Two adult students who returned to college to prepare themselves for new careers will represent Cincinnati State this year in the All-USA Community College Academic Team event.

The annual event recognizes not only academic achievement but also community service, leadership and perseverance in pursuit of a goal. The event is open to community colleges across the United States; each institution is permitted to nominate two candidates.

·         John Vanderbilt, a second-year student who lives in the Bridgetown area, is majoring in environmental engineering technology and stormwater management.  A married father with three children, the youngest of whom is 11, Mr. Vanderbilt is training for a second career.  He already holds an undergraduate degree in information systems from the University of Cincinnati, and was employed in that field by a locally-based corporation for 14 years until his job was outsourced abroad. After deciding to make a career change, Mr. Vanderbilt chose to double major at Cincinnati State and take advantage of its co-op program.  He plans to pursue a job after graduation in the field of water resources protection.

To that end Mr. Vanderbilt has held co-op positions at the Cincinnati Park Board and the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati.  At Cincinnati State he is a member of the Environmental Club and the American Society of Civil Engineers, and has helped organized events for visiting high school students. He has also participated in regional engineering competitions involving students from other colleges and universities.

His community service includes the Boy Scouts, St. Jude Parish and Rivers Unlimited (where he is a stream sampling and water monitoring volunteer). 

·         Carol Thomas, a second-year student who resides in North Bend, Ohio, is majoring in business/hospitality/event management.  After graduation she plans to obtain a master’s degree in business management.  Her dream job?  Launching her own event planning company and assisting in fund-raising for non-profit organizations.

At Cincinnati State she is president of Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Senate.  Under her leadership Phi Theta Kappa received the Pinnacle Award from Phi Theta Kappa International, which is given to those chapters who have increased their membership.  Under her leadership the organization has taken on projects with Central Park Ministries and the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and become the largest student group on the Cincinnati State campus.

Ms. Thomas – a single mother and former EMT who came to Cincinnati State after she was laid off at Comair – is also a Student Ambassador at the College. Her community activities include Christmas in the Village, where she helped organize what has become the largest Christmas parade in Hamilton County; the WCET Action Auction; and the Clean Up Days in the Hamilton County parks.