April is Community College Month, and four Delaware County Community College students have been recognized as part of the 2025 All-Pennsylvania (All-PA) Academic Team for their academic achievement, leadership, and community service. With this recognition, the students are eligible to attend any one of the 10 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities tuition-free for two years.
Umniyah Al-Haneef of Folcroft, Maria Camara of Lansdowne, Liz Mercadante of Exton, and Brooke Weiss of Downingtown were recently selected to the 2025 All-PA Academic Team, which is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. This recognition honors an exceptional group of community college students. The students were recognized at a special banquet on Tuesday, Apr. 8 at the Hilton Harrisburg Hotel in Harrisburg.
Umniyah Al-Haneef
Al-Haneef is a Psychology major with a career goal of working in neuroscience, as either a Neuropsychologist or Neuroscientist. She is President of the Psychology Club, Secretary of the Student Government Association, a Student Success Ambassador, and a Peer Mentor with the Essential Student Resource Center. In Fall 2024 she won an Academic Excellence Award and an Outstanding Leadership Award. Her favorite inspirational quote is, “So surely with hardship comes ease.” She plans to complete her bachelor’s degree and is still in the process of deciding which college she will transfer to. She is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.
Marie Camara
Camara is majoring in Political Science and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. “Coming from a diverse background myself, I have always been interested in politics, especially in how countries interact, the conflicts between them, and the way different cultures influence global affairs,” she said. She takes pride in having balanced two jobs while keeping up with her studies. “It has taught me a lot about discipline and perseverance,” she stated. Camara is fluent in three languages and is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society’s Alpha Tau Epsilon chapter.
Liz Mercadante
Mercadante is currently a Nursing major who aims to continue her studies after graduation. “I always knew that I was put here to help other people, to be a source of stability for individuals in their most vulnerable moments,” said Mercadante, whose parents are both nurses. “That is what drew me to Nursing, where every second counts. I can be a familiar face of comfort and reassurance and be able to show up for others in the moments that matter most — and remind them that they’re not alone.” Her goals include broadening her horizons with patient-centered care. She currently works in a nursing home and plans to gain experience in acute-care facilities. Mercadante’s long-term goal is to pursue a master’s degree in Emergency Medicine and travel to countries in need of immediate healthcare assistance. She is a member of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Beta Psi Phi chapter.
Brooke Weiss
A Business Administration major, Weiss is President of the College’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Beta Psi Phi chapter. “I believe the ability to inspire is the most important quality in a leader,” she said. She attended night classes at DCCC while working full-time during the day. She will pursue a bachelor’s degree at West Chester University, majoring in Management, and plans a career in Management, Finance, or Marketing. “One of my favorite features at DCCC is the diversity and culture,” she said. “Students come from various backgrounds, ages, and stages of their lives, balancing multiple responsibilities such as families, jobs, and volunteer work alongside their classes. There is a shared understanding and recognition of the effort required to manage all these commitments, and mutual acknowledgment of each other’s achievements. We are pursuing our dreams and working hard for our future.”
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