JOAN FRIZZELL was inducted into the Court of Distinguished Daughters of the Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia High School for Girls on October 28, 2016.  Joan is a 1965 graduate from Girls High.  She had an exemplary career as a nurse for a number of years.  She currently teaches graduate-level advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology in the Master of Science program at La Salle University where she has taught for 20 years.  Joan is also on the staff as a nurse practitioner at Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia.  In addition, she provides continuing education in pharmacology for medical students and interns at Roxborough Hospital and, from 2010 to the present, she has served as a preceptor at Roxborough Hospital for MSN students who are interested in becoming nurse practitioners.  At several national and international nursing conferences on pathophysiology and pharmacology, Joan has presented lectures on various topiecs.  In addition, she recently co-authored a textbook, Pathophysiology: Introductory Concepts and clinical Perspectives, with Dr. Theresa Capriotti of Villanova University.  She worked with Ms. Sandy Johnson, a retired GHS English teacher, to establish the tradition of Career Day.  Joan has participated in Career Day almost continuously from its inception and has mentored students by sharing with them her experiences as a nurse and a college professor.  Joan has taught Sunday School at Grace Baptist for almost 20 years and is currently college-aged students.

JOE AND KATHY GALLAGHER

Joe and Kathy Gallagher were inducted into the Montgomery County Community College’s Alumni Hall of Fame as Honorary Alumni at a ceremony on Friday, November 6.

Joe and Kathy are strong supporters of Montgomery County Community College’s mission. They served as co-chairs for the MCCC Foundation’s Futures Rising campaign, which raised $10.5 million for student scholarships. Joe is the owner and president of Gallagher Fluid Seals in King of Prussia, and he is a member of the College’s Foundation Board of Directors. Kathy is the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at the Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr. In 2014, the Gallaghers received a national Community College Benefactor Award from the Council for Resource Development for their commitment and service to Montgomery County Community College.

Kathy serves as our Church Moderator and Joe is chair of the Board of Trustees. Congratulations to you both from your Grace Baptist family.

LINDA ALLMOND

CONGRATULATIONS to Linda Allmond who was recently honored as an Elm Terrace Gardens Star!  Linda began her volunteer work at ETG in April 2013.  She picks up mending from the residents, does the repairs, and delivers the articles back to ETG. Linda has mended socks and sewn everything from underwear to evening gowns.  “God has a plan” is Linda’s theme for all her volunteer work at ETG and here at Grace Baptist where she’s the coordinator for the Prayer Chain and the Care Giving Team.  Thank you, Linda, for all you do!

OBED ARANGO

On October 3, Obed Arango, Executive Director of the Center for Culture, Art, Training and Education (CCATE) received one of the most prestigious awards of the Latino community–the 2015 Futuro Award, Education Champion of the Year, at the Hispanic Choice Awards in Philadelphia.  Obed, who next year will complete 24 years as a college professor, is a journalist, anthropologist, visual artist, and social leader.  His career accomplishments include photographic exhibitions in galleries both in Mexico and the US, ethnographic work throughout Latin America, and radio and TV productions focused on human rights as well as challenges and opportunities of the Hispanic community in the US.

During the last 4 years, Obed has dedicated his time and effort to the development of CCATE, a cultural center in Norristown, PA, whose mission is the development of the Latino community in the fields of education, art, culture and technology.  Today over 100 families participate in CCATE’s programs consisting of 26 classes, 7 days a week for youth and adults.  These include an after-school program and courses in the arts, languages, media and sports.  CCATE has faculty members, 25 after-school program mentors and more than 40 volunteers.

On October 5, CCATE also received the prestigious Dr. Orlando Costas Service Award from Eastern University’s Palmer Seminary at an annual event commemorating the life of Costas, the great Latino thinker, theologian, sociologist and social leader who passed away in 1987.  Costas emphasized the importance of social transformation and social justice for those on the margins of society.  CCATE received the award due to its members’ and leaders’ hard work and commitment to social change and social transformation in the Norristown area’s Latino immigrant community.

The Grace Baptist Church family congratulates Obed on these awards and the recognition of his accomplishments with CCATE and wish him and his coworkers much success with CCATE in the years to come.