Sisters Supported Each Other Through Struggles and Now Celebrate Success

The Krumbein sisters exemplify sisterhood. “We’ve always been there for each other,” says Danielle. Her younger sister, Samantha, agrees.

Over the years, Dani and Sam coped with a difficult family situation and the personal challenges that resulted, but despite their struggle, and repeated setbacks in their schooling, the sisters emerged triumphant.

They finally achieved a college degree and now share the joy of graduating together, both with academic distinction, in PCCC’s 54^th Commencement.

Dani receives an AS degree in Human Services with Highest Honors. She graduates with a 3.99 GPA and nearly $90,000 in scholarships. Sam earns an AAS degree in Nursing with High Honors and two Nursing awards.

Family Life
When the sisters were growing up, the family struggled financially. Their father was largely absent and their mother worked in a diner, trying to make ends meet.

“Our parents didn’t show much interest in our schooling,” said Dani. “School was not a priority to them.”   

Sam left high school at 16, working full-time at a bakery to help with family finances, but she went on to complete her high school requirements and earned a GED.

Dani graduated from high school as an honor student and entered Bergen Community College on an NJ STARS scholarship. She majored in theater but left before graduating in order to go to Florida where her father lived, after her parents divorced.  

In Florida, Dani made another attempt at community college, but she had developed addiction issues and did not complete that college either. Returning to New Jersey, she tried to resume her education at Bergen Community College but couldn’t afford to pay tuition while supporting herself.

A talented vocalist, Dani pursued a career singing in clubs and at private engagements, but she continued to cope with addiction and her debts were mounting. “I realized singing was a passion, but not a career path.”

The PCCC Transformation

Meantime, Sam had enrolled at PCCC. “That turned my life around,” she said. Professor Petar Drakulich, a history professor, was Sam’s mentor and had suggested she major in Liberal Arts/ Humanities. “It was exactly the right advice,” she says. “Humanities taught me how to think critically and helped me to figure out who I really am and what I really want to do in life.”

Sam graduated in 2021 with an associate’s degree in  Liberal Arts/Humanities. When Dani attended her sister’s graduation ceremony, she was inspired. “I thought maybe PCCC would be possible for me, too.”

Sam said her humanities studies had helped her to define her true goal in life. “I knew I wanted to become a nurse,” she said.

So the sisters registered together. Sam to earn another associate’s degree, this time in Nursing. Dani pursued Human Services with the new career goal of working with others who have addiction issues, turning her personal problem into new purpose.

High achievers, they were both welcomed into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, where Dani became heavily involved in leadership projects. She was named Most Distinguished Chapter Officer of the PTK Middle States Region 2025-2026 and also made that year’s NJ All-State Academic Team  

On May 14, Sam was among the 45 graduates honored at the Nurse Pinning Ceremony.
Dani was there to pin her sister with the traditional gold pin that symbolizes a welcome into the nursing profession.

That evening, Sam received two prestigious nursing awards: The Academic Achievement Award given to the two nursing graduates with the highest GPA and the Professional Nursing Award, given to the two nursing graduates who demonstrated clinical excellence throughout the nursing program.

“I was so surprised and happy,” said Sam. “I didn’t expect this.”

At the May 18 Graduate Awards ceremony, Dani received a certificate for graduating with Highest Honors and Sam for High Honors.   

Dani was also presented with the Human Services Pre-Social Work & Counseling Academic Excellence Award, and with the 2026 Professor Robert A. Shea Memorial Graduate Achievement Award, a $1,000 scholarship.

In addition, Dani received PTK’s Hites Transfer Scholarship award and plans to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program at Rider University where she received a full-tuition scholarship for two years totaling approximately $84,000.

After PCCC
Sam plans to start working as a nurse while continuing her education first toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing and later toward higher degrees. “I hope to become a nurse practitioner and later return to teach at PCCC. “I am so grateful to all my nursing professors and want to give back to PCCC.”

Dani has landed a job as a drug counselor, still sings for hire at weddings and other events. She plans to continue her education this Fall at Rider and eventually go on to earn advanced degrees in psychology and counseling.

“I love this College with my whole heart,” says Sam. “PCCC shaped my life, my identity, and my ethics.
”Her sister agrees. “I never would have imagined life to turn out like this,” says Dani, “but thanks to PCCC, it did.”

Learn more:  The AAS in Nursing Program     The AS in Human Services program

Written by Linda Telesco
Photos by Page Saunders