News Archives

A total of 30 students received certificates in Practical Nursing. Over the past 20 years, RACC has graduated more than 775 students through the Practical Nursing Program, which makes them eligible to sit for the PA State Board of Nursing Licensing Exam.

Awards were given to students who excelled academically and exhibited outstanding clinical performance throughout the Practical Nursing Program. The application of Theory to Practice Award was given to Judy Geisinger. The Frances Troutman Award for Nursing Excellence was given to Stephanie Sterley. The Patient Teaching Award was given to Daphne Feliciano. The Mildred Clungeon Scholarship, sponsored by her daughter, Ms. Sandi Rosencrans, was awarded to Rachel Stoudt and Jennifer Tim.

Those who practice the Day of the Dead believe that souls return to visit their families once a year. Families prepare altars with offerings of their favorite foods, photos, incense and flower petals to draw their loved ones home. The altars also include representations of the four elements of nature–– earth, air, water and fire.

Jardine displayed an altar dedicated to her mother, with samples of her favorite foods being offered. Students also made a small version to honor someone in their families and prepare the traditional bread for this occasion, pan de muerto.

The program featured comments and proclamations from the Berks County Board of Commissioners, the College's local sponsor, Senator Judy Schwank's office, Representative Thomas Caltagirone and the City of Reading on behalf of Mayor Tom McMahon. Dean Sheaffer, RACC's Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Mary Ann Chelius Smith, former chairwoman, also shared memories of the beginnings of the College and marveled at its growth and success. Dr. Gust Zogas and Dr. Richard Kratz, Presidents Emeriti, also marked the occasion with thoughts from their years of service. President Weitz concluded the program with comments on the future role of the Community's College.

RACC honored its community partners through a visual The College's mascot, the RACC Raven, was also on-hand to greet attendees and pose for photos.

RACC officially turns 40 on October 13, which is the first day classes were held in 1971.

View photos from the celebration here.

RACC Through the Years

RACC's program offerings have grown from 9 in 1971 to 53 in the 2010-2012 catalog.

Since its beginning in 1971, RACC has enrolled more than 70,000 credit students and granted more than 10,000 degrees and certificates.

RACC has also enrolled over 90,000 non-credit students in the last 13 years.

RACC faculty has grown from 39 full-time administrators, faculty, and secretarial and clerical staff in 1972 to 220 full-time administrators, faculty, and staff in 2010. Adjunct faculty has also grown from 18 to 241 during that time.

"We're all anxious to have Dr. Vaughn not only at RACC, but as a member of our community," said RACC President Dr. Anna Weitz. "The division he will be leading provides critical services for business and industry customers in terms of updating the training of their current workforce. His area also develops and delivers short-term, job training programs that have a successful track record of increasing participants' skills and moving them directly into the workforce.

"I am confident that he will help us expand these programs and assist us in developing new ones to meet changing community needs," Dr. Weitz added.

As the primary administrative officer for the non-credit division of the College, Dr. Vaughn will be responsible for coordinating and evaluating literacy and health care programs for the community offered in Schuylkill Hall, as well as short-term career training opportunities at the Gateway Career Training Center. He will also oversee business and industry training conducted in the Schmidt Training and Technology Center.

Dr. Vaughn joins the RACC administration after spending the previous 12 years as the Regional Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Northern Virginia Community College. In this position, he lead the planning, development and implementation of continuing education and customized credit and non-credit programs. Dr. Vaughn also directed the expansion of business, industry and community services to local companies in the region.

Before his time at Northern Virginia, Dr. Vaughn served as the Director of Adult and Continuing Education at Newport News Public Schools in Virginia. During his time there, he supervised the major areas of Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education and English Language Acquisition.

Additionally, Dr. Vaughn was Dean of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid at Prince George's Community College in Maryland. He also worked in financial aid at Tidewater Community College in Virginia.

Dr. Vaughn earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Vanderbilt University and a Master's Degree in Human Resources Development, and Adult Education and Training from George Washington University. He completed a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska.

Dr. Vaughn replaces John DeVere who retired in December after 23 years.

Twila J. Ramirez, Class of 2011, will address her peers. Ramirez was chosen by a College committee from a group of students who applied for the opportunity. She will receive an associate of arts in pre-law/public administration. Ramirez also recently was notified that she is one of only 60 community college scholar recipients of the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship of $30,000, which is renewable.

A non-traditional student, Ramirez began her studies at RACC after starting a family of four. She graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School in 1991 and joined a mission team that traveled to Mexico City to work with a local church and teach English as a second language. During her four years there, she married her husband Gustavo. They currently run Hope of the Nations Christian Center, as ordained ministers. She is also a licensed realtor, director of the Callowhill Café in downtown Reading, and serves as chairperson of the Legislative Aide Committee for the City of Reading.

Dr. Anna D. Weitz, president of RACC, will present the President's Award to Dr. Robert E. Lees, Administrative Director of Berks Career and Technology Center, for his commitment to building an educational pipeline preparing technical workers who will contribute to the overall economic success of Greater Berks County.

Emerita status will be granted to Michele Lawlor, vocational specialist for the Center for Academic Success. Lawlor served RACC for 26 years as a counselor and will retire in July.

The Registered Nursing Program will hold its pinning ceremony at 10 AM in the Miller Center for the Arts.

Ramirez earned an associate degree in pre-law/public administration in December and hopes to pursue a bachelor's degree in Public Administration. While at RACC, Ramirez has served as president of the Student Government Association and is a member of the College's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.

A resident of Wyomissing and mother of four children, Ramirez plays an active role in the community. She sits on the Legislative Aide Committee for the City of Reading and works part-time in the City's Department of Community Development. Additionally, Ramirez is an ordained minister with Hope of the Nations Christian Center, director of the Callowhill Café in downtown Reading and is a licensed realtor.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation awarded 60 scholarships out of a pool of 785 nominations across the nation to deserving community college students who wish to transfer to a four-year college to complete their bachelor's degrees. The renewable scholarship is intended to cover tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Student recipients must be nominated by a faculty representative and are judged on their academic achievement, critical-thinking ability, financial need and activities.

"Twila Ramirez personifies the ideals of the JKCF scholarship with her strong academic achievements as well as her extensive service to her college and her community," said Mary Lou Kline, RACC professor and Ramirez's nominator. "She is one of only 60 scholars nationwide to receive this vote of confidence as the result of a highly competitive application process. The exceptional promise that Ms. Ramirez demonstrates exemplifies the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation desire for young people to reach their full potential. We at RACC are very proud of her success."

The class in 2009 was inspired to provide space for individuals and small groups to gather for quiet reflection after learning that the earliest schools of philosophy in Greece began in schools with adjacent gardens and also about new gardens being created around the world to foster forgiveness and understanding. The concept was approved and adopted by the College, but unfortunately the Garden along the river was subject to vandalism over the course of two years. A student in Dr. Morgan's current philosophy class secured the help of Birdsboro Materials, a division of Haines and Kibblehouse, the company for which her father serves as Superintendent. The business is donating boulders that will be used as benches. The group is confident that this version of seating will be much less likely to disappear.

On Friday, April 1 at 7PM, RACC hosted an induction ceremony in Berks Hall for the spring inductees of Phi Theta Kappa.

According to the Phi Theta Kappa website, in order to be eligible for membership, students must:

• Be enrolled in a regionally accredited institution offering an associate degree program.
• Have completed at least 12 hours of coursework leading to an associate degree program.
• Generally have a grade point average of 3.6.
• Receive an invitation to membership from the chapter at the college where presently enrolled.

Spring 2011 Inductees

For more information contact Dr. Donna Singleton, PTK Advisor, at 610.372.4721 ext. 5096.

These individuals volunteer as tutors for students taking General Educational Development (GED), English as Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) through RACC. The tutors are available from September through April, with some even offering services during the summer months.

Students, teachers and staff involved in the programs are also invited to attend the event.

Learn more about the College's Community Education offerings.

Below is a list of tutors that will be recognized.

Miller will be presented with a $2,000 scholarship and plaque from the Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation during the annual American Association of Community Colleges Convention in New Orleans in April. Miller will be accompanied by Dr. Donna Singleton, the College's Phi Theta Kappa advisor and coordinator of the Honors Program. Additionally, Miller will be listed in USA Today on April 11 along with the New Century Scholars from other participating states.

Prior to earning the New Century Scholar honor, Miller was named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, part of the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by USA Today. Students nominated to the All-PA Team are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. In recognition of this honor, Miller will receive a scholarship from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) that can be applied at any of the 14 universities within the system. The program requires that students apply to the university within one year, and the scholarship is renewable for two years toward a baccalaureate degree at that university.

Miller will graduate from RACC in May with an associate degree in liberal arts and plans to pursue a career in cinematography and film. She currently performs camera work for Berks and Pottstown community television stations.

Miller currently serves as the vice president of RACC's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and as editor-in-chief for Legacy, the College's scholarly journal.

For more information, contact Dr. Donna Singleton at dsingleton@racc.edu or 610.372.4721, extension 5096.