Jackson, Mississippi — Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) will recognize 25 college presidents with the Paragon Award for New Presidents during PTK Catalyst 2019, the Society’s annual convention, April 4-6 in Orlando, Florida. Reading Area Community College President Susan D. Looney, J.D, Ed.D., who began her presidency in July 2018, will be honored among those receiving this prestigious award.

The Paragon Awards are given to new college presidents who have shown strong support of student success by recognizing academic achievement, leadership, and service among high-achieving students at their college. Recipients were nominated for the award by the students on their campus. PTK students have a 91 percent student success rate, and research has shown that strong presidential leadership and support of PTK increases member success and the depth of their college experience. 

The Paragon Award for New Presidents marks a special accomplishment for Dr. Looney. “I am completely humbled to be honored by PTK, an organization that has meant so much to me over the course of my community college career,” says Dr. Looney. She has received a Paragon Award when a PTK student and again when she was a PTK advisor.  
Dr. Looney joined RACC in 2014 as dean of instruction and was appointed to senior vice president of academic affairs/provost in 2015.  

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes academic achievement of community college students and provides opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Reading Area Community College, please call 610.372.4721.

This story was originally released on Jan. 30 by 69 News and published by WFMZ.com.

Reading Area Community College senior Kaiya Kizuka stands ready to represent the United States on the world stage of snowboarding.

Kaiya has been invited to compete at the 2019 FIS World Snowboard Championships in Utah as a member of the U.S. Snowboard Team. The Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County woman will be competing in both the parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom events on February 4th and 5th.

The event is the highest level of snowboarding competition during a non-Olympic year, and many of the competitors are current World Cup and Olympic athletes.

Kaiya started to snowboard at the age of four and began racing regionally eight years later in 2011. She now trains with the Ski Roundtop Race Club, racing in the open class level at national and international FIS events.

For the last two years, Kaiya has been a member of the U.S. Junior World Snowboard Championship (JWSC) team, competing in the Czech Republic and New Zealand.

"Kaiya has persistently climbed the ladder of Alpine Snowboard Racing in the United States. Her invitation to World Championships is a result of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work," said Neil Sunday, who will be one of the coaches with Kaiya on the race course during the event. "It was only a matter of time before this opportunity presented itself; it shows that with hard work, sacrifice and dedication to your sport, you can achieve great things."

After the World Snowboard Championships, Kaiya said she hopes to travel with the JWSC team one more time to Rogla, Slovenia, in her last year of eligibility for the JWSC.

"Kaiya is a talented athlete with a lot of potential. Over the past years, I have had the pleasure of competing with her, mentoring her, and coaching her in and out of the gym," said Robby Burns, Kaiya's Project Gold and strength coach. "I am excited to watch her grow, as an individual and an athlete into a career that is only just beginning."

Kaiya, a 2017 graduate of Wilson High School, is in her final semester of the engineering program at RACC. She will graduate in May with an associate's degree.

Reading, PA, December 11, 2018 – Reading Area Community College (RACC) has been awarded $75,000 as part of a grant from the BB&T Economic Growth Fund through the Berks County Community Foundation. The grant will be used to support the RACC President’s Initiative Fund. Specifically, the grant will help fund the expansion of the Peer Mentorship Program for five semesters from spring 2019 through May 2021, and will double the opportunities for mentorship for each semester. 

The RACC Peer Mentorship Program serves to promote academic success, and increase the student graduation rates. First-year RACC students are paired with outstanding upper-class students who act as mentors throughout the academic year. “This grant from the BB&T Economic Growth Fund will help us expand the Peer Mentor Program to assist first-year students in their academic success. We know that students who participate in a quality mentor program are more prepared academically for challenges they face during their first year of college,“ says RACC President Susan D. Looney. “The funding will also be used for scholarships which will allow these funds to support RACC’s mission of offering access, opportunity, excellence and hope for all students.”

“We are excited to have this opportunity to support RACC’s President’s Initiative Fund, and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on Reading Area Community College students and their academic success,” says David Roland, BB&T market president, Berks County/Northern Montgomery County. The BB&T Economic Growth Fund was established in 2017 to invest in local economic development opportunities. 

The Berks County Community Foundation received $2.5 million in connection with BB&T’s acquisition of National Penn in 2016. The Fund allows the Community Foundation to support charitable projects and initiatives that impact economic development efforts in Berks County.

To learn more about the RACC Peer Mentorship Program or the Berks County Community Foundation visit racc.edu or bccf.org.

Pam Gockley had a difficult start to her education. After being expelled from high school, Pam sought guidance and support, luckily she found RACC. “My education at RACC was far beyond the books, tests and reports. The spirit I found in the students, faculty and staff was far more inspirational than the diploma.”

While in high school, Pam struggled with learning and was placed in special education classes. Later in life, Pam discovered she was undiagnosed dyslexic and the special education classes were the worst place for her as a kid. “It was in these classes, that I was bullied, and the school lacked the ability to deal with what I was going through. This is what ultimately led to me getting expelled.”

When Pam first enrolled at RACC she quickly learned that she had a lot of catching up to get her education to the college level, but she admits this is one of the best things that could have ever happened to her. “The faculty and staff at RACC took the time make sure I was prepared to go onto the college courses. That was huge for me because it was the first time someone in education made the effort to understand where I was academically and actually helped me through the process.” 

After graduating from RACC and Kutztown University with a degree in Business Management, Pam started her own business and has continued to be an entrepreneur for 22 years. During that time Pam has had 13 for-profit startups and more recently, one non-profit. “After 22 years of entrepreneurship I feel that it’s finally time that I give back and help kids that are in the same position as me and even much more violent situations, including gun violence.”

Pam’s recent start-up is called The Camel Project and is based on Pam’s book, “Not All Camels Are in The Desert.” Pam wrote the book to share her high school experience with students, and how she overcame the problems. “My mission is to help kids understand that first, it’s not their fault; second, they are not alone; and third, it happens to more people than most realize.”

The first initiative of The Camel Project is a stop bullying program that helps kids learn about self-awareness, self-confidence, and how to create a great support system; all of which Pam was lacking in high school. For Pam, RACC was the launching point to understanding how an educational institution can help a student become a better version of themselves. “At RACC, there was a sense of family, security and encouragement I never knew before. I totally credit RACC for helping me throughout my education, for showing me what should have been done and giving me the inspiration to go out and help others.”

Reading, PA, December 6, 2018 – The Practical Nursing Program of Reading Area Community College celebrated its Commencement on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 4PM in the Miller Center for the Arts on the Reading Area Community College campus.

A total of 22 students received Certificates in Practical Nursing. During the past 25 years, RACC has graduated more than 900 students through the Practical Nurse Program, which then makes them eligible to sit for the PA State Board of Nursing Licensing Exam. Students in the 2018 graduating class are: Angelica Baczyski, Ashley Baker, Shelly Boltz, Carissa Carr-Emmel, Fabienne Coulanges, Lauren DeAcosta, Rebecca Deets, Cindy DeLosSantos, Catteline Edmond, Yamilette Figueroa-Rosario, Shannon Hertzog, Michel Hidalgo, Jacklyn Hightower, Hannah Martin, Monica Martinez, Henry Michel, Jr. , Beena Patel, Wilfri Peña-Rodriguez, Rachel Reightneour , Diana Robinson, Jesus Tavarez-Rodriguez, Margaret Yamah.

Awards were given to students who excelled academically and exhibited outstanding clinical performance throughout the Practical Nursing Program. The Frances Troutman Award for Nursing Excellence was given to Henry Michel Jr. The Award for Outstanding Performance and Nursing Professionalism was given to Wilfri Peña-Rodriquez. The Country Meadows Award for Academics and Leadership was given to Hannah Martin.

Congratulations to the Class of 2018. Good luck in your nursing career.