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Reading, PA – On Tuesday, September 19, Vice President Kamala Harris marked National Voter Registration Day by participating in a moderated conversation with actress Annie Gonzalez at Reading Area Community College (RACC), a Hispanic-serving institution in Reading, PA. This campus event will be the third stop on the Vice President’s month-long college tour.

Vice President Harris’s “Fight for Our Freedoms" College Tour is a high-energy national swing to mobilize thousands of young people in the ongoing fight for fundamental freedoms and rights. She is set to visit around a dozen campuses including HBCUs, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, state schools, and additional Hispanic-serving institutions. At each stop, the Vice President will focus on key issues that disproportionately impact young people across America – from reproductive freedom and gun safety to climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, mental health, and book bans.

 “It is truly an honor to have Vice President Harris visit our beautiful campus. I am very proud to have such an opportunity to showcase the great work that our faculty and staff do for our students and the Berks County community,” says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney. 
  
The Vice President’s college tour officially kicked off this week with stops at Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University. It is a continuation of her dedicated work to energize, engage, and partner with young people throughout the country. She has already been to 13 college campuses this year after visiting 14 schools in 2022. Vice President Harris also regularly meets with young leaders wherever she goes – from climate leaders in Colorado to gun safety advocates in Virginia.

Reading, PA – On Tuesday, August 29, Reading Area Community College (RACC) signed a guaranteed transfer agreement with Immaculata University in the Miller Center for the Arts on the RACC campus.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney and Immaculata University President Barbara Lettiere entered the colleges into a Dual Admissions Transfer Agreement to facilitate the transfer of RACC students to Immaculata’s Baccalaureate Degree programs. This agreement applies to students who enter Immaculata as full-time or part-time undergraduate students. RACC students will be guaranteed admission with third year (junior) status at Immaculata. The agreement will apply to  RACC graduates with an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, or Associate in General Studies degree. Immaculata will award academic scholarships annually to all RACC graduates admitted to the college, and all RACC students will also be provided with a Dual Admissions Grant of $1,500 which is renewable each year the student is enrolled as a full-time matriculated undergraduate student. The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship will also be awarded to Phi Theta Kappa members.

"We are celebrating today a new agreement with Immaculata University, which will open many new doors of opportunity for our graduates. This pathway is the result of great cooperation and collaboration between faculty and deans of our respective institutions and will serve well both the needs of our institutions and, more importantly, those of our students," says Reading Area Community College President, Dr. Susan Looney.

“Immaculata University is proud to partner with RACC in the development of the Dual Admissions Agreement. The agreement clearly and seamlessly lays out the pathways to a bachelor’s degree and subsequent careers. This aligns exactly with what modern students are looking for and actively pursuing,” says Immaculata Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Angela Tekely.

"The availability of student scholarships when transferring a RACC associate degree to Immaculata's Baccalaureate Degree programs makes access to a continuing education easier and will reduce the financial burden for our qualified transferring students," says RACC Director of Academic Partnerships, Kristen M. Marcinko.

To learn more about the transfer agreement, or for more information about other transfer opportunities, contact Dana Stout at 610.372.4721 x5106, or visit Transfer Services.

About Reading Area Community College
Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open-enrollment education institution that provides 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 Immaculata University
Immaculata University is a comprehensive, co-ed institution of higher learning that has emphasized academic success, student outcomes, faith-based values and personal growth for more than 100 years. Immaculata University values each student and empowers them to chart their own course.

Offering more than 75 in-demand undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, Immaculata University provides attainable education, personal support and meaningful career pathways to tomorrow’s leaders who are focused on intellectual, personal, professional and spiritual growth. Driven by the Catholic Intellectual tradition and the heritage of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata provides affordable, career-focused education that is accessible to students, regardless of income, location, test scores or academic achievement.

June 29, 2023 — Reading Area Community College (RACC) was honored at a gala at Kraras Hall in Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Wyomissing on Thursday, June 29. Accepting the award on behalf of RACC was RACC President, Dr. Susan Looney.

Each year, Centro Hispano Daniel Torres recognizes an institution, organization or individual who makes a positive impact at the center and in Reading’s Latino community with its Amigo Award. RACC was selected as the 2023 Amigo Award winner and honored at the Amigo Award Gala.

“I am deeply grateful for the recognition that this award represents, and I would like to thank everyone at RACC for their tireless dedication to our students. Every day, they provide a supportive and nurturing environment that enables our students to thrive. It is their commitment to helping students achieve their dreams that helps to transform the lives within our community,” says Dr. Susan Looney.

 In addition to the award ceremony, the dinner featured keynote speaker, Mr. Richard C. Harwood, renowned speaker, author and president and founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, will be our keynote speaker for the evening.

Centro Hispano Daniel Torres’ mission is to support the acculturation of the local Latino population through collaborative initiatives with core programs that include a senior center, social services referrals, college scholarships and guidance for high school students, peer-to-peer training for parents, and after-school mentoring.

Reading, PA – Chairman of the Board for the Foundation for Reading Area Community College (RACC), Gary Moyer, and Executive Director of the Foundation for RACC, Anthony (Tony) DeMarco, recently welcomed five new members to the Foundation Board. The Foundation for RACC has a long history of strong community support; having tremendous impact on student success within the region. In 2022, the foundation was recognized as an Outstanding Foundation by the Berks County Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Alex Goodman, Sharon White, Daniel Laws, Sandra Focht and Peter Rowley were all elected unanimously to serve the Foundation and have provided superb leadership during their first months with the Foundation for RACC.

"The Foundation for RACC continues to build a powerful board befitting the largest institute of higher education in Berks County," says Tony DeMarco. "We are thrilled to bring on such influential leaders who will advocate for our college.

Alex Goodman serves as the Wieland-Heyco human resources director at the Reading location. She attended Skidmore College and received her MBA from Alvernia University. She has returned to the Foundation Board after a brief departure to pursue a position out of the area. Alex served on the 50th Anniversary Committee, which managed one of the most successful nonprofit events in Berks County history. She is currently a member of the Miller Center Advisory Council, and believes in RACC's core values and mission in building a stronger community through education.

Sharon White and her husband Brad, are longtime leaders of the John Paul II Center for Special Learning. Sharon was a longstanding member of the John Paul II Gala Committee, which is one of the finest nonprofit events in the region. Sharon has been an active participant of the RACC Golf Tournament, and is looking forward to help fundraise for the Foundation. Sharon is a respected speech therapist who has counseled many students in our region.

Daniel Laws is the founder, president and CEO of DaBrian Marketing, one of Reading's leading digital marketing and digital analytics companies. Daniel is always looking to help the students of Reading succeed. He takes his role as a community leader and a voice of diversity in Berks County very seriously. Currently, Daniel is one of three co-chairs of the Digital Analytics Association's (DAA) Philadelphia Chapter. He is a member of the Forbes Agency Council and is a member of the local Vistage group. Daniel is very involved in Berks County youth sports where his children are active participants.

Sandra Focht, has her Masters of Science in Biology and is a retired college educator. She is a local philanthropist who believes strongly in the mission of the Foundation for Reading Area Community College. Sandra has been active in the RACC Golf Tournament and Miller Center for the Arts events, and has developed a strong relationship with RACC President, Dr. Susan Looney. Sandra's husband, Michael Focht, is the retired president of Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

Peter Rowley is the senior vice president, commercial banking regional manager for Tompkins Community Bank. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and served as an associate vice president at M&T Bank before joining Tompkins. Pete was named a 2022 40 Under 40 honoree by Lehigh Valley Business Journal. Pete is an established community leader who has served such notable non-profit organizations such as Prospectus Berco, the United Way, Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading & Berks County, Leadership Council at Alvernia University and the John Paul II Center for Special Education. He lives in Sinking Spring with his wife, Rachel and twin sons, Connor and Lucas.

The Foundation for Reading Area Community College was created to raise, invest and manage private funds for the benefit of the college. The Foundation supports RACC's mission to build communities of learning to encourage educational growth by providing scholarship funding for all students with demonstrated financial need and for emerging initiatives that serve to further enhance the college's programs and facilities. To learn more about the Foundation for Reading Area Community College, visit racc.edu/about-racc/foundation or call Tony DeMarco at 610.607.6251.

Reading, PA – RACC students, who will graduate on May 5th, participated in the second annual “Career Ready” event at the Boscov’s store in Exeter on Tuesday, April 25th. This event was built upon the unique partnership of Reading Area Community College, Truist Bank and Boscov’s Department stores, to set graduating students on the right path for success. Each student participated in financial literacy sessions facilitated by the experts at Truist, as well as met with the Director of Career Services at RACC for job search preparation.  Buyers from Boscov’s were on hand for a special presentation on color coordination, accessorizing and proper attire demonstrations for interviews. Upon completion of the various sessions, each student received a $250 Boscov’s shopping spree to purchase new career attire.

Last year’s inaugural “Career Ready” event was a rousing success with exuberant students moving through the Boscov’s store to select new clothing and outfits that they would never have thought possible. “Many of our students have never been able to purchase a new suit or put together a completely new outfit”, RACC President Susan Looney explained. “This opportunity to shop with the assistance of personal shoppers is a dream come true for our graduates”.

Providing professional clothing to RACC students for their job interviews would assist them in presenting a more professional appearance and make a good first impression.  Looking and feeling confident helps students to focus on being their typical best and be in a better position to communicate their skills and qualifications.

“Truist is proud to partner with Reading Area Community College and Boscov’s in helping their students prepare for the next step in life. Our company’s purpose is to ‘Inspire and build better lives and communities’ and this event certainly gave us the opportunity to help fulfill that purpose here in Berks County” said Truist Market President David Roland and Senior Vice President Schnearia Ashley. 

“We’re delighted to partner with Reading Area Community College and help launch the careers of so many outstanding students.  We thank Truist for the investment they have made in the graduates and in our community. We are pleased and excited to help outfit these hard-working students as they enter the workforce,” says CEO of Boscov’s Department Stores, Jim Boscov.

“This is a wonderful collaboration between three leading Berks County organizations. Our RACC graduates have the training to be successful in the workplace, and thanks to this event, they now have the professional attire to complement their skills along with the important understanding of budgeting their own finances,” said Tony DeMarco.

Reading Area Community College (RACC) believes in the educational access of each Berks County citizen and the economic and cultural development of the community it serves.  It is committed to providing diversified educational opportunities for individuals to develop their maximum potential and realize their self-worth and dignity, while serving as the conduit between high school graduation, degree-seeking programs and / or career training, and a family sustaining career.