Allentown Parking Authority Offers Special Rates

LCCC students and Donley Center staff and faculty will have access to special parking rates in downtown Allentown when attending class or working at the Donley Center, thanks to a partnership with the Allentown Parking Authority (APA). Parking will be offered at the Allentown Transportation Center Deck at 603 W. Linden Street (Entry at 110 N 6th Street).

LCCC students and staff and faculty will pay $60 to park approximately 20 hours per week or 70-90 hours monthly. The permit will automatically renew each month, pending enrollment/employment verification.

Further information can be found here.

LCCC and Villanova Agreement Streamlines Transfer Pathway

An agreement between LCCC and Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies will benefit LCCC associate degree graduates who are working toward their bachelor’s degree, guaranteeing eligible graduates admission to the university.

Under the agreement, LCCC graduates who earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.) or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) and who meet the requirements are guaranteed admission at Villanova. In addition, a maximum of 90 credits may be transferred into the College of Professional Studies baccalaureate degree. The application fee will also be waived.

Eligible LCCC graduates will also receive a Merit Tuition Reduction, based on their overall grade point averages, with as much as 25% reduction available for up to six semesters.

Additional information about the LCCC to Villanova transfer agreement can be found on the LCCC transfer webpage.

For additional information, contact the LCCC Office of Admissions at Admissions@LCCC.edu or 610-799-1575. LCCC students interested in transferring to Villanova can also contact Villanova at 610-519-4500.

The Champion of Second Chances

As the deputy chief of the Lehigh County Juvenile Probation Department, Shannon Semmel-Ciamacco works with youthful offenders to try to arrive at positive outcomes. But serving others and making situations better have been guiding lights for Semmel-Ciamacco her whole life. In many ways, Lehigh Carbon Community College has been part of her journey almost from the start.

The 49-year-old grew up on the family dairy farm in Schnecksville about a mile-and-a-half from LCCC. As a youth, Semmel-Ciamacco attended summer programs at the college that combined academics and sports, such as track and racquetball, and was coached by an Olympic running star.

Her father, Paul Semmel, served for 25 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He instilled in Semmel-Ciamacco and her two sisters the importance of public service. “He gave me an appreciation for that and giving back to your community, giving back to others, fighting for others, advocating for others who sometimes don’t have a voice,” she said.

From a young age, Semmel-Ciamacco had a strong interest in sociology and psychology, and why people make the choices they do, including criminal behaviors. It felt natural to her to enroll in the criminal justice program at LCCC. Among the teachers who stood out to her was Ed Hino, a 21-year veteran FBI agent who ran the program. LCCC’s policy of bringing in professionals to talk about what it was like working in the field and providing real life experience to flesh out classroom lessons was a big plus for Semmel-Ciamacco. “That really laid a strong foundation for me. I had FBI agents, a state police trooper, school superintendents and social workers who were able to inspire me,” she said.

Read the full story in the latest edition of Aspire.

Alumni Legacy Scholarship Presented

On Dec. 16, members of the LCCC Alumni Association Board presented the $1,000 Alumni Legacy Scholarship to Azelia Castillo, a current biology major. Her long-term goal, after transferring to earn her bachelor’s degree, is to become a scientist in a microbiology lab. 

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is awarded to deserving students who wish to pursue their education at LCCC and are children or grandchildren of an LCCC graduate.

LCCC Phantoms Outing on Feb.16

Faculty, staff and families are welcome to join the LCCC Alumni at the PPL Center on Feb. 16 for a Phantoms game. The Phantoms will take on the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Game starts at 3:05 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Student Employees: Building Skills, Confidence and Community

The notion of working at a college as a student may conjure images of mundane tasks such as filing and data organization, but students working across LCCC are getting the chance to work in diverse areas such as social media content creation, art gallery exhibits, science labs and IT support, just to name a few. This opportunity to work on campus, often called work study, allows students to maximize their time on campus by providing employment within the educational environment.

At LCCC, the student worker program has grown over the years into more than just a way for students to earn extra money while in school. Students gain valuable transferrable skills that will aide them when they enter the workforce.

In 2024 alone, LCCC was fortunate to count 123 students as student employees for the calendar year. According to Kescha Bell-Ross, Director of Career Development and Civic Engagement, “The integration of work and study not only enriches students’ academic journeys but also provides valuable industry exposure that enhances their career paths.”



Read the full story along with alumni profiles in the latest edition of Aspire.

Important Dates for February

Feb. 6 Student Juried Exhibition Opening, Glass Box Gallery 6-8 p.m.

Feb. 16 LCCC Alumni Night at LV Phantoms, 3:05 p.m.

Feb. 20 Virtual Education Info Session, 6-7 p.m.

Lehigh Carbon Community College President

Dr. Ann D. Bieber

LCCC Board of Trustees

LCCC Foundation Board of Directors

Alumni Association Board of Directors