READING PA - Reading Area Community College celebrated their largest graduating class in almost a decade, as over 500 students earned their degree or certificate during a ceremony on Friday, May 3 at Santander Arena in Reading.

“It is always a privilege and a joy to see so many graduates persevere and take this step toward great success in the years ahead,” said RACC President Dr. Susan Looney. “Our students and graduates continue to inspire me every day, and will continue to make the RACC family of faculty, staff, students and alumni very proud.”

The student speaker at the ceremony was Mara Nagle. Mara was selected for a Presidential Scholarship in 2022, and was chosen as the Sonia Briskin Honors Scholar in 2024. She will be continuing her education at Albright College to purse her Bachelor’s in Arts Administration and Business Administration.

Also during the ceremony, Looney presented RACC’s President’s Award to Dr. Jerry Marcus. Dr, Marcus has been a vital long-time supporter of Reading Area Community College, serving on the Foundation for RACC. In addition, he has served for many years as the Medical Director for the medical laboratory program, providing leadership and mentorship for aspiring health care professionals in this critical area. He also played a key role in modernizing and updating laboratory facilities at RACC, endowing chemistry and physics lab spaces. Most recently, Jerry donated funds to begin a program to help provide food for students in need, which led to RACC’s food pantry.

READING PA - May, 2024 – Kristin Fitzcharles, a senior at Daniel Boone Area High School, graduated from Reading Area Community College (RACC) with an Integrative Studies Associate of Arts degree on May 3, a few weeks before she will also graduate from high school. Kristin combined RACC dual enrollment classes she took during her freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years at Daniel Boone Area High School with RACC’s online courses to complete the 60-credit degree this May. She plans to continue her education at a yet undecided university to earn a Bachelor's in Applied Mathematics degree. She then intends to become an actuary by taking the actuarial exams.

While jointly attaining a high school diploma and a college associate degree would seem like an overwhelming workload, Kristin also found time for activities outside of academics. She is a member of the Spanish Club, Varsity Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the Ecology Club. She has earned six varsity letters in athletics, was captain of two varsity teams, and is an AP Scholar. Kristin volunteers her time as a volleyball coach, Berks County Subaru Enthusiasts, Ageless Harmony Adult Day Care and has volunteered almost 300 hours to benefit animal causes. She is also an avid hiker, bowler and volleyball player. Kristin also manages to serve as a caterer at Mission BBQ, and a cook at Maple Grove Concessions.

“The dual enrollment program at RACC has been a great way for me to get a head start on my four-year college degree, and also get me closer to a career as an actuary. Balancing the academic requirements of my diploma and associate degree, as well as my activities outside of school has really helped me develop the time management skills I will need in my career,” Kristin says.

RACC dual enrollment students concurrently complete their requirements for high school graduation at the same time they earn college credit. Students register for dual enrollment courses provided they meet the high school’s guidelines for dual enrollment and course prerequisites. 

To learn more about the dual enrollment program at RACC, contact Director of Academic Partnerships, Kristen Marcinko, at 610.372.4721 ext. 5127.

READING PA - On Thursday, April 18, The Miller Center for the Arts on the Reading Area Community College (RACC) campus hosted a Moot Supreme Court, which was conducted by the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement in partnership with the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. In a Moot Supreme Court, participants take part in simulated Supreme Court argument.
 
Approximately 175 RACC and Berks County high school students from Antietam Middle/Senior High School, Conrad Weiser High School, Exeter High School, Kutztown Area High School, Tulpehocken High School and Wilson High School participated in the event. 

Nine lawyers from the Berks Bar Association assisted, in addition to one lawyer from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The event organizer, RACC Associate Professor of History and Political Science Jodi Greene said, “Civic education is an indispensable part of a student's education. We need our youth to become engaged, informed citizens and to become leaders in their communities. We are thrilled to partner with the Rendell Center to bring these opportunities to Berks County students and look forward to many more partnerships with them."

Judge Marjorie Rendell of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals presided over the moot court. Attorneys from the Berks County Bar Association worked with students to prepare oral arguments for the case. Eight students joined Judge Rendell to serve as the Supreme Court, which heard arguments about First Circuit Court of Appeals case that deals with bullying and social media.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney added, “Reading Area Community College is so honored that the Rendell Center has selected our campus and our students in addition to all the wonderful political science students at many of our Berks County High Schools. Having Judge Rendell visit RACC to preside over the moot court is truly a historic occasion for our campus.”    

“We are delighted to partner with RACC on this exciting exercise for students,” says Judge Marjorie Rendell. “Through activities such as this, the Rendell Center and the Annenberg Public Policy Center hopes to empower young people to be informed, engaged citizens as well as provide a better understanding of the Constitution and our judiciary.”

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College (RACC) has been awarded $125,000 from Truist Bank to support nursing student scholarships.

Over the next two years, the award will be used to fund scholarships to students enrolled in the nursing (RN) and practical nursing (LPN) programs in the most impactful way possible.

In Pennsylvania, employment growth in the healthcare sector is projected to be 2.5 times the average for all other occupations over the next ten years. While the Commonwealth faced an identified healthcare worker crisis before the COVID-19, the shortage was compounded by workers leaving the profession during the pandemic. 

“Truist is proud to partner with Reading Area Community College in helping their nursing students prepare for the next step in life. Our company’s purpose is to ‘Inspire and build better lives and communities’ and funding these scholarships gives us the opportunity to help fulfill that purpose here in Berks County” said Truist Market President David Roland.

Pennsylvania would need 50,000 more employees in the healthcare sector by 2026, not including the replacement needs of those who left the field for other work or retirement. In Berks County, the sector is comprised of 25,146 workers, or 13.6% of the workforce. While the two top in-demand professions are Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses, there are many current openings for lab technicians and other healthcare related positions as well.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney, says, “This grant will immediately benefit our nursing students who are highly prepared and ready to enter the regional healthcare workforce.”

The Weitz Hall at RACC is being transformed into the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion. RACC is completely redesigning its Weitz Hall, merging classrooms currently scattered between two buildings into one cohesive building specifically tailored to the needs of a competitive Health Sciences program. The renovation will allow RACC to address the current healthcare crisis by increasing the graduates of its Health Sciences programs by 80%. This renovation will last eighteen months and has started this May 2023, and will be completed in the late fall 2024.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney, says, “This grant will immediately benefit our nursing students who are highly prepared and ready to enter the regional healthcare workforce.”

To learn more about health professions programs at RACC, contact admissions@racc.edu, 610.607.6224 or 800.626.1665.

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $543 billion as of September 30, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

December 5, 2023 - Two Reading Area Community College (RACC) students recently received $1000 scholarships to pursue their dream careers in law enforcement. Thanks to a scholarship program implemented by Crime Alert Berks County, Marissa Fortune received the 2023 Rohrbach Scholarship, and Autumn Breslin is the 2023 Crime Alert Scholar. 

Fortune, who also works as a registration clerk in RACC’s Literacy Program on campus, says the scholarship is inspirational. “This scholarship showed me that I am capable of achieving my goals and hold me accountable. This will be one of my greatest accomplishments, and Crime Alert Berks County has played a large role in helping me achieve this.”

Boyertown resident, Autumn Breslin, says the scholarship will provide welcomed assistance. “This scholarship helped ease the financial stress of being a mother to a young son, a student, and an employee. I am honored.”

The money for the scholarships was provided to the Foundation for RACC through an endowed scholarship initiated by Crime Alert Berks County executive board members, President Rick Periandi, and Treasurer Joe Periandi. The scholarship was established to honor the late Crime Alert Berks County founder Barry Rohrbach.

Rick Periandi is a former Pennsylvania State Police detective, who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. “Now, more than ever, we need to recruit and retain qualified individuals for careers in law enforcement. We are honored to provide scholarships to RACC students, knowing the education they receive will help them prepare for successful careers,” he says. 

Both Ms. Fortune and Ms. Breslin plan to graduate RACC in May 2024.

The Foundation for Reading Area Community College was created to raise, invest and manage private funds for the benefit of the College. Last year, the Foundation for RACC distributed over $1,000,000 in scholarships to students. For more information, contact foundation@racc.edu or 610-607-6239.

Crime Alert Berks County is a volunteer organization dedicated to the prompt solution of crimes. Rewards up to $10,000.00 are offered to persons providing information leading to arrests. Donations to Crime Alert Berks County may be considered a charitable donation for tax purposes. Send to PO Box 6786, Wyomissing, PA 19610, or call 1.877.373.9913.