Skip to content
Hicks Art Center Gallery Announces First-Ever Virtual Reality Exhibition
The Bucks County Community College School of Arts and Communication is pleased to announce that the Hicks Art Center Gallery will host its first virtual reality exhibition, Reality’s Fugue: Virtual Reality Meets Art & Philosophy from February 10 through March 1, 2025. An author and artists’ talk with author F. Samuel Brainard, artist Carol Cruickshanks and designer Christian Kowalchuk will be held on February 12 at 2 p.m. in the gallery followed by an opening reception, 4–7 p.m., on the same day. Both events are free and open to the public.
Based on his book, “Reality’s Fugue: Reconciling Worldviews in Philosophy, Religion, and Science,” the author F. Samuel Brainard collaborated with David Tamés to produce and direct the approximately 10-minute VR experience which features immersive and dynamic visuals, realistic audio narration, and motion tracking without hand controllers. Carol Cruickshanks hosted the premiere exhibition as Executive Director of New Hope Arts in January 2024. Since April of 2024, she has been the co-producer of the current exhibition, the staging, refined installation, and new collaboration. As exhibition designer, Christian Kowalchuk has worked with Brainard to re-envision the upcoming installation at Hicks Art Center to include two rooms within the gallery to enhance the individualized experience.
Unlike gaming VR environments where the goal is usually to successfully achieve a task, Reality’s Fugue: Virtual Reality Meets Art & Philosophy guides participants through nonhierarchical worldviews of the universe demonstrating an origin story illustrated by our creatively shared experiences. Both the book and the VR production strive to prove how we are simultaneously individuals and collective beings.
F. Samuel Brainard, Ph.D., is an independent scholar of Asian and Western religions and philosophy. He has taught at Temple and Rutgers Universities. His work has been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion as well as in his prior book, Reality and Mystical Experience (Penn State University Press, 2000). This is his first book for both general and academic audiences, and several of the concepts that it develops reveal connections to his earlier work.
Reality’s Fugue: Virtual Reality Meets Art & Philosophy was produced and directed by F. Samuel Brainard and David Tamés. The contributing artists include Carol Cruickshanks, Susanne Pitak-Davis, Aurelle Purdy Sprout, and Stacie Speer Scott. Patrick Nugent served as the developer and the 3D artists were Patrick Nugent and Katerina Pak. The composer was Linda Erickson and the narration was written by Jenny Paschall with Fran Perlman narrating. Technical consultants included Danger Donaghey, Oscar Keyes, and Matt Seibert. Special thanks go to New Hope Arts, Stanley Timek and the Bucks County Community College Media Center, Robert Bullington and Front Row Seat Productions, LLC, Susan Bindig, Jeffrey Jacobson, Ryan Murray, Carol Parker, Celia Pearce, and Elizabeth A. Stier.
Hicks Art Center Gallery275 Swamp RoadNewtown, PA 18940
Gallery hours during the exhibition: Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturdays February 15, 22 and March 1, 12–4 p.m.
For more information please contact: gallery@bucks.edu
Image credit: Patrick Nugent
Bucks County Community College Graduates Firefighters
Bucks County Community College graduated more than 120 firefighters on Tuesday, December 17, at a Newtown Campus ceremony that drew an overflow crowd of family, friends and fellow first responders. The volunteers completed Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 national certification training, in addition to First Aid, CPR/AED, and Hazmat training, at the College-run Public Safety Training Centers in Doylestown and Croydon. The graduates hail from 29 fire companies, 23 of which are in Bucks County.
Three firefighters, one from each battalion, were recognized with Outstanding Student awards. Honored were Alex Armstrong of Ottsville, a member of Palisades Regional Fire Rescue Station 49; Peter Horvath of Bristol, a member of Third District Volunteer Fire Company Station 14; and Philip Kim of Wycombe, a member of Lingohocken Fire Company Station 35.
Alex Armstrong (second from left), a volunteer with Palisades Regional Fire Rescue Station 49, received an Outstanding Student Award from Bucks County Community College at a firefighter graduation ceremony on December 17. The Ottsville resident was congratulated by (from left) Matthew Hatrak, Executive Director of Public Safety Training; Dr. Patrick M. Jones, the College’s president and CEO; and instructor Matthew Traynor.
Peter Horvath (second from left), a member of Third District Volunteer Fire Company Station 14, received an Outstanding Student Award from Bucks County Community College at a firefighter graduation ceremony on December 17. The Bristol resident was congratulated by (from left) Matthew Hatrak, Executive Director of Public Safety Training; Dr. Patrick M. Jones, the College’s president and CEO; and instructor Charlie Simpson.
Philip Kim (second from left), a volunteer with Lingohocken Fire Company Station 35, received an Outstanding Student Award from Bucks County Community College at a firefighter graduation ceremony on December 17. The Wycombe resident was congratulated by (from left) Matthew Hatrak, Executive Director of Public Safety Training; Dr. Patrick M. Jones, the College’s president and CEO; and instructor Matthew Traynor.
BCCC Nursing Grads Achieve 100% NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
The most recent graduates of Bucks County Community College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program achieved an impressive 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), college officials announced.
“This is an extraordinary first-time accomplishment with the new concept-based curriculum,” noted Dean of Health Sciences Constance Corrigan, Ed.D., at the public, two-year college. “We're so proud of these 60 grads as well as our faculty and staff who prepared these students well to enter the nursing field.”
The graduates tested between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.
The NCLEX-RN exam assesses a candidate's nursing competence to determine if they can practice as an entry-level nurse. To become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Pennsylvania, students must successfully complete an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX before they can apply for their nursing license and begin practicing as an RN. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
“We are thrilled about our nursing graduates achieving their life-changing professional goal,” said the College’s President & CEO Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D. Dr. Jones continued, “Bucks also offers successful programs in other high-demand healthcare fields such as Practical Nursing, Radiography, and Medical Lab Technician. All of these programs help us meet employer needs and prepare students for great career opportunities.”
Virtual information sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about the Associate Degree Nursing Program and the application process. Information sessions are scheduled for:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 12-1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 12-1 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Visit the Associate Degree Nursing Program for more information.
Practical Nursing Program at Bucks
The Practical Nursing program—a full-time, face-to-face 12-month program that prepares students to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)—had a NCLEX pass rate of 93% in 2024, which was 3.3% above the national average. That program had pass rates of 100% in each of the previous two years and has scored above the national average for nearly ten years.
The Practical Nursing program at Bucks is ranked #2 for excellence out of 52 LPN programs in Pennsylvania. Applications are now being accepted for the July 2025 program start date.
The next virtual information sessions for the Practical Nursing program are scheduled for:
Wednesday, January 8, 10 a.m.
Monday, January 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Visit the Practical Nursing program for details.
Bucks County Community College to Host a 2+2 Dual Admission Information Session
Bucks County Community College will host a 2+2 Dual Admission Information Session on Wednesday, December 18, 6-7:30 p.m., on the Newtown Campus.
Prospective students and their families will receive valuable information about how they can minimize student debt and save thousands of dollars by completing an associate degree at Bucks before earning a bachelor’s degree at a top-ranked university.
By attending Bucks for their first two years and transferring to one of 26 dual admission university partners, students can save 26%-72% on tuition and fees over their four-year college experience thanks to Bucks’ affordable tuition and fees and factoring in the scholarships availed to dual admission transfer students from the four-year university partners. In fact, the savings may be even greater when factoring in the more than $600,000 in scholarships available to Bucks students every year when enrolled at the community college.
Bucks County Community College offers more than 40 transfer degrees. When students participate in the dual admission transfer pathway, they receive guaranteed admission, junior status and have the application fee waived at the four-year university.
Representatives from the Admissions Office will also present information about the admissions process and how to get started at Bucks as a student.
The information session will take place in the Gallagher Room (room 139) inside the Rollins Center on the Newtown Campus (275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA). Guests may park in the visitor parking lot (V1 on the Campus Map). Please enter through the Gateway Center.
Register to Attend
To register to attend the event and for more detailed directions to the event venue, please visit the 2+2 Dual Admission event page.
Winter Impressions Exhibition Featuring Local Artists to Open at Bucks
The School of Arts and Communication of Bucks County Community College is pleased to announce that the upcoming group exhibition Winter Impressions will be held at the Hicks Art Center Atrium Galleries from December 18, 2024, through February 8, 2025.
Winter elicits a plethora of emotions leading up to the end of the calendar year and into the new year during which a wide range of cultural, religious, and family celebrations are held. Especially where weather plays a significant role in the way people spend their time inside and outside, people react differently to winter’s varying temperatures, often in the extreme, by embracing winter sport, decorating their homes, creating art, or hibernating indoors. Holiday preparations ramp up with artists and craftspeople hosting open studios and pop-up shows for the public to find that unique gift you won’t find in big box retailers. For the exhibition Winter Impressions, more than 20 local artists have responded to an open call for which they were asked to provide artworks that evoke a sense of winter in any media. The exhibition will be on view outside the main gallery of Hicks Art Center in the Atrium Galleries that surround the enclosed outdoor courtyard.
Winter and the holiday season can be especially difficult for people facing hardship. For this reason, visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to bring new, unused clothing which will be donated to the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter, and non-perishable food items which will be given to the College’s food pantry, Bucks Market, a free service for Bucks County Community College students.
All are invited to attend the opening reception on December 19 from 4–7 p.m., and the closing reception on January 25 from 12–3 p.m., both at the Hicks Art Center. During the opening reception, the public is invited to participate in a tree trimming in the courtyard and to enjoy holiday refreshments. Artisans featured in the Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen Exhibition and Sale in the main gallery will have additional fine crafts available for purchase for holiday gift giving.
Image credits:
Christine McHughPeace Valley Winteroil on board
Catherine GleicherCrystal Fallswatercolor
For more information, please email gallery@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8432.
Medical Laboratory Technician Program Application Window Now Open at BCCC
Bucks County Community College has recently opened the application window for its Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program and is encouraging early application since qualified students are accepted on a rolling admission basis. Once all the seats have been filled, the application window will close. The next Bucks MLT program cohort begins May 27, 2025, with a completion date of July 2, 2026.
MLTs are employed in hospital and clinical laboratories where they perform and report vital tests to enable doctors to diagnose diseases. The MLT associate of applied science degree prepares graduates to enter the profession of medical laboratory science by developing skills to perform complex tests, analyze results, and ensure the accuracy of lab findings using state-of-the-art equipment.
As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow, local hospitals and clinics are facing a severe shortage of qualified MLTs. These skilled professionals are vital in diagnosing and treating diseases, and performing tests that provide the data needed for physicians to make informed decisions. Without enough MLTs, patient care and timely diagnoses are at risk.
“Medical lab technicians are the backbone of our healthcare system, yet they often work behind the scenes,” said Dean of Health Sciences Constance Corrigan, Ed.D. at Bucks County Community College. “In fact, we recently produced a new MLT program video, filmed at Doylestown Hospital, highlighting the crucial work they do and emphasizing the growing demand for trained professionals in this field.”
Training Opportunities at Bucks County Community College
Bucks County Community College offers a comprehensive 68-credit Medical Laboratory Technician program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in this in-demand profession. The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory experience, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to meet the needs of local healthcare facilities. Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the program is taught by experienced professionals who are dedicated to preparing the next generation of MLTs.
Applicants must complete 30 general education credits prior to submitting an MLT application. Prerequisite classes can be taken at any of the College’s campuses or online, if offered. The MLT program classes are held at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, Pa.
An In-Demand Occupation
The demand for Medical Lab Technicians is expected to continue rising, driven by an aging population and advances in medical technology. According to recent reports, employment opportunities for MLTs are projected to grow faster than average across the country, with Pennsylvania and Bucks County being no exception. In fact, the number of projected jobs in the Philadelphia metropolitan area is expected to increase by nine percent (9%) by 2030 with workers earning an average of $64,270 according to U.S. Department of Labor employment data. Local hospitals and clinics are urgently seeking qualified graduates to fill these vital positions.
“We are pleased to see the interest from individuals considering a career as a Medical Lab Technician,” said Karen Gatewood, associate professor, and director for the Medical Lab Technician program at Bucks County Community College. “With local hospitals in dire need of MLTs, this is a great opportunity for those looking to enter the healthcare field and make a meaningful difference.”
Individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, bio-medical, or biology, and want to quickly become qualified to work in a clinical laboratory department may want to consider a medical lab technician pathway. The Bucks MLT degree can open the door for these individuals to become a medical laboratory scientist.
Learn More
For more information about the Medical Laboratory Technician program and how to apply, visit the MLT program page or call 215-968-8353.
