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Poet Laureate Contest Entry Deadline Nears
For those who save their best writing for last, the time is near for local scribes to enter the 49th annual Bucks County Poet Laureate contest, according to Bucks County Community College (BCCC) officials.
Professor Ethel Rackin, director of the longest-running poet laureate program in Pennsylvania, is encouraging writers to get their creative juices flowing and enter by September 19. Entrants must be Bucks County residents over age 18 who have never previously served as poet laureate, explained Rackin, a language and literature professor at BCCC, which administers the program.
Each entrant must submit an entry form with 10 original poems of any style, form, or length to the College’s School of Language and Literature. Entries must be submitted online by Friday, September 19.
The winner receives a $500 honorarium, a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners, and a reading and reception at Bucks County Community College with 2024 Poet Laureate Lake Angela, contest judges, and contest runners-up.
Two judges will blindly select the winner. The preliminary judge will narrow the entries down to a few dozen for the final judge, who will choose the winner and three runners-up from the pool of finalists.
There is no charge for entry. All work must be original and can be published or unpublished. All entries must be submitted online by September 19. For more information, contact Ethel Rackin at Ethel.Rackin@bucks.edu.
Bucks County Community College and Stockton University Sign Transfer Agreement
Stockton University has signed a dual admission and transfer partnership agreement with Bucks County Community College that will help students make a smooth transition from the two-year college to Stockton’s bachelor’s degree programs.
This agreement strengthens the relationship between Bucks and Stockton, located in Galloway, NJ., by offering multiple opportunities for students to seamlessly pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees at the two institutions of higher education.
The ability to transfer academic credits between the two institutions will help students save both time and money by eliminating unnecessary or duplication of courses. The agreement recognizes all Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees from Bucks as fully transferable to Stockton, up to 64 credits.
“The agreement offers students an affordable path to a four-year college degree by giving students access to Stockton services and advising while they attend Bucks County Community College and provides a smooth pathway to Stockton as juniors after they earn their associate degree,” Stockton President Joe Bertolino said.
The two institutions also signed program-to-program transfer agreements in Business Administration, including Marketing and Management concentrations.
Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones added, “We are excited to partner with Stockton to minimize student debt by allowing students to save time and money and the opportunity to graduate from a top-ranked university with their bachelor’s degree. Stockton’s high-quality programs, tradition of student success, and unique location in South Jersey amid a variety of industries and recreational opportunities will make this an attractive opportunity for our students.”
The terms of the agreement include:
Students who successfully complete their associate degree at Bucks County Community College can automatically transfer to Stockton with junior standing to complete their bachelor’s degree. Application fees to Stockton will be waived for eligible students.
Students who complete at least 30 credits at Bucks County Community College, and a total of 60 credits between the community college and the four-year institution, are eligible to receive a retroactive associate degree from Bucks. Stockton and Bucks will co-host “reverse transfer” information sessions for students.
Stockton and Bucks County Community College will develop specific program-to-program articulation agreements for high-demand majors to facilitate the quality and ease of transfer.
Students will receive joint advising from Stockton and Bucks County Community College.
Students will be eligible for financial aid from whichever institution they are attending. Stockton will provide five one-year scholarships of $2,000 per year to Bucks County Community College graduates whose admission to Stockton is covered by the agreement.
Stockton and Bucks will work together to provide opportunities for Bucks County Community College students who have completed two semesters at Bucks to participate in Stockton’s Live-Work-Learn summer experience program.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, residents who are not admitted directly to Stockton as a first-year applicant can receive conditional dual admission in partnership with Bucks County Community College. Students will attend classes at Bucks County Community College but have access to campus housing, activities and student groups at Stockton and receive a special Stockton identification card through Stockton’s Transfer Pathways program.
Philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein Expand BCCC Scholarship Program
An additional 100 scholarships will help Lower Bucks high school graduates attend Bucks County Community College, with $1 million promised in the future Today, while unveiling a new gateway sign at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, philanthropist Gene Epstein announced the expansion of a scholarship program to help Lower Bucks high school graduates attend Bucks County Community College.
Last March, the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund donated $100,000 to allow 100 students to attend their first year of college free of student debt during the 2025-2026 academic year. On Monday, August 18, Epstein announced an additional 100 scholarships will be available in the 2026-2027 academic year. What’s more, Epstein revealed a $1 million commitment towards future scholarships in the years ahead.
The campus, which opened in 2006 in Bristol Township as the Bucks County Community College Lower Bucks Campus, was renamed the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in 2016 to commemorate a generous donation from the Epstein Humanitarian Fund. In 2022, the campus expanded with a new building, the Center for Advanced Technologies.
See Decades of Legacy at 'The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition'
Bucks County Community College is putting six decades of artistic legacy on display with “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” August 27 to October 25 on the Newtown Campus.
Various works by 27 retired professors and administrators from 1965 to 2025 will be shown and heard throughout the Hicks Art Center, including recent and historic works that have never been exhibited or played in public before.
“The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition highlights the teaching coterie of artists, historians, and musicians who have profoundly impacted modern and contemporary culture locally and around the world,” said Clifford Eberly, exhibitions associate and the show’s curator. “The School of Arts and Communication wanted to recognize their achievements and contributions to Bucks County and beyond.”
Those achievements include six Guggenheim fellows, the founding director of the Michener Art Museum, two professors who went on to teach at Ivy League universities, and some whose works are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and other prestigious collections, Eberly noted.
Indeed, Bucks was one of the first community colleges in the nation to become an accredited institutional member of both the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). It has also been designated as an All-Steinway School by the legendary piano maker.
“Bucks’ reputation as a creative wellspring in the community is in large part due to the exceptional artists who have populated our faculty and nurtured our students,” said Carolina Blatt, Ph.D., dean of the School of Arts and Communication. “This show is a testament to the caliber of artists who have worked and trained here. Seeing decades of faculty work gathered in one place is sure to inspire.”
Although the College would periodically hold exhibitions to honor faculty as they retired, this is the first to encompass emeriti across all 60 years, according to Fran Orlando, former Director of Exhibitions and Artmobile.
“I was drawn to Bucks because of its status as an outstanding college for the arts, and it did not disappoint,” said Orlando, who worked at Bucks for nearly 35 years. “It was a privilege to work with extraordinary colleagues, some of whom were founding faculty members.”
Professor Emerita Caren Friedman, who recently retired, had a similar experience.
"Having taught at Bucks for 34 years, I've had the pleasure of working closely with a group of talented and dedicated artists and colleagues,” said Friedman.” Our studio classes create an interactive learning environment that fosters lasting connections among faculty and students from many diverse backgrounds."
The public is invited to attend an opening reception from 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday, August 28 in room H-100 of the Hicks Art Center. The event will allow attendees to meet some of the artists and discuss their creative journeys prior, during, and after their teaching careers at Bucks. In addition, the talented Bucks music faculty will provide live entertainment.
What’s more, the reception gives the artistic community and general public the opportunity to meet Blatt, who became the new dean of the School of Arts and Communication in June. Blatt is an arts administrator, educator, and scholar who seeks to catalyze the arts within and beyond the classroom. She recently worked at Rowan University, Drexel University, and the University of the Arts.
Admission to the August 28 reception is free, but a response is requested by emailing foundation@bucks.edu.
“The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” features sculpture, woodturning, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, glass, musical compositions, and art history research by the following retired professors and administrators.
Jon Alley
Selma Bortner
Steven M. Bresnen
Karl Carter
Robert Dodge
Frank Dominguez
Edward Ferdinand
Caren Friedman
Alan Goldstein
Emmet Gowin
Susan Hagen
David Hunter
Catherine Jansen
Bruce Katsiff
Paul F. Keene Jr.
Gwendolyn Kerber
Stephen S. Levine
Emily Brett Lukens
John Mathews
Roberta Mayer
Marlene E. Miller
Fran Orlando
Charlotte Schatz
Sandra Scicchitani
Milton Sigel
Mark Sfirri
Dan Wilkinson
The exhibition is dedicated to Professor Emerita Marlene E. Miller, who taught at Bucks from 1966 to 1998 and recently passed away on July 30. Referring to her own art practice, Miller wrote: "I'm always observing the world around me and painting the image of the underdog. I'm compelled to put before people things that attack their feelings and consciousness about social issues."
Admission to all events is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday noon - 4 p.m. To learn more, visit Hicks Art Gallery Center and follow on Instagram at @bcccartscomm.
The Hicks Art Center is located on the east end of the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For directions and a campus map, visit the Newtown Campus page.
“The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” is presented by the College’s School of Arts and Communication, which offers eight associate degree majors and two 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, visit School of Arts and Communication, email arts.comm@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8425.
Bucks County Community College Graduates 32 Firefighters
The College’s Public Safety Training & Certification Department recognized first-responders who completed national certification training Bucks County Community College graduated 32 firefighters on Thursday, August 7, in a ceremony at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks that drew hundreds of family, friends, and fellow first responders. The graduates, who hailed from 30 fire companies across Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, completed basic fire academy/firefighter 1 certification training at the Lower Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Croydon.
Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President and CEO of the College, addressed the graduates and welcomed special guests that included Middletown Fire Chief and Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Farry (R-6), who gave the keynote speech. Talan C. Light, a member of the Clifton Heights Fire Company in Delaware County, received the Outstanding Student Award.
Bucks County Community College is the largest provider of fire and emergency services training and certification in Pennsylvania, training about 45,000 first responders annually in all 67 counties in the Commonwealth.
Middletown Fire Chief and Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Farry (R-6) delivers the keynote address to the class graduating from basic fire academy/firefighter 1 certification training at Bucks County Community College’s Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks Aug. 7. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Firefighters who graduated from Bucks County Community College’s Lower Bucks Public Safety Training Center pose with their instructors at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks following an Aug. 7 ceremony. The 32 first responders, who hailed from 30 fire companies across Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties, completed basic fire academy/firefighter 1 certification. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
Talan C. Light (center) of the Clifton Heights Fire Company in Delaware County received the Outstanding Student Award at Bucks County Community College’s firefighter graduation ceremony on Aug. 7. Light was among 32 first responders who completed basic fire academy/firefighter 1 certification at the Lower Bucks Public Safety Training Center in Croydon. He’s congratulated by (from left-right) Matthew Hatrak, executive director of Public Safety Training and Certification, and Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of Bucks County Community College. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)
BCCC Graduates 32 Practical Nursing Students to Ease Healthcare Shortage
Bucks County Community College, whose practical nursing program is among the highest ranked in the state, honored the class of 2025 with a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, July 2, at the Newtown Campus. The 32 graduate practical nurses (GPNs) hailed from eight countries including the United States, representing the diversity in the healthcare industry. Other countries of origin included the Central African Republic, China, England, Haiti, Liberia, Russia, and Ukraine.
After completing the rigorous, year-long, full-time program, the GPNs and are poised to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) upon completion of licensing exams to meet the high demand for nurses in our community. Meanwhile, the next Practical Nursing class is ready to start in mid-July, while pre-admission testing for the 2026 cohort begins in September. Learn more about the practical nursing program on the website or contact pnursing@bucks.edu.
(Credit: Eric Parker, BCCC)
