June 2, 2020
Volume 2 | Issue 22
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.
Community Colleges Play Crucial Role in PA's COVID-19 Recovery
"Community colleges are not just engines of economic growth for state and regional economies, but also provide educational and workforce training that will allow Pennsylvanians to get back to work in family-sustaining careers," said Elizabeth Bolden, president & CEO of the PA Commission for Community Colleges, in a recent submission to the Penn Capital-Star.
Nursing Alumnus Fights COVID-19 as a Member of the National Guard
From a young age, Joel Bergey, who received an associate’s degree in Nursing in 2018 from Montgomery County Community College, dreamed of saving lives. Today he’s a nurse and is in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard serving as an Army Medic on the front lines of one of the most important battlefields of our time– the fight against the COVID-19 virus pandemic.  
'Contact Tracing' Courses Are Offered by Community Colleges
HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, is now offering a course that trains individuals to do contact tracing, an essential way to track and slow the spread of COVID-19. Victor Rodgers, HACC associate provost of workforce development, said the course will teach people skills that outlast the coronavirus pandemic.
Continuing Coverage
PA Community Colleges Respond to COVID-19 as Situation Evolves
Pennsylvania community colleges continue to be proactive in their response to COVID-19. As guidance changes, the most up-to-date information from each community college is available on the Commission's website.
Birthdays & Milestones
Happy (belated) Birthday to Congressman Scott Perry , Sen. Lawrence Farnese Jr. , House Democratic Leader Rep. Frank Dermody , House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Rep. Matt Bradford , Rep. Gerald Mullery , Rep. Tina Picket t, Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver , Rep. Stephen Barrar , Rep. Jim Gregory , Rep. Karen Boback , and Montgomery County Community College alumnus and County Commissioner Kenneth Lawrence .