September 17, 2019
Volume 1 | Issue 37
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 Train Students for In-Demand Careers
Two Pennsylvania community colleges,  Butler County Community College and the Community College of Beaver County, are joining forces to respond to a commercial pilot shortage. Working with  High Flight Academy, the colleges will prepare aviation academy students for their pilot certificate and instrument flight rating.
Students to Represent America in International Culinary Competition
Two culinary arts majors at Northampton Community College have been invited to compete in the International Young Chefs Association Challenge in NingBo, China, in October.  Matthew Kirby and Thomas Traupman will represent America as one of sixteen international teams and the only team from the United States.
Agreement Offers Discounted BSN Pathway to Nursing Students
Past and future licensed graduates of the Westmoreland County Community College nursing program are being offered a 25 percent per credit tuition adjustment to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree from select Penn State campuses. The agreement signed last month also includes merit- and need-based scholarships of up to $3,000. 
Monks from India Offer Cultural Experience to Community College
Monks from the  Drepung Gomang Monastery in 
India will be in residence and engaged in various cultural and meditative activities at  Bucks County Community College now through September 20. The college also hosted residencies for Tibetan Buddhist monks in 2002 and 2016.
Delaware County Community College Faculty Honored with Prestigious National Communications Award
Congratulations to  Delaware County Community College  Communication Studies Professor Dr. Susan M. Ward , who was selected by the National Communication Association to receive its 2019 Michael and Suzanne Osborn Community College Outstanding Educator Award .

The award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution through teaching at a community college. Professor Ward was nominated by colleagues and by students who wrote letters of support.
Students Can Spend an Average of $1,000+ on Books Annually
Are your text books breaking the bank?  Yahoo has 11 tips to help cut student textbook costs this fall. For instance, did you know there was such a thing as a textbook scholarship ? 

"...textbook companies usually sell their text in many forms, including digital and sometimes in loose-leaf binders - both which are less expensive than traditional versions," says one former psychology professor of Community College of Philadelphia  and founder of Gurner Consulting .
Birthdays & Milestones
Hope you Enjoy a Fabulous Year!
Happy (belated) Birthday to Rep. Brian Sims , Rep. Mary Jo Daley , Rep. Joe Ciresi , Rep. Angel Cruz , Rep. Seth Grove , Rep. Jeff Pyle , Rep. Morgan Cephas , Rep. Torren Ecker , Rep. Allen Kukovich , Rep. Melissa Shusterman , ( Community College of Allegheny County alumna) Sen. Kim Ward , Sen. Mike Regan and Majority Leader Sen. Jake Corman !

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