For Immediate Release

For more information contact:

Bob Cohen, 202-336-6836, bobc@career.org

CCA Presents GREAT Awards to Four Outstanding Graduates on Capitol Hill

Washington, DC – The Career College Association (CCA) today presented Jacob Foko of Ventura, California; Joyce Leonard of Wellsburg, West Virginia; Latoria Payton of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; and Le Andra Peters of Albuquerque, New Mexico with the 2009 GREAT (Graduate Recognition for Excellence, Achievement and Talent) Awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Jacob Foko is a 2008 graduate of Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California.   A native of Cameroon, Jacob came to America with no English, learned the language and earned his BA in Visual Journalism.  Upon graduation, Jacob founded Global Humanitarian Photojournalism, Inc., a non-profit organization which partners with the United Nations Association to document and raise awareness, though documentary film, of the needs of small humanitarian-serving organizations.

Joyce Leonard is a 2006 graduate of Pittsburgh Technical Institute.   A mother of college-aged children, Joyce earned her Associate’s degree in Travel and Tourism Administration after her position in a local steel mill was downsized.  During her studies at PTI, she was selected as an intern in the White House Travel Office.  After the internship, Joyce graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA and continued to serve remotely for the Office while she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Communication from West Virginia University in 2007.  In November 2007 she was hired as a full time White House staffer and accompanied President Bush on numerous official trips. 

Latoria Payton is a 2008 graduate of Herzing University in Madison, Wisconsin.  Latoria earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting while working part time and single parenting her six children.  During her full time studies at Herzing, she also served as Student Council President for two years, mentored several students and was chosen commencement speaker upon graduation in June 2008. 

Le Andra Peters is a 2008 graduate of ITT Technical Institute in Albuquerque for her outstanding academic and personal achievements.  Le Andra earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems Security while overcoming personal challenges such as domestic abuse and single parenthood.  Now working full time, she is also giving back to her Native American heritage by maintaining the Gathering of Nations website. 

“CCA’s GREAT Award recipients represent the power of educational achievements, and the dedication to reaching goals,” said Miller at the Capitol Hill ceremony.  “Career Colleges graduate some extraordinary students, and even more extraordinary human beings, many of whom balance careers, families, and meet challenges beyond the average post-secondary student. We applaud each of our GREAT Award winners for earning this honor.”

Since the program’s inception in 2004, the GREAT (Graduate Recognition for Excellence, Achievement, and Talent) Awards have honored recent career college graduates who have overcome extraordinary difficulties and circumstances to be where they are today.   In past years, CCA has honored military veterans, disaster survivors, and other truly outstanding individuals whose stories are inspiring and memorable.  In addition to attendance by the award recipients, their families, school officials and CCA membership, the program also includes speeches by the Representatives of each recipient’s school and home district, where they are given a platform to honor their constituent and his/her achievements.  Showcasing these stories on Capitol Hill strongly emphasizes to Members of Congress the deserving and hard-working students we educate on a regular basis.       

The Career College Association (CCA) is a voluntary membership organization of private postsecondary schools, institutes, colleges and universities that provide career-specific educational programs. CCA has more than 1,500 members that educate and support over one million students each year for employment in over 200 occupational fields. CCA member institutions provide the full range of higher education programs: short-term certificate and diploma programs, two- and four-year associate and baccalaureate degree programs, and masters and doctoral degree programs.   www.career.org.