By Mike Coppolino
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Most of the students at Camden County College know of the friendly cashier in the Cougar Café. They have all been through her line at one point and have probably talked to her, but many do not know much about her or even her name. Well, her name is Jean Lapento and she is a cashier here at the college and has been here for the last six years.
Jean Lapento works in her cashier station at the Camden County College cafeteria. By Mike Coppolino, CCC Journalism Program
The very personable Lapento has just started part time here this year for the first time in the last six years. She has started part time this year because of her feet problems. Lapento joked, “Now that I have been working part time, my feet are thanking me.”
From her hometown of Springfield, Pennsylvania, Lapento is now living in Gloucester Township and has been for the last 38 years with her husband of 38 years as well. She went to Atlantic County Community College when she was younger. Lapento has three children who are grown adults and married now and also has seven grandchildren. Her hobbies include reading, movies, friends and walking, when her feet aren’t bothering her. Every year, Lapento goes to Florida to visit an old friend and catch up with her.
Lapento works at the Cyber Café station 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Students and fellow workers love her and love working with her. Tony LoSchiavo, the cook in the college cafeteria, has known Lapento since she started here six years ago; they have become very good friends. “She is very dependable as a worker. Come rain or shine, Jean will always be there for you,” LoSchiavo said.
Lapento loves her job here at the college and loves talking to all of the students, even helping them out with some of their problems if they ask her to. Her favorite part of the job is all of the people she gets to talk to and come in contact with. “They are all great and I just love working with people. I worked in a computer room once and I hated it because there was no interaction with anybody,” Lapento said. Her least favorite part of the job, though, is cleaning up everything, including the coffee machines, at night when the cafeteria closes at 6 p.m.