E-News-Student Video👇

Message from the Coordinator of Alumni Engagement

Hi, Alumni!

THANK YOU to all of the alumni and friends who donated to the Means to Succeed campaign. With your help, we doubled our original goal, raising $100,000 for the Student Emergency Fund. These types of funds are needed like never before. By helping students meet their basic needs like food and shelter, they are better positioned to complete their college education. Your donations truly give them the means to succeed.

Enjoy this issue of the Gazebo e-newsletter!

All My Best,

Christine Harvie

christine.harvie@bucks.edu

COVID Update

Spring classes will be mostly remote & online with designated hands-on classes meeting on campus.

Visit bucks.edu/coronavirus/ for more information.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Bucks, our learning environment encourages a diverse robust engagement among students, staff, and the community at large.

.bucks.edu/diversity

Attention Teachers:

We want to celebrate YOU!

Calling all alumni who have careers in education! Whether you teach in public or private school, early education, elementary, secondary, or higher education, we want to hear from you!

Educators are wearing many hats these days. Some are working remotely, some are back in the classroom full time, and others are hybrid -- teaching students in the classroom AND on a computer screen AT THE SAME TIME! It is truly heroic.

In honor of National American Education Week, November 16-20, we want to CELEBRATE YOU. Tell us where you teach, your current classroom situation, and how you are holding up during this challenging time. Feel free to include a picture. Email alumni@bucks.edu. Give us the scoop and we will include your story in the November e-newsletter!

Student Samantha Gillespie '21

What It Means to Succeed

Means to Succeed Student Message-Samantha Gillespie '21

Alumni Council Spotlight: Walt Stoertz '77

Walt Stoertz is a proud 1977 graduate of Bucks, and the current treasurer of the Bucks County Community College Alumni Council.

“My experience as a student at Bucks provided me with a college education at an affordable cost while allowing me the flexibility to study and work close to home. It served as an excellent starting point in preparing me for my continued academic and professional training which served me through a successful 35 year career in the Federal Judiciary. “

A retired executive with the United States Courts, Walt served in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for 35 years, first as the administrator for the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, then as the Chief Deputy Clerk of the U. S. Bankruptcy Court as well as the Acting Clerk of the U. S. Bankruptcy Court.

Yes he is retired, but that doesn't mean Walt is not busy! In addition to dedicating his time to the Alumni Council, he is a Board Member on the Bucks County Playhouse Artists Board of Directors where he is the chair of the Discovery/Education Committee, and a member of the New Hope Historic Society. In his free time he enjoys lending assistance and care to his elderly friends and neighbors in the community.

Walt is an active and enthusiastic member of the Alumni Council, saying, "It has been a personally rewarding experience working on the Council with such a compassionate and professional group of former graduates. The camaraderie and friendships that I have gained have made participating in fund raising activities for students and student services at the college all the more satisfying."

Since 1983, the Alumni Council has provided leadership and a means for Bucks alumni to unite in their efforts to support and strengthen the institution. Bucks is always looking for passionate alumni to help expand alumni and student activities. If you are interested in becoming an active member of the Alumni Council, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@bucks.edu.

Centurions Caring for Centurions:

Food Drive

The Honors@Bucks Club and the Alumni Council will be working together to support Bucks students in need this Thanksgiving holiday. The food drive will run from Oct. 12th to Nov. 12th. Help us add grocery store gift cards to each of the Thanksgiving meal bags by making a monetary donation HERE. If you would like to donate food items, sign up HERE.

Student Government Association Election Results

The winners for the student body election for the Student Government Association (SGA) are in!

Congratulations to the following students:

Blake Churchill '21 -- President

Samantha Gillespie '21 -- Vice President

Nicholas Berube '22 -- Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Read the article by student Leah Miller, in The Centurion newspaper, HERE.

Congratulations, Nursing Students!

Great News! The passing rate for the Associate Degree Nursing Program test takers from 10/1/19 to 9/30/20 is 94%! This was the first attempt for all of the test takers. Congratulations!

The Nursing Program staff would like to thank everyone who supported the students from the Class of 2019 and the Class of 2020! "This is a wonderful achievement, especially during the added stressors experienced in our current pandemic. The students could not have reached for their dream of becoming a Registered Nurse without everyone sharing their expertise with them and cheering them on along the way," said Maureen Murt, Director and Associate Professor, Associate Degree Nursing Program.

Join Open House October Online with ‘Parents Night In’ Oct. 29

Series of virtual events includes Instagram takeovers by current students, Facebook live Q&As, and a special live session on Zoom just for parents and guardians.

Informational videos about the college can be found at bucks.edu/OpenHouseOct. Read the article on the website, HERE.

Spring Semester Courses to Remain Mostly Online

College President Stephanie Shanblatt says students will be allowed on campus for courses that require hands-on components, extending the plan put in place this fall

In the interest of protecting the health and safety of the community. Students can come to campus only for courses that have a required hands-on component.