shape the people and places that I become involved in.”

Jared Drabick, 18, is in the final stretch of two significant educational milestones. As a senior at Boyertown Area High School, he’s rounding out his final year with his graduation set to take place on June 3. But before that happens, Drabick wore his first cap and gown to Montgomery County Community College’s Commencement on May 19, where he graduated magna cum laude and received an Associate Degree in Business Administration.

“He earned his associate degree before he gets his high school diploma,” said Jared’s mother, Wendy Moyer-Drabick. “This is awesome and I’m very proud of him – he put a lot of work into it.”

Moyer-Drabick, who is a Computer Science Senior Lecturer at MCCC where she has worked for the past 25 years, discussed how a conversation during a Christmas vacation in 2019 eventually led to Drabick’s dual graduation three years later.

“We started talking about college, and he asked if he could take a class at Montco just to see what it’s like, so he took an Intro to Business,” Moyer-Drabick said.

Eventually they learned of a dual enrollment opportunity through his high school and decided he should have a goal in mind instead of taking classes haphazardly.

“There is a list of approximately 25 classes, and they have an agreement between two community colleges,” she said, adding MCCC was one of them. “I asked him to think about how his classes could fit together if he was going to eventually get a degree and since he has always been interested in going into business, we used that as our template.”

Through hard work and determination to get his degree, which involved many weekends being devoted to homework, Drabick will be headed to Syracuse University in the fall.

“It’s bittersweet because I really do like high school and enjoy it, but I’m excited for everything,” he said. “I’m most excited for college and the new opportunities.”

Drabick’s current dual enrollment at both his high school and MCCC has given him an opportunity to get a taste of what’s to come when he attends a four-year college.

“Taking classes at Montco has given me a really good insight on what it’s like,” he said. “I’m excited to step into that fully.

He said his experience at MCCC is what convinced him that college would be a good fit for him.

“I had this weird idea in my head that I’m not going to like it,” Drabick said. “When I took classes in the subjects I enjoy, I was like, ‘oh wow, this is actually really cool, and I actually really enjoyed learning about it.’”

One of his favorite courses at MCCC was his Business Law class, which was one of the first classes he took when he began the Dual Enrollment Program. He had to juggle his online MCCC classes with his full high school course load on top of other involvements that included marching band and the school musical, in addition to being an Eagle Scout.

Drabick, who is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society for community colleges, has gotten used to people asking him how he pulled off this dual-degree accomplishment. He credits keeping a strict schedule that has enabled him to manage everything, but there were also times when it could be overwhelming keeping up with everything.

“There was a time when I was taking four classes at Montco, plus my high school courses and still being involved in everything I’m involved in at school,” he said. “I never felt to the point, ‘I can’t do this.’

Drabick, who was accepted into a dual major in the schools of communications  and business at Syracuse, plans to pursue his interest in Film/TV production and management. He also intends to pursue a minor in theater.

“It’s something I’ve always liked, and I feel like I have a business background now, so I’m not dead in the water if something doesn’t work out in the future,” Drabick said.

He said his teachers have expressed excitement over him getting his degree and high school diploma between this and next month.

“The few teachers who I have, who know about the dual enrollment, think it’s very cool,” Drabick said.

A Montgomery County Community College Mechanical Engineering Science major has been named the recipient of a national scholarship by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Joshu’wa ReidJoshu’wa Reid, 19, of Lansdale, received a $1,000 Leaders of Promise Scholarship. The Leaders of Promise Scholarship recognizes 200 Phi Theta Kappa members with awards totaling $200,000. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges.

A panel of independent judges selected this year’s recipients from nearly 1,500 applicants. Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholars are selected based on outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated leadership potential.

Reid is a 2023 graduate of North Penn High School and began studying at MCCC in the fall of 2023.

“I am happy and very grateful for the scholarship,” he said.

Growing up with a single mother, Reid said going away to college felt like a luxury he wasn’t sure he could afford. With this scholarship, he’s beginning to feel more secure financially.

“This allowed me a really good buffer,” he said. “I’m able to save money, build character and help my mom. It’s been great.”

When Reid enrolled at MCCC, he immediately sought ways to become a leader on campus. He was invited to join PTK in the spring of 2024 and is looking to become more involved with the organization during the fall semester. He’s also a member of the Honors Club, where he’s spent several hours volunteering his time at Rose Bridge Farm and Sanctuary, in Dresher. Additionally, he’s a student ambassador, which he said has helped him to learn more about the College and break out of his shell socially. This semester he also begins working as Student Government Association treasurer.

Inside the classroom, Reid said several faculty members helped him be successful. Chengyang Wang, Engineering Science Associate Professor, and Gayathri Moorthy, Engineering Assistant Professor, have both worked closely with him.

“From hearing my interests and giving me ideas to grow as a person,” he said, “they do more than they have to. It gives me more confidence as a student.”

He also mentioned Rebecca Hays, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs – STEM, and Douglas Vardakas, Physics Instructor, as two other big influences on him academically.

“The people at Montco want you to be better people,” he said. “They want to uplift you.”

Reid is currently participating in an independent study with Moorthy, exploring the properties of nanoparticles for varied applications. It involves detailed theoretical study, performing hands-on experiments at MCCC, and remotely collaborating with Penn State University to use some of their specialized nanotechnology equipment, said Moorthy.

As part of preparation for the study, Reid attended a workshop in the summer on “Semiconductor Processing and Integrated Photonics” at Penn State. He was introduced to the concepts of nanotechnology and many of the tools used in the analysis and characterization of nanomaterials.

The Engineering Department at MCCC has collaborated closely with Penn State’s Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU) on a number of initiatives over the years, said Moorthy.

“Most recently, we have been working with Penn State to recreate some of the fundamental nanotechnology experiments without the need for a specialized lab, called a clean room, at a significantly lower cost,” said Moorthy. “This could open doors for a lot of community colleges, and high schools, to introduce their students to the concepts of nanotechnology through hands-on experimentation.”

As part of Reid’s independent study this semester, he will test the implementation of some of these experiments at MCCC. Moorthy said they hope to integrate these experiments into MCCC’s introductory Engineering (and possibly other STEM) courses in the near future.

The “Semiconductor Processing and Integrated Photonics” workshop is a result of another recent collaboration between MCCC and Penn State. As part of this, every summer, four or five MCCC students will be awarded a full scholarship to attend a one-week workshop at Penn State to introduce and educate them in the rapidly expanding fields of semiconductors and integrated photonics, and provide career-related advice in these new, cutting-edge areas, said Moorthy.

“We hope that such collaborations will help our students gain specialized skills in emerging technologies,” said Moorthy, “and give them an upper hand, whether they decide to transfer to a four-year institution or enter the competitive job market.”

Reid said his experiences during the summer workshop and during his independent study have offered him opportunities to work on research papers and presentations, and he hopes to continue to do similar work once he transfers to a four-year institution next spring following his graduation to continue his education.

“I want to thank Montco for helping me open doors to possibilities,” he said, “and allowing me to explore my interests.”

With the Coca-Cola scholarship under his belt, Reid said he’s focused on continuing to be a leader on campus.

“I hope to continue to make it a better place,” he said. “More enjoyable and accessible. That’s my goal for Montco for my last year.”

A United States Marine Corps veteran and Montgomery County Community College student has been selected as the recipient of the Paul Decker & Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board Hospitality Scholarship.

Culinary Arts major Christopher MacWilliams received the $899 endowed scholarship through the Montgomery County Community College Foundation for the 2024-2025 academic year. The award goes to a Montgomery County resident in financial need with good academic standing to pursue a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management or Culinary Arts.

MacWilliams, 41, a single dad of a 12 and 14-year-old, lives in Pottstown and said the scholarship came as a complete surprise and will help him cover everyday expenses. He couldn’t believe the news when he heard it.

“I was in shock,” he said. “I’d like to express my thanks and that I’m truly honored to be a recipient of this award.”

The Marine sergeant completed four tours of duty from 2001 to 2013, including in three combat environments.

After his service, he worked as a truck driver for nearly a decade.

“At my last place, I was working more than 70 hours a week,” he said. “Starting at 2 and 5 a.m. and working 12-14 hours. In and out of the truck, dragging hoses, emptying the trailer. It meant physical stress and mental exhaustion. I worked Monday-Saturday, and emergency runs on Sundays. At night, I’d get home from working from 2 or 3:30 a.m., and sometimes at 6:30 p.m. I’d be called in for an emergency run. It was very much work, go home, sleep, work, go home and sleep.”

MacWilliams decided he needed a change in life and wanted to put his GI Bill benefits to good use by going back to school and pursuing his real passion for cooking.

“My end goal is to open a barbecue spot,” he said. “Barbecue is my favorite form of cooking. I own a smoker right now. Once a week, I fire it up and cook stuff. So, the plan is to buy a food truck and then eventually move into a brick-and-mortar location.”

He enrolled at MCCC as a Culinary Arts major in fall 2023. He’d previously earned college credits during his time in the Marines and at a four-year institution his first year out of the service.

His experience at MCCC has been everything he could have asked for, he said.

“Every teacher or professor I’ve had has been very helpful and very strong in their knowledge of the courses I’ve taken,” he said. “I have a little bit of a learning issue from my time in the Marine Corps. The professors I’ve talked to have worked with me through it. Overall, this place has been great.”

MacWilliams praised the College’s Veterans Resource Center for its help in getting him the benefits he’s needed.

“I’ve had trouble before with getting verification paperwork and they’ve advised me on which paperwork to do,” he said. “When I wasn’t able, they did it for me. They’ve been very helpful. Any email I send, they always respond so quickly.”

After obtaining his associate’s degree, MacWilliams said he’s hoping to continue on to Walnut Hill College to finish his bachelor’s degree.

As for the scholarship, he said he’s proud to know his hard work is being rewarded.

“It’s truly a blessing,” he said, “and motivation to continue doing what I am and reinforcing that I chose the right path to follow.”

The Foundation is able to make a difference in the lives of students, like MacWilliams, thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, community friends, private foundations, and corporations.

When she enrolled at Montgomery County Community College in the fall of 2021, she learned about the Tourism and Hospitality Management program and thought might be a perfect fit for her. From her first class with Hospitality Management Associate Professor Shawn Murray, she knew she made the right choice because of the internship opportunities where she could learn about the hospitality industry through a real-world, hands-on experience.

“He asked me where I wanted to go in the summer,” said Ramchandani. “I said the beach because I always want to be in a warm environment. So, he recommended a summer internship on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. It sounded amazing. I was nervous to be so far away from home, but it ended up being one of the most amazing three months of my life.”

That internship and another one after, set her up for success. Today she is an MCCC alumna, who’s set to graduate from Temple University this spring. She has already landed a full-time job with a prestige hotel group that’s guaranteed her a management position once she’s finished her degree.

Ramchandani credits MCCC for helping her find her passion, putting her on a thrilling career path through exciting, hands-on internships and supporting her every step of the way.

Finding her calling

In the summer of 2022, after her first year at MCCC, Ramchandani landed the internship at a golf club in the Sconset area of Nantucket Island. For the next three months she worked with students from all over the world as part of the dining services staff. The paid internship included housing and meals on the island.

“I lived in a dorm with 15 people and shared a room with two other girls from Ohio,” she said. “I met people from the U.K., Croatia, the Dominican Republic. I was making connections with people from around the world. It was amazing.”

Working 40-60 hours a week, the internship helped her gain management experience. She learned about inventory, she trained employees and helped plan events, all in addition to her serving responsibilities with the dining staff. She also learned a bit about herself in the process.

“The experience showed me how strong I can be,” said Ramchandani, “and I can handle working in the hospitality industry.”

Moving up the ladder

Coming back to MCCC in the fall, Ramchandani talked to Murray again about her plans for the future. She was moving to an apartment in Philadelphia and would be studying primarily online, but she needed a job. Impressed by her internship performance that summer, Murray connected her with another great internship opportunity at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, a four-star hotel in Rittenhouse Square.

“They were looking for a front desk agent,” said Ramchandani. “They were only looking to hire someone full-time, but because of their relationship with Professor Murray, they interviewed me and liked my demeanor.”

Ramchandani got the job, but she found balancing work and a full course load challenging at first. However, as she became more confident in her role, she adjusted her schedule, allowing her to work fewer days during the school year and increase her hours over the summer.

“That’s when I saw myself improve,” she said.

Ramchandani graduated from MCCC with an associate degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management in August 2024 and was able to seamlessly transfer to Temple University’s Tourism and Hospitality and Event Management program. In May 2025, she is scheduled to graduate with her bachelor’s degree. For her last semester, she’s working a full-time internship at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar in the manager-in-training program. She’ll spend seven weeks learning about housekeeping and then the final seven weeks in sales, rounding out her education in the hotel business.

“I wouldn’t have gotten into the manager-in-training program without Montco and Professor Murray,” said Ramchandani. “He got the ball rolling. He made the connection and vouched for me. He built a lot of confidence in me throughout all of it.”

“Simmy is an amazing leader and as a MCCC Tourism & Hospitality Management student truly set the standard for how to navigate a successful academic career moving into a corporate position,” said Murray. “Our industry partners are such a critical piece of the experience Tourism & Hospitality Management students have at the College, and I am so proud of Simmy as she launches her leadership journey.”

After graduation, Ramchandani will be work in a managerial position with the Kimpton Hotel group. She said she plans to travel to a new city (probably somewhere warm) to gain more experience and perspective, but MCCC will always be home.   

“Montco gave me a path,” she said. “With help from Shawn Murray, Montco, Temple and my managers at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia, I’m able to be in a place that I really feel good about.”

Published in Montco Today.

After graduating from Upper Dublin High School in 1980, Lawson said he was an average student and unsure what to do with his life.

“I knew I wanted to be a police officer,” he said. “I wanted to help people and make a difference in the community. I felt a police officer was the best way to do that.”

Unfortunately, at the time, Lawson said police department applicants needed to be 21 years old. At 18, his plan was to work at another job for three years until he was old enough to apply.

“My father, seeing a hole in that plan, suggested I try community college,” said Lawson. “I reminded him I was not a good student and college wasn’t for me. He urged me to give it a try.”

Lawson, who has been a police officer for more than 40 years, including 10 years as chief at Whitpain, enrolled at the College and quickly realized what a great opportunity he had before him. He majored in police science (now Criminal Justice) and enjoyed the ability to pick his own schedule, allowing him to work nights and still make it to class the next morning.

“It changed my life,” he said. “I started getting into the classes and enjoyed the freedom. Meeting people from all walks of life in their 30s, 40s and 50s. It was different from the regimented high school schedule.”

He also remembered the impact faculty members had on him.

“The faculty were amazing,” he said. “So many of them worked in the field and talked about their careers.”

They inspired a drive for learning in him and he became a model student as a result, regularly earning As and Bs on assignments.

“I wanted to do it; I was passionate about it,” he said. “Montco changed my life. It set the course.”

One faculty member in particular stood out to him. Toward the end of his academic career at MCCC, Lawson approached the late Criminal Justice Professor James E. Carroll, a retired FBI agent, and told him he was unsure about his life direction post-graduation. Carroll saw great potential in Lawson and told him to apply to West Chester University (a four-year transfer partner school) into its Criminal Justice program. He helped him fill out the application and also showed him how to apply for financial aid.

“I was accepted to West Chester, and I excelled in college the rest of the time,” said Lawson. He graduated in 1984. A year later, he was hired by Whitpain and quickly rose through the ranks.

“The police department tests were easy all because of the foundation laid at Montco,” he said. “It was easy because of the work I did in college.”

Today, Lawson works to employ the next generation of police officers. He said he’s happy to give back to the College that helped him get on the road to success.

“I tell people who want to be police officers, go to the community college,” he said. “Always get your education and get a college degree. Montco is a great first step.”

Published in Montco Today.