May 7, 2019
Volume 1 | Issue 18
Your Weekly Commission Update
Community colleges play an important role in educating and training current and future generations of workers,
in addition to providing affordable and responsive higher education to thousands of Pennsylvanians every year.
Featured News
Shell Training Center Expansion Enhances Career Pipeline
Last week Gov. Tom Wolf , U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb , Sen. Elder Vogel , Rep. Rob Matzie , Rep. Jim Marshall and many others joined team members from the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) for the phase II groundbreaking of the Shell Center for Process Technology Education . Videos of lawmakers and business leaders talking about workforce development opportunities created by the training program offered at CCBC are on Twitter.
Partnership with Disney Benefits Community College Students
This spring, the Disney Co-Op Program is celebrating its 30 th year at Lehigh Carbon Community College. Since its program began in 1989, more than LCCC 400 students have participated in the paid internship at either Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California. Seven LCCC students are even working at Disney this spring!
First Cohort Graduates from HACC’s Industrial Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship
Students from HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, recently became the first graduates of an 18-month program, earning them a journey worker credential from the United States Department of Labor and a certified production technician credential from the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council. The certifications fully qualify graduates to work at local employer  AMES Reese.
Congressman and Alumnus Dwight Evans Speaks at College Commencement
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, a graduate of Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) and La Salle University, was this year’s principal speaker at CCP’s 53rd Commencement. About 8,000 parents, friends and candidates for graduation attended the weekend ceremony.
Congratulations to Sen. Langerholc,
Chair of the Senate Education Committee
Congratulations to Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. on becoming the new chair of the Senate Education Committee !

In the 2019-2020 session, Sen. Langerholc serves as the chairman of the Senate Education Committee and is the vice-chairman of the Judiciary Committee . He also serves on the Appropriations , Communications and Technology , Games & Fisheries , Local Government , and Transportation Committees .
Community College of Philadelphia Associate Vice President Selected for Prestigious Aspen Fellowship
David Thomas , associate vice president of strategic initiatives at the Community College of Philadelphia , is the only Pennsylvanian named to the 2019-20 class of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence .

Mr. Thomas is one of 40 administrators selected to attend the 10-month program aimed at preparing the next generation of community college presidents. Nearly 80 percent of community college presidents are expected to retire in the next 10 years, according to the Aspen Institute . 
Birthdays & Milestones
Hope you Enjoy a Fabulous Year!
Happy (belated) birthday to Rep. Mark Rozzi , Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik , Rep. Keith Greiner and Rep. Tedd Nesbit !

Did we miss someone? Birthday submissions are welcomed to media@pacommunitycolleges.org .