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Dawn Career Institute Named A 2011 ACCSC School of Excellence

On September 20, 2011, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) announced that Dawn Career Institute was one of only 13 accredited institutions selected to receive the prestigious 2011 ACCSC School of Excellence award.

“ACCSC congratulates Dawn Career Institute on their commitment to delivering quality educational programs to the students, graduates and employers that deserve our best work,” said Christopher Lambert, ACCSC’s director of external affairs.

ACCSC works to stimulate, nurture, verify and recognize ongoing educational quality and integrity in institutions offering programs of a vocational and career-oriented nature. ACCSC’s mission has two primary objectives: To assure students and the general public of the quality of educational training provided by ACCSC-accredited institutions and their programs; and to assist institutions in continuously improving themselves and the training they provide students.

The ACCSC School of Excellence award recognizes accredited member schools that have demonstrated a commitment to the expectations and rigors of ACCSC accreditation as well as a commitment to serving students. In order to be considered, schools must show that a majority of their student graduation and graduate employment rates from all programs offered meet or exceed the average rates of graduation and employment among all ACCSC accredited institutions.

“We’re truly honored to receive the ACCSC School of Excellence award,” said Jena Zapata, Chief Operating Officer at Dawn Career Institute. “It’s a reflection of our commitment to providing quality career education.”

The ACCSC School of Excellence award is the latest in a string of awards for Dawn Career Institute. In 2010 and 2011, the school was named a top workplace by WorkplaceDynamics, as well as a 2010 Hermes Creative Award winner, an international competition that recognizes marketing excellence.

For Dawn Career Institute, the ACCSC honor is especially noteworthy. The ACCSC continues to serve as a reliable authority on educational quality and promotes enhanced opportunities for students by establishing, sustaining, and enforcing valid standards and practices that contribute to the development of a highly trained and competitive workforce through quality, career-oriented education.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del., with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields, such as healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

For useful consumer information, please visit us at www.dawncareerinstitute.edu/consumerinfo.

About ACCSC
ACCSC has been continuously recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority for the establishment of educational standards since 1967. ACCSC’s scope of recognition by the U.S. Department of Education includes the accreditation of private, postsecondary non-degree-granting and degree-granting institutions in the United States, including those granting associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate students for occupational, trade and technical careers, and including institutions that offer programs via distance education. ACCSC is dedicated to ensuring educational quality for more than 220,000 students who annually pursue career education at 792 accredited institutions located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

For more information on ACCSC, visit www.accsc.org

Dawn Career Institute and Wilmington University Expand Relationship to Offer Enhanced Value to Students

WILMINGTON, DEL. (May. 23, 2011) – Dawn Career Institute (DCI) and nearby Wilmington University have expanded their relationship to offer students more educational options than ever before. Wilmington University is now accepting transfer credits from all DCI programs. Students can now choose to continue their education and transfer DCI credits to WU.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this added benefit to all students, regardless of their program choice,” said Jena Zapata, Chief Marketing Officer at DCI.

DCI and Wilmington University have expanded their transfer of credits agreement to include all DCI programs. DCI graduates may now receive up to 35 credits at Wilmington University upon completion and review of their DCI transcript. The transfer program between the two schools helps students by saving them both time and money. It allows students to take more classes at DCI’s tuition rate and, upon credit transfer, allows up to 35 credit hours to carry over if they decide to continue their education. The expanded relationship now recognizes all programs whereas previously, only six programs were eligible for transfer.

DCI is pleased to provide opportunities for students to receive an education that also “puts them to work”, increasing the opportunity to further their education at Wilmington University and increases the financial value of their academic experiences, allowing them more opportunities to further their education.

Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit university offering undergraduate and graduate level degrees in a variety of programs. Students can enroll in classes offered during the weekend, online, or at one of its 13 campus locations in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del., with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields: healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.

Dawn Career Institute and Wilmington University Expand Relationship to Offer Enhanced Value to Students

WILMINGTON, DEL. (Mar. 22, 2011) – Dawn Career Institute (DCI) and nearby Wilmington University have expanded their relationship to offer students more educational options than ever before. Wilmington University is now accepting transfer credits from all DCI programs. Students can now choose to continue their education and transfer DCI credits to WU.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this added benefit to all students, regardless of their program choice,” said Jena Zapata, Chief Marketing Officer at DCI.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del., with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields: healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.

Dawn Career Institute Fights Hunger This Holiday Season

WILMINGTON, DEL. (Jan. 5, 2011) – Dawn Career Institute (DCI), a cornerstone of Wilmington, Del., is not only committed to education, but also to enriching the welfare of its surrounding community. In a season when many individuals and families feel the strain of going without, Dawn Career Institute faculty and staff recognize that the need for giving has never been larger.

“The need in the community is great, and we’re so pleased to be able to offer some much-needed relief to families and individuals in our community,” said Chief Marketing Officer Jena Zapata.

This year, DCI collaborated with the Delaware Food Bank, a statewide nonprofit organization, to help fight hunger. DCI held its third annual food drive from November 1 through December 30. DCI helped stock the food bank’s shelves by greatly exceeding their 500-item goal.

The donations were spurred by healthy competition at the school. DCI created teams of academics and administrators, with the team who donated the most receiving a fully catered dinner. Each team faced weekly check-ins to help stay motivated. Donations included toothpaste, canned vegetables, peanut butter and pasta. All of the donations went toward helping the Delaware Food Bank feed its approximately 17,500 weekly visitors.

DCI’s New Beginnings Spa sponsored their own food drive by offering discounts on products and services such as massages, facials and waxing to individuals who brought in two canned goods. “We are not just educating students,” said New Beginnings Spa manager Debbie Frazier. “We are caring about the surrounding community as a whole.”

Since 1976, DCI has strived to improve the Wilmington community one graduate at a time. This winter, they improved the Wilmington community one canned good at a time.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del., with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields: healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.

Dawn Career Institute Creates National Placement Team to Enhance Current Career Service Offerings

WILMINGTON, DEL. (Dec 1, 2010) – Dawn Career Institute (DCI) has introduced a National Placement Team that will help enhance services already provided by its esteemed career services division. Led by National Director of Career Services Derek Sawyer, the National Placement Team is designed to improve career placement and provide a higher level of service to all graduates, including online students, and the employers who rely on them.

“I think one thing that gets overlooked in many areas of education is that employment and obtaining a long-term, successful career is the ultimate goal,” Sawyer said. “DCI has recently expanded the Career Services department to not only service the local market, but also our online students who deserve the same attention and time that someone would on campus.”

The career services currently provided by DCI include resume writing, interview and job search tips, soft skills development, mock phone interviews, and more. The National Placement Team will enhance those offerings by nurturing direct relationships with national employers. DCI looks forward to providing these employer connections to its students and having the opportunity to receive true feedback on its graduates and programs.

“The National Placement Team’s ultimate goal is to help all graduates begin a career by giving them the skills to succeed on their own,” Sawyer said “You can give a man a fish and feed him for a day or you can teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.”

In addition to Derek Sawyer, the National Placement Team is comprised of Career Development Coordinators Aggie Hoosier, Brooke Miller, and Denise Riley. Sawyer, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., and a graduate of Stetson University, has years of experience in medical staffing, working primarily with allied healthcare and nursing professionals on the local, regional and national levels. Hoosier has been employed at DCI for three years and has 15+ years of professional experience in healthcare recruiting and staffing. She earned her MBA degree in Healthcare Administration from Wilmington University and a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Sciences with a Concentration in Development Disabilities from Clarion University. Miller, of West Grove, Pa., and a graduate of Shippensburg University, has four years of experience working with clients at the YMCA. Riley, a Wilmington resident and University of Delaware graduate, previously worked in the education arena as an admissions and career services representative.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del., with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields: healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.

Dawn Career Institute Featured on Top Workplaces List

WILMINGTON, DEL. (Sept. 07, 2010) – Dawn Career Institute (DCI) is known as a cornerstone in the Wilmington Delaware community for providing local employers with graduates/employees for the better part of four decades. “Top Workplaces” recognized DCI last month purely on the response to an employee survey.

Developed in conjunction with TopWorkplaces.com, the Top Workplaces program recognizes employers in communities throughout the United States that provide employees with a great place to work. DCI was ranked No. 15 out of the 41 total small employers that were included in the Delaware employee surveys, out of 117 nominated employers.

“As a learning institution, we do our best to ensure that our students are provided the best learning environment possible, and yet we also realize this wouldn’t be possible without quality employees,” said Jena Zapata, DCI’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We have the best people working for us not only in regard to their skills and professional attitudes, but also in terms of who they are. We have about 60 employees at DCI, all of whom are a pleasure to work with and contribute so much to a welcoming environment. It’s an honor to be included as one of the state’s top workplaces.”

Those companies named as “Top Workplaces” use their organizational web site to communicate the values and reasons why they are the best companies to work for in their local area. The companies on the list were selected after a survey of their employees – and only the companies that employees have rated as the best companies to work for are featured on the web site. Last year, more than 1,600 organizations across 11 regions of the U.S. had their workplaces assessed by employees.

The workplace surveys are conducted by a research company, WorkplaceDynamics LLC, and the programs are run in conjunction with major newspapers in various regional areas.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del., with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields: healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.

Dawn Career Institute Announces New Directors of Admissions

WILMINGTON, DEL. (July 22, 2010) – Dawn Career Institute (DCI) is pleased to announce two employee updates. Newly hired Matt Penrod is DCI’s Director of Admissions, and Eddie Barksdale has been promoted from Online Admissions Advisor to Director of Online Admissions. “We’re thrilled to have both Matt and Eddie on our admissions team,” Dawn Career Institute CEO Cheryl Zapata said. “Their collective experience and enthusiasm are sure to bring a new level of excellence to our efforts.”

Matthew Penrod, who is very familiar with the challenges that employees need to overcome, brings years of experience in executive recruitment and admissions to his new role. He was brought on to work with Dawn’s faculty and admissions staff to ensure that the Institute’s current and future students receive the attention and high-quality services they need to succeed in their educations and careers.

“Dawn Career Institute has a tradition of recruiting and enrolling the best students in the Wilmington area, and I hope to cont to help this institute to meet its admissions goals, as well as the career goals of its students,” Penrod said.

Prior to joining Dawn Career Institute, Penrod worked as an executive recruiter with a third-party recruitment firm where he worked with everything from small to Fortune 500 companies – both nationally and internationally – to help them meet their staffing needs. He also served as an admissions representative at Florida Technical College in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was an instrumental part of a team that increased enrollment rate by 75 percent from the previous year’s statistics and developed many community outreach programs. Penrod was also a General Manager of Terraplan Development Inc., where he was responsible for 30 direct reports and provided services to over 500 clients.

Eddie Barksdale brings leadership and analytical support to students through exceptional problem solving, communication, organizational and customer service skills. Barksdale has spent the past XX YEARS in the position of admissions representative at Dawn Career Institute, where he exceeded expectations and provided the utmost in customer services to each and every prospective student. In his new role as Director of Online Admissions, he and his team provide the same exceptional services to reach prospective student and motivate them to change their lives through the institution’s stellar educational programs.

“I’ve gained such a respect for what we do here at Dawn Career Institute over the past XX TIME,” Barksdale said. “Through my new position, I’ll have the chance to bring my knowledge of DCI and ideas for enhancement to our online programs.”

Barksdale is a graduate of Wilmington University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing. His sales career began in the insurance industry, where he advanced to become a senior account representative, mentoring, monitoring and training new and existing staff. He also worked in real estate as a buyer and listing agent where he created and implemented a variety of sales techniques which enabled him to obtain many high industry-standard awards. In the continuing development of his career, Barksdale transitioned his success and experience into the rental service industry as a management assistant at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. During his tenure with the organization, Barksdale was responsible for creating new corporate accounts, retrieving overdue accounts balances and supervising administrative staff.

About Dawn Career Institute
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington, Del, with online program options also available. Dawn Career Institute offers programs in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields: healthcare, wellness and business. Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.

DAWN CAREER INSTITUTE PROMOTES JENA ZAPATA TO CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER POSITION

Dawn Career Institute (DCI) is pleased to announce Jena Zapata has been promoted to the newly created Chief Marketing Officer position. Zapata, who has developed superior knowledge and familiarity with career education throughout her career, will be responsible for DCI’s marketing strategy and various functions including brand management and recognition, local and national marketing initiatives, overseeing public relations efforts, and forming strategic relationships.

In her new role, Zapata will work closely with the chief operating officer – admissions and career services and corporate partners, as well as other service providers to continue DCI’s commitment to quality and further position it as a leader within the career education business. Zapata will provide strategic and functional leadership to DCI’s human resource initiatives.

“While my previous role has involved certain aspects to our marketing and branding efforts, this new position will bring more cohesiveness to our approach and allow me to concentrate on our core corporate objectives,” Zapata said. “Our organizational goals include encouraging an environment that fosters creativity and strives to bring Dawn’s brand to the forefront of the career college sector.”

Zapata’s professional career growth and development began early on while in college working as the assistant marketing coordinator and administrative assistant at DCI. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree from Wilmington University, Zapata seized the opportunity to join the organization and aspired to increase her responsibilities and roles. While attending Wilmington University, Zapata also attended and completed DCI’s Esthetics program, resulting in her becoming a licensed esthetician in the State of Delaware. While at DCI, she gained a passion for business development and marketing strategy, which provided a natural transition to marketing and human resources and, ultimately, her role as Chief Marketing Officer.

DAWN CAREER INSTITUTE NAMES SHANNON YERKIC CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Dawn Career Institute is pleased to announce Shannon Yerkic has joined DCI as Chief Operating Officer of Admissions and Career Services. Yerkic, who is particularly well-versed in the challenges that career college students must overcome, brings years of experience in admissions and career services to his new role. He will work with Dawn’s faculty and admissions staff to ensure that the Institute’s current and future students receive the attention and high-quality services they need to succeed in their educations and careers.

“I’m eager to have the opportunity, and look forward to displaying the same dedication and determination that has enabled my former clients, companies and teams’ success and look forward to fostering those results to the students and employees of Dawn Career Institute Inc.,” Yerkic said.

In his former roles, Yerkic served as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for a consulting and training firm within proprietary education that focused on working with online and ground colleges and universities both nationally and internationally. Yerkic served as Managing Director at Huntington Learning Center where he set sales records from the onset. In addition, he also served separate tenures as Director of Admissions and Director of Career Services at Florida Technical College where he raised the placement rate by 52 percent within a six-month period, as well as the enrollment rate by 75 percent from the previous year’s statistics. Yerkic was also a Healthcare Recruiter at Maxim Healthcare Services, where he managed over 150 healthcare professionals and provided service to over 132 clients. Yerkic is a graduate of Valdosta State University.

“I am excited to bring my experience, energy and enthusiasm to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Admissions and Career Services at Dawn Career Institute Inc.,” Yerkic said. “With my previous background consisting of executive/corporate management within proprietary and supplemental education, I feel my insight and experience will complement and assist an already impressive organization reach extraordinary educational goals.”

DAWN CAREER INSTITUTE NAMES CHERYL ZAPATA PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dawn Career Institute (DCI) is pleased to announce its appointment of Cheryl Zapata as President and Chief Executive Officer. Zapata brings over 28 years of progressively responsible business experience in the postsecondary for-profit education and aviation industries to her new role as President and CEO. Her proven ability to build enterprises and motivate people, and her experience in developing long-term, productive strategic relationships made her transition to this new role a natural one.

Zapata utilizes her leadership, management, communication and marketing skills to fulfill Dawn Career Institute’s mission of cultivating an environment where students thrive in the pursuit of fulfilling personal, professional and academic goals. She will continue to produce innovative programs within the allied health, wellness and business fields that integrate curriculum and technology to position graduates for success in their chosen career fields.

“My CEO efforts are focused on creating an environment where people thrive,” Zapata said. “I believe in the global mission of career education: Providing accessible, affordable and relevant education focused on outcomes and career opportunities to a diverse ground and online student population. As an organization, we seek opportunities to create an extraordinary learning experience for our students through capstone events, our Coffee Shop Learning Center, Learning Resource Center, our New Beginnings Spa, and other labs and projects. We extend the philosophy to our graduates and employers in similar fashion, hosting learning luncheons, graduate workshops, and participating in a variety of community events. Once again, taking advantage of an opportunity to invest in and to provide an environment where people thrive.”

In the past two years under Zapata’s direct leadership, she has spearheaded a number of initiatives that have helped bring DCI to a higher level of performance for students: Dawn Career Institute developed partner relationships with Professional Fitness Institute to deliver a Personal Fitness Trainer program; ComCourse to launch and provide the learning platform for the distance education programs; PlattForm Advertising to build an internationally award-winning web site; expanded the facility to 36,000 square feet; and assembled an outstanding executive team including Director of Education William Harris, COO – Admissions & Career Services Shannon Yerkic, and CMO Jena Zapata.

Through the years, her influence over the organization inspired her to increase her responsibilities. In her role as Executive Vice President she provided direct management support, maintained all budgets; provided direction and oversight to marketing, events, and advertising; assisted with new program approval/accreditation renewal processes, Department of Education review, and curriculum reviews. Zapata currently serves as a board member of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Vistage, an international CEO development organization. Previously she served as Chair of the Delaware Coalition of Literacy and as Vice President of Dawn Aero Inc.

Dawn Career Institute | 3700 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19805 | 1.800.713.1546