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 - 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) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Suzanne Wenderoth to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Wenderoth serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Tower Health and Reading Hospital, and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. She also serves the community as a practicing Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and medical student and resident educator in West Reading.

"The Reading Area Community College Board of Trustees continues to build a powerful board befitting the largest institution of higher education in Berks County," says RACC Board of Trustees Chair Gary Rightmire. "We are thrilled to bring on such influential leaders who will advocate for our college.”

Dr Wenderoth joined the Reading Hospital medical staff in 2012, after completing medical school at Cornell University College of Medicine followed by residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital and serving as Faculty in the Academic Internal Medicine Practice at Cornell. At Tower Health-Reading Hospital, she has held a number of leadership positions, including: CEO, Physician Enterprise and Chief Clinical Officer, Tower Health Medical Group, as well as Medical Director, Internal Medicine Residency Practice.

Dr Wenderoth is passionate about delivering high quality, patient centered care to the community, and preparing the next generation of students to join the ranks of health care.

READING PA - The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) is proud to honor the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, a remarkable group of community college students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to their colleges and communities.

The 2024 awardees include two Reading Area Community College outstanding transfer scholars. Transfer students must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered for these awards. Workforce students must have a minimum of 12 college-level credit hours at a community college and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

The two Reading Area Community College scholarship winners are Ms. Anisa Reinstrom and Ms.Yessenia Rivera.

Anisa Reinstrom is majoring in Business Administration Transfer and her career goal is to be in a management position. She is the Treasurer of our Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, involved with the Advantage Program and is a work study student in Career Services. Anisa is a volunteer with the Adopt-a-Block program both on campus and in her neighborhood. She is also on both the President’s and the Dean’s List. Anisa will be transferring to Kutztown University to complete her Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

Yessenia Rivera is majoring in Social Work and her career goal is to earn her Master’s degree in Social Work and facilitate Women’s Empowerment programs. Yessenia is the Vice President for our Phi Theta Kappa Chapter and involved with the Advantage Program. Yessenia spearheaded this year’s College Project, Educational Curiosity, a program in which RACC’s President, staff and PTK members shared their educational journeys with residents at Opportunity House in order to introduce them to the possibilities of continued education. She is also on both the President’s and the Dean’s List. Yessenia will be transferring to Kutztown University to complete her Bachelors of Social Work.

“We at Reading Area Community College applaud these outstanding student scholars on their terrific academic achievements,” says Dr. Susan D. Looney, president of Reading Area Community College. “By enrolling in high-quality educational programs, these students are building a foundation for a successful career while furthering their postsecondary study.”

Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities to provide scholarships to eligible All-PA Transfer Team members at PASSHE institutions, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school.

Students nominated to the national All-USA Community College Academic Team are automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Teams. The programs share common eligibility criteria, which includes enrollment at a community college, a minimum 3.5 grade point average, completion of a minimum of 36 college-level credits and being on track to receive an associate or bachelor’s degree.

We are thrilled to announce that Reading Area Community College just received the Bellwether Award in the category of Instructional Programs and Services. Our project was titled Nurturing Growth in the Teacher Pipeline.
 
The Bellwether Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the nation for community colleges. The competition and selection bring a level of excellence that demonstrates the innovate spirit and results-driven mindset that exist among the finest community colleges.
 
A big congratulations to Dean, Dr. Robin Eckert, Professor, Nancy Jackson, Early Childhood Education Peer Mentor, Gabrielia Padilla. We would also like to thank Cindy Seaman, Kevin Coots, David Sweeley, Dave Hessen, Rhonda Hudak, Yvonne Hall, Kathy Steingraber, and Jen Lindsay for all their work that made us shine in San Antonio. #RACCPROUD