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Nearly 900 Graduates Are Poised to Make a Difference
Bucks County Community College celebrated the Class of 2025 at its 59th annual commencement on Thursday, May 22 Bucks County Community College, which has been in the business of changing lives for more than 60 years, celebrated the Class of 2025 at two ceremonies Thursday, May 22, marking the college’s 59th annual commencement.
The public, two-year college conferred a total of 882 associate degrees and certificates for the 2024-2025 academic year. Hundreds of students took part in two ceremonies on the Newtown Campus, with family members, friends, faculty, and other supporters cheering them on.
At each ceremony, graduates heard from one of their own. At the 10 a.m. event, the student speaker was Chemistry major and honors graduate Kateryna Maksymenko of Warrington, who immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine at age 8. She completed a research internship on Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Pennsylvania and will transfer to the University of Pittsburgh to study neuroscience.
At 2 p.m., graduates heard from Nursing graduate Gerald Gwambuga of Sellersville, who immigrated from Uganda in 2017, leaving behind a 15-year career as a teacher. He will continue to change lives here in the United States as a nurse. One of his four daughters is following in his footsteps and is pursuing a nursing degree at Bucks.
Other outstanding graduates include Jacqueline Lemming-Russell of Bristol, who continued her Bucks County Community College journey after a 31-year hiatus, which she says is “proof that it’s never too late.” The Psychology major, who won the President’s Cup award for her contributions to the campus and community, graduated cum laude and is transferring to Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., with a goal of become a behavior specialist.
Another top graduate is Adrian Tyrk of Morrisville, a Chemistry major who will transfer to Swarthmore College to study biochemistry, with an ultimate goal of attending medical school. His high achievements earned him a spot on the Pennsylvania Association for Community College’s 2025 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.
Leah Lovelace-Square also made an impact during her time at Bucks. While working full-time and raising a family, she earned an associate degree in Guided Studies, but also found time to mentor and teach underprivileged youth in Bristol and Morrisville. Such outreach earned her the College’s MLK Student Leadership Award this year.
These are just some of the Bucks County Community College graduates who are making a difference in their community and who were celebrated at the 59th annual commencement.
Bucks County Community College Graduates Volunteer Firefighters
The College’s Public Safety Training & Certification Department recognized 90 first responders who completed national certification training. Bucks County Community College graduated 90 firefighters on Tuesday, May 20, in a Newtown Campus ceremony that drew hundreds of family members, friends, and fellow first responders. The volunteers completed national certification training at the College’s Bucks County Public Safety Training Centers in Doylestown and Croydon.
Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President and CEO of the College, addressed the graduates and welcomed special guests that included Chair of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners Robert Harvie, State Senator and Middletown Fire Chief Frank Farry (R-6), and State Representatives Tim Brennan (D-29), Kristin Marcell (R-178), and Shelby Labs (R-143).
Three firefighters – one from each class – received Outstanding Student Awards. Honored were Joseph Cherone of Hilltown, a member of the Hilltown Volunteer Fire Co.; Grace Schoen of Levittown, a member of the William Penn Fire Co.; and Richard Guers of Quakertown, a member of the Quakertown Fire Dept.
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. State Representatives Tim Brennan and Kristin Marcell are actively working to provide state funding for training of first responders.
State Senator and Middletown Fire Chief Frank Farry (R-6) delivers the keynote address to 90 graduating firefighters at Bucks County Community College May 20. Honored guests included (front row, left-right) State Representatives Shelby Labs (R-143), Kristin Marcell (R-178), and Tim Brennan (D-28), and Chair of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners Robert Harvie.
Recent graduates greet fellow firefighters gathered in the gymnasium at Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Campus. The College’s Public Safety Training and Certification Department honored 90 volunteers who completed national firefighter certification training in a May 20 ceremony.
Matt Hatrak (left), Executive Director, Public Safety Training and Certification, congratulates Outstanding Student Award winners Joseph Cherone of the Hilltown Volunteer Fire Co. and Richard Guers of the Quakertown Fire Dept., along with Dr. Patrick M. Jones (right), President and CEO of Bucks County Community College. (Not pictured: Outstanding Student Award Winner Grace Schoen of Levittown, a member of the William Penn Fire Co.) The firefighters were recognized at a May 20 graduation ceremony on the College’s Newtown Campus.
Bucks County Community College welcomed several honored guests to its spring firefighter graduation ceremony on May 20. They are (left-right) State Representative Tim Brennan (D-29); State Representative Shelby Labs (R-143); Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees Thomas J. Jennings; Matt Hatrak, Executive Director, Public Safety Training and Certification; State Representative Kristin Marcell (R-178); Dr. Patrick M. Jones, College President and CEO; and Chair of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners Robert Harvie.
Bucks County Community College Names New Dean of STEM School
College officials have announced that Lisa Burgess will be the new dean of the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Bucks County Community College officials announced that Lisa Burgess will join the College’s vibrant community of scholars to lead the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as the Dean of STEM, effective July 1, 2025. Burgess, a community college graduate herself, has more than 25 years of higher education experience as an educator and administrative leader.
Burgess has extensive experience in STEM pedagogy and program assessment, curriculum development, faculty training and development, student success initiatives, strategic leadership, and grant management. She served in numerous capacities at Broward College as a professor of biological and physical sciences and coordinator for faculty professional development and currently serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Teaching & Learning at Boston University. Burgess also brings a strong background in collaborating with industry partners and four-year institutions to develop clear academic and career pathways for STEM students.
An accomplished lecturer, Burgess has presented on numerous topics including co-presenting with University of Rhode Island faculty on generative AI in higher education in 2024; syllabus design for using AI in the classroom at Boston University in 2023; academic integrity in online science courses at the Entomological Society of America Annual Conference in 2021; and co-authored “Everyday Biology: #WhatsThePoint” in 2018 to showcase how the lessons taught in the lab can be used in our everyday lives.
Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, said, “Burgess possesses the enterprising spirit, business acumen, and dedication to quality STEM education to lead our School of STEM into a new era. She has the experience and skills to identify new opportunities for existing and new programs, secure resources through grants and philanthropy, and build strong partnerships with universities, institutes, research centers, and industry within our regional STEM ecosystem.”
In her role as Dean of the STEM School, Burgess will build on the College’s strong reputation in student transfer to R1 and R2 research universities and its location in a region rich with biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceutical, and technology research centers and corporations.
The School of STEM is a dynamic community of more than 100 faculty scholars and professional staff members dedicated to high standards, academic achievement, and student success. The School offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees in 14 disciplines including chemistry, biology, environmental science, neuroscience, cybersecurity, computer science, data and information science, engineering, mathematics, and biotechnology, as well as certificates and workforce and youth programs. The School has outstanding facilities, which include the 43,000 sq. ft. Science Center provisioned with 15 labs including specialized spaces for anatomy and physiology, environmental science, microbiology, chemistry, organic chemistry, electrical engineering, computer science, and mechanical engineering. The Science Center also features both a general purpose and cell and tissue culture lab for biotechnology.
“I am excited to join Bucks County Community College’s School of STEM,” said Burgess. “It is my honor to have been selected to lead such a dynamic and innovative team of educators and staff. Bucks is uniquely positioned to help shape the future of STEM education and workforce development in Bucks County.” Burgess added, “As a community college alumni, I know the challenges many students face when building their future. Community college is an integral pathway to change and growth for the community. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, and students to foster innovation, expand opportunities, and build powerful and collaborative relationships within local industry, which support our region's future leaders in STEM.”
Burgess earned the Master of Science degree in biotechnology from John Hopkins University, the Master of Science degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Florida, and the baccalaureate degree in biological sciences from Florida Atlantic University. She is a community college graduate who earned an associate degree in biological sciences from Broward College, part of the Florida College System.
Truman Junior Named Bucks County High School Poet of the Year
Nilüfer Bektas, a junior at Harry S. Truman High School in Bristol Township, has been named the 2025 Bucks County High School Poet of the Year, officials at Bucks County Community College announced.
Bektas rose to the top of more than 120 entries from all over the county, according to Professor Ethel Rackin, director of the Bucks County Poet Laureate Program, which includes the annual High School Poet of the Year contest. Bektas received a $300 prize for her winning poems.
Rackin said the judges noted that all entries were strong for the 38th year for the program. Each student submitted three poems, which were judged by current Bucks County Poet Laureate Lake Angela and last year’s poet laureate Tara Tamburello.
The judges also named three runners-up in the contest. They are Evie Lee, a senior at Solebury School, first runner-up; Jack DeBoyace, a junior at Central Bucks East, second runner-up; and Addison Carr, a junior at Central Bucks West, third runner-up. More than a dozen finalists were also recognized by the judges.
A reading and celebration will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in room 142 of Tyler Hall on the college’s Newtown campus. The event will feature winners, finalists, and judges.
Bucks County Community College is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit the Newtown Campus web page.
38th Annual Bucks County High School Poet of the Year: Final Standings 2025
Winner: Nilüfer Bektas, Harry S. Truman High School, 11th Grade Poems: “An Unspoken Eulogy,” “Heat Lightning,” and “Liberty”
1st Runner-up: Evie Lee, Solebury School, 12th Grade Poems: “losing daylight,” “ahn yin,” and “February”
2nd Runner-up: Jack DeBoyace, Central Bucks High School East, 11th GradePoems: “Of,” “They Said,” and “Punctum”
3rd Runner-up: Addison Carr, Central Bucks High School West, 11th Grade Poems: “Eelgrass,” “Anxiety is a Deer,” and “Dead Deer”
Finalists
Jennifer Alpert, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Steven Belder, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Avery Devlin, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Maisarah Aminah Dombrowski, Pennsbury High School, 10th
Sophia Evola, Central Bucks High School South, 10th
Anastasiya Golub, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Jaelyn Graham, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Patrick Hansell, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Evelyn Kerr, Central Bucks High School West, 9th
Jill Melson, Central Bucks High School West, 11th
Josiah Miller, Calvary Christian Academy, 11th
Brynn Minko, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Michael Shalevich, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Cooper Sherwood, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Sarah Ustenko, Council Rock High School South, 12th
Kalena Viera, William Tennent High School, 11th
About Bucks County Community College
Founded in 1964, Bucks County Community College is a two-year, public institution offering more than 90 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate, as well as many workforce training programs on campus, on site, or online. Successful graduates directly launch a career or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree, depending on the major. Classes are offered on campus in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, and worldwide through Bucks Online. To learn more, visit bucks.edu.
Popular Podcast “The ArtShow” Comes to Life in New Exhibition at Bucks
Bucks County Community College invites the public to “The ArtShow,” a multimedia exhibition at the Hicks Art Center featuring 37 artists based in the Philadelphia area. On view from Friday, May 16 through Saturday, July 19, the exhibition features artists who have been guests on independent curator and artist Craig Stover’s video podcast ArtShow.
It will be the first time Stover has presented these guest artists’ works together in a public, group exhibition, according to Clifford Eberly, Exhibitions Associate at the Bucks County Community College. ArtShow highlights the best artists working in Philadelphia and gives viewers a chance to learn about new artists, how they work, and what inspires their creativity.
Stover noted that he began the weekly video podcast at the start of the pandemic five years ago, when he had to shut down the art center and galleries he was running.
“In order to keep our artists and constituents engaged, I started interviewing artists over Zoom so people could still learn about new artists from home. I loved doing it so much that I continued making new episodes on my own,” recalled Stover. “More than just making interviews, I realized that what I was doing was making a time-capsule of artists working today. I believe that it's not only a great way for artists to promote themselves, but I think that in the future, these episodes will only become more interesting and valuable."
Artists have high praise for the impact the show has had.
“Craig Stover’s ArtShow is such a boon for the Philadelphia Arts community,” said Simone Spicer, who is among more than three dozen artists whose work is featured in the exhibition. “In our time where so many dedicated visual artists are struggling to be noticed and appreciated, ArtShow grants us the opportunity to be showcased at large and to connect with each other.”
This unique exhibition includes the following artists:
Francis Beaty
Henry Bermudez
Jill Bonovitz
Thomas Brady
Leora Brecher
Arden Bendler Browning
Diane Burko
Jerome China
Won Choi
Matthew Colaizzo
Gerald Cyrus
Ward Davenny
Steven Donegan
Jon Eckel
Mikel Elam
Paul Timothy Gierschick II
Melissa M. Haims
Lisa Haun
Darla Jackson
Jon Manteau
Tim McFarlane
Jedediah Morfit
Stuart Netsky
Stuart Rome
Rachel Romano
Rebecca Rutstein
Samantha Simpson
Larry Spaid
Simone Spicer
Gerri Spilka
Robert Straight
Kate Stewart
Craig Stover
Ron Tarver
Robin Tedesco
Amanda Tinker
Ben Weaver
Stover is widely known in the Philly arts scene as an artist, teacher, curator and art administrator. He has exhibited his works in numerous galleries, including the Pentimenti Gallery, Cerulean Arts, and the Williams Gallery. Over the past decade, he has served as the Executive Director for Allens Lane Art Center, where he has overseen its summer art camp, produced 60+ productions in the Allens Lane Theater, curated over 100 exhibitions in the Alber Galleries, and developed a wide variety of classes in the visual and performing arts, including the well-known Vision Thru Art program, which provides sculpture classes for blind artists.
The ArtShow exhibition will be on view from Friday, May 16 through Saturday, July 19 throughout the Hicks Art Center, located on the College’s Newtown campus. The public is invited to an opening reception on May 16 and a closing reception on July 17, each from 5 – 8 p.m.
A special Cocktails with the Curator exhibition walkthrough will take place Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m. with Stover and Hicks Art Center Gallery Exhibitions Associate Clifford Eberly. Cocktails with the Curator is a free event. However, guests must be 21 years of age and register by emailing gallery@bucks.edu as space is limited.
The ArtShow exhibition is hosted by the College’s School of Arts and Communication, which offers eight associate degree majors and two certificate programs. Bucks County Community College is an accredited institutional member of both 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. The campus is located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit the Newtown Campus page. Learn more on the Hicks Art Gallery Center and follow @bcccartscomm on Instagram.
