Reading, PA – Alpha Sigma Rho, Reading Area Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Chapter, attended the PTK Middle States Regional Convention March 11-13, 2022 in Galloway, New Jersey. The Hallmark Awards, one of the major programs of PTK International, engages members to participate in activities which support the Society’s Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. Chapters submit reports on their work in several areas.  These submissions are judged competitively and individuals, chapters and regions are recognized for their excellence in support of these hallmarks. Awards are given on both a regional and international level. The Middle States Region includes over eighty chapters from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

During the annual PTK Middle States Regional Convention, the Reading Area Community College Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Sigma Rho Chapter received several significant awards, including: 

• Distinguished Chapter-#7 in the Region. This is awarded to chapters based on average scores on written entries for     Honors in Action (HIA) and College Projects. 
• Distinguished College Project-#15 in the Region
• Distinguished Honors in Action (HIA)-#6 in the Region
• Five-star chapter (among 36 in the region who received this distinction) In addition to these chapter-based awards,     the following individuals received awards: 
• Outstanding Chapter Officer-Kimberly Suárez (President)
• Outstanding Chapter Officer-Chelsey Nievez (Public Relations Officer)

PTK students have a 91 percent student success rate, and research has shown that strong presidential leadership and support of PTK increases member success and the depth of their college experience.

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 – Halema Bobby, a student at Reading Area Community College has been named a 2022 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. 

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”

 “I am very proud of the hard work Helema applies toward achieving her goals,” says Dr. Susan Looney, president of Reading Area Community College. “She is a shining example of the positive results enabled through RACC’s ongoing commitment to access, opportunity, excellence, and hope.”

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, to be held in Denver, Colorado, April 7-9.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is comprised of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more about PTK at RACC, call 610.372.4721 ext. 5451.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College have formed a partnership that provides an opportunity for students in surrounding counties to complete an Associate’s degree in Histotechnology. In the agreement, students enroll in the Histotechncian Program at their local community college to complete their preclinical general education requirements; then finish the program at Reading Area Community College, paying Berks County tuition rates. The program consists of online courses and three in-person practicums at clinical sites in Berks and surrounding counties. 
 
Histotechnicians study cellular structures and their reactions with various stains using light microscopes while learning about the use of other microscope types and their testing requirements. Technicians process the tissues to prepare slides for various tests used in pathology to aid in proper diagnoses. 

“Histotechnicians play a critical role in the healthcare arena as they are skilled professionals in a laboratory setting. The future for employment is excellent and there is a critical need for well-trained histotechnicians locally, as well as throughout the country,” says RACC Professor/Program Director of Medical Laboratory Technician & Histotechnician Programs, Alayne Fessler.  

Histotechnicians can earn up to an average salary of $61,000-plus. It is a promising and rapidly growing field in which graduates can enjoy a long and successful career. Today, there are more jobs for Histologic Technicians than there are well-trained, qualified professionals to fill those positions. 

“Career opportunities in healthcare are growing in our area, and Lehigh Carbon Community College is honored to be able to provide this additional career path to our students,” says Lehigh Carbon Community College President Dr. Ann D. Bieber. “This partnership among the three community colleges demonstrates our collective commitment to student success and provides trained healthcare professionals to our respective regions.” 

“We are partnering with Reading Area Community College in a cooperative agreement so the Northampton Community College students can take their general education courses at Northampton and then apply for transfer to the Medical Lab Technician or the Histotechnician program. Both are greatly needed in our laboratories. It has been a great partnership,” says Northampton Community College Dean of Allied Health and Sciences, Judith Rex. 

To learn more about the RACC Histotechnician Program, visit racc.edu/academics/histotechnician, or call 610.372.4721 ext. 5428.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College (RACC) is providing significantly reduced tuition rates to their students who take the Dual Enrollment courses. 

Dual enrollment, or early college, is used by high school students to explore college options and earn college credit prior to high school graduation. Increasingly popular among eligible high school students, these programs allow secondary students to enroll in postsecondary coursework and receive both college and high school credit simultaneously…at a reduced cost. One Berks County school district experiencing the benefits of RACC Dual Enrollment programs is the Muhlenberg School District.

Muhlenberg High School Principal, Mike Mish, sees the benefits of dual enrollment. “It allows and affords many of our students to get a jumpstart on earning college credits. We have worked hard to provide students with as many opportunities as possible to continue to advance their education. Our partnership with RACC has been amazing. The faculty and staff at RACC have been such a wonderful resource to us at Muhlenberg and we look forward to many more years working together. We have the most students and courses being taken since our partnership with RACC has started.” In some cases, there is no tuition charge for high school students participating in the dual-enrollment program through the Foundation for RACC’s DE Scholarship Program. 

“By taking a college course at their own high school, students learn to challenge themselves academically and gain valuable experience in preparation for college,” says RACC Assistant Director of Early College Programs Kristen Marcinko. “Through the Foundation for RACC, many Dual Enrollment students are awarded no-cost tuition for the program.” One standout Muhlenberg High School student who is taking advantage of the RACC Dual Enrollment opportunity this semester is senior Rowan Korinn Crammer. After graduation, Rowan will be enrolled in the Chemical Engineering Honors Program at Drexel University. She feels fortunate to have gone through the RACC DE program. “The program set me up for success, and helped me feel very prepared for college. Almost all my credits will transfer, and I was able to save a significant amount of money as well,” she says.

Rowan is a second-generation RACC student. Her mother, Jennifer Koch, is a distinguished 2010 RACC graduate, who received the Eugene Shirk Scholarship to Albright College, then continued to Drexel University for her Master’s in Library Science and Archival Studies. She is currently the Archivist at Bethany Children’s Home.

 “The benefits of Dual Enrollment are essentially college credits at a discounted rate and the ability to take a class that could be challenging with the full supports available at the high school level that aren't as readily available at the post-secondary level; such as seeing the teacher every day,” says Muhlenberg High School Math Dual Enrollment instructor, Justin Vallone. 

Now is the time to sign up for classes in your high school, for next school year, that offer dual enrollment. Muhlenberg High School Counselor, Melissa Work, promotes Dual Enrollment within her district. “Our families are very appreciative and excited to participate in RACC's dual enrollment program. We ensure that our families are aware of this wonderful opportunity prior to scheduling courses, so every student can participate.” 

To learn more about the Dual Enrollment program at RACC, contact Assistant Director of Early College Programs, Kristen Marcinko at kmarcinko@racc.edu or 610.372.4721 x5127.

Reading, PA- The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has announced the election of its Executive Committee and Officers for the term January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

Dr. Susan D. Looney, J.D., President of Reading Area Community College, were re-elected to the Executive Committee.

Dr. Looney became the sixth President of Reading Area Community College on July 1, 2018. Her teaching career began in 1998, when she accepted a full-time faculty position in Accounting at Mohave Community College (AZ). In her 21 years as a full-time community college educator, eight as a faculty member and 13 years as a senior administrator, Dr. Looney worked in diverse roles at Mohave Community College, Delaware Technical Community College, and Colorado Mountain College. She was named Dean of Instruction at RACC in 2014 and named Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost at RACC in 2015. 

After completing her A.A. at Brookdale Community College (NJ), Dr. Looney went on to earn her B.S. and M.B.A. in business administration from Monmouth University (NJ), a J.D. from Widener University School of Law (DE), and ultimately an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Nova Southeastern University (FL). She was named to the MSCHE Executive Committee in 2021 and 2022.

To learn more about Reading Area Community College, visit racc.edu or call 610-607-6224.