Morris County Launches the Morris Ambassador Program
Published on July 09, 2024
Committee Appointed to Promote College Promise in Underserved Communities
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce the launch of the Morris Ambassador Program, a volunteer committee that will collaborate with County College of Morris (CCM) and the Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) to promote Morristown College Promise and other educational programs. 
Morristown College Promise, which began in November, is a partnership committed to helping motivated, low-income middle and high school students and their families navigate the academic and financial challenges of a college education. CCM provides free after-school mentoring, tutoring, and advice on pathways that include college, the military, the trades, and immediate entry into the workforce with industry credentials. The program also engages students to volunteer for special projects in their community.
“Morris Ambassadors will help spread the word in Morristown about this program and the amazing opportunities at CCM and MCVSD,” said Morris County Commissioner John Krickus.
He initially announced the formation of the new committee at the county’s Juneteenth Art in the Atrium event on June 13, which was followed by the full Board of County Commissioners adopting a resolution creating the Ambassador Program and appointing members on June 26.
“The Ambassador program is a critical component of the program's success. Ambassadors help ensure members of the community are aware of these programs and advise the college on how it can continuously serve the community with excellence,” said CCM President Dr. Anthony J. Iacono. “CCM appreciates the Ambassadors and the continuously exceptional support the college receives from Morris County Commissioners. Together we are changing lives and strengthening communities!”
The line-up of the Morris Ambassadors currently includes several leaders in the Morristown community, including Rev. David A. Hollowell, Sr., Vanessa Brown of the NAACP, Henry J. Lee, the Rev. Herman Scott, Roberta Strater and Leslie Folmar Harris. The Morris County Commissioners are accepting nominations for additional appointments.
The Morristown College Promise is based on the Dover College Promise, launched by CCM under President Iacono in 2020. According to CCM, approximately 96 percent of program participants enroll in college after graduation, attesting to the success of the program’s mentoring, tutoring and support for students.
Commissioner Krickus and Commissioner Tayfun Selen attended a ribbon cutting ceremony last month to celebrate the completion of a community project undertaken by Dover College Promise students: the Morris Canal Towpath in Dover. The town collaborated with Dover College Promise students, who used their class time to design the landscape of the nearly one-mile recreational trail in Dover’s Water Works Park. The trail is now part of the Morris Canal Greenway, a pedestrian pathway being constructed in piecemeal by many organizations to eventually retrace the ground covered by the old Morris Canal stretching from the Hudson River to the Delaware River. 
“Morris County and the state have made significant investments in CCM and MCVSD in recent years, including an Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center and plans for a new Entrepreneurship and Culinary Program. A new Career Training Center is currently being built to support an additional 500 VoTech students, along with a new health science center for careers in medicine and dentistry,” said Krickus.
“The College Promise programs will give students in underserved communities access to the necessary training and skills to lead successful careers in industries that are in demand and growing,” he continued.
Questions about Morristown College Promise can be directed to Julian Gomez, Director of the College Promise Program at CCM, (973) 328-5271, jgomez@ccm.edu.
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Photos Photo 1: Morris Canal Towpath Ribbon Cutting on June 15, 2024 in Dover. Second from left in the front is CCM College Promise Program Director Julian Gomez and Morris County Commissioner John Krickus. Dover Mayor James Dodd is standing center with scissors. Directly behind the mayor is Assemblyman Christian Barranco and to his right is Wharton Mayor Bill Chegwidden. Third from the right in the front is Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen.
Photo 2: The Morris Canal Towpath trail in Dover.