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Visitors Flocked to ‘Birdhouse Bacchanal’ in Outdoor Art Contest
Bucks County Community College students (left-right) Ali Vafaee of Princeton, Ryan Roberts of Bensalem, and Monique Perry of Churchville accepted a $500 check from Warrington Township and Gateway Kia on August 14, joined by Clifford Eberly (right), the College’s senior manager of galleries and exhibitions. The students created “Birdhouse Bacchanal” in their Intro to Sculpture class, which was the top vote-getter in this summer’s outdoor sculpture exhibition at Warrington’s Lions Pride Park. It now becomes the first work in the township’s permanent outdoor collection. (PHOTO: Mel Evans for Bucks County Community College)
“Birdhouse Bacchanal,” a mixed media sculpture created by students in Bucks County Community College’s Introduction to Sculpture class, was the top vote-getter in the first-of-its-kind outdoor sculpture exhibition installed along the trails of Warrington’s Lions Pride Park this summer. The township presented a $500 check, courtesy of Gateway KIA, to the artists on August 14 to purchase the sculpture as the first work in the park’s permanent collection. The exhibition, installed along the park’s walking trails, showcased three collaborative sculptures created by Bucks students and two works by alumni.
Students from Bucks County Community College's Intro to Sculpture Class show off their mixed media creation “Birdhouse Bacchanal,” which was chosen by visitors to Warrington’s Lions Pride Park to be purchased as the first piece for the township’s permanent outdoor art collection. Pictured (left-right) are Ali Vafaee of Princeton, Monique Perry of Churchville, Dave Miller of Yardley, and Ryan Roberts of Bensalem. (PHOTO: Mel Evans for Bucks County Community College)
“Tapestry,” a mixed media sculpture created by students in Bucks County Community College’s Sculpture Foundry class, was one of five works that were part of an outdoor exhibition this summer at Warrington’s Lions Pride Park. Pictured with their creation are (left-right) Sunny Howard of Doylestown, Bill Sticker of Warminster, Bob Rauch of Upper Dublin, Cyna Worthman of Washington Crossing, and Chuck Bennett of Wrightstown. (PHOTO: Mel Evans for Bucks County Community College)
Charis Hasney, left, and Chuck Bennett of Wrightstown show off “Bucky,” which they created with their fellow students in a recent 3D Design Fundamentals Class at Bucks County Community College. The mixed media sculpture was among five works by students and alumni on display this summer along the walking trails at Warrington's Lion's Pride Park. (PHOTO: Mel Evans for Bucks County Community College)
Storytellers Wanted: Search Begins for the Best Short Fiction Tale
Bucks County Community College is searching for the best short fiction tale in the county, College officials announced, with the winning scribes getting the opportunity to read alongside a well-known author.
Dennis Tafoya, author of “Dope Thief” and other crime novels, will be the final judge, said Elizabeth Luciano, the language and literature professor who is the director of the contest.
“The first-, second-, and third-place winners will be honored at a reading in November on the Newtown Campus, and will be joined by Mr. Tafoya,” Luciano said. “We are thrilled to have a bestselling novelist as our final judge and guest.”
Tafoya, who lives in Bucks County, is the author of three crime novels set in and around his native Philadelphia. “Dope Thief,” originally published in 2009, was republished in 2025 in conjunction with its release as an Emmy-nominated series on Apple TV. Tafoya is also the author of the novels “The Wolves of Fairmount Park” and “The Poor Boy’s Game.” His short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Philadelphia Noir and “Best American Mystery Stories.”
Luciano noted that the contest is open to Bucks County residents over the age of 18 who have not previously placed first. Bucks County Community College employees are not eligible. The top three winners will receive honoraria of $200, $100, and $50.
The deadline for submissions is noon Thursday October 8. Stories must be previously unpublished, including in blogs and online platforms, and must be submitted online. Use of artificial intelligence in any form is strictly prohibited. Complete contest rules and the link for submissions can be found by visiting the short fiction contest website. A short fiction contest for high-school students will be held in the spring.
The Bucks County Short Fiction Contest receives funding and administrative support from the School of Language and Literature at Bucks County Community College. For further information, contact Professor Elizabeth Luciano at Elizabeth.Luciano@bucks.edu.
Professor Mary Dura Earns Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award
Longtime Bucks Nursing Educator Honored for Excellence, Student Support, and Real-World Instruction Mary Dura, Ed.D., who has taught nursing at Bucks County Community College for more than 20 years and worked in the profession for many years before that, has received the prestigious 2026 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
The honor reflects her long-term commitment to high-quality instruction and student success and celebrates teaching that is challenging, clear, and lasting in its effect on a student's worldview.
Dura, who earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing and Master of Science in nursing at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and her doctor of education at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, said she was shocked and deeply humbled by the news.
“My immediate feeling was gratitude—to my students, colleagues, mentors, family, and the nursing profession itself,” said Dura. “Teaching nursing has never felt like simply a job to me. It is a privilege and a responsibility, so to be recognized for something that means so much to me personally was incredibly moving.”
Arguably her biggest fan, her young daughter, was by her side when she received the award.
“One of the most meaningful parts of the celebration was sharing it with my 10-year-old daughter, Julia,” Dura recalled. “She can be a little shy, so I was especially touched when she unexpectedly decided to walk up to the stage with me. Seeing the pride in her eyes made an unforgettable day even more special.”
Dura’s transition into higher education began unexpectedly during graduate school when a professor encouraged her to teach a health assessment course. For years, she balanced clinical nursing practice with teaching, bringing real-world patient scenarios directly into her lectures. She eventually transitioned to full-time education to make a broader impact by preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.
In the classroom, Dura uses dynamic methods such as case studies, high-fidelity simulations, guided discussions, and clinical practice to help students build strong critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. Emphasizing adaptable learning styles, she meets students where they are while ensuring they master modern healthcare demands, including patient safety, evidence-based care, and emerging technology.
“Without question, the feedback that means the most is hearing from former students who tell me they felt prepared when caring for patients during difficult moments or that something they learned in class helped them make a safe clinical decision,” said Dura. “Nursing is such a human profession, and knowing that students feel more capable, compassionate, and confident in caring for others is deeply rewarding.”
Bucks County Community College offers an associate degree in nursing that prepares graduates to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) to become licensed registered nurses. To learn more, visit our associate degree nursing website, email ADNursingDirector@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8353.
Welcome to College This Fall with Destination Bucks
Advising and registration help is available August 10-24 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Bristol, Perkasie, and Online Bucks County Community College is making it easier to enroll in college this fall with Destination Bucks, a streamlined way for students to meet one-on-one with an advisor and get registration help this August.
“After a similar successful event for the spring semester, we’re bringing it back for the fall,” said Joe Giuffre, interim director of advising. “Students can meet with an advisor, take placement tests, learn about financial aid, register for classes, and much more, while getting ready to advance their academic career.”
College staff will be available to help students fill out the free application to the college, choose courses, and navigate the registration and payment processes, added Giuffre. There will be timeslots and staff available for 20 students an hour, and in-person attendees will receive refreshments and special gifts. Most students can complete advising requirements and register for classes with just one visit.
Bucks County Community College is an open-admission, public college that offers transfer and job-ready pathways. For students interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a top-ranked university, the value is clear — they can save 28%-68% on their bachelor’s degree by completing their first two years at Bucks thanks to 2+2 dual admission agreements. Bucks has been ranked among best value community colleges in Pennsylvania. Learn more at bucks.edu/save.
Destination Bucks takes place Monday – Friday, August 10–24 on the Newtown Campus, the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie, and live online. Fall semester classes begin August 26, September 14, and October 19. For more information, visit our advising website. For questions, email info@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8001.
The Search Is On for the 50th Bucks County Poet Laureate
Bucks County Community College is searching for a scribe who will be named the 50th Bucks County Poet Laureate. County residents over the age of 18, who have not previously earned the title, are invited to submit 10 original poems in any style by Friday, September 25.
The winner of the competition will receive a $500 honorarium, and a plaque from the county commissioners, and will be honored with a November reading and reception at Bucks County Community College with 2025 Poet Laureate Madeline Marriott and contest runners-up.
The Bucks County Poet Laureate program, which began in 1977, is the longest-running poet laureate contest in Pennsylvania. Administered by Bucks County Community College, the program also holds the Bucks County High School Poet of the Year contest every spring.
The poems entered will be read by a preliminary judge who will narrow the entries down, and a final judge, who will determine the winner and runners-up.
The preliminary judge will be Michelle Messina Reale, a poet, writer and professor at Arcadia University. She is the 2026 Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, the director of Arcadia University's low-residency MFA program, and the author of several poetry collections including her latest, “Let it be Extravagant” (Bordighera Press, 2025). She is the founding and managing editor of both “OVUNQUE SIAMO: New Italian-American Writing” and “The Red Fern Review.”
The final judge will be Jeanne Marie Beaumont, the author of five books of poetry, including “Placebo Effects,” a winner of the National Poetry Series, and most recently “Lessons with Scissors.” She is coeditor of “The Poets’ Grimm” anthology and author of the verse play “Asylum Song.” She formerly served as director of the Frost Place Seminar and has taught at Rutgers University, the Stonecoast MFA program, and the 92nd St. Y. Born and raised in Delaware County, Pa., she has lived in New York City for over 40 years.
There is no fee to enter the Bucks County Poet Laureate contest. The entry requires 10 poems, in any style, form, or length. All work must be original, published or unpublished, typewritten or word-processed, with one poem per page, in black ink. Poems and entry form must be submitted online.
For more information, contact Dr. Ethel Rackin at ethel.rackin@bucks.edu.
BCCC and Warrington Township Partner on Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition
Bucks County Community College and Warrington Township have partnered to present a unique outdoor sculpture exhibition at Lions Pride Park through August 15.
The exhibition, installed along the park’s walking trails, showcases three collaborative sculptures created by current Bucks students and two works by alumni. Visitors are invited to vote for their favorite sculpture, and the piece with the most votes will be purchased by the township for permanent installation in the park, located at 3129 Bradley Road in Chalfont.
For a closer look at the artwork and the creative process behind them, Professor Jon Burns will lead a guided Sculpture Walk from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 26. The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required through Warrington Township Parks & Recreation under "Community Events."
During the walk, Burns will discuss the inspiration behind each sculpture, the materials and techniques used, and how the College's 3D Arts curriculum prepared students and alumni to bring the large-scale pieces to life. Burns has taught in Bucks' 3D Arts program for many years, including a course on large-scale, site-specific sculpture.
The exhibition reflects the College's commitment to experiential learning and community engagement while enhancing the local cultural landscape, noted Carolina Blatt, Ph.D., dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
"Once we were approached by Warrington Township with this idea, we started thinking about how to get our students involved with this opportunity, and at the same time, highlight our programs and the fact that we have some really unique facilities," said Blatt. "We have a foundry, a wood shop, and all these amazing studios that people might not know about, so it seemed like a natural fit to show what we're doing while also helping Warrington add engaging public art to its trails."
