College Holds Earth Day-Related Events to Celebrate Sustainability, the Environment and the Official Opening of Its $31 Million Eco-Friendly Northeast Regional Center

PHILADELPHIA, April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As America gears up for Earth Day on April 22, Community College of Philadelphia will call attention to sustainability, renewable energy, science and the environment, when it officially opens its $31 million, eco-friendly, newly expanded and refurbished Northeast Regional Center (NERC)  from 10:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, at 12901 Townsend Road.

Federal, state and local officials, including Mayor Michael A. Nutter, will join College President Stephen M. Curtis for this landmark event. In addition, over the next two weeks, the College will hold a series of Earth Day-related events to highlight the new NERC and emphasize the importance of sustainability, green technology, renewable energy and science.

The NERC has been transformed into a cutting edge, eco-sensitive education and training facility where students witness sustainable design at work inside and outside the facility. A new 60,000-square-foot wing melds seamlessly with the existing 60,000-square-foot structure that also has been extensively refurbished. The entire $31 million project is expected to receive LEED gold environmental certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

"The College is incredibly proud of what it has accomplished by melding the old with the new at the Northeast Regional Center, making the finished project much greater than the sum of its parts," President Curtis said of the 120,000-square-foot facility. "The end product is not just bigger, it is better for students, and greener in ways that are better for the environment."

Scheduled events include the following:

• 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 20 – Northeast Regional Center Grand Opening – Federal, state and local officials join President Curtis at the official opening of the College's eco-friendly Northeast Regional Center.
• 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 20 – Dual Admissions Signing Ceremony – Presidents and representatives from 11 colleges and universities will participate in a signing ceremony marking the addition of two new schools, Saint Joseph's University and Rosemont College, to the growing list of schools that have joined the College in allowing graduates to transfer credits seamlessly to their four-year institutions. Guest Thomas G. Morr, president and CEO of Select Greater Philadelphia, will speak along with students, presidents and officials from some of the partner schools.
• 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday, April 25 – Philadelphia Science Festival Extravaganza in Partnership – Featuring workshops, laboratory experiments and speakers, such as Jonathan D. Essoka of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III, who will speak at 9 a.m. on the topic of "Energy and Sustainability." This event is part of the Philadelphia Science Festival—a citywide festival being held April 15-28. Other speakers include: Dr. Veda Giri of the Fox Chase Cancer Center speaking at 10:30 a.m. on "Genetic Markers/Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer"; and Dr. Carolyn Heckman of the Fox Chase Cancer Center speaking at 1 p.m. on "Skin Cancer Prevention."
• 3:30 p.m., Monday, April 25 – Pathways Magazine launch – Join Peter Longstreth, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), and Katherine Gajewski, director of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability, as they unveil the latest issue of the College's Pathways magazine, which focuses on green technology and sustainability. Longstreth, Gajewski and John Grady, PIDC's executive vice president, are featured in the cover-story. Gajewski and Longstreth will speak at this invitation-only reception.
• 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 26 – College for a Day (High School Recruitment & Adult Student Recruitment) – In the morning, area high school students will tour the new NERC and learn about the College's educational programs. In the evening, adult residents will be invited to tour the NERC and learn about the College's educational and training programs.
• 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 27 – Alumni "Delicious Developments" Reception –Invitation-only reception for alumni and supporters of the College featuring regional wine, cheese and chocolate tasting and music performed by students.
• 8:30 a.m., Friday, April 29 -- Grand Chamber Event –An invitation-only breakfast for chamber of commerce members from the Greater Philadelphia, Greater Northeast Philadelphia, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian American chambers will showcase the new NERC, and allow leaders from each chamber to speak about the services they offer.

Community College of Philadelphia enrolls more than 39,000 students annually at its Main Campus, three Regional Centers and various locations throughout Philadelphia. The College offers day, evening and weekend classes, as well as classes on the Internet. For more information about the NERC events, see www.ccp.edu.

SOURCE Community College of Philadelphia