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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.

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) recently announced the 26th Annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. The honor recognizes an exceptional group of community college students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to their colleges and communities. 

The 2020 awardees include three Reading Area Community College outstanding transfer scholars. Transfer students must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered for these awards. Workforce students must have a minimum of 12 college-level credit hours at a community college and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. 

The three Reading Area Community College scholarship winners are Ms. Valerie Mackey, Ms. Afaf Maslah (Coca-Cola New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar), and Ms. Emma Wright.

“We at Reading Area Community College applaud these outstanding student scholars on their terrific academic achievements,” says Dr. Susan D. Looney, president of Reading Area Community College. “By enrolling in high-quality educational programs, these students are building a foundation for a successful career while furthering their postsecondary study.”  

Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities to provide scholarships to eligible All-PA Transfer Team members at PASSHE institutions, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school. 

Students nominated to the national All-USA Community College Academic Team are automatically named to the All-State Community College Academic Teams. The programs share common eligibility criteria, which includes enrollment at a community college, a minimum 3.5 grade point average, completion of a minimum of 36 college-level credits and being on track to receive an associate or bachelor’s degree. 

Reading Area Community College student, and Phi Theta Kappa Vice President, Valerie Mackey, has been selected as a 2020 Phi Theta Kappa Guistwhite Scholar and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Guistwhite Scholars are chosen based on academic achievement, leadership accomplishment, and engagement in Phi Theta Kappa programs. Fifteen Guistwhite recipients were selected by a panel of independent judges from more than 3,400 applicants this year.

Each Guistwhite Scholar is awarded a medallion and a $5,000 scholarship for their baccalaureate studies. Your student has received an email with details of the award. An accompanying press release is attached to be shared with your college’s public relations department. Winners were selected from among 3,400 applicants nationwide, and their selection was based on academic excellence, leadership accomplishments, and engagement in Phi Theta Kappa programs. They will also receive a commemorative medallion.

This is the second-highest scholarship offered by Phi Theta Kappa. It is named in honor of the late Margaret and Dr. Jack Guistwhite, who established the first transfer scholarship designated exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members to Florida Atlantic University in 1975.

“What Dr. Guistwhite started 45 years ago has become a transformational force in the lives of PTK members and has resulted in more than 800 colleges and universities designating transfer scholarship for our students,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “It is fitting that we continue to honor our students who excel in scholarship and leadership as Guistwhite Scholars in celebration of Jack and Margaret.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more.