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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 Stories must be unpublished and completely original (no fan fiction is permitted).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.
BCCC Launches America 250 Celebration with Civics Series Kickoff
Former Governor Mark Schweiker and State Representative Tim Brennan helped kick off the College’s year-long American Civics Series on January 29 at the Newtown Campus Bucks County Community College officially launched a year-long American Civics Series in celebration of America 250 with a forum titled “Why Civics Now? The Role of Informed Citizens in Democracy” on Thursday, January 29 on the Newtown Campus. The forum and Q&A featured Former Governor Mark Schweiker, a BCCC alumnus who serves as honorary co-chair of the statewide America250PA effort, and State Representative Tim Brennan (D-29).
The event also introduced upcoming America 250 programming, including an eight-week civics education course from March through May. For event details and registration information, visit Bucks Celebrates America 250.
Former Governor Mark Schweiker, the honorary co-chair of America250PA, and State Representative Tim Brennan (D-29) kicked off the College’s America 250 celebration at the official launch of a year-long American Civics Series on January 29 at the Newtown Campus. Members of the College’s Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff, and community members were in attendance. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Former Governor Mark Schweiker, honorary co-chair of America250PA, spoke about the pivotal role citizenship plays in today’s society at Bucks County Community College January 29. The BCCC alumnus emphasized that civic-minded action is what drives the robust volunteer sector across the United States, and highlighted how engaged, informed citizens strengthen communities and our democracy. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
At a public forum January 29 at Bucks County Community College, State Representative Tim Brennan (D-29) noted that a strong culture of volunteerism is at the very core of citizenship. State Representative Brennan reinforced the idea that civic participation, whether through service, voting, or local engagement, is essential to sustaining a healthy democracy. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Bucks County Community College Announces Fall 2025 Semester Honors Lists
Bucks County Community College congratulates the 1,986 students who were named to the President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List for the Fall 2025 semester.
The President’s Honor List includes 1,079 students. For this honor, the College recognizes students who have accumulated 12 or more credits, earned a grade-point average of 4.0, and were in good academic standing for the semester.
The Dean's Honor List includes 907 students who have completed 12 or more credits, earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher with no grade below C, and were in good academic standing for the semester.
“All of us at Bucks take great pride in our students’ academic success,” said President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “We are here to support their journey, whether their goal is to pursue a more affordable bachelor’s degree, an occupational degree in a high-demand field, or a certificate to gain an edge in the workplace.”
The full President’s and Dean’s List honorees, grouped by each student’s hometown, are available on the Academic Honors page on the Bucks website.
BCCC Honors Four with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Leadership Awards
Various dignitaries assembled at Bucks County Community College on January 22 to celebrate four recipients of the College’s fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Awards. Honored were (front row, left-right) Community Leader Marlene Pray, Corporate Leader Angèle Bell, Student Leader Kayla Wulffleff, and Humanitarian Leader Barbara Simmons. On hand to congratulate the recipients were (back row, left-right) Bucks County Community College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones, Bristol Township Councilwoman Marcia Dunlap, Seth McLean from Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s office, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, State Representative Perry Warren (D-31), State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler, Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan, and Bensalem Township Supervisor and Bucks County Community College Trustee Ed Tokmajian. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Bucks County Community College, which has been making the dream of higher education a reality for more than 60 years, paid tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 22 with its fifth annual MLK Leadership Awards. The celebration on the Newtown Campus honored corporate, community, humanitarian, and student leaders, and attracted dignitaries and elected officials from across Bucks County. Learn more about the honorees by visiting our MLK Leadership Awards page
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Angèle Bell (center), Community Engagement Lead at Merck – West Point Site, was recognized at Bucks County Community College on January 22 with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Corporate Leadership Award. Dr. Patrick M. Jones (right), the College’s President & CEO, presented the Skippack resident with an engraved bell from Malmark Bellcraftsmen in Plumsteadville. Bell was also congratulated by Dr. Vail Garvin (left), recipient of the 2023 Corporate Leadership Award. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Marlene Pray (center), founder and director of The Rainbow Room at Planned Parenthood Keystone and a volunteer on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, was recognized at Bucks County Community College on January 22 with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Leadership Award. Dr. Patrick M. Jones (right), the College’s President & CEO, presented the Doylestown resident with an engraved bell from Malmark Bellcraftsmen in Plumsteadville. Pray was also congratulated by 2025 Community Leader Angela Nutter (left). (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Barbara Simmons (center), executive director of The Peace Center, was recognized at Bucks County Community College on January 22 with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Leadership Award. Dr. Patrick M. Jones (right), President & CEO of the College, presented the Newtown resident with an engraved bell from Malmark Bellcraftsmen in Plumsteadville. Simmons was also congratulated by 2025 Humanitarian Leader Damita Harvey Harris (left). (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
Kayla Wulffleff (center), an early education major at Bucks County Community College, was recognized on January 22 with the College’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Student Leadership Award. Dr. Patrick M. Jones (right), President & CEO of the College, presented the Quakertown resident with an engraved bell from Malmark Bellcraftsmen in Plumsteadville. Wulffleff was also congratulated by 2025 Student Leader Leah Lovelace-Square (left). (CREDIT: Eric Parker, BCCC)
