Reading, PA – Seventeen local mental health agencies attended the 4th Annual Mental Health Fair held in the Zogas Student Union Building on Wednesday, October 16.  The purpose of the event was to reduce the stigma of mental health issues, raise awareness of mental health treatment, and to inform the RACC community of the many local resources available.
 
Approximately 25 representatives from the agencies brought literature and talked with students, staff, and faculty from 10:00 until 2:00.  Students attending were given “passports” to “travel” among the agencies to learn of the services offered.  The passports earned door prize tickets for those attending. 
 
Phi Theta Kappa is the Honor Society for two-year colleges.  The Mental Health Fair originated with Kristy Whitekettle, RACC alum who previously served as President of Phi Theta Kappa’s local chapter.  She also served as an officer in Psi Beta, the Psychology Honor Society, and engaged Psi Beta and RACC’s Student Affairs Department to co-sponsor the event.  Although Whitekettle graduated, she is committed to continuing to hold the Mental Health Fair and returns to organize the annual event.  A post-fair survey revealed that the agencies attending were positively impressed with the diversity of agencies present and the wealth of knowledge those agency representatives shared with the RACC community. 
 
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa or the Mental Health Fair, contact Chapter President Leann Woolf or Advisors Dr. Danelle Bower and Dr. Donna Singleton.

Reading, PA – On July 24, Drexel University President John Fry toured the Schmidt Training and Technology Center’s state-of-the-art STEM labs with Reading Area Community College President Dr. Susan Looney and RACC Board Chair, Guido Pichini. While touring the labs, Dr. Looney and Mr. Fry discussed expanding RACC’s academic partnership with Drexel, which is one of RACC’s top fifteen transfer schools.

RACC graduates can attend Drexel’s campus programs as well as complete their bachelor’s degrees through Drexel’s Online Professional Studies programs. Students considering where to continue their education after RACC may find the decision to be stressful — with so many details, deadlines, and decisions. To help them navigate the process, transfer specialists at RACC and Drexel work closely with students to guide them through the process.

“Transferring to a four-year college or university is a major goal of many RACC students. With RACC’s STEM transfer majors in Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences, students look to Drexel University for completing their bachelor’s degree. The most important advice for students wishing to transfer is to start planning early and to talk to their faculty advisors about their goals,” says Dr. Looney.

To learn more about RACC transfer services to top regional colleges visit racc.edu/services/transfer-services.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College was recently recognized as one of only 16 colleges, out of 1,200 community colleges nationwide, to be published in the 2019 edition of Civic Scholar. The Civic Scholar is the Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Undergraduate Research, and the nation’s only journal recognizing and celebrating the undergraduate research and community engagement of community college students.

“This publication helps us demonstrate to others what we have always known-that an investment in community colleges is s a wise one. It celebrates students who are digging the deepest into their community college experience by engaging more deeply with students, instructors, and the institution in meaningful ways,” says Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner.

The overarching objective of RACC’s submission, “The Powers of Connection: Creating a College Website to Promote Inclusivity” was to evaluate the effectiveness of the connections formed through various types of communication, with the intention of improving communication within the RACC campus.

"Overall the impact of our project is significant in that it has initiated a dialogue among faculty, staff, students and community members.  I am very proud of the thorough academic research and writing that the students completed. In their journal submission, the chapter members skillfully connected their research findings to the major actions of their project, "says RACC PTK advisor and faculty member Dr. Danelle Bower.

The Civic Scholar serves as a national platform to celebrate the hard work and talent of the PTK students.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Reading Area Community College, please call 610.372.4721.

READING, PA — Reading Area Community College (RACC) student Valerie Mackey has been selected as a 2019 GEICO Pathway to Completion Bachelor’s Degree Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

Only two students received this scholarship, which is designed to provide Phi Theta Kappa members with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Valerie has been living in Wyomissing for twelve years. In three years, she has earned an AAS in web development, and an AA in computer information systems, both summa cum laude, and both with honors. She will be completing an additional associate’s degree in business administration before transferring to Bloomsburg University to complete a bachelor's degree in technical leadership.

“We are very proud of Valerie’s outstanding academic achievements and leadership potential which has earned her this prestigious award. She is an extremely hard worker, and her determination is an inspiration to everyone in PTK and at Reading Area Community College," says RACC PTK advisor, and RACC faculty member Dr. Danelle Bower.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes academic achievement of community college students and provides opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Reading Area Community College, please call 610.372.4721.

Reading, PA - RACC President, Dr. Susan Looney accompanied RACC Health Professions Program Directors, Alayne Fessler and Mandy Harshberger; and faculty members, Wendy Dunlop, Kim Colvell and Joan Zupicick on a tour of Penn State Health St. Joseph. The tour was hosted by Penn State Health St. Joseph staff members; Senior Physician Liaison, Patty Duncan, Vice President of Clinical Services, Chief Nursing Officer, Sharon Strohecker, Laboratory Director of Operations, Linda Gallagher, and Director of Cardiovascular, EEG, and Respiratory Services Steven Hockman.

Students from the Medical Laboratory Technician, Respiratory Care, and Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs provided tours of their clinical areas at Penn State Health St. Joseph’s state-of-the-art medical laboratories and patient care areas.

“Our Health Professions classes feature an academically challenging curriculum combined with hands-on medical experiences specifically designed for aspiring allied health care professionals seeking practical experiences in the medical field. We are very proud of our success in preparing students to enter a medical or allied health care profession,” says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney.

RACC’s Division of Health Professions offers students career preparation in a variety of programs including the Associate Degree in Nursing, the Respiratory Care, and the Medical Laboratory Technician programs. All of the health profession programs have a strong science base and clinical component in addition to theory to prepare students for certification or licensing examinations in their field.

“Our clinical partnerships provide us with the opportunity for our students to apply their knowledge and gain practical clinical experience. We deeply value the relationships we have with our clinical affiliates. Today was an exciting opportunity for our students to share their expertise with Dr. Looney,” says Alayne Fessler, M.Ed., RACC Medical Laboratory Technician Program Director.

Michael Jupina, Penn State Health St. Joseph Vice President, Marketing and Communications adds, “Reading Area Community College’s educational and training programs have a well-earned reputation for producing quality students, many of whom become valuable employees at St. Joseph. Our partnership is a win-win for both of our organizations. We are appreciative that Dr. Looney took the time to visit so she could see the students in real-life clinical action.”

Learn more about the Health Professions program at RACC