June 13, 2018/Gibraltar, PA/National Heritage Areas Program

The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area hosted the 20th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn. This is a 112-mile guided canoe/kayak trip from Schuylkill Haven to Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row, with participants traveling 14-18 miles each day over the course of a week.  

This year’s Sojourn featured the inclusion of 10 students from Reading Area Community College who got to kayak in the Sojourn as a part of a mentorship program. Teamed up with seasoned mentors, the students paddled from Allegheny Aqueduct Park in Gibraltar to Pottstown Riverfront Park, while experiencing first-hand the historical evolution of the river.

Executive Director Elaine Paul Schaefer stated, “We were thrilled to have them join us. It is an important goal for our organization to reach out to and engage the next generation in our mission and work.” Given the program’s success, plans are underway for its continuation. Fundraising efforts have already begun with the auction of a coveted water trail sign.

Schuylkill River Greenways NHA was able to offer the student mentorship opportunity through a partnership with Make the Road Pennsylvania, a nonprofit organization that works in Latino communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and community leadership.

Reading Area Community College unveiled portraits of its first five presidents and the portrait of president-elect Dr. Susan Looney during a reception following the Wednesday, June 13th Board of Trustees meeting. During its 47 years, RACC has had five presidents. “Having had only five presidents in 47 years helped to give RACC tremendous stability,” Weitz says during the unveiling of portraits of the former presidents in the River Room of the Yocum Library.

The portraits – of Dr. Byron L. Rinehimer, Jr. (1971-1974), Dr. Lewis W. Ogle (1974-1986), Dr. Gust Zogas (1986-2002), Dr. Richard A. Kratz (2003-2007), Dr. Anna D. Weitz (2007-2018), and Dr. Susan D. Looney (2018) – hang in the River Room on the fourth floor of the library.

“Each of these leaders rose to the challenges of their day and positioned the College for continued success. As the current steward of RACC, I remind myself often that I stand on the shoulders of giants and I try to emulate their example,” says Weitz, who will retire at the end of this month after 11 years as president of RACC.

Written by David Mekeel/Reading, Pa

It's hard to succinctly sum up more than a decade.

But standing in the ballroom inside the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading on Friday night, Dr. Anna D. Weitz, outgoing Reading Area Community College president, gave it her best try.

"As I think back on my career, and especially my 11 years at RACC, the word that most often comes to mind to characterize my professional approach is stewardship," she said. "That may sound a bit burdensome, maybe old fashioned. But please believe me when I tell you it is neither. In fact, it is very helpful to have a guiding point of light when one is making complicated decisions at a dynamic and ever-changing institution."

The college celebrated its departing leader during a retirement reception aimed at thanking Weitz for the tireless work she has done.

Weitz said she always made it a priority to wisely use the financial investments made by students and their families, taxpayers and donors. And she added she always tried to make the volunteer board of trustees and the members of RACC's foundation board proud.

Weitz, who is retiring at the end of the month, said she feels community colleges like RACC hold a special place in communities, and getting a chance to play a part in them has brought her immense joy.

"Community colleges marry individuals' hopes with the opportunity and support to make dreams come true," she said. "It is as simple and wondrous as that. What a privilege it has been to be a community college educator, especially at RACC."

Weitz said it is was clear from the first time she stepped on campus at RACC that the school was dedicated to those ideals.

"What I quickly found here that was different was a sense of how much this college is beloved by its community, and I use the word beloved deliberately," she said. "I soon realized that RACC has an exceptional commitment to student success and to community partnerships that is baked into our institutional DNA."

While she might be leaving her post at RACC's helm, Weitz told the crowd, she will not be abandoning Berks County. She said she plans to continue to live locally and will stay involved in the community.

Reading Area Community College has received a state grant of more than $750,000 aimed at supporting adult education.

The school was awarded an Adult Basic Education Direct Service grant through the state Department of Education in the amount of $751,695. The college has been an annual recipient of the grant.

According to Rhonda Hudak, director of grant development and management at RACC, the money is used for a number of programs including adult literacy and GED preparation programs, training for tutors and supporting the partnership between RACC and the Berks County Workforce Development Board and CareerLink to address the core education needs of the non-English-speaking workforce by providing access to English as a second language classes.

State Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, who announced RACC's receipt of the grant Wednesday, lauded the impact the grant has on the community.

"These are the kinds of public-private partnerships that net results in our community," he said. "Literacy and continuing education classes are good for families looking to succeed and contribute to the economy. Reading Area Community College is an outstanding resource and ally for those goals, and I'm pleased that the state saw fit to invest in their mission.

"I look forward to providing more opportunities for funding in our community."

Adult Basic Education Direct Service grants are available to school districts, libraries, volunteer literacy organizations, public housing authorities, community colleges and public and private nonprofit organizations.

Kaiya Kizuka, a Reading Area Community College student enrolled in the RACC/Bucknell engineering program has been named to the United States Junior World Championship Snowboard Team. Kaiya will be representing the United States in both the parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom events. This team will be led by Olympian Justin Reiter and Lynn Ott, a World Cup athlete and one of the founders of the United States Snowboard Race Team. The Junior World Snowboard Championships is a competition that will bring athletes from around the world to compete in racing and freestyle events. This year’s competition will be held at Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand from August 24th through September 8th.

During the 2017/2018 snowboard season Kaiya competed nationally in the NorAm “Race to the Cup” snowboard series. At the end of the season she had earned enough FIS points to be ranked among the top junior women open class athletes in the United States. Kaiya is one of three women representing the United States in New Zealand for the parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom events. Kaiya also competed in the Junior World Snowboard Championships last year in the Czech Republic and was the top American finisher in both events.

Justin Reiter states, “I’m really happy to ride with our country’s top riders and to support their goals and efforts on the world stage”.

Ski Roundtop Race Club coach and sponsor Jeff Carr states, “Her hard work and dedication to alpine snowboarding got her where she is today. Kaiya’s success in this sport has only just begun.”

Ski Roundtop Race Club coach Neil Sunday states, “As Kaiya prepares for her second Junior World Championships, I feel confident that she can compete on the international level with success. Her dedication and persistence had made her into one of the top snowboarders representing the United States. A lot of European snowboard federations use the Junior World Championship event as a future planning map of an athlete’s potential, a good result in New Zealand for Kaiya would give her the confidence necessary to continue as a top ranked snowboard contender.”

Kaiya has been snowboarding since the age of 5. Her first race experience was through the NASTAR race program. After a year of racing on those courses which were set for ski racing, she was ready to move to the next level. She then moved on to the USASA Mid-Atlantic Snowboard Series. At the age of 15 she began competing in the open class level at national and international FIS events. At these FIS races she competes against professional and Olympic snowboarders from around the world.

Kaiya graduated Magna Cum Laude from the STEM and Performing Arts Academies at Wilson High School. She received the Presidential Scholarship and is attending Reading Area Community College where she is enrolled in the RACC/Bucknell engineering program.

Kaiya is looking to do well at this year’s Junior World Snowboard Championships. Her future goals include making the JWC team in 2019 and competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

Her progress and updates can be followed at @snowsurfgirls on Instagram and Facebook.