Montgomery County Community College student Susie Delp (left) thanks Mary Vila, President of the Rotary Club of Blue Bell, for the Club's scholarship, which has helped her to complete her associate degree in Business Administration. Photo by Diane VanDyke
A longtime community partner of Montgomery County Community College, the Rotary Club of Blue Bell recently demonstrated its commitment again to student success by awarding a scholarship to student Susie Delp of Hatboro through the Montgomery County Community College (PA) Legacy Fund.
The Rotary Club of Blue Bell has supported MCCC and its mission since 1992. Over the decades, the Club has collaborated with the College on numerous initiatives and donated more than $145,600 to support students and programs. In the last 10 years alone, the Rotary Club has awarded more than $12,000 in scholarships to 12 student recipients. The club has also provided support for the College’s veterans programs and contributed to MCCC’s Stock Up for Success food pantries in the Wellness Center. Most recently, the Rotary hosted the second annual Blue Bell Community Stride and Thrive 5/10K Wellness Fest in collaboration with the College and Whitpain Township. The club also holds its weekly meetings on the Blue Bell Campus.
“It’s an honor to help students, like Susie, pursue their educational goals,” said Mary Vila, Rotary President. “Investing in students is an investment in the future of our community.”
This year’s scholarship recipient, Business Administration (A.S.) major Susie Delp, shared her gratitude with Rotary members during a recent meeting.
“Thank you for investing in me,” said Delp, a mother of two children under the age of 5. “The scholarship made me feel honored and made college do‑able with the cost of childcare, tuition and fees.”
Delp described her educational journey as a nontraditional student. The 37‑year‑old is balancing coursework, while raising her two young children and managing Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). Most nights, she opens her laptop after her children are asleep to work on her assignments and juggles classwork around medical appointments and family responsibilities.
School came easily to Delp when she was young, she said, but life also presented emotional challenges. Her older sister always knew she wanted to become a special education teacher and went on to earn a master’s degree in psychology. Inspired by her sister, Delp planned to pursue college as well and started taking college courses through MCCC’s dual enrollment program while in high school. But during some challenges, she began drinking and became what she describes as a “functioning alcoholic,” hiding her struggles from others. Following graduation, she attempted a semester of college but then left and instead built a career in banking, eventually becoming a manager.
At age 27, after years of chronic pain, she was diagnosed with GBS/CIDP and eventually stopped working. Unsure of her next steps, she sought help, began attending AA meetings, and has now been sober for eight years. During this time, she got engaged and became a mother, which brought new purpose and stability to her life.
“At age 32, I was still wandering,” she said. Her sister encouraged her to return to college, but Delp had doubts. Tragically, her sister later passed away following a seizure related to long‑COVID complications, and not long after, Delp also lost her brother.
During this difficult time, she decided to honor her sister’s memory by enrolling at MCCC.
“Montco welcomed me without shame,” she said. “They met me where I was and helped me move forward.”
Her advisor, Dave Ruud, helped her map out her academic plan, and Monica Losota, Coordinator of Accommodations and Accessibility Services in the Disability Services Office, assisted her in securing the accommodations she needed to be successful.
Delp said she looks forward to earning her degree from MCCC, something she considers a milestone no one can take away from her. She plans to continue her education and pursue a bachelor’s degree at Penn State University. During her time at MCCC, she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society and participated in the Photography Club.
As a tribute to her sister, Delp created a GoFundMe campaign, Brightening Classrooms for Carrie, to purchase supplies for special education teachers in her local school district.
“It was a nice way to bring the community together to help children with special needs,” Delp said. “My sister would have been proud.”
As Delp crosses the Commencement stage in May, she is proud of herself for acting on her sister’s advice and accomplishing her associate’s degree.
Community partners like the Rotary Club of Blue Bell play a vital role in advancing MCCC’s mission and strategic goals. Through their generous support, the College strengthens its ability to serve students and expand opportunities across its campuses. Their investment to the Montgomery County Community College (PA) Legacy Fund—the College’s official philanthropic arm—provides essential resources that enhance academic programs, foster employee development, and support initiatives that broaden access to higher education. These contributions ensure students have the tools, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed in college and beyond. To learn more about the MCCC (PA) Legacy Fund, visit mc3.edu/legacyfund.