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Award-Winning BCCC Floral Design Program Returns to the Philadelphia Flower Show
Bucks County Community College’s floral design program returns to the Philadelphia Flower Show February 28 – March 8 after a stunning debut last year, when students took home a silver medal from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Stemming from the show’s theme of “Rooted: Origins of American Gardening,” the College’s exhibit is called “Rooted in Art,” reflecting BCCC’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler.
“’Rooted in Art’ is a celebration of where creativity begins, and how it grows,” said Renee Tucci, a floral design instructor at the College and national president of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). “It tells a story deeply rooted in the vision of Stella Elkins Tyler. Her lifelong love of art, and her unwavering dedication to education, helped shape the rich and diverse creative programs that thrive at Bucks today. She is the root from which it all began.”
The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.
“These pieces — representing ceramic, jewelry, woodworking, photography, and drawing — highlight the collaborative spirit and cross-disciplinary creativity that define the Bucks community,” Tucci noted. “A highlight of the exhibit will be a bronze sculpture of Joan of Arc, created by Tyler herself.”
Lead floral design students taking part are: Amparito Arriaga, CFD (Certified Floral Designer); Isabelle Kondel, Karen Kuyper, Jennifer O’Donnell, CFD; Lauren O’Leary; mother-daughter duo Els Poff, CFD and Melanie Poff, CFD; Mary Rigau, Maria Salinas, Melinda Spink, and Linda Weinberger, CFD.
Art students whose works are featured in the exhibit are: Mason Chase, Payton Ferri, Crystal Grey, Layne Griffaton, Scott Menin, and Sofiya Vasyutinskaya.
Additionally, several students and instructors from the program will be featured on the 6ABC show “FYI Philly” on Saturday, February 28, as part of its Philadelphia Flower Show segment. The special feature will give viewers an inside look at the creative process behind the production and installation of the "Rooted in Art” exhibit.
The BCCC Floral Design program, which offers both certificate and degree options, provides students with hands-on experience and a solid foundation in the art of floristry. As an Educational Partner with the AIFD, the program equips students with the skills necessary to pursue careers in event design, floral retail, and more. Students have the opportunity to become a Certified Floral Designer (CFD) by completing the comprehensive curriculum. For more information, visit the Floral Design Certificate Program web page.
BCCC Celebrates Milestone of 600 Graduates from Industrial Skills Pre-Apprentice
Officials at Bucks County Community College proudly celebrate a major milestone as the College’s Center for Workforce Development surpasses 600 graduates from its industrial skills pre-apprenticeship programs. Launched in 2014, the Metalwork Pre-Apprenticeship program served as the foundation for the Center’s continued growth, leading to the addition of Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeship in 2016 and the Building and Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship in 2023. Together, these programs have prepared hundreds of students with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand industries across the region.
Since starting in 2014, students in the industrial skills pre-apprenticeships have sustained a 94% graduation rate, participated in the programs free of charge, and benefitted from a 90% placement rate in lucrative manufacturing careers. Bucks has partnered with various local, state and federal agencies to sustain these pre-apprenticeships and launch new ones. The Metalwork and Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeships are supported by a $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
“The U.S. Department of Energy workforce training grant supports our collective efforts to prepare the next generation of skilled workers,” said Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. We’re thrilled to be able to offer the education and training necessary for area residents to launch their manufacturing careers with good-paying jobs in high-demand fields.”
Now in the second year of the three-year award, the U.S. Department of Energy award will afford Bucks’ Center for Workforce Development the opportunity to continue the Metalwork and Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeships serving an additional 100 students. Students will receive intensive career training with one-on-one job placement services ensuring that they secure a high-paying career or apprenticeship upon graduation. This one-on-one approach is a cornerstone of the Center for Workforce Development and crucial in sustaining a 90% placement rate.
Graduates of Bucks’ Metalwork and Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeship programs receive a Bucks County Community College Certificate of Completion, a State Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate, OSHA10 and Forklift Safety certifications. Graduates of the Metalwork Program complete the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) assessment, with students historically earning a 97% pass rate — underscoring the strength and quality of the program. In addition, graduates of both training programs earn 12 academic credits toward an associate of applied science degree in Business or Engineering Technology which can help them move into higher-level manufacturing roles as they continue their education.
Both pre-apprenticeships are 288 hours, taught by industry experts and held Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the College’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) facility on the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, Pa. The CAT is a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility offering job seekers access to high-quality career training programs.
Information Sessions
The next cohorts of the Metalwork and Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeship programs will begin on April 13, 2026. Job seekers interested in learning more about these free training programs (valued at $6,500) must attend an information session in either February or March. For information session dates and to register, please visit the Metalwork and Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program web pages.
For more information, contact Associate Vice President for Workforce Development Susan Herring at 267-685-4827 or cwdinquiry@bucks.edu.
Three Poets Laureate Gather for Wordsmiths Reading Series at BCCC
The Wordsmiths Reading Series at Bucks County Community College proudly presents three former Bucks County Poets Laureate who will read from their latest published works at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 27, on the Newtown Campus.
Joseph Chelius, who was named Bucks County Poet Laureate in 2000, will be joined by 1983 Poet Laureate W.D. Ehrhart and 2020 Poet Laureate Jane Edna Mohler. The reading, which is free and open to the public, takes place in room 142 of historic Tyler Hall.
About Joseph Chelius
Joseph Chelius is the author of “Playing Fields” (2025) and four previous collections of poems: “Taking Pitches” and “Row House Yards” (Pudding House Chapbook Series, 2006 and 2011), and “The Art of Acquiescence” and “Crossing State Lines” (WordTech Communications, 2014 and 2020). In addition to being named Bucks County Poet Laureate in 2000, he was the first-place winner of the inaugural short fiction contest at Bucks County Community College.
His work appears in Cider Press Review, Commonweal, Poet Lore, Poetry East, Rattle, THINK, and other journals. A semi-retired editor and editorial director in the healthcare communications industry, Chelius and his wife have two grown children and have lived in Bucks County for 32 years.
About W.D. Ehrhart
W. D. Ehrhart, the 1983 Bucks County Poet Laureate, is a Vietnam War veteran, a dedicated anti-war activist, and author of the memoir “Vietnam-Perkasie,” among other books. He’s also a regular contributor of nonfiction articles to Current Affairs, and is the first poet to be published in its pages. His new poetry collection, “Smart Fish Don’t Bite,” is available from Moonstone Press.
Ehrhart’s poems present straightforward, candid portrayals of experience. He has written about the Vietnam War, but subjects also include encounters with friends and family, and observations of the world around him — for instance, the death of a friend, memories of his grandmother, and his urban Philadelphia neighborhood. He has cited his wife and daughter as influences on his writing.
About Jane Edna Mohler
Jane Edna Mohler is the 2020 Bucks County Poet Laureate and winner of the 2016 Main Street Voices prize. Recent publications include “Gargoyle” and “One Art.” Her collections, “Broken Umbrellas” (2019) and “Autumn Clears” (2025), were both published by Kelsay Books. Mohler is poetry editor of the Schuylkill Valley Journal. She is also an American traditional rug hooker and a devoted gardener.
Another Wordsmiths Reading in April
A USA TODAY best-selling novelist rounds out the spring Wordsmiths Reading Series when Jamie Brenner reads from her works at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16. Her novels include “The Forever Summer,” “Blush,” and the forthcoming trilogy “Blue Angel.” After raising two daughters in New York City, Brenner now lives in Bucks County — the inspiration for her recent novel “The Weekend Crashers.“
The Wordsmiths Reading Series is another way that Bucks County Community College connects the community with the region’s vibrant literary heritage. The series, which is free and open to the public, is funded by the College’s Cultural Affairs Committee. To learn more, visit the Wordsmiths Reading Series webpage or contact the School of Language & Literature at langandlit@bucks.edu or 215-968-8150.
Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Campus is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit the Newtown campus webpage.
Bucks County High School Writing Contests - Call for Entries
Bucks County Community College invites high school scribes to enter the annual short fiction and poetry contests for the opportunity to win prizes and to read their works at a public reception.
Both contests – which are free to enter – are open to students in grades 9 – 12 who attend high school in Bucks County or live in Bucks County. Home-schooled Bucks County high school students are also eligible. Previous winners are not eligible.
Short fiction contest deadline: March 11
For the short fiction contest, now in its ninth year, each student may submit one original short story of 5 -10 double-spaced pages by noon Wednesday, March 11. All entries must be submitted online. Stories must be unpublished and completely original (no fan fiction is permitted). Complete rules and the entry form can be found on our high school short fiction contest webpage.
The first-place winner will receive a $200 honorarium, the second-place winner will receive a $100 honorarium, and the third-place winner will receive a $50 honorarium. The winners will be invited to read from their work at a celebration on campus in April. Faculty will serve as judges. For more information, contact contest director Professor Elizabeth Luciano at elizabeth.luciano@bucks.edu.
Poetry contest deadline: March 13
Meanwhile, the 39th Annual High School Poet of the Year contest is accepting entries through Friday, March 13. Students may submit three original poems for the chance to win $300. In addition, the winner will receive a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners, and the opportunity to read at a public reception. Runners-up and finalists in the contest will also be invited to read at the public event.
The contest will be judged by 2025 Bucks County Poet Laureate Madeline Marriott and 2024 laureate Lake Angela. An online entry form can be found on the high school poet of the year webpage. To learn more, contact Dr. Ethel Rackin, director of the Bucks County Poet Laureate program which runs the high school poetry contest, at ethel.rackin@bucks.edu.
BCCC Announces Spring Art Exhibitions at Upper and Lower Bucks Campuses
2/17/26 Update: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Spring Art Showcase originally scheduled for February 23 - April 10 at the Upper Bucks Campus is postponed, and the February 27 opening reception is cancelled.
Bucks County Community College invites artists and community members to experience two vibrant Spring 2026 art exhibitions at both the Upper Bucks and Lower Bucks campuses, each celebrating original artwork while supporting student scholarships. The exhibitions are free and open to the public and highlight the work of regional artists while fostering creative engagement across the community.
At the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie, the Spring Art Showcase will be presented at the Fickes Gallery from Monday, February 23 through Friday, April 10. An opening reception, free and open to the public, will be held at the Fickes Gallery on Friday, February 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Open to all artists, the non-juried exhibition has no required theme and welcomes both two- and three-dimensional original artwork. Artists may submit up to three works for sale with a $20 entry fee. A 25 percent commission on all sales benefits the Upper Bucks Campus scholarship fund. The registration deadline for the Upper Bucks Campus Spring Art Showcase is Wednesday, February 18. Full submission guidelines, deadlines, and exhibition details are available on the Fickes Gallery webpage.
The Gallery at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol will host Show Some HeART!, a non-juried exhibition featuring original artwork in a variety of mediums, with all works priced at $150 with a portion of each sale benefitting the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks scholarship fund. The exhibition will be on view from Monday, February 9 through Thursday, April 9, with a free and open-to-the-public opening reception on Friday, February 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The artwork for both exhibitions is presented in public campus gallery spaces and is selected for quality, originality, and suitability for viewers of all ages. Community members are welcome to attend the exhibitions and opening receptions to support the arts and student scholarships at Bucks County Community College.
The Upper Bucks Campus is located at One Hillendale Road, Perkasie, PA 18944. The Fickes Gallery is located on the ground floor of the North Building.
The Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks is located at 1304 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA 19007. The Gallery at the Lower Bucks Campus is located on the first floor of the main academic building. There is ample free parking available at both campuses.
BCCC Presents Valentine's Concert Featuring Keith and Amy Spencer
Bucks County Community College helps you kick off the Valentine’s season with “Love, Always: An Evening of Romance Inspired by the Great American Songbook, Broadway, and Classic Pop” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 13.
Keith and Amy Spencer warmly invite you to a heartfelt concert filled with love songs that have stood the test of time. The baritone and soprano bring their real-life romance to the stage, with music that captures every shade of love, from first sparks to lifelong devotion.
The program draws from the Great American Songbook and features the elegance of classic Broadway and Hollywood favorites alongside beloved pop ballads from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. It’s brought to life by an extraordinary jazz ensemble made up of some of the finest musicians in the Philadelphia area.
The curtain rises in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the Newtown Campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., where there is ample free parking. Come early for refreshments at the Zlock Lobby Bar, opening at 6 p.m. (cash only). Learn more and purchase tickets at the Zlock Performing Arts Center.
The show is part of the Bucks Live! series of innovative programs that entertain, inspire, and enrich Bucks County’s cultural landscape. Take in world-class live music, dance, and theatrical performances close to home and at an affordable price. Explore more opportunities at the Zlock Performing Arts Center.
