Our Business Briefs keep you up to date with what’s happening around Chester County. This Morning:

DCCC and WCU Team Up to Spur Conversation about Culture and Identity

Today at 11:10 a.m. Delaware County Community College President Dr. Jerry Parker together with  faculty members and a student will take part in a panel discussion “Unraveling the Tapestry of Your DNA: What Are Your Origins?”

The panel is part of a broader, joint initiative “DNA Discussion Project,” set up in collaboration between the DCCC and West Chester University as a creative way to inspire discussion on how race, culture, and cultural perceptions influence communication and self-identity.

“I volunteered to participate in the DNA Discussion Project because it is a wonderful way to engage students and staff in discussions about the important roles culture, diversity and science play in our everyday lives,” said Dr. Parker.

The panel discussion will take place in the STEM Center on the College’s Marple Campus in Room 1403 with interested news media members welcome.

Over 4,000 Coats Distributed to Chester County Youth

The YMCA of Greater Brandywine has partnered with the Driving Away the Cold program, a philanthropic initiative started in partnership with the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, to help keep all children in Chester County warm during the winter months.

As a part of this partnership this year the Y will distribute 4,164 new winter coats to children in need through the Brandywine Y, the Upper Main Line Y and the Oscar Lasko Youth Program Center in West Chester.

“The past several Philadelphia winters have been brutally cold, and many children either went to school without a coat or didn’t go to school at all,” said Kevin Mazzucola, Executive Director of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. “Driving Away the Cold eliminates a hurdle that keeps kids from getting to school where there is learning, nourishing meals, warmth and hope for a brighter future.”

Prepay Nation Partners with Africa’s Newest Mobile Operator

Prepay Nation, is expanding its services to East Africa by partnering with Smart, East Africa’s newest, customer-centric mobile operator and solutions provider.

The move, will extend the Berwyn based company’s operations to Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, and give U.S., Canadian and European citizens the ability to transfer airtime minutes to Smart customers from a network of over 175,000 retail locations and websites, helping them avoid costly service fees.

The leading provider of cross-border prepaid mobile airtime transfers will also provide thousands of expatriates with access to instant an International Mobile Top-Up service through Prepay Nation’s rapidly-expanding distribution network.

“Smart is an excellent partner for us,” said Hervé Perrin, VP of Business Development at Prepay Nation. “Smart gives us new products that we can offer to the African Diaspora world-wide.”

Lincoln’s Enrollment Increases 4% with its Educational Leadership Program Leading the Way

Lincoln University saw a 4 percent increase in student enrollment compared to the previous year and achieved its highest number of new students since 2009.

This reflects the institutions increased recruitment and outreach efforts after the university started to feel the decline in enrollment that has been plaguing the nation. Student numbers had declined from 2,361 in 2010 to 1,819 students last year, however, for the current year, undergraduate and graduate enrollment is up again at 1,905 students.

Part of the increased interest is the University’s Master’s in Educational Leadership program, which is now ranked in the top 50 of the Top Masters in Education’s 2015-2016.

“While our current ranking makes us keenly aware of our competitors, we are also encouraged to continue to make strides toward program enhancements and improvements,” stated Patricia A. Joseph, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Professional, Graduate & Extended Studies.

SunGard Wins 2015 ‘Systems in the City’ Award

SunGard has won the Goodacre 2015 Systems in the City Award in the cleared OTC Derivatives category.

The Wayne based company won the award for its post-trade derivatives solution suite and at the same time secured the respected GoodAccreditation standard from Goodacre UK, a leading specialist consultancy for the financial services industry.

SunGard’s post-trade derivatives solution suite was recognized by an independent panel of judges, making this SunGard’s first award for its recently launched Derivatives Utility.

“We appreciate this award and accreditation from Goodacre UK, which speaks to our commitment to innovation and reliability in the derivatives processing space,” said Alun Green, Sungard’s Deputy Head of Derivatives Utility. “As an industry leader, SunGard is proud of our post-trade derivatives solution suite, which was developed to integrate with our front-to-back systems and provide a comprehensive solution to help our customers streamline the derivatives post-trade lifecycle.”