MCCC Students Named To ‘Who¹s Who Among American Junior Colleges’ List‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA —One hundred forty soon-to-be graduates from Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) have been named to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges list for 2016. They join students from more than 1,000 schools throughout the country in being recognized for their commitment to academic excellence.

Each institution sets its own criteria for nomination within the parameters established by Who’s Who Among Students. MCCC students selected for this year’s list must have graduated in fall 2015 or be graduating in spring or summer 2016 with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.83 or higher.

MCCC students recognized by Who’s Who Students in American Junior Colleges are listed below by area of residence:

Abington: Janet Askin, Kevin Cruz, Monica Keister, Benjamin Swanger

Ambler: Lisa Leadbeater, Brian Maggio, Martina Oborna, Eileen Williams, Amanda Zhou

Ardmore: John Timmons

Ardsley: Amanda Kida

Bala Cynwyd: Catherine Morroney

Bechtelsville: Joseph Hartline, Coraline Pettine

Birdsboro: Judy Hoffmeister

Blue Bell: Eun Kyoung Han

Cheltenham: Timothy Judge, Arnette Smith

Chester Springs: Karen Gratton

Collegeville: Julie Clark, Julie Clark, Elizabeth Cusmina, Regina MacMurtrie, Michael Reiner

Colmar: James Karcher

Conshohocken: Allison Giannone, Richard Vose

Coopersburg: Ann Forrestal

Douglassville: Bobbianne Babb, Donna Maden

Eagleville: Thomas Bednar, Daniel Buttorff, Julie Primavera

East Greenville: Heather Haby, Colin Hurrey, Michelle Rose

East Norriton: Kathryn Hall, Kyle Sapovits

Elkins Park: Diane Heydt

Erdenheim: Jessi Shaffer

Gilbertsville: Donna J. Braner, Marion Bucci, Sharon Delporte, Kristy Mahoney, Silvia Shambo, Alex Siwik

Glenside: Theresa Gallagher, Danielle Pearson, Gabriel Shoemaker

Harleysville: David Maga, Renee Marshall, Victoria Rosato, Esther Thompson, Dianarose Weiler, Martha Wolgemuth

Hatboro: John Ilisco Ilisco

Hatfield: Carlos Depaz, Jenna Moyer, Victoria Reeser

Horsham: Stefanie Barszowski, Maria Boggi, Jacqueline Caddle, Heather Pringle, Woo Young Song, Michaela Williams

Huntingdon Valley: Sarah Ciambrano, Julianne Johnson, Johanna Licari

Jenkintown: Jinman Li, Tetyana Protsyk

King of Prussia: Angelika Mae Morelos, Angelika Mari Morelos

Lansdale: Erin Ehinger, Kevin Franklin, John May, Eileen McGilloway, Breanna Potts, Hui Song, Mary Zabriskie

Limerick: Masynn Gensler

Maple Glen: Maura Duggan, Courtney Durham

Norristown: Nicole Battista, Brittany Hewitt, Jon Kilgannon, Elizabeth Palesano

Oley: Lee A. Wagner

Oreland: Cassandra Davis, Daniel McGlinchey, Robert Murphy

Pennsburg: Courtney Pepe

Philadelphia: Nancy Horton, Elizabeth Bergland, Emmett Johnson, Jacob Robertson

Phoenixville: Susan Giancola, Michael Morrow, Cameron O’Neil

Plymouth Meeting: Kyle Bone

Pottstown: Kristy Bell, Lori Flynn, Bridget Geri, Ruth Holsopple, Jaclyn Murphy, Vicki Peters, Lindsey Phillips, Emily Reitmeyer, Sara Shultz

Quakertown: Agnieszka Mandosik, Andrew Rose, Anna Short

Reading: Solange Jacques

Red Hill: Catherine Camuso, Janice Kutt

Royersford: Heather Curran, Lynn Lang, Carl Lingenfelter

Schwenksville: Heidi Liebenberg, Debra Lockard, Jacquelyn Lutz, Marta Pecharo, Wen Trice

Skippack: Steven Adoff, Debra Haasis

Souderton: Brittni Ruch, Lavinia Soliman, Jason Wolff

Spring City: James Sherid

Stowe: Lori McIlvee

Trappe: Patricia Capizzi

Trooper: Fang Li

Villanova: James Mearns

Warminster: Dana Fornicola

Wayne: Audrey O’Keefe

Willow Grove: Joseph Gruver, Margaret Thompson, Sarah Welch

Worcester: James Mahoney

Wyncote: Holly Hughston

Wynnewood: Rivka Gross, Thomas Pittman

MCCC Gears Up For 2016 RecycleMainia Competition‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Coming off its most successful finish in eight years of competition, Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is gearing up for RecycleMania 2016, a national tournament among colleges and universities designed to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization.

The 2016 competition begins Feb. 7 and continues through April 2.

Historically, MCCC excels in RecycleMania’s Waste Minimization category.  The category measures an institution’s total waste—trash and recycling collected during the eight-week competition—and divides it by the number of students, faculty and staff on campus to calculate the amount of waste per person.

In 2015, MCCC collected 8.395 pounds of waste per capita, which was the lowest amount collected among competing Pennsylvania institutions and the sixth lowest among all competing U.S. colleges and universities.

“Less waste per capita means that our efforts to educate the campus community about the importance of reducing and reusing, in addition to recycling, are paying off,” said Jaime Garrido, associate vice president for facilities and construction at MCCC. “Montgomery’s participation in RecycleMania each year is a great way to benchmark how we’re doing.”

During the 2015 RecycleMania tournament, 394 institutions recycled or composted 80.16 million pounds of materials, preventing the release of 129,411 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) into the atmosphere.

According to the U.S. EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM), MCCC’s recycling efforts during the competition resulted in a greenhouse gas reduction of 33 MTCO2E, which translates to the energy consumption of three households or the emissions of six cars.

In addition to Waste Minimization, other RecycleMania categories measure the amount of total recyclables, the amount of recyclables per capita and overall recycling rates, among other data.

RecycleMania is made possible through the sponsorship support from the Alcoa Foundation, The Coca Cola Company, Rubbermaid Commercial Products and CyclePoint. Partner organizations include Keep America Beautiful, U.S. EPA Waste Wise, the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), the National Wildlife Federation – Campus Ecology, and the Food Recovery Network.

To learn more about the RecycleMania 2016 competition, visit http://www.recyclemaniacs.org.

New Partnership With Ursinus College Streamlines Transfer Process For MCCC Graduates

PHOTO: Montgomery County Community College and Ursinus College signed a transfer articulation agreement on Dec. 3. Pictured, James Linksz (left), MCCC Interim President, and S. Brock Blomberg, Ursinus President, shake hands following the signing. Photo by Sandi Yanisko.

Blue Bell, Pa.—Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) graduates can now count Ursinus College (Ursinus) among their seamless transfer options, thanks to a new transfer articulation agreement signed by college officials on Dec. 3. The agreement encourages and facilitates the transfer of qualifying MCCC graduates to Ursinus, located in Collegeville, Pa., to complete their baccalaureate degrees.

Under the agreement, MCCC students who graduate with Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.), Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) or Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.) degrees and have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) may transfer to Ursinus with junior status, given they meet Ursinus admissions requirements and complete a transfer admissions intent form prior to applying.

“This agreement could not have been accomplished without the great collaboration of faculty from Ursinus and Montgomery,” said Dr. James Linksz, MCCC Interim President. “Collaboration created this bridge between the two institutions, which are both in the business of helping students succeed.”

While MCCC’s graduates have successfully transferred to institutions across the country and world, building formal relationships with select colleges and universities streamlines the transfer process. These partnerships also introduce students to transfer destinations they may not have considered, such as select liberal arts institutions like Ursinus.

“This is an important day, marking the beginning of our journey and celebrating our partnership,” said S. Brock Blomberg, Ursinus President, also acknowledging the contribution of the late Ursinus President Dr. Bobby Fong with this agreement. “Since its inception, Ursinus has the philosophy of creating a wider bandwidth of opportunities, like this one. This is the first articulation agreement with any community college, and we’re glad it’s with Montgomery.”

This transfer agreement is not the first time the two institutions have collaborated. Over the summer, two MCCC STEM students—Sean Heron, of Royersford, and Rachel Simon, of Bensalem—participated in Ursinus’ Pilot Program for Community College Research, where they worked on original research projects alongside teams of Ursinus students and faculty mentors as part of the institution’s competitive Summer Fellows program.

“This was a great experience,” said Heron. “I was able to use the techniques I learned at MCCC and adapt them for what was needed in the lab. It helped me to grow as a student, and it also verified the career path I want to pursue.”

The latest agreement is the fifth between MCCC and a highly selective institution; other such partners include Bucknell University, Bryn Mawr College, Dickinson College and Lehigh University. In total, MCCC has transfer agreements with close to 60 colleges and universities. MCCC is Ursinus’ first formal community college partner.

To learn more about transfer opportunities at MCCC, visit mc3.edu/student-resources/transfer-services/transfer-agreements.

Ursinus College is a highly selective, residential college with 1,650 students that is widely recognized for its Common Intellectual Experience. Founded in 1869, Ursinus is an undergraduate liberal arts institution that provides a rigorous curriculum that empowers the intellect, awakens moral sensitivity and challenges students to improve society. The tree-lined, 170-acre campus abounds with sculptures and artwork, and is located in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit ursinus.edu.

Montgomery County Community College offers a comprehensive curriculum of more than 100 degree and certificate programs, a Virtual Campus, a Culinary Arts Institute, a Municipal Police Academy, and specialized workforce development programs, all of which leverage the College’s nationally ranked use of innovative technology. An Achieving the Dream (AtD) Leader College, the institution is positioned at the vanguard of national efforts to increase completion, improve learning outcomes, and remove barriers to access for more than 24,000 students annually. The College is also recognized regionally and nationally for its sustainability leadership, work with military veterans, and community service and service learning opportunities. Visit mc3.edu or join us on Twitter @mccc.

MCCC Signs White House ‘American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge’‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) reinforced its commitment to sustainability on Nov. 19 by signing the White House’s American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge.

According to the White House, 218 colleges and universities representing 3.3 million students across the country have signed the pledge to demonstrate their support for strong climate action by world leaders in advance of next month’s international Conference on Climate Change in Paris, France.

Participating institutions were asked to submit three pledges outlining steps they will take to lower carbon emissions. For MCCC, the pledges build on the eight years of sustainability efforts taken as a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

In signing the new American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge, MCCC commits to:

* Build on the success of MCCC’s Green Office Initiative to pilot a Green Classroom program in collaboration with faculty and the student Environmental Club. In the Green Office Initiative, departments voluntarily progress through a four-tier program that evaluates and rewards their sustainable office practices and purchasing. A parallel program for classrooms would award certification to individual faculty and divisions who engage in green practices and activities, such as using refillable dry erase markers and going paperless.

* Support MCCC faculty in their exploration of open-source and online instructional materials. The incorporation of such materials may reduce the amount of paper used in classrooms, thereby reducing the institution’s carbon footprint. These materials could also save students money, which reinforces MCCC’s student success and financial literacy efforts.

* Promote local sustainability industries within Montgomery County to MCCC students and the community at large by facilitating job fairs, presentations and guest lecture opportunities for companies that employ sustainable practices.

The latest White House pledge for colleges and universities builds on last month’s American Businesses Act on Climate Pledge, which was signed by 81 companies from across the United States. Additionally, more than 150 countries representing approximately 90 percent of all global emissions have offered climate pledges to date.

For additional information or to share your support, join the conversation using the #ActOnClimate hashtag on social media.

MLT Students Give Back, Gain Skills During Valuable Health Screening Activity‏

MLT Club President and sophomore student Wil Montijo mentors first year MLT students

Blue Bell, PA —Each November, students in the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) perform an important service for members of the college community—free health screenings that would typically cost patients more than $300!

For cash- and time-strapped college students, tests that include complete blood count, complete cholesterol profile, blood glucose, prothrombin time, blood type and routine urinalysis, can play a critical role in helping them to manage their health and wellness.

On Nov. 6, 23 MLT students performed 95 screenings for 19 patients during the program’s annual service learning activity. The exercise presents MLT students with realistic situations like those found in a hospital or an outpatient setting. It also provides sophomore students with experience mentoring MLT freshmen.

“There’s some things the first year students haven’t seen all. We’re here to introduce them to some of the equipment and answer their questions,” said Danielle Maninger, a sophomore MLT student who expects to graduate in May.

Maninger was on phlebotomy duty during part of the MLT activity—something she mastered during her off-campus clinical work at Holy Redeemer Hospital.

“I’m more confident now,” she said, referring to performing phlebotomy as a second-year student. “We only practice phlebotomy on each other, not on patients, in the first year.”

In addition to gaining mentoring and phlebotomy experience, sophomore students progress through all of the laboratory stations—from the registration process, to sample collection, to completion of the lab tests, and, finally, to evaluation of the accuracy and relevance of the results during the exercise.

“This activity is a collaborative experience between our freshmen and sophomore students who do not have the opportunity to interact normally because of their course and clinical schedules,” explained Debra Eckman, assistant professor and MLT program director. “The first year students love learning something new, and participation during their first year gives them insight into what their roles will be in the MLT activity during their sophomore year.”

MLT sophomore Brandon Engle feels he has more independence this year, participating in his second screening exercise.

“Everything for me is more hands-on. You have to figure out how to do the tests on your own,” shared Engle who is currently doing his clinical work at Grandview Hospital.

MCCC accepts 16 students annually into its nationally accredited Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) examination, and many go on to enjoy rewarding careers as MLTs in hospitals, commercial laboratories, physician offices and pharmaceutical companies.

To learn more about the College’s MLT program, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics, then select Areas of Study, followed by Medical Laboratory Technician, or contact Assistant Professor Debra Eckman at 215-641-6487 or deckman@mc3.edu.

MCCC To Honor Veterans, Educate Community On Veterans Day‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.—Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will observe Veterans Day on Nov. 11 with events designed to honor those who have served and to educate the community about student-veterans’ issues.

To begin the day, MCCC’s Veterans Resource Center will host a breakfast for college and community veterans from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in College Hall room 147 at MCCC’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.  Community veterans are invited to join MCCC students, faculty and staff veterans on campus for free breakfast and conversation. All are welcome!

MCCC’s Veterans Day observance continues at 12:20 p.m. with a panel discussion, titled “From Combat to College,” in MCCC’s Advanced Technology Center room 101 at the Central Campus, with simulcast to North Hall 218 at the West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown.

Sponsored by MCCC’s Center for Faculty Development and Veterans Resource Center, the one-hour discussion will explore veterans’ perspectives on their transition from military to a college environment. Panelists will discuss what it means to be a veteran and a college student and what factors can help or hinder veterans’ reintegration into academic life.

Dr. Ann Marie Donohue, associate professor of psychology and faculty advisor to MCCC’s Student Veterans Organization, will moderate the panel discussion. Panelists include MCCC student veterans Hector Figueroa, Dansel Landingen, Joe Long and Bernadette Parker, along with MCCC’s Coordinator of Veterans’ Services Michael Brown. The panel is free of charge and is open to the public.

With 379 student veterans currently enrolled, MCCC is committed to implementing support strategies that reduce barriers faced by student veterans as they complete their education. The College provides a Veterans Resource Center, where student veterans can work with a specialized veterans’ services coordinator to ensure they get the most out of their VA benefits and obtain or transfer college credits for military education courses and applicable experience. A peer support group further assists veterans with the transition to college and also offers advocacy and education on veterans’ issues in the community.

To learn more about veterans’ services at MCCC, visit http://www.mc3.edu/student-resources/vrc.

MCCC To Launch Full-Time Software Developer Academy In January

Blue Bell, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) invites students to unleash their digital creativity by enrolling in its new Software Developer Academy (SDA), set to launch in January.

Modeled after coding boot camps that are springing up in major cities across the country, MCCC’s SDA will immerse students in a 12-week, full-time program designed to kick-start their careers in software development while engaging them in the local tech community.

The SDA will offer a four-tract program in iOS mobile application development that will prepare students to become entry-level mobile developers capable of creating applications for Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

The course is taught at MCCC’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, and runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., starting Jan. 25 and continuing through April 22. Students are required to attend full-time. To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/sda.

According to the online boot camp directory Course Report, the average cost of attending a coding boot camp in the United States is close to $10,000. The cost for MCCC’s pilot SDA is $6,500—and that’s before factoring in scholarships and other forms of aid that may be available.

“We’re almost half the cost of other coding programs in the area,” explained Assistant Professor of Computer Science Jason Wertz, who is coordinating MCCC’s SDA. “Plus students benefit from being part of a campus community at an accredited college. It’s a great learning environment for this type of work.”

To help defray the cost of attending, scholarships are available through MCCC’s Foundation, and the program has been approved for Pennsylvania Career Link funding for individuals who qualify. Group pricing for employers may also be available.

In a recent study of 48 boot camps across the country, Course Report found that three-quarters of graduates were employed, with raises averaging 44 percent from their pre-boot camp pay.

“Our goal is for students to learn the programming languages and tools necessary to work as a professional iOS developer. But, just as important, they’ll also learn how to be a positive and contributing member of the technical community, which is critical for their career development,” said Wertz. “We’ll help students identify ways to keep themselves on track within their chosen career paths and develop an online presence that helps them present their expertise to others.”

To be considered for admission, applicants should have one year, or equivalent, of programming experience in a modern object-oriented programming language like C# or Java. This prerequisite can be met through work experience or coursework. Prior knowledge of iOS is not required. Prospective students must complete an online application, available at http://www.mc3.edu/sda, as well as an in-person or video chat interview. Admission decisions will be made within a week of the interview.

To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/sda or contact Jason Wertz at jwertz@mc3.edu.

MCCC To Observe Campus Sustainability Month With Activities On Oct. 20-21

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA — Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will join hundreds of colleges and universities across the country to celebrate Campus Sustainability Month with activities on Oct. 20 and 21.

The newly expanded national Campus Sustainability Month (CSM) builds on 12 successful years of Campus Sustainability Day activities. Coordinated by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), CSM is designed to inspire students and other campus stakeholders to become sustainability change agents.

This year, MCCC will hold Campus Sustainability activities on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in the South Hall Lobby at the College’s West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown, and on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center Atrium at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. All activities are free of charge and are open to the public.

Wednesday’s event coincides with a Sustainability Career Day for high school students, presented by Communities in Motion, a foundation of the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association (GVF).

Both days will feature informational and interactive exhibits on a variety of “green” topics, including alternative energy, e-waste collection, alternative transportation opportunities, green office products, RecycleMania, electronic and rental textbooks, farm to table produce, a sustainable Price Is Right style game, a raffle with sustainable prizes, and much more. MCCC’s Medical Assisting students will also be collecting gently worn coats to benefit local community organizations.

In addition to these activities, the West Campus event will also include information about Bike Pottstown, the new Sustainability and Innovation Hub, and an ecosystem display by MCCC Biology students. The Central Campus event will feature acoustic music, solar telescope demonstrations, and hydrogen car presentations by MCCC’s Engineering students.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, MCCC will also host a video conference presentation by Dr. Cable Green, Director of Global Learning at Creative Commons, from 12:20-1:20 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101 at Central Campus and in South Hall 221 at West Campus. During his presentation, titled “Open is Sustainable,” Dr. Green will provide an overview of open licensing and open educational resources (OER) and will explore new OER projects that are pushing open education further into the mainstream.

Join MCCC’s Campus Sustainability Month conversation by sharing ways you’re going green using the #mc3green hashtag on social media.

Get To Know Montgomery County Community College At Fall Open Houses

Montgomery County, PA — Montgomery County Community College will hold three open houses this fall to provide prospective students and the community with information about the College’s programs, campuses and activities. The open houses are free of charge and are open to the public. For more information and to pre-register, visit http://www.mc3.edu/openhouse, call 215-641-6551 or email admissions@mc3.edu.

The College’s Central Campus, located at 340 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell, will host an open house on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. – noon in Parkhouse Hall.

The College’s West Campus, located at 101 College Drive in Pottstown, will host an open house on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in the South Hall Community Room.

Both open houses will provide prospective students and their families with information about MCCC’s credit and non-credit programs. Admissions representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the admissions process, transfer opportunities, e-learning, financial aid and intercollegiate athletics, among other topics. In addition members of the College’s faculty will share information on the 100+ associate degree and certificate programs that are part of a comprehensive curriculum.

The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College will also host an open house on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m.-noon at its facility in the Towamencin Town Square complex, located at 1400 Forty Foot Road in Lansdale, Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the kitchens and classrooms while learning about MCCC’s Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts associate degree programs, as well as its Culinary Enthusiast and other non-credit offerings. Student Success Center advisors will be on hand to answer questions about the admissions process and financial aid, among other topics.

To learn more about all that Montgomery County Community College has to offer, visit http://www.mc3.edu online.

MCCC Dental Hygiene Clinic Seeks Patients For Fall Semester

PHOTO: Students work in the Dental Hygiene Clinic at Montgomery County Community College.

Blue Bell, Pa.— The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Central Campus in Blue Bell is actively recruiting patients with periodontal, or gum, disease for the fall semester. Patients will be screened for eligibility on Monday, Sept. 14 by appointment, and those who qualify will begin treatment.

Treatment includes a complete assessment of the patient’s oral and periodontal health; dental x-rays, if necessary; education in self-care; scaling; tooth polishing; and fluoride treatment. Multiple, three-hour appointments are necessary.

Interested persons should contact the Dental Hygiene Clinic at 215-641-6483 and leave a message with their name and telephone number. The Clinic is located in room 211 of the Science Center, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, near the Morris Road entrance to the campus.

MCCC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic has been providing the public with comprehensive preventive dental hygiene services since 1973. Licensed dentists and dental hygiene faculty supervise all treatment procedures in the College’s state-of-the-art laboratory. The Clinic operates September through May, by appointment, and is part of Dental Hygiene students’ clinical requirements.

For a full list of services and fees, or to learn more about MCCC’s Dental Hygiene Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program, visit http://www.mc3.edu, then click on Health Sciences, followed by Dental Hygiene.

Montgomery County Community College Announces Spring 2015 Dean’s List‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.—Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Victoria Bastecki-Perez is pleased to announce the spring 2015 Dean’s List at Montgomery County Community College. The Dean’s List recognizes full-time students who have earned at least 12 cumulative credits at the College and who have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher.

Dean’s List honorees are listed by area of residence. 

Abington: Janet Askin, Dustyn Collins, Kevin Cruz, Joseph Ganiszewski, Tyler Hasse, Andrew Marku, Hudson Marsh, Rose Robinson, Allegra Schnitzel, Bohdan Sukhyy, Michael Williams, Tiara Williams, Dietter Zambrana

Ambler: Sunhee An, Daniel Asper, Amanda Ciammetti, Anna Collins, Caroline Coloracci, Rebekah Cuthbertson, Ethan Drakely, Adam Edson, Matthew Field, Michael Giuliano, Ryan Greene, Kurt Herbine, Brian Maggio, Miranda McFerran, Carlo Pipitone, Darryl Saylor, Amanda Zhou

Ardmore: Georgette Champagnie, Yao Sedzro, Victoria Swartz

Ardsley: Samantha Goerlich, Emma Morris, Maggie Slater

Audubon: Neil Ahern, Kevin Burke, Matthew Civitello, Jessica Culligan, Thomas DeLucia, Erin Emery, Sierra Hack

Bala Cynwyd: Andrew Luber

Barto: Matthew Coldsmith, Emily Hassall, Samantha Springman, Bradley Strouse

Bechtelsville: Corey Pettine

Belmont Hills: Dominic Maguire

Berwyn: Eva Hozinez

Birchrunville: Keenan McCormick

Blandon: Daniel Minto

Blue Bell: Leeann Arthur, Alexander Booth, Carly D’Aquila, Molly Dunn, Debra Erthal, Brittany Fuller, Joseph Hanlon, Hollie Roberts, Jennifer Ruffner, Sarah Seeherman, Samantha Silar, Troy Thurston, Mary Watson

Boothwyn: Laura Meehan

Boyertown: Sean Bickhart, Vincent Giangiulio, Paris Herbst, Andrew Parsons, James Raby, Annie Renninger, Lindsey Weil

Bridgeport: Robert McCorkell, Zachary McCorkell, Mamdouh Mikhail

Broomall: Vanessa Patrone

Cedars: Sussan Saikali

Chalfont: Megan Foley, Rebecca Shigo, Cheon SE Son

Cheltenham: Nam Dangvy, Chelsea Greever, Yaw Mensa-Bonsu, Daniel Moser, Stacy Parker, Scott Slinger, Timothy Wylesol

Chelthanham: Lana Rendon

Collegeville: Antonio Aloia, Nicole Bradbury, Philip Cappelli, Elizabeth Cusmina, Tanya Davis, Nicholas Duffy, Margret Fauls, Chelsea Flynn, Zachary Forrest, Brian Furman, Audrey Guarnaccia, Pat Guarnieri, Jessica Lari, Eric Lesinski, Amanda MacMurtrie, Regina MacMurtrie, Geoffrey Melle, Jake Nemitz, Brandon Olearsky, Chase Paley, Michael Reiner, Kyle Steinke, Paige Waenke, Daniel Waslo, Jonathan Waslo, Amanda Watson

Colmar: Holly Figueiredo

Conshohocken: Joseph Albanese, Rosario Cardamone, Renee Haubert, Elizabeth Herezi, Gregory Moore, Aaron Snyder, Richard Vose

Coopersburg: Kristina Wagers

Creamery: Justin Beitler

Croydon: Jennifer Leah-Rosa

Douglassville: Kyle Benjamin, Hayley Cavanaugh, Victoria Cook, Adriana Giotti, Charles Hennessey, Donna Maden, Amanda McNally, Rebecca Mickletz, Amber Nugent

Doylestown: Eric Patota

Dresher: Maura Gouak, Megan Stewart

Eagleville: Thomas Bednar, Daniel Buttorff, Hannah Chew, Joseph Dellangelo, Kayla Dimitry, Marla Feder, Asia Finnegan, Robin Fiorella, Julie Primavera, Dana Roberts, Nicholas Rosato, Bethany Smith, Tiffany Zerbe

East Greenville: Stephen Andress, Heather Haby, Nicholas Haidl, Joseph Holtje, Colin Hurrey

East Norriton: Benjamin Altieri, Angelina Diferdinando, Kristy Druding, Hector Figueroa, Hwi Lee, Kyle Sapovits

Elkins Park: Caitlyn Deviney, Nathanael Guy, Dylan Joyce, Dat Nguyen, William Schwarz, Angelo Torrecampo, Tina Trapp, Teri-Ann Wollyung

Flourtown: Christopher Fields, Kiera Mazur

Fort Washington: Jonathan Basta, Matthew Kristire, Nathanael Plaster, Victoria Sonetto, Lucia Vicens

Gilbertsville: Elizabeth Bringhurst, Kathryn Brown, Samuel Cocchimiglio, Jeffrey Conn, Paul Jaworski, Robert Kerekes, Alexis McKnight, Brianne Northrop, Ricky Panicker, James Pederson, Magdolna Pinto, Danielle Rogge

Gladwyne: Ira Miller

Glenside: Megan Bilbee, Sean Bradley, Gerard Casale, Julie Chiodo, Victoria Fulforth, John Gallagher, Phoebe Gavula, Mary Griffenburg, Chelsie Harmer, McCaela Holland, Jennifer Lus, Mark Lynch, Katie McKeegan, Monica Mohammed, Regina Newlin, Moonkyung Park, Dianna Pax, Rolene Perumal, Peter Pritz, Amanda Settembrino, David Watts, Zachary Woerner

Green Lane: Sara Barndt, Zach Diehl, Angelina Sirak, Stephanie Sirak, Jessica Yelito

Harleysville: Katalin Abraham, Lane Alderfer, Doug Barber, Courtney Bergey, Michael Bieber, Elizabeth Bones, Drew Cameron, Lindsay Campellone, Timothy Cassel, Jocelyn Cribbs, Erin Cribbs, Alfred Derro, Lauren Dunlap, Marissa Gleason, John Jungers, Angelica Koffel, Bryanna Lacey, Kevin Lister, Jessica Margulies, Renee Marshall, Madison Messina, Jessica Miller, Heather Milligan, Alexandra Murphy, Joseph Murphy, Stephen Provencher, Eric Reed, Victoria Rosato, James Shields, Jessica Shields, Leanna Smith, Joseph Sullivan, Esther Thompson, Dianarose Weiler, Jamie Weinstein, Kelsey Wimmenauer, Amanda Zacharias

Hatboro: Jennifer A’Harrah, Hailey Beattie, Gary Bradshaw, Joseph Cannella, Morgan Connell, Christopher Giorno, Crystal Guzman, Jessica Habermehl, David Hood, Stephen Kubler, Christopher Reading, Jessica Russo, Rachel Schy

Hatfield: Nisa Akanda, Eric Albaugh, Colleen Andris, Krupa Bhatt, Brian Burns, Justin Carr, Jonathan David, Kimberly Dela Merced, Ryan Fricker, Courtney Gill, Brandon Gilrain, James Heim, Prabhuti Jakhar, Michael Kelly, Alexandrea Kier, Sarah Kling, Karen Lopez, Michael MacDonald, Matthew McBride, Melaney Nelson, Payal Patel, Visakha Raj, Jacqueline Ramos, Katie Randall, Victoria Reeser, Stephen Richards, Lizabeth Skilton, Lauren Thomas, Divyesh Varsani, Dylan Wallis, Jiayi Wang, Farad Zaman

Horsham: Stefanie Barszowski, Maria Boggi, Jisun Cha, Courtney Durham, Alexander Fekete, Allison Foster, Da Eun Kim, Joshua Kozak, Danielle Lybrand, Andrew McGinnis, Alexandra McGrorty, Victoria McKale, Kaytlyn Nungesser, Heather Pringle, Victoria Rivers, Melissa Rowedder, Woo Young Song, Michaela Williams

Huntingdon Valley: Kevin Clark, Courtney Covelens, Deena Derenzis, Casey Hensley, Chae-Eon Jang, Irina Kogacheva, Ashley Lynn, Kendra McDonald, Samantha Smyth, Luis Sotelo

Jamison: Dana Donato

Jenkintown: Courtney Colkett-Harvey, Anthony Hirsch, Moeunsaem Jung, Casey Kasitz, Jinman Li, Natalia Ramirez Nova

King of Prussia: Ryan Conboy, Jamie Davis, Jacqueline Mazzi, Angelika Mari Morelos, Angelika Mae Morelos, Lauren Nelson, William Robinson

Lafayette Hill: Doris Aston, Johnny Barattucci, Brian Seyler, Chad Stante, Mikhaila Wilkins

Langhorne: James Macomber

Lansdale: Varun Belani, Victoria Brucker, Lisa Cahill, Abigail Chapin, Punardeep Chhabra, Seongbin Cho, Erica Christensen, Jiyoung Chun, Kayla Conceicao, Brianna Connors, Michael Curran, Phuc Dang, Evan Dehaven, Kellsie DeStefano, Jessica Evans, Gina Fucinari, Nahkyma Graham, Regina Guzman, Julie Hartman, Nathan Hegel, Carmeen Hutchinson, Jae Jang, Charles Lachman, Julia Lee, Jennifer Lieu, Vincent Lloyd, Jena Marron, John May, Nyia McEntyre, Seyedeh Sepideh Mirfakhar, Lindsey Morris, Jeremy Moser, Dara Nelson, Shab Noor, Doreen Panico, Paurav Patel, Janine Peca, Brianna Phelps, Morgan Pickersgill, Breanna Potts, Dylan Rainone, Jeffrey Regitko, Francheska Pauline Reyes, David Rowan, Gabrielle Scotti, Ashley Sheely, Huixin Shen, Nicholas Silva, Kisu Sohn, Sarah Stinson, Annie Vartanian, Robert Vogel, Hannah Whitby, Benjamin Zubyk

Limerick: Joseph Gulino, David Heller, Bjorn Ullmann, Zachary Zimmerman

Macungie: Camilo Burgos-Pimiento

Malvern: Jacob Robertson

Maple Glen: John Thomas Peyton

Mont Clare: Sarah Robbins

Montgomeryville: Jamar Martin

Mountville: Latae Schley

Narberth: Dori Malloy, Jennifer Mason, Jesse Putnam, Brooke Starkman

New Castle: Larrie Brown

Norristown: Kathleen Bacon, Nicole Battista, Erin Brindisi, Jessica Christman, Sandra Crooks, Vanessa Fosco, Thomas Gambone, David Grande, Brenna Hood, Latoscha Hudson, Jon Kilgannon, Jason Kilmartin, Matthew Mashaintonio, Jacori McEachnie, Diahann McIntyre, Kyle Moss, Vi Nguyen, Julie O’Connor, Julio Ollarvia, Elizabeth Palesano, Charles Prisco, Marina Resendiz, Kyle Stevens, Marcella Svetz, Dmitry Vereykin, Christopher Waters, Courtney Williams, Michele Wolfinger

North Wales: Andrew Belton, Stephanie Benford, Alyssa Bonner, Kayla Burnham, Justin Colon, Kathleen Cronin, Margaret Crush, Paul Hasyn, Soojung Hong, Alyssa Hoos, Nicole Jones, Yeon Joon Kim, Mary Kim, Ian Kim, Hye-Jung Kim, Julisa Loftus, Matthew Loggins, Garret Macrone, MacKenzie Mazak, Claudia Medina, Kerry Moran, Steven Park, Hee Park, Dhavalkumar Patel, Keyur Patel, Nathan Rockstroh, Karolina Rzepka, Linda Trinh, Fiamma Tulli, Can Uslu, Eli Wrubleski, Emma Wylie, Christine Yi

Oaks: Jacquelyn Crabtree, Ashley Daywalt

Oreland: Cassandra Davis, Kelly Maguire, Alexander McDermott, Ryan Meinke, Joseph Pinto, Sara Violi

Parker Ford: Angie Hunt

Pennsburg: Kyle Frederick, Kate Lukof, Gabriella Maine, Chad Petipren, Ryan Rothenberger, Katarzyna Sitko, Aaron Vandyke

Perkasie: Timothy Schneider

Perkiomenville: Susanne Antonio, Derek Boughter, Melanie Dahlquist, Jordan DeVore, Chelsea Faulkner, Charlotte Moore

Philadelphia: Ashley Ball, Nicholas Barile, Elizabeth Bergland, Esther Chun, Carly Handley, Davide Horn, Nicholas Lopez, Starletta Lumpkin, Mecca Sharrieff, Kristyn Simmons, Thomas Thorpe, Keirsten Volpe, Katherine Walters, Hyuck Yun

Phoenixville: Marina Clarisse Ballesteros, Daniel Berger, Kayla Brown, Danielle Digirolomo, Olivia Farrell, Cristian Fuentes, Rachel Gallina, Ahmad Hasaan, Brittany Hewitt, Alexander Kirkner, Amanda Layne, Joseph Reese, Kaelee Stearly

Plymouth Meeting: Rachel Beale, Kyle Bone, Kimberly Calhoun, Gabrielle Gioia, Kristen Janfrancisco, Scott Lukens, Timothy McClure, Autumn McClure, Joseph Monastero, Mersi Schueck, Alexandra Subbio, Daria Sykuleva

Pottstown: Nicholas Bartelmo, Michael Bianco, Emily Bohn, Francis Bohn, Emily Brunton, Colin Bullock, Michael Byrne, Mikayla Chippari, John Chrin, Walter Chrobocinski, Daijana Codett, Ryan Collins, Zachary Davis, Giovanni Deleo, Tiffany Dilworth, Alexandria Elliott, Carly Gajewski, Noel Lucas Geniza, Bridget Geri, Elizabeth Glaeser, Indya Harris, Christopher Hayden, Connie Holland, Athena Hollingsworth, Ruth Holsopple, Gaia Houseal, Hannah Irvin, Brianna Johnson, Sarah Kerwin, Kathryn Lee, Shan Lias, Jasmine Maldonado, Corinne Mancini, Jordan Markoski, Kyle Maurer, Evelyn Moehring, Meghan Oberholtzer, Ryan Patten, Michael Peterman, Sorana Phal, Kayla Polen, Emily Reitmeyer, Hannah Robinson, Holly Shively, Sara Shultz, Kayla Steenland, Angelica Stone, Axel Swanson, Ashwin Talreja, Anna Taylor, Pamela Tolentino, Tiffany Ullman, Felicia Vo, Kali Wade, James Walmsley, Christian Walters, Juliana Washko, Jacob Witty, Shane Woodrow, Jean Yannarell, Nathan Yost

Quakertown: Alec Gerhart, Sean Gorni, Agnieszka Mandosik, Anna Short

Reading: Brenda Jeznach

Red Hill: Catherine Camuso, Joanne Feldbruegge

Rockledge: Conor Gilsenan

Roslyn: Lauren Lockwood, Kevin Rooney, Madison Small, Leah Stewart, Victoria Templeton

Royersford: Blanca Anoushian, Claire Carroll, Brianna Garner, Reginald Harris, Lynn Lang, Kyle Surbrook, Michele Taluc-Chance, David Taylor, Emily Ward, Nathaniel Yeoman

Rydal: Christopher Clouse

Sanatoga: Lauren Antenucci, Kendra Houck

Schwenksville: Mariah Blank, Christopher Camuso, Daniela Casalinuovo, Jennifer Ciccotosto, James Clendening, Erin Duvinski, Blaine Kleiner, Patrick Mayr, Katharine Muscatello, Samantha Shoff, Daniel Walters

Skippack: Kelsey Dowling, John Haasis

Souderton: V. Armato, Rebekah Doelp, Sarah Doelp, Shane Grinkewitz, Brett Hale, Robert Hunsberger, Stephanie Lopez, Kyle Mondesir, Hieu Nguyen, Patrick O’Neil, Micah Plank, Mark Richardson, Rachel Sanders, Courtney Schueck, Jeet Shah, Lavinia Soliman, Dennis Stone, James Walsh, Danielle Warholic, Charis Yoo

Spring City: Jonathan Carville, Weston Finerfrock, Matthew Gray, Kimberly Hettrick

Stowe: Myesha McClam, Sheramy Moser

Stroudsburg: Alexis Price

Telford: Madeline Delp, Michael Domzalski, Leslie Dulin, Emily Freed, Wilson Gonzalez, Victoria Hange, Robert Jenne, Taylor Kwortnik, Quy Le, Charles Raffaele, Derek Reeser, Rachel Rose, Jason Smith, Christopher To, Jesse Vong, Erin Will

Trooper: Dominic Coppa

Villanova: Shariq Khan, James Mearns

Warrington: Sonia Kaur

West Chester: Daniel Boyd

West Conshocken: Matthew Ryan

Willow Grove: Colleen Barbardo, Brittney Burgos, Brian Dukart, Ariel Kates, Ji Sung Lee, Melissa McCann, Tracey Melendez, Alyssa Monte, Brian Ruby, Brianna Temler, Margaret Thompson, Megan Walmsley, Amanda Warren, Sarah Welch, Candice Yohe, Jingxu Zhu

Worcester: James Mahoney

Wyncote: Iyanuoluwa Adegbite, Joshua Kellem

Wyndmoor: Caitlyn Cox, Charles Diaz, Justin Patterson, Michael Porrini

Wynnewood: Rivka Gross, Laure Krumenacker, Victoria Nguyen, Zaifang Yu

Montgomery County Community College Celebrates The Legacy Of Dr. Karen A. Stout‏

Honorary Degree: Board of Trustees Chairman Michael D’Aniello presents Dr. Karen A. Stout with an honorary associate’s degree in letters during Montgomery County Community College’s 48th Commencement ceremony on May 21, 2015. Photo by John Welsh

Blue Bell/Pottstown , Pa – As Dr. Karen Stout officially took the helm as President and CEO of Achieving the Dream, Inc. on July 1, Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) celebrates her legacy as the institution’s fourth president. That legacy is vast, and her impact, on both the institution and on individuals in the community, will reach far into the future.

The core tenant of Dr. Stout’s presidency has been her steadfast commitment to improving student access, success and completion. Under her leadership, Montgomery is recognized nationally as an Achieving the Dream Leader College for many of its student success efforts. Examples include a Minority Student Mentoring Initiative, financial literacy education, reimagined student entry and advising processes, educational planning tools, peer mentoring, and a new approach to developmental education, to name only a few.

To honor her contributions and commitment to community college students, 15 former student leaders spanning Dr. Stout’s 14-year tenure returned to Montgomery’s Central Campus in May to unveil a very special tribute: the naming of the Karen A. Stout Student Success Center. A week later, the Board of Trustees presented Dr. Stout with an honorary associate’s degree in letters during the 2015 commencement ceremony, making her an official alumna of the College. The Board also bestowed on her the title of President Emerita, effective July 1.

In addition to renaming the Student Success Center, one of the Foundation’s hallmark events—the Leading Women Symposium and Golf Experience—will also bear Dr. Stout’s name in honor of her commitment to philanthropy. The annual Karen A. Stout Leading Women Symposium and Golf Experience, held each spring, raises funds for women’s scholarships and programming while facilitating valuable networking opportunities for its participants.

SSC: Current and former Montgomery County Community College student leaders help unveil architect renderings for the naming of Karen A. Stout Student Success Center at the Central Campus during a celebration of Dr. Stout’s presidency on May 15, 2015. Photo by Stuart Watson

Dr. Stout also leaves behind a personal philanthropic legacy for future MCCC students through two contributions to the Foundation’s comprehensive “Futures Rising” campaign, which raised $10.5 million in two years. She has established a Phi Theta Kappa Challenge Fund, which helps qualifying, Pell-eligible students pay half of the honor society membership fee, and an Endowed Scholarship Fund awarded annually to a student pursing a career in Communication.

On July 1, both Dr. Stout and Montgomery County Community College embarked on next chapter of their journeys. At the helm of Achieving the Dream, Dr. Stout has the opportunity to co-design the next generation of student success reform work alongside community college leaders from across the country. Meanwhile, Montgomery is positioned to continue growing the many seeds Dr. Stout planted during her tenure.

MCCC Students Named ‘Who’s Who Among American Junior Colleges’

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.—Ninety-one students from Montgomery County Community College’s Class of 2015 were named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges. To qualify for Who’s Who, students must be graduating during the 2014-2015 academic year with a grade point average of at least 2.75 and must be nominated by a member of MCCC’s faculty or staff.

The 2015 Who’s Who students are listed below by area of residence:

Abington: Shannon Kennedy

Ambler: Brian Bailey, Iris Euceda, Rachel Sexton

Audubon: Kristen Walker

Blue Bell: Molly Dunn, Ji Sun Her, Melissa Richter, Jennifer Ruffner

Boothwyn: Laura Meehan

Bridgeport: Nikki Ross

Cheltenham: Chelsea Greever

Collegeville: Chelsea Flynn, Brigitte Ortega, Tasha Zahakos

Douglassville: Donna Madden

Dresher: William Brown III

Eagleville: Robin Fiorella

East Greenville: Anna Brandt

Elkins Park: Eitan Laurence

Flourtown: Gabrielle Santangelo

Fort Washington: Michelle Scarbrough

Gilbertsville: Rob Brown, Marion Bucci

Glenside: Sean Bradley, Mary Griffenberg, Paul Willis

Green Lane: Angelina Sirak, Stephanie Sirak

Harleysville: Erin Cribbs, Miranda Golden, Natalie Jarratt

Hatboro: Jessica Habermehl, Seth Mansor

Hatfield: Julie Brodowski, Prabhuti Jakhar, Lauren Thomas

Horsham: Diana Giammarco, Julie Reago

Huntingdon Valley: Courtney Covelens, Lisa Malone, Danielle Nicol

Jamison: Dana Donato

Lansdale: Edna Benavides, Daisy Mackey, Jeremy  Moser, Matthew Nitchke, Janine Peca, Ashley Sheely

Limerck: Alexandra Busa

Norristown: Shanita Fields, Elizabeth Holleger, Heidi Hunsberger, Caroline Moman, Courtney Williams

North Wales: Mackenzie Mazak, Claudia Medina, Dhuvalkumar Patel

Oaks: Jacqueline Crabtree, Ashley Daywalt

Oley: Christine Egolf

Philadelphia: Davide Horn, Katherine Walters

Phoenixville: Natalya Martin

Plymouth Meeting: Kimberly Calhoun, Jeremiah Garcia

Pottsown: Brook Hunter

Pottstown: Shannon Cahill, Elizabeth Glaeser, Sarah Hipple, Megan Hydutsky, Kathryn Lee, Chris Legerton, Erika Lesh, Meredith Malone, Diana Martin, Vincent Miller, Tara Smith

Roslyn: Denise Nicholson, Madison Small, Angela Tate

Royersford: Rachelle McCollum, Alyssa Turner

Sanatoga: Kendra Houck

Schwenksville: Bobbie McGonigle, Caitlin Moser

Souderton: Tracy Harrison, Trish Smith

Swedesburg: Michelle Haiduck

West Chester: Amy Siter

Willow Grove: Jaqueline Corso, Tracey Melendez

Wyndmoor: Dwayne Lawrence

MCCC Phi Theta Kappa Chapters Earn National Accolades

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapters have achieved the distinction of Five Star Status this spring during the organization’s annual convention in San Antonio, Texas on April 16-18.

Alpha Kappa Zeta, based at the Central Campus in Blue Bell, and Beta Tau Lambda, based at the West Campus in Pottstown, both earned the highest level of recognition by progressing through PTK’s Five Star Chapter Development Plan.

As part of the plan, PTK chapter officers must develop and execute a business plan that optimizes the benefits and programs offered by their chapter while furthering the mission of Phi Theta Kappa nationally.  Incorporated into the program are basic chapter administration, regional activities, an international service program, an honors study topic, Hallmark Awards, international activities and a college project.

In addition to achieving Five Star Status, Beta Tau Lambda (Pottstown) was named a Middle States Region Gold Chapter for increasing student membership and engagement over the past year.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society whose purpose is to recognize and encourage scholarship among students attending two-year colleges. To be eligible for membership, students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or above and must have completed at least 12 credits.

MCCC’s PTK chapters operate through the College’s Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.

MCCC’s ‘Innovation Of The Year’ Tackles Issue Of Textbook Affordability

PHOTO: Montgomery County Community College President Dr. Karen A. Stout (left) and Financial Aid Specialist Ashley Smith (right) present Holly Parker, Stowe, financial aid and enrollment generalist, with MCCC’s 2015 Innovation of the Year award. Photo by Sandi Yanisko

Pottstown, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) 10th annual Innovation of the Year award was presented to Holly Parker, of Stowe, financial aid and enrollment generalist, for her work to develop a Student Success Textbook Lending Library at the College’s West Campus in Pottstown.

Seven projects were nominated for the 2015 honor, and all were evaluated against criteria established by the League for Innovation in the Community College—an international organization committed to improving community colleges through innovation. Award criteria include quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness, replication, creativity and timeliness.

Ultimately, a college-wide committee selected the Student Success Textbook Lending Library as the winner because it touches all six of MCCC’s strategic goals, especially as they relate to student access and success.

Launched in 2012 in response to the rising cost of textbooks, the initiative addresses a very real, very challenging problem faced by community college students.

“We started seeing more and more students, especially those who are out-of-county or who have student loans, struggle to pay for their textbooks.  The idea was very grassroots—how can we help a handful of students?” explained Parker.

What began with a few textbooks donated by West Campus faculty has grown into a library of more than 75 titles.

“We partnered with Phi Theta Kappa [honor society] on a campaign to collect books from students. We also offered lunch vouchers in the cafeteria for students who donated their books once they were done with them,” said Parker.

Last year, thanks to an internal grant from MCCC’s Foundation, Parker was able to purchase high-demand textbooks for the library, thereby helping greater numbers of students.

“We’re still building the collection, especially since textbooks go out of date so quickly,” said Parker, who works with individual faculty to determine whether students can continue to use older editions of some textbooks and materials. “The initiative has really helped a lot of students who are financially pressed.”

To date, the Student Success Textbook Lending Library at MCCC’s West Campus has enabled more than 100 students complete their course requirements.

As recipient of MCCC’s award, the lending library initiative will be forwarded to the League for Innovation in the Community College for national recognition in a program that showcases innovation at America’s community colleges.

Other projects nominated the 2015 Innovation of the Year at MCCC included Academic Affairs Analytics; Winter Session Pilot; Sustainable Waste Solutions Partnership with the Culinary Arts Institute; Green Office Initiative; LED Light Bulb Replacement Initiative; and PHEAA Grant Database Automation.  Collectively 34 members of MCCC’s faculty and staff worked on the nominated projects.

Dr. James Linksz To Serve As Interim Montgomery County Community College President

April 27, 2015, Blue Bell/Pottstown/Lansdale, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. James J. Linksz has agreed to serve as interim president for Montgomery County Community College (MCCC).

Dr. Linksz had a successful career at Bucks County Community College, where he served for more than 20 years as the institution’s president from 1992-2012. Following his retirement in 2012, Dr. Linksz briefly served as interim CEO of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

“It is a tremendous accomplishment that the College was able to secure a former community college president to serve during our nationwide search for a new college president,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Michael J. D’Aniello.

Current MCCC President Dr. Karen A. Stout was tapped to serve as the President and CEO of Achieving the Dream, Inc., which works to increase access and improve success at more than 200 member community colleges that serve more than four million community college students nationally.

Board Personnel Committee Chair Richard Montalbano was extremely pleased to secure a highly-respected and experienced community college president from Pennsylvania.

“This will allow the College to advance its goals and mission of increased access and improved student success,” said Montalbano. “We expect Dr. Linksz to be proactive in continuing the goals established by Dr. Stout. He will certainly not be a placeholder.”

Dr. Linksz will spend June in transition with Dr. Stout and will take the helm of MCCC on July 1, 2015.

“Dr. Linksz is an excellent choice. I have a high degree of respect for his work at Bucks. He was a terrific colleague. His understanding of Pennsylvania community colleges is also a significant asset for the College,” said Dr. Stout.

Dr. Linksz earned an A.B. in Art and Architecture from Dartmouth College and a master’s and doctorate in higher and adult education administration from Columbia University. He was also a W.K. Kellogg Doctoral Fellow in Community College Administration.

MCCC Announces New Employees In Development, Human Resources

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) welcomes two new administrators to fill roles that are critical to the institution’s mission and strategic goals of increasing student access and success and creating a high performance culture.

New hires include Donna Fiedler, recently of Hatboro, associate director of development and Adriene Hobdy, of Philadelphia, director of leadership development and talent management.

Donna Fiedler comes to MCCC from The University of Texas San Antonio, where she served as assistant director of corporate and foundation engagement. During her career, she also held leadership positions with Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and New York University. In her new role as associate director of development, Fiedler is responsible for managing the Foundation’s stewardship programs including scholarships, awards and various events.

Fiedler holds an Associate in Arts from Suffolk County Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in economics and a Master of Arts in Hispanic Civilization from New York University.

Adriene Hobdy served as the chief talent and learning officer with Lambert Worldwide in Philadelphia before coming to MCCC. She also held senior leadership positions in both corporate and higher education during her professional career. In her new role as director of leadership development and talent management at MCCC, Hobdy is responsible for leading the College’s performance management and professional development programs.

Hobdy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in English from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Science in Budget and Finance and a Master of Science in Business/Human Resources Management from Lincoln University, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Wilmington University.

MCCC Ranks Among Top Community Colleges In Nation For Technology

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College is ranked second in the country for its use of technology according to a recent Digital Community Colleges Survey issued by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education (CDE). The 250 data-point survey analyzes how community colleges use digital technologies to improve services to students, faculty, staff and the community at large.

MCCC, with campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, Pa., has ranked in the survey’s top 10 large community colleges since CDE introduced it a decade ago.

“Technology, itself, does not lead to innovation. But combined with vision, creativity and leadership, technology has the power to revolutionize teaching and learning,” said Dr. Celeste Schwartz, vice president for technology and college services.

Under the leadership of MCCC President Dr. Karen A. Stout, Schwartz and her team of IT professionals empower faculty and staff to use technology to inform decision making, to improve access and completion, and to provide students with state-of-the-art real-world learning experiences.

Over the past year, MCCC has implemented technology tools in several key student success areas—advising and student planning, financial literacy and mobile access—and has introduced academic certificate programs in key STEM disciplines like cloud computing, cyber security, and biotechnology.

To improve student entry and advising processes, MCCC launched a Student Success Network, which includes student academic planner, early alert, and a student facing success dashboard, through which students are able to see and connect with members of their student success team—advisors, faculty and staff from other support programs, like veterans’ resources and disability services. Faculty can refer students to tutoring and can address concerns and reinforce positive academic behaviors throughout the semester.

The redesigned process also includes an education planning tool that empowers students to map out their entire academic program progression and improves meaningful interaction between students and advisors. Analytical tools, including student and advisor dashboards, round out the Student Success Network.

Financial literacy is critical to student completion, and MCCC developed and launched a “Montco Money Matters” prototype through support from EDUCAUSE’s Next Generation Learning Challenge (NGLC) Breakthrough Models Incubator (BMI). The open-source, online tool introduces first-time students to concepts of financial aid, loans and grants; highlights the long-term implications of loans and future debt; and makes them aware of other resources, like scholarships, to help pay for college.

MCCC is currently building on the success of it financial literacy prototype to include digital and civic literacy, which, like Montco Money Matters, will be publically accessible through Blackboard CourseSites and will engage students through video, social media and other interactive tools.

“The ‘new literacy’ programs, at their heart, focus on building the skills that students will need to be successful at all levels of their education and career, especially as they transition from high school to college,” said Schwartz, who is a key member of the design team along with faculty and staff from across the institution.

Much of MCCC’s technology is being developed with a “mobile-first” approach—necessary given that 86 percent of MCCC’s students use smartphones. This year, the College launched a new mobile app in partnership with Ellucian Go! MCCC also continues to build access through its Virtual Campus, which affords e-learners the opportunity to have a more robust college experience.

Having access to the latest technology, state-of-the-art learning spaces and instructional design experts empowers MCCC’s faculty to develop and refine curricula that prepares students for a competitive and ever-changing marketplace. Over the past year, MCCC introduced new high-tech certificate programs in the emerging fields of cloud computing, cyber security and biotechnology/biomanufacturing, along with associate’s degrees in life sciences, sound recording and music technology, and environmental studies.

MCCC also bolstered existing programs in engineering technology, health services management, criminal justice, health and fitness professional, management, culinary arts and education—all of which integrate the latest technology to ensure graduates are prepared for the demands of 21st century workforce.

All accredited U.S. community colleges are eligible to participate in CDC’s survey within three classifications based on enrollment. MCCC, with more than 24,000 students annually, competes in the large college category. To learn more about the survey, visit centerdigitaled.com.

Arline Stephan Named Vice President Of Development, External Relations At MCCC

Montgomery County Community College Foundation

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) welcomes Arline Stephan, of Yardley, as its new vice president of development and external relations. In that capacity, she oversees the College’s Foundation, as well as the areas of alumni relations, marketing and communications, public grants, lively arts and fine arts galleries.

Stephan first came to MCCC in 2012 as the executive director of the College’s Foundation. In that role, she managed the Foundation’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, Futures Rising, which launched in November 2014. The campaign runs through June 2015 and has already exceeded its $9 million goal.

With more than 24 years of development experience, Stephan has served in leadership positions at major universities and health care systems, including Rutgers University, Thomas Jefferson University and Capital Health System. She became involved nationally with the women and philanthropy movement in the early 1990s, has started three successful women’s giving circles and has been a speaker at many conferences and to groups about the power of women and giving. She has also served on numerous fundraising and community boards throughout her career.

Prior to working in the field of development, Stephan held administrative and management positions in health care and higher education. She attended Austin Community College and earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

About the Montgomery County Community College Foundation

Established in 1983, the Montgomery County Community College Foundation operates exclusively to provide support and assistance to the College in developing the programs, facilities and services to carry out the mission and functions of the College. The Foundation carries out this purpose by encoura­ging, soliciting, receiving, holding, investing and administer­ing gifts of funds and property, and making expenditures to, or for the benefit of, the College. For more information, visit http://mc3.edu/futuresrising.

MCCC Medical Assisting Program Earns Maximum Reaccreditation

PHOTO: Medical Assisting students perform free health screenings each semester for Montgomery County Community College students, faculty and staff. Photo by Matt Carlin

BlueBell/Pottstown, Pa.—Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Medical Assisting program recently received full reaccreditation through 2022 from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation from the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). The eight-year accreditation is the maximum award possible, and MCCC met CAAHEP’s required standards and objectives without any recommendations or suggestions.

Introduced in 2003, the 34-credit Medical Assisting certificate is comprised of classroom instruction, on-campus laboratory simulations and practical experience at affiliated clinical sites. The program is offered at both MCCC’s Central Campus in Blue Bell and West Campus in Pottstown. A total of 222 students have graduated from the program over the past 12 years.

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks that keep the offices of health practitioners running smoothly.

“Nationally-credentialed Medical Assistants assist in meeting the community’s workforce demands for qualified health care professionals,” said Kathleen Schreiner, director of medical office professions at MCCC.

Graduates from the MCCC’s program qualify to complete the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) certification examination for Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) and/or the American Medical Technologists (AMT) certification examination for Registered Medical Assistants (RMA).

“Our graduates have achieved an eight-year cumulative pass rate of 97.66 percent on the national credentialing examination,” shared Schreiner. “Employers regularly seek our Montgomery County Community College graduates to meet their workforce needs because of our reputation for preparing well-qualified health care professionals.”

Medical Assisting graduates may choose to enter the workforce immediately upon certification or may apply their credits toward MCCC’s Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Health Services Management.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” employment opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow by 29 percent through 2022, which is significantly higher than the average growth rate of 11 percent for all occupations. In 2012, the median wage for medical assistants was $29,370, nationally.

To learn more about Montgomery County Community College’s Medical Assisting program, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics and choose Areas of Study, followed by Health Sciences and Medical Assisting.