Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College (RACC) has been awarded $125,000 from Truist Bank to support nursing student scholarships.

Over the next two years, the award will be used to fund scholarships to students enrolled in the nursing (RN) and practical nursing (LPN) programs in the most impactful way possible.

In Pennsylvania, employment growth in the healthcare sector is projected to be 2.5 times the average for all other occupations over the next ten years. While the Commonwealth faced an identified healthcare worker crisis before the COVID-19, the shortage was compounded by workers leaving the profession during the pandemic. 

“Truist is proud to partner with Reading Area Community College in helping their nursing students prepare for the next step in life. Our company’s purpose is to ‘Inspire and build better lives and communities’ and funding these scholarships gives us the opportunity to help fulfill that purpose here in Berks County” said Truist Market President David Roland.

Pennsylvania would need 50,000 more employees in the healthcare sector by 2026, not including the replacement needs of those who left the field for other work or retirement. In Berks County, the sector is comprised of 25,146 workers, or 13.6% of the workforce. While the two top in-demand professions are Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses, there are many current openings for lab technicians and other healthcare related positions as well.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney, says, “This grant will immediately benefit our nursing students who are highly prepared and ready to enter the regional healthcare workforce.”

The Weitz Hall at RACC is being transformed into the Weitz Healthcare Pavilion. RACC is completely redesigning its Weitz Hall, merging classrooms currently scattered between two buildings into one cohesive building specifically tailored to the needs of a competitive Health Sciences program. The renovation will allow RACC to address the current healthcare crisis by increasing the graduates of its Health Sciences programs by 80%. This renovation will last eighteen months and has started this May 2023, and will be completed in the late fall 2024.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney, says, “This grant will immediately benefit our nursing students who are highly prepared and ready to enter the regional healthcare workforce.”

To learn more about health professions programs at RACC, contact admissions@racc.edu, 610.607.6224 or 800.626.1665.

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $543 billion as of September 30, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

Reading, PA, January 4, 2024 – Tompkins Community Bank today announced that it has donated $10,000 to the Foundation at Reading Area Community College under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program.

A check presentation ceremony was held at the Tompkins corporate office with Tompkins Senior Vice President Laurie Grube, RACC President, Dr. Susan Looney, Tompkins Senior Vice President Peter Rowley, Executive Director of the Foundation for RACC Tony DeMarco and Tompkins Vice President Amy Vaughan.

Dr. Susan Looney, president of RACC commended Tompkins for their EITC gift said, “Tompkins gift to the Foundation for RACC for the EITC program is inspirational for high school students looking to find the funding to continue their education or enter the workforce after high school.”

Laurie Grube and the Tompkins leadership were excited to help Berks County students start their college education through RACC’s Dual Enrollment program. She noted, “Tompkins believes in giving back to Berks County, a region that means so much to our bank.”

“RACC hopes that other business leaders follow the lead of Tompkins by supporting the RACC EITC Dual Enrollment program”, said Tony DeMarco, Executive Director of the Foundation. “The cost of higher education remains the greatest obstacle for thousands of families. EITC gifts provides high school students with an affordable path to a college degree.”

Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open enrollment education institution that provides the following: Associate degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs; career-focused training; transitional coursework; skills training for business and industry; personal enrichment programs and public service activities. Sponsored by Berks County, the College provides affordable access to meet identified community educational needs.

About Tompkins
Founded in 1836, Tompkins Community Bank serves the Central, Western, and Hudson Valley regions of New York, and the Southeastern region of Pennsylvania. As a community-based financial institution, we consider it our duty to provide innovative financial solutions for local families and businesses as they navigate their financial journeys. Through our unique local decision-making model, Tompkins offers personalized service and exceptional responsiveness, while delivering a broad range of products and services for consumers and businesses. Insurance services are offered through Tompkins Insurance Agencies, and wealth management services are available through Tompkins Financial Advisors. Further information is available at tompkinsbank.com.

December 5, 2023 - Two Reading Area Community College (RACC) students recently received $1000 scholarships to pursue their dream careers in law enforcement. Thanks to a scholarship program implemented by Crime Alert Berks County, Marissa Fortune received the 2023 Rohrbach Scholarship, and Autumn Breslin is the 2023 Crime Alert Scholar. 

Fortune, who also works as a registration clerk in RACC’s Literacy Program on campus, says the scholarship is inspirational. “This scholarship showed me that I am capable of achieving my goals and hold me accountable. This will be one of my greatest accomplishments, and Crime Alert Berks County has played a large role in helping me achieve this.”

Boyertown resident, Autumn Breslin, says the scholarship will provide welcomed assistance. “This scholarship helped ease the financial stress of being a mother to a young son, a student, and an employee. I am honored.”

The money for the scholarships was provided to the Foundation for RACC through an endowed scholarship initiated by Crime Alert Berks County executive board members, President Rick Periandi, and Treasurer Joe Periandi. The scholarship was established to honor the late Crime Alert Berks County founder Barry Rohrbach.

Rick Periandi is a former Pennsylvania State Police detective, who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. “Now, more than ever, we need to recruit and retain qualified individuals for careers in law enforcement. We are honored to provide scholarships to RACC students, knowing the education they receive will help them prepare for successful careers,” he says. 

Both Ms. Fortune and Ms. Breslin plan to graduate RACC in May 2024.

The Foundation for Reading Area Community College was created to raise, invest and manage private funds for the benefit of the College. Last year, the Foundation for RACC distributed over $1,000,000 in scholarships to students. For more information, contact foundation@racc.edu or 610-607-6239.

Crime Alert Berks County is a volunteer organization dedicated to the prompt solution of crimes. Rewards up to $10,000.00 are offered to persons providing information leading to arrests. Donations to Crime Alert Berks County may be considered a charitable donation for tax purposes. Send to PO Box 6786, Wyomissing, PA 19610, or call 1.877.373.9913.

November 20, 2023 — Reading Area Community College (RACC) unveiled its new Esports Center with a ground breaking and open house on Monday.

“We are extremely proud of this amazing facility,” says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney. “It has surpassed all my expectations, and I have a feeling this is only the start. The Esports Club continues to grow in membership and I’m eager to see how this facility helps grow this club.”

Located in the college’s Student Union Building, the gaming hub features 25 gaming machines featuring  MSI computers with the newest Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card with Samsung Odyssey monitors. 

The college launched the Esports Club in 2019 with eight gaming stations and about 20 members. After students returned to campus after COVID-19, membership began to increase, quickly outgrowing its small space in Weitz Hall. College leadership worked with Reading-based Muhlenberg Green Architects, and Ethosource, to design and furnish the over 1,200 square foot $300,000 project. 
 
“I’m happy the Esports Club now has a state-of-the-art facility to match the skills and enthusiasm of our team,” says Esports Club Advisor, Sonia Rieger. The new facility will further provide support for students that want to compete in local or regional collegiate tournaments with their friends and peers,” she continues.

To learn more about Esports at RACC, contact Sonia at srieger@racc.edu or 610.607.4081.

RACC Earns Prestigious Histotechnician Program Accreditation

October 19, 2023 — Reading Area Community College (RACC) has achieved accreditation status for their Histotechnician program. Following a rigorous evaluation process, the program has been granted accreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) for five years.

Accreditation by NAACLS is a testament to the exceptional quality and standards maintained by RACC's Histotechnician program. This achievement is a result of the dedicated efforts of faculty, staff and students who have consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in education and training.

The Histotechnician (HT) is a medical lab worker responsible for processing surgical tissues, biopsies, and autopsy specimens for microscopic review by pathologists. Illnesses such as cancer or serious infections can often be detected by the arrangement of cells in a tissue sample.

“We are thrilled to have achieved this significant milestone for our Histotechnician program. This accreditation affirms our commitment to providing exceptional education in healthcare and further validates the efforts of our faculty and staff in maintaining the highest standards of excellence,” says RACC Dean of Health Professions, Dr. Stacia Visgarda.

RACC’s state-of-the-art facilities, experienced faculty, and hands-on learning opportunities ensure that graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the industry.

The employment prospects for the field of Histotechnology are projected to be high due to a growing demand for medical and diagnostic services, as well as advances in medical research that require the use of histologic techniques.

To learn more about health professions programs at Reading Area Community College, contact admissions@racc.edu or 610.607.6224.