July 30, 2019
Volume 1 | Issue 30
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 Help Parents
The vice president of Enrollment Management at 
Westmoreland County Community College,  Dr. Sydney Beeler, has become a powerful advocate for low-income single mothers trying to better themselves and their families through education. One resource is the  PA Department of Human Services  KEYS Program, which allows parents on cash assistance to meet federal work requirements by enrolling at community college.
Meet Marissa: Student Says Flexibility Made College Possible
Here's another inspiring story from  Northampton Community College. Marissa is pursuing her higher education goals and sometimes does her homework with her kids. Community college gave her a means to independence and a future career about which she can feel passionate. Watch her compelling video by Achieving the Dream here.
Community College Police Graduate Earns Promotion
Congratulations to these  Plymouth Township police officers on their promotions, especially Montgomery County Community College alumnus Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Unit Sgt. Christopher Schwartz, who also serves as Chief of the Barren Hill Fire Company.
Community College Nursing Student to Present Abstract
Hollis Laird , a student in the Community College of Allegheny County Nursing program, has been invited to present a poster on her abstract , “Postpartum Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Among Women in Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder” at the 2019 Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology Annual Meeting. The abstract is based on the work Laird does as research coordinator at Magee-Womens Research Institute , where she works full-time while attending CCAC. 
Penn Highlands Community College Appoints New Director
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is excited to announce the hiring of Chris Farrell to lead the College’s Blair Center as its new Director . 
 
Chris Farrell joins Penn Highlands Community College after serving as the Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment at The Art Institute of Virginia Beach for the past six years. Overall, he successfully led teams at nine different colleges over the course of 14 years.
Birthdays & Milestones
Hope you Enjoy a Fabulous Year!
Happy (belated) birthday to Rep. Perry Warren , Rep. Russ Diamond , Rep. Peter Schweyer , Rep. Marci Mustello , Rep. Danielle Friel Otten , Rep. Mike Jones and Sen. Pam Iovino !

Did we miss someone? Birthday submissions are welcomed to [email protected] .