58th Annual Commencement

Lehigh Carbon Community College held its 58th annual Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, at the PPL Center in downtown Allentown. Commencement recognized the more than 900 students who have earned associate degrees, certificates or diplomas from December 2024, May 2025 and anticipated for August 2025. LCCC president Dr. Ann D. Bieber presided over the ceremonies. Secretary of the LCCC Board of Trustees Sharon L. Albert offered the welcome. 

Leslie Tineo Lopez was selected as this year’s student speaker. Lopez earned her Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management and plans to continue her studies in organizational leadership. She says she came to LCCC because she wanted more for her future and was ready to work for it. She hopes to eventually be in a position to help others grow. 

Ella Duke was selected as this year’s soloist, performing both the National Anthem and the college’s Alma Mater. Duke graduated summa cum laude with her Associate in Arts degree in General Studies. She will transfer to the University of Pittsburgh in the fall to major in law and criminal justice.

Each year, the Student of the Year award is granted to one traditional student and one Early College student who have exemplified academic excellence, hard work and a passion for learning. Students are nominated by instructors, and the winners are chosen by the LCCC Faculty Association. Shenandoah DeNardo was named Student of the Year. DeNardo graduated magna cum laude with her Associate in Arts degree in General Studies. 

The Early College Student of the Year is Meghan Duffy. Duffy earned her certificate in Cross-Institutional Studies and is a student in the SEED program (Success, Engagement, Education, Determination). 

Photos of LCCC’s Commencement on our Flickr.

Bucknell Community College Scholars Program 

Congratulations to Laura Guevara Quintero, Alyssa Lawson, Krina Patel, Ty Turoczy, Manseob Sin and Ryan Gillott for being accepted to the Bucknell Community College Scholars program, summer 2025. The Bucknell Community College Scholars program is an incredible scholarship opportunity designed for high-achieving community college students who want to earn an associate degree and then take their education further. After successfully completing a six-week summer session at Bucknell, and completing their associate degree, these students are eligible to apply for the full-tuition scholarship to Bucknell University.

Pre-Apprentice Graduation

Friday, June 6, LCCC graduated its fourth cohort to complete the Mechatronics Pre-Apprenticeship program. The program started September of 2021 and has been sold out every year since.

This graduating class began their program in September of 2024 and completed a rigorous course that included topics like mechanical drives, electrical systems, fluid power systems and programmable controllers. All students took tests administered by SACA, the Smart Automation Certification Alliance, as part of their program and received industry-recognized credentials that help to elevate their knowledge and skills.

This year's cohort comprised several students from Sharp Services, B Braun and an independent student.

Four Pennsylvania Community Colleges are joining forces to ADVANCEPA with a Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced on June 9 that Amazon is planning to invest at least $20 billion to establish multiple high-tech cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) innovation campuses across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Amazon’s investment will create at least 1,250 high-paying, high-tech jobs. The first communities identified as sites for these future campuses are Salem Township, Luzerne County, and Falls Township, Bucks County. Several additional Pennsylvania communities are under consideration for data center development.

Under the lead of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC), Luzerne County Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College and Bucks County Community College are joining forces to partner on a Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium in an expanded Northeast Region of Pennsylvania.

The PACCC collaboration will bring together these four community colleges to address workforce while constructing hyperscale data centers and the jobs needed once they are built. As more hyperscale data centers are constructed, other community colleges across the Commonwealth will join to expand the ADVANCEPA Technology & Trade Workforce Consortium.

Read More.

Next Step Resource Fair

The 6th Annual Next Step Resource Fair took place on Thursday, May 29, bringing together high school students with disabilities from across the region. The event aimed to connect students with local colleges, service providers and community partners to explore opportunities related to education, employment, independent living, and support services. Keynote speakers from the Youth Engagement Transition Initiative (YETI) included Michael Uher, a student at Bowling Green State University – Firelands, and Amanda Waldron, an alumna of Lehigh Carbon Community College and a graduate of Kutztown College with a degree in special education. The event was well attended with more than 60 students representing 13 different schools.

Important Dates for July

July 4 Independence Day- Lehigh Carbon Community College Closed

July 9 Admissions Drop-In Event, Schnecksville, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

July 16 Admissions Drop-In Event, Allentown 3-6 p.m.

July 17 Admissions Drop-In Event, Tamaqua, 3-6 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