Reading, PA-August 7, 2020 – Reading Area Community College has been awarded a $252,000 grant from the Early Childhood Professional Development Organization at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education for this academic year. The funds will cover tuition costs for Early Childhood Education students who are employed in Department of Human Services-licensed childcare centers and meet the eligibility requirements.

RACC’s Early Childhood Education pathway allows traditional students, high school career technology students, and incumbent workforce students the opportunity to begin to work incrementally along the PA ECE Career Pathway. This pathway, a model for the state, has been designed to support the educational needs of all students who desire to work with young children, starting as early as high school through the Career Technology Center’s Teacher Academy and earn nested credentials, such as the Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA). RACC’s AAS then transfers seamlessly to a BSED (Pre-k-Grade 4 teaching certification) at Kutztown University (KU).

For more information about enrolling in Early Childhood Education Pathway, contact the Early Childhood office 610-372-4721 x5263 for the ECE Scholar application.

Fall in person classes start August 24. More information...

READING, PA – Reading Area Community College Board of Trustees Chair, Mr. Guido M. Pichini recently completed his first year as a President of the United States-appointed member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars, an eminent group of distinguished citizens charged with selecting and honoring the nation’s top graduating high school seniors. 

Established in 1964, the Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. A panel selects scholars who demonstrate exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts and an outstanding commitment to public service. Pichini will join more than a dozen other commissioners who work in education, medicine, law, social services, business and other professions. 

“It is a privilege to honor these students who have shown excellence in their academics as well as their artistic and technical endeavors,” says Mr. Pichini. “They serve as role models for all young people.”

During a decades-long career of public service and educational capacities, Mr. Pichini has served as council member in the Borough of Wyomissing Hills, and four terms as Mayor. As a member of the President’s Council at Alvernia University, and presently as a member of Alvernia University’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Pichini has served as a member of the Council of Trustees of Kutztown University (serving three terms as Chair). He served on the Board of Directors of the Kutztown University Foundation, and as President of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees. He presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Reading Area Community College, on the Reading Area Community College Foundation Board, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the PA Commission for Community Colleges. Mr. Pichini served twelve years as a Governor of the PA State System of Higher Education, serving five terms as Chairman of the Board. In 2016, Mr. Pichini was honored by being named Chairman Emeritus of the PA State System of Higher Education Board of Governors. Guido served as a member of the executive committee and co-chair of the education committee of the PA Workforce Investment Board. Mr. Pichini also served as a commissioner on the PA Post-Secondary Education Commission.

Learn more about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Programs.

Reading, PA - On June 18, 2020, RACC was presented with the Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Credentialing Success Award by Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) at the American Association for Respiratory Care Summer Forum.

In selecting programs for this recognition, the CoARC Board used objective criteria based on key accreditation metrics documented in the 2019 Annual Report of Current Status (RCS).These programs were required to: have three or more years of outcomes data; hold accreditation without a progress report; document RRT credentialing success of 90% or above and meet or exceed establish CoARC thresholds for CRT credentialing success, attrition and positive (job) placement.

“Our Respiratory Care Program inspires graduates to reach their career goals. Our faculty and administrators have continually aspired to higher levels of achievement in both graduate and overall Program outcomes,“ says RACC President Dr. Susan D. Looney. “We extend a special thank you to our graduates, clinical affiliates, and faculty and staff for your hard work in achieving this goal. We achieved this award together.”

To learn more about RACC’s respiratory care Associate in Applied Science Degree program, visit racc.edu or call 610.372.4721

Afaf Maslah, a 2020 graduate in the Reading Area Community College Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program is the recipient of the Roma E. Brown Memorial and Nellie M. Bering Scholarship of $3,000 for undergraduate study. This prestigious scholarship is granted through the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Scientists (ASCLS) and Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity (AMTF); and it is a highly competitive, sough-after award. Ms. Maslah was chosen to receive this award in recognition of her past exceptional academic and professional accomplishments.

“Afaf will truly be an asset to the medical laboratory science profession as she embarks on her career and also continues her education onto a bachelor’s degree,” says RACC Medical Laboratory Technician Program Director Alayne Fessler. “I am so pleased that this scholarship award, as well as the Coca-Cola New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar award, has brought recognition to Afaf’s outstanding accomplishments. It is an honor to have her as an MLT Program graduate. She is an inspiration to me and to everyone she meets.”

RACC's Associate in Applied Science Medical Laboratory Technician Degree program prepares students for careers in hospitals, independent laboratories, physicians, clinics, public health agencies, pharmaceutical firms and research institutions. Students who successfully complete all program requirements are eligible to sit for a nationally-recognized certification examination. RACC medical laboratory technicians enjoy a career that is ever-changing and challenging with many opportunities for professional and personal growth.