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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)
College Launches Search for the Next Bard of Bucks County
The search is on for the 49th Bucks County Poet Laureate, according to Bucks County Community College Professor Ethel Rackin, director of the longest-running poet laureate program in Pennsylvania.
Entrants must be Bucks County residents over age 18 who have never previously served as poet laureate, explained Dr. 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.
The 2025 final judge will be Jennifer Tseng, whose latest book, “Thanks for Letting Us Know You Are Alive,” poems made with her late father’s letters, won the Juniper Prize for Poetry. Her first book, “The Man with My Face,” won the AAWW’s National Manuscript Competition and a PEN American Open Book Award, while other books have won numerous awards and accolades. Her memoir-in-essays “Mixed Feelings” is forthcoming in 2026. Tseng is currently an associate professor of literature and creative writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Nicole Greaves, whose poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals, including Cleaver magazine, Matter Poetry, American Poetry Review: Philly Edition, and Radar Poetry, will serve as preliminary judge. Her work has received recognition from the Academy of American Poets and the Leeway Foundation of Philadelphia. Greaves has been a finalist for several national prizes, and her work has also been nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. She was selected by Gregory Orr as the Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
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 Dr. Ethel Rackin at Ethel.Rackin@bucks.edu.
Artists Share Their Stories at Closing Reception of ‘The ArtShow’
Bucks County Community College invites the public to a closing reception and artist panel discussion for the acclaimed exhibition “The ArtShow” from 5 – 8 p.m. Thursday, July 17.
Curated by artist and podcast host Craig Stover, “The ArtShow” brings together a dynamic collection of multimedia works by 37 Philadelphia area artists who have been featured on his podcast of the same name. Each piece of art in the exhibition includes a QR code that takes you to the podcast episode with that artist. Most of the artworks are for sale with a percentage of any sales going towards student scholarships.
“This culminating event offers art lovers a final opportunity to experience this diverse and compelling exhibition,” said Clifford Eberly, exhibitions associate at the public, two-year college. “What’s more, the special artist panel discussion gives attendees a rare, behind-the-scenes look into the creative processes and inspirations of the exhibiting artists.”
Kicking off the reception at 5 p.m., Eberly will moderate the panel discussion that includes Francis Beaty, Jill Bonovitz, Diane Burko, Jon Eckel, Rachel Romano, Stuart Rome, Rebecca Rutstein, Gerri Spilka, and Craig Stover.
The exhibition runs through Saturday, July 19, at the Newtown Campus located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940.
The ArtShow podcast series is available on YouTube at “ArtShow with Craig Stover.”
Presented by the College’s School of Arts and Communication, “The ArtShow” highlights the vibrancy and innovation of Philadelphia’s contemporary art scene. Bucks offers eight associate degree majors and two certificate programs, and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the National Association of Schools of Music.
All events are free and open to the public. Free parking is available on campus. For directions, a campus map, or more information about the exhibition, visit the Newtown Campus page or the Hicks Art Center Gallery site. Follow along on Instagram at @bcccartscomm.
BCCC Announces Spring 2025 Semester President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List
Bucks County Community College congratulates the 1,354 students who were named to the President’s Honor List and Dean’s Honor List for the Spring 2025 semester.
The President’s Honor List includes 530 students. For this honor, the College recognizes students who earned 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 824 students who 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, is available on the Bucks website under Academic Honors.
Bucks County Community College Honors Distinguished Alumni
Razin Karu, ’17, Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, and John Sheridan, ’85, were celebrated for their achievements at the annual commencement ceremony Bucks County Community College honored four distinguished alumni at its 59th Annual Commencement ceremony on May 22. The awards, presented by the BCCC Alumni Association, acknowledge the outstanding achievements and contributions each has made to their profession, their community, and their alma mater.
The 2025 honorees are:
President’s Distinguished Award – Razin Karu, ’17, executive director for the governor's advisory commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs.
Professional Service Award – Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, law enforcement professional with decades of experience at the federal, state, and local levels.
Community Service Award – Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, associate director with No Longer Bound and community organizer with the Bristol Cares Coalition.
Centurion Award – John Sheridan, ’85, professor of music and multimedia at Bucks County Community College.
President’s Distinguished Award: Razin Karu, ‘17
Razin Karu, ’17, is passionate about civic engagement, social justice, interfaith relations, and volunteering. He earned an associate degree in history from Bucks County Community College in 2017, where he established the first-ever Muslim
Students Association and served as student government president. After graduating from Bucks, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Temple University with a double-major in history and political science, a minor in global studies, and a certificate in political economy.
Karu went on to work as a constituent services advisor for State Representative Perry Warren (D-31) and as executive director of the Muslim Society of the Delaware Valley, where he directed all programs and activities for the Muslim Youth Center of Philadelphia and the Islamic Cultural Center of Willow Grove.
In 2023, he was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as the executive director for the commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander affairs. Karu helps the commission gather information regarding AAPI Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs, and provides the Governor with information and recommendations on how best to meet those needs.
Professional Achievement Award: Kenneth Kuzma, ‘81
Kenneth Kuzma, ’81, is a distinguished law enforcement professional with over 36 years of experience at the federal, state, and local levels. After graduating from Bucks, he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Temple University. He then dedicated his career to investigating and combating international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, public corruption, and financial crimes such as money laundering and asset forfeiture.
Kuzma began his career in 1986 with the City of Philadelphia juvenile Probation Department, where he supervised high-risk youth and developed court-mandated probation plans. In 1996, he joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a special agent. Over a 20-year career with the DEA, Kuzma led major domestic and international investigations, aided in the historic 9-11 response and recovery in New York City, and received many honors and awards.
From 2018 to March 2025, Kuzma was a narcotics agent with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, applying his expertise to investigations such as domestic and international drug trafficking, organized crime, weapons violations, and gang-related crimes. An accomplished investigator, instructor, and mentor, Kuzma has trained countless federal, state, and local agents, provided drug identification seminars to universities and high schools, and delivered expert testimony in federal and local courts.
Community Service Award: Damita Harvey Harris, ’04
Damita Harvey Harris, ’04, has worked for nearly 20 years with No Longer Bound, a nonprofit prevention services organization whose mission is to empower the community by providing educational programming and training to address drug and alcohol abuse, increase positive social development, and improve overall well-being. She also established the Bristol Cares Coalition to support positive youth development in Bristol Township.
Harvey Harris is also a facilitator of NAMI Bucks County’s "Black Minds Matter" support group, which is a shared strength group dedicated to the mental and overall wellness of the Black community. She also volunteers as a board member for Friends of Silver Lake Nature Center and treasurer for Struble Elementary School PTO, all while working full-time and raising a family.
In 2025, she was honored by BCCC with the Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Leadership award.
Harvey Harris graduated from Bucks County Community College in 2004, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Peirce College and a master's degree in education from Holy Family University. She has worked full-time for NJM Insurance Group for 21 years, where she is currently a senior talent development specialist.
Centurion Award: John Sheridan, ‘85
John Sheridan, ’85, is a music and multimedia professor at Bucks County Community College for more than 30 years whose influence resonates throughout the academic and artistic communities. His academic credentials include a Master of Arts from New York University, a Bachelor of Music from Temple University, and an Associate of Arts from Bucks County Community College. Beyond his academic achievements, Sheridan has built a remarkable career as a professional musician, performing jazz, funk, fusion, and blues for over 40 years.
Sheridan’s dedication to excellence in education has been recognized many times. In 2013, he was honored with the prestigious Lindback Award for teaching excellence. He’s also been named in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (2000), Who’s Who in America (2002), and Who’s Who in the World (2004).
Outside the classroom, Sheridan is deeply invested in fostering opportunities for students. He adjudicates high school competitions and conducts jazz improvisation workshops. His leadership extends to advocacy, as he has spent the past decade lobbying state lawmakers for increased community college funding — an effort in which he actively involves his students, providing them with invaluable real-world experience in civic engagement.
In addition, Sheridan currently serves as president of the Bucks County Community College American Federation of Teachers.
New Apprenticeship Aims to Address Shortage of Special Education Teachers
BCCC students can transfer to Gwynedd Mercy University while working at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and earn special-ed certification In a three-way collaboration to address a critical teaching shortage, Bucks County Community College has joined Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) to launch an apprenticeship program to train and certify pre-K-12 special education teachers.
The program, the first of its kind in the state, enables paraprofessionals employed by the Bucks IU to earn their Pennsylvania special education teaching certification and bachelor’s degree while working full-time. Participants will earn their first 60 credits at the community college and the remaining credits toward a bachelor's degree at the university. Their on-the-job experience will satisfy field experience requirements, and student teaching will take place within the Bucks IU system.
The program, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, is the only registered baccalaureate apprenticeship in the state focused on special education.
Samantha Gross, Ed.D., dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Bucks County Community College, noted that the program helps students both academically and professionally.
“Our students will be able to seamlessly transfer to Gwynedd Mercy while working for the IU,” said Gross. “Fieldwork and observation have always been a part of our education major, and now it will be tied directly to a career path through this apprenticeship program.”
Gross has been invited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to take part in a panel discussion about the new program at the state’s Advancing Education Together summit in Harrisburg July 10. She will be joined by colleagues from GMercyU and the Bucks IU in a session about creating a certified teacher registered apprenticeship program.
“This apprenticeship creates a sustainable pipeline for special education teachers by making certification more attainable for individuals already working in our schools,” said Deborah Schadler, Ph.D., coordinator of undergraduate education at GMercyU. “It’s a direct response to the urgent need for qualified special educators and a continuation of our mission to transform lives through education.”
Participants will receive a salary as paraprofessionals, with structured pay increases tied to academic milestones. Eligible students will receive a 10% tuition grant to attend GMercyU as Bucks IU employees and may qualify for additional federal or state financial aid. The GMercyU courses are offered fully online to accommodate the needs of working professionals.
To learn more, email sb@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8270.
