Growing up in the foster care system, Missy Hassler faced some challenges, but she continually pushed forward. “It definitely taught me not to give up and not to wait for things to be handed to me - go out and get them yourself.” And now that’s exactly what she intends to do at RACC.

Missy graduated from Brandywine Heights in 2002 and dreamed of becoming a lawyer. “After high school, I received a certificate to become a legal secretary to get my foot in the door,” Missy stated, “but discovered I could make more money tending bar.”

It was not until Missy’s son was born that she realized it was time to find a different job. As she searched the classified ads, she realized that starting a career would be more difficult then she thought. She landed a job as a Member’s Specialist at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, but also decided to start pursuing her dreams. “I’m at a point in my life where I can handle school, and work toward not only my future, but my son’s as well.”

Many friends referred Missy to RACC to continue her education. “RACC is full of community-minded individuals, right from the start in admissions to the faculty and students. My teachers are very supportive and my fellow students are friendly and kind. The overall atmosphere on the campus is pleasant.” Missy admits that she was nervous about enrolling and concerned about finances, but RACC’s streamlined application process and the knowledgeable financial aid department made it easy to follow.

RACC is already making a difference in her current position at the Chamber. The quality education she is receiving has made her more comfortable and well-versed in a business setting. “Confidence can only come with knowledge and that’s what RACC is providing me.”

Missy is majoring in Criminal Justice with the hopes of becoming a private detective. “I feel this is an excellent career choice and, not only do I think I’ll excel at it, but I think it will be helpful for my community as well.” For Missy, RACC is exactly what she needed to make her dreams come true. “I believe it’s never too late! If you have a dream, follow it and don’t stop until you see it come to fruition.”

Five years ago, Esteffani Alcantra was living in the Bronx and was a patient outreach manager for a hospital system. She oversaw a team of 12, but the single mother knew that without a degree, chances of advancement were slim.

To give herself more time for school, five years ago Alcantra and her daughter, Amber, moved to Reading to live with Alcantra’s stepfather. She initially took a less demanding secretarial job and began working on a liberal arts associate degree from Reading Area Community College.

“I started working at the hospital at 19 and received three promotions, but when I asked for either another promotion or more money, I was told you hit a dead end because I didn’t have a degree,’’ said Alcantra, 30, who earned her associate degree in 2015 and her Bachelor of Applied Science in Technical Leadership (BASTL) from Bloomsburg University in May 2017.

Alcantra, who now works as a customer service representative for a plastics manufacturer, said she was attracted to the BASTL program for its flexibility – classes were online or at her community college – and the wide range of topics covered. At her current job, she’s used the practical skills such as web design and virtual tools to communicate with coworkers and clients in distant locations, as well as leadership training to help her resolve conflicts and better communicate with those at various levels in the company.

“The degree makes you a well-rounded leader because you get into accounting and management and other technical skills as well as intrapersonal skills and cultural diversity that you experience everywhere,’’ Alcantra said. “As a single mother of one and a full-time employee, the ability to take online courses and satisfy the Bloomsburg curriculum at RACC was definitely a determining factor.’’

In the future, Alcantra said she wants to pursue a masters in instructional technology and eventually move into a position where she is involved in training and development. In addition to being important to accomplish her career goals, she said advancing her education was something she needed to do for her daughter.

“I want my daughter to take after me and I have to lead the way,’’ she said. “As a parent and as a leader, you can’t just tell others what they need to do, you have to model the behavior you want others to show.’’

After consulting with employers who are looking for skilled managers, Bloomsburg University created its Bachelor of Applied Science in Technical Leadership program especially for individuals with associate degrees who are working and need flexibility. Up to 60 associate degree credits are accepted and half the BASTL classes are online and the rest taught at Bloomsburg’s partner institutions: Bucks County Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College and Reading Area Community College, and the State System campus in Center City Philadelphia. Learn more.

Amie Croteau was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was living there with her husband, her mother-in-law and two children, when her husband was offered a dream job opportunity in software development at a company in Boyertown PA. So they sold their home and relocated to Sinking Spring in the summer of 2015. 

An entrepreneur at heart, Amie planned to continue developing her multi-level marketing business in Pennsylvania. But after settling into her new home, she soon realized there were greater opportunities available to foster her appetite for success. But in order to capitalize on these opportunities she needed to further her college education. After hearing about the excellent academic programs and student success stories emerging from Reading Area Community College, she decided to enroll.

With the encouragement and guidance from key members of the RACC faculty, particularly Brian Savage, Dr. Danelle Bower, Dr. Donna Singleton and Dr. Christopher Costello, Amie immersed herself, and soon thrived in the RACC culture. 

She quickly became an inspiration to all of those around her by challenging them to raise the expectations of themselves in both academic success and personal growth. These leadership traits carry the trademark of a student who cares about her future and the future of everyone around her.

In addition to her coursework in attaining her AA in Business Administration and AAS in Web Development, Amie became a fixture in RACC student organizations and programs. She has:

• Completed an internship position with the Big Brother/Big Sisters of Berks County
• Became a Student-Certified Leader
• Served as the PTK Public Relations Officer
• Served as a class mentor for the Web App Development program students
• Served as Web Master for RACCs’s nationally-acclaimed publication The Front Street Journal
• Served as a developer for the RACC Real Life website

When Amie is not on or around the RACC campus, she finds time to give back to her new community. She became a Juliette Girl Scout Leader, assists in the local Boy Scout troop, and is the videographer for the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church.

Most recently, Amie earned the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Transfer Scholarship and Named 2018 Phi Theta Kappa New Century Scholar. 

She will use her scholarship to attend Penn State University to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology degree this fall.