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‘Visions of America’ Celebrates the Nation's 250th Anniversary
As Bucks County marks America's semiquincentennial, the Hicks Art Center Gallery at Bucks County Community College will host "Visions of America," an invitational group exhibition June 5 to July 25 on the Newtown Campus.
The multimedia showcase seamlessly blends contemporary art with significant historical loans, brought together by local artists and cultural organizations, to capture select evolutionary moments of the country’s 250-year history told through both human and animal perspectives.
The public is invited to an opening reception on Friday, June 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission to the gallery and reception is free.
Multiple Perspectives on the American Experience
Funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, "Visions of America" addresses pivotal topics within the history and evolution of the United States. Artworks and historical loans explore themes of personal independence, patriotism, war, animal conservation, queer trans identity, 1960s politics, creativity within the Quaker faith, and the trauma of slavery.
Clifford Eberly, Senior Manager of Galleries and Exhibitions at the Hicks Art Center Gallery, curated the exhibition by asking a diverse group to self-select or invite artists to propose works that reflect on the nation's past, present, and future.
“I invited a broad sampling of artists and cultural workers to present the most dynamic grouping of viewpoints that grapple with America’s history and where we are going as a nation,” Eberly said. “Within the exhibition framework, my goal is for gallery visitors to feel like they learn something new that sparks a shared dialogue within themselves and with others.”
The resulting multimedia collection contrasts the possibilities of democracy with critical realizations, emphasizing that for global civilization to advance holistically, humility toward one another and the natural world must begin at a local level.
For example, the earliest artifact on display is a Continental Army enlistment oath, selected by Library & Archives Director Annie Halliday at the Mercer Museum in Doylestown. In a contemporary contrast, artist Vincent Hawley, invited by Michener Art Museum Registrar Emma Falcon, presents an inspired drawing of America’s founding document titled “Write Your Own Constitution.”
Historians Dave Callahan and Kathy Gonsalves of the Newtown Historic Association have loaned their 1976 documentary film capturing the commemorative July 4th Bicentennial parade in Newtown.
Artist and designer Edward Bennett contributes “Focal Point,” a large collage fashioned from salvaged razor blades that includes a painting of a very small American flag. Meanwhile, printmaker Mikel Elam’s multi-color print “Veil,” selected from the personal collection of Past Present Projects founder Heather Moqtaderi, features a close-knit group of Black figures rising above the shackles of slavery through spirited mindfulness.
Duwenavue Santé Johnson, invited by the College’s Arts faculty member Mary Henderson, researched the work of her newly discovered distant relative, Mary Ivins Cunningham, a historic Newtown-based Quaker artist. Johnson will exhibit an original textile symbolically evoking the ethereal spirituality found in Cunningham’s observational artwork.
Shifting to the natural world, Paul Swenbeck, Director of Exhibitions at the Academy of Natural Sciences, presents an experiential installation of objects and photographs advocating for animal voices within the context of America's future survival.
These and many more “Visions of America” are on exhibition June 5 – July 25 at the Hicks Art Center Gallery at Bucks County Community College, located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa.
Admission to all events is free. To learn more, visit the Hicks Art Gallery website and follow on Instagram at @bcccarts.
“Visions of America” is presented by the College’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, which offers seven associate degrees and three certificate programs. Through coursework, exhibitions, and community engagement, the school prepares students for careers in the arts and inspires appreciation for creative expression. To learn more, email arts.comm@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8425.
Event Details
"Visions of America" is free and open to the community.
Exhibition Dates: June 5 – July 25, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, June 5, 4 – 8 p.m.
Location: Hicks Art Center Gallery, Bucks County Community College, 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, PA 18940
Dozens of Firefighters Earn National Certifications From BCCC
Bucks County Community College celebrated its most recent graduates of Basic Fire Academy Training with a ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, on the Newtown Campus. A total of 46 volunteer firefighters received hands-on training at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown and the Lower Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Croydon. In addition to receiving their certificates of completion, one firefighter from each class was chosen for the outstanding student award. Eric Green of New Hope, who volunteers with the New Hope Eagle Fire Company, and Bruce Andrew Ferry of Bristol, who runs with the 3rd District Volunteer Fire Company in Bristol Township, were each recognized for their leadership.
Volunteer firefighters (left-right) Matthew Shaw, Tracy Topolin, Vladimir Usatin and Steven Whiskeyman process into the Newtown Campus Gymnasium on May 19 for the graduation ceremony of Bucks County Community College’s Department of Public Safety Training and Certification. The members of Spring Battalion 2 completed Basic Fire Academy Training at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown. They were among 46 first responders who earned certifications this spring. (CREDIT: Ryan Allison for Bucks County Community College)
Tracie Young-Brungard of the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner delivers the keynote address to 46 volunteer firefighters who received their national certification from Bucks County Community College at a May 19 ceremony. (CREDIT: Ryan Allison for Bucks County Community College)
Bucks County Community College’s Department of Public Safety Training and Certification honored two volunteer firefighters with outstanding student awards for their leadership during Basic Fire Academy Training this spring. Pictured (left-right) are: BCCC President and CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones; Eric Green of New Hope, a volunteer with the New Hope Eagle Fire Company; Bruce Andrew Ferry of Bristol, a volunteer with the Third District Fire Company in Bristol Township; and Matthew Hatrak, the College’s executive director of public and contracted training. The honors were presented at a May 19 graduation ceremony on the College’s Newtown Campus. (CREDIT: Ryan Allison for Bucks County Community College)
Bucks County Community College Celebrates its 60th Commencement Ceremony
Bucks County Community College celebrated the Class of 2026 Thursday, May 21, at two ceremonies marking the College’s 60th annual commencement.
The public, two-year college conferred a total of 924 associate degrees and certificates for the 2025-2026 academic year. Hundreds of students took part in two ceremonies on the Newtown Campus, with family members, friends, faculty, and other supporters cheering them on.
At each ceremony, graduates heard from one of their own. At the 10 a.m. event, the student speaker was honors program graduate and science major Sierra Kunigus. The Kintnersville, Pa., resident was the founder and president of the Astronomy Club, student government secretary, and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society.
Through the help and encouragement of her professors, Kunigus attended a summer research experience for undergraduates at East Texas A&M University, where she will continue her education, pursuing a bachelor's degree in physics with an astrophysics emphasis and minor in chemistry.
Kunigus reflected not only on the change she saw in herself during her two years at Bucks, but in her classmates, club members and friends.
“I’ve watched as students discovered their passions, found their voices, became leaders, and formed friendships that changed their lives,” Kunigus said. “Those interactions reminded me that a community is nothing without its people, and because of all of you, my journey at Bucks didn’t just give me my hope back, it transformed it into power.”
At 2 p.m., graduates heard from honors program graduate and communication studies major Lia Peralta Joa. The Telford, Pa., resident is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society, was active with the Hispanic and Latino Student Union, and won statewide awards for her reporting for the Centurion student newspaper.
Joa, who immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic with her family at age six, is a licensed cosmetologist whose goal is to open her own business, using her communication and marketing skills to fuel her success. The first in her family to go to college, Joa expressed particular gratitude to her family, saying she was not only graduating for herself, but for her parents, too.
“Growing up, I watched my parents work incredibly hard and sacrifice so much just so I could have opportunities that they never had themselves,” said Joa. “There were times during college when I felt pressure to succeed because I knew this moment was bigger than just me. Their sacrifices, love, and support are the reason I stand here today, and that makes this achievement even more meaningful.”
Other outstanding graduates include Noah Morris of Bensalem, the business administration major and captain of the Centurions basketball team, who was named to the 2026 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team by the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges and Phi Theta Kappa. That distinction earned him a full-tuition waiver at West Chester University, where he will study finance.
Another top graduate is early education major Hanna McMenamin, who was also named to the All-PA Academic Team because of her outstanding academic and campus activities. The Newtown resident will complete her studies at West Chester University, where she has earned a full-tuition waiver and other scholarships.
These are just some of the Bucks County Community College graduates who are making a difference in their community and who were celebrated at the 60h annual commencement.
Heather McMenamin (right), a PreK-4 Early Education major, processes into Bucks County Community College’s 60th Annual Commencement. The Newtown resident graduated from the College’s honors program and was named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team by the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Bucks County Community College graduates who earned Latin honors – such as summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude – stand to be recognized at the College’s 60th Annual Commencement May 21. More than 900 students earned associate degrees or certificates in the 2025-2026 academic year. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Kristina Novak (center), who graduated from Bucks County Community College with an associate degree in health sciences, was named the 2026 President’s Cup recipient for her outstanding contribution to the college community through student activities, service, and leadership. She was among several hundred graduates who participated in the College’s 60th Annual Commencement May 21.(CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Honors program graduate and science major Sierra Kunigus of Kintnersville, Pa., addresses fellow members of Bucks County Community College’s class of 2026 at the morning commencement ceremony on May 21. “I’ve watched as students discovered their passions, found their voices, became leaders, and formed friendships that changed their lives. Those interactions reminded me that a community is nothing without its people,” she said. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Lia Peralta Joa, who graduated with honors from Bucks County Community College May 21 with a communication degree, addressed classmates in the afternoon ceremony from the perspective of a first-generation college graduate who immigrated to the U.S. at age six. “Growing up, I watched my parents work incredibly hard and sacrifice so much just so I could have opportunities that they never had… Their sacrifices, love, and support are the reason I stand here today, and that makes this achievement even more meaningful.” (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Six Dozen Nursing Graduates Are Set to Launch Careers
Bucks County Community College celebrated its Associate Degree Nursing class of 2026 at its 55th annual pinning ceremony - the symbolic welcoming of nursing school graduates into the profession - on Wednesday, May 20. Seventy-two soon-to-be nurses received a pin with a special insignia reflecting their alma mater. The graduates are poised to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed registered nurses. Recent graduating classes have achieved an impressive 95-100% NCLEX pass rate. The program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Teresa McMonagle, CRNP, RN, an alumna of Bucks County Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program, addresses the AD Nursing class of 2026 at the 55th annual pinning ceremony May 20. The 72 graduates range in age from 21 to 54 years old, with 83% female and 17% male. More than 90% are Bucks County residents; others are from surrounding counties. (Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Sydney Doan, a member of Bucks County Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program class of 2026, addresses fellow graduates at the 55th annual pinning ceremony May 20. Other outstanding graduates included Jenna Hunter and Klaudia Dudzinksi, who were recognized at their clinical sites with nominations for the DAISY award for outstanding patient care. (Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Six dozen graduates of Bucks County Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing Program wait to get their pins on May 20. The pinning ceremony is a tradition that is a symbolic welcoming of graduate nurses into the profession. Now that they’ve completed the accredited program, the graduates are poised to take licensing exams to become registered nurses. (Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Soon-to-be nurses celebrate after receiving their pins at Bucks County Community College’s 55th Annual Nurses Pinning Ceremony. The six dozen graduates, who earned associate degrees, will step in to meet the demand for registered nurses after taking state licensing exams.(Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
New Pathways for Bucks Centurions to Become La Salle University Explorers
Bucks County Community College has strengthened its partnership with La Salle University to create new pathways for graduates of the two-year college to transfer to the Philadelphia-based university.
The presidents of both institutions signed two new transfer agreements Monday, May 11 at the College’s Newtown Campus.
The first creates an Honors-to-Honors Agreement, allowing students who graduate from the community college’s Honors@Bucks program to transfer seamlessly into La Salle’s honors program.
In the second agreement, students who earn an associate degree at Bucks with a GPA of at least 3.0 and sign a dual-admission agreement in advance can enter select La Salle business or technology bachelor’s degree programs with a guaranteed minimum of $20,000 per year merit scholarship for their junior and senior years.
What’s more, Bucks graduates who elect to pursue their bachelor’s and master’s degree together in one of the eligible business or technology programs will also receive a 20% tuition discount towards their master’s program. The bachelor’s and master’s degrees can be completed at La Salle within three years.
Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D., said the agreements are a testament to the high caliber of Bucks graduates.
“Each year, we graduate students who have proven their academic rigor through our highly-rated honors, business, and technology programs,” said Jones. “These agreements will open doors for Bucks graduates to continue to excel at La Salle University while saving more than two-thirds on the cost of their bachelor’s degree.”
Bucks County Community College students who take advantage of the dual admission agreement with La Salle University save almost $114,000 by completing their associate degree at Bucks before transferring to La Salle.
“La Salle University is proud to enter into this new partnership with Bucks County Community College,” said La Salle University President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D. “This agreement is a reflection of our shared commitment to breaking down barriers to higher education and supporting student success. Not only will students receive a clear and supportive pathway beginning by earning their associate degree at Bucks and continuing their education at La Salle, but the scholarship and tuition discount available through this partnership will also provide impactful financial support. This can make a significant difference for students and their families as they pursue their educational goals. I look forward to the meaningful difference we will make for our students through this partnership.”
Bucks County Community College graduates transfer to a number of top dual admission partner universities, saving 28% - 68% on their bachelor's degree.
Annual Salute to Mothers Scholarship Tea Raises Thousands for Student Parents
America’s founding mothers as well as mothers of today were in the spotlight Friday, May 1, at Bucks County Community College’s 19th annual Salute to Mothers Scholarship Tea. More than 200 people attended the fundraiser to support scholarships for students who are parents, such as Kassandra Castillo, who shared her story of returning to college after losing her father to COVID-19 just before learning she was pregnant. Her father’s last words to her were, “Please graduate college and be someone important in this life.” The scholarship has helped her do just that, as she graduates May 21 with an associate degree in journalism while already working as a freelance reporter. Guests were greeted by students in colonial-era costumes, and student research posters about the women who helped forge the new nation 250 years ago were on display at the event.
Guests arriving at Bucks County Community College’s Salute to Mothers Scholarship Tea on May 1 were greeted by students in colonial costumes – courtesy of Bristol Riverside Theater - in homage to America’s founding mothers. The 19th annual fundraiser was held in the gardens behind historic Tyler Hall on the Newtown Campus. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
More than 200 guests gathered in the outdoor event space in Bucks County Community College’s Tyler Formal Gardens for the 19th annual Salute to Mothers Scholarship Tea on May 1. Established in 2007 by Professor Emerita Betty Tsai, the scholarship has helped more than 265 students, providing over $366,000 in financial assistance to those pursuing their academic goals while raising a family. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Salute to Mothers scholarship recipient Kassandra Castillo says she returned to college in her late 20s to fulfill her father’s dying wish after he passed from COVID-19 in 2021. The journalism major credited her mother, who immigrated to the U.S. from Nicaragua at age 22, with inspiration and support to fulfill her dreams. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Kassandra Castillo (right) hugs her mom after the Bucks County Community College journalism student delivered the keynote speech at the 19th annual Salute to Mothers Scholarship Tea. Castillo, who won multiple awards as editor of the student newspaper and is already working as a freelance journalist, credited her mother for helping her succeed. “Without her watching my daughter day in and day out every day while I work and go to school, I wouldn’t be here. She is the reason for my accomplishments. She is the reason I am where I am.” (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
The 2026 Salute to Mothers Scholarship Tea Committee celebrated nearly a year’s worth of planning that included creating more than three dozen raffle baskets and gathering several more high-end silent auction items. The committee included (left-right) Nereida McCulley-Breustedt, Pam Ottenheimer, Susanne Derby, Reeti Behera, Karen O’Donnell, Mary Ellen Bornak, Elizabeth Luckenbill, Mary Jane Leonard, Susan Pfizenmayer, Amy Masgay, Samantha Gross, Andrew States, Danielle Brody, and Carole Williams (Not pictured: Betty Tsai, Marilyn Puchalski). (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
