Lackawanna College Receives PA GOAL Grants Lackawanna College was recently awarded four grants from PA GOAL (Pennsylvania Grants for Open and Affordable Learning). PA GOAL supports student success by offering mini-grants to create open and affordable learning projects at a diverse range of institutions across Pennsylvania, through funding provided by the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) by the state Department of Education (PDE) through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL), and managed by PALCI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization. The funding will support the redesign of the institution’s American Government (HIS 118), Introduction to Psychology (PSY 105), Helping Skills (HSV 310), and Business Law (MGT 240) courses to utilize open educational resource (OER) materials. Dr. Gopu Kiron, Lackawanna College Associate Dean of eLearning and Information Literacy, identified a need to replace textbooks with cost-free eBooks and other resources. By utilizing freely available learning materials via OER in these courses, traditional textbook expenses will be eliminated. This shift will help to bridge the socio-economic gap and improve the accessibility of the College’s programs. “Obtaining this grant means that we can continue to further the mission of Lackawanna College, which is to provide a quality education to all persons who seek to improve their lives and better the communities in which they live,” said Dr. Kiron. “Implementing OER materials will help students to save money and will support the principles of equity, inclusion, and accessibility at our main campus and across our six satellite centers.” Dr. Kiron will lead a team of instructors, faculty, and staff in implementing structured course content based on OER materials that will be implemented during the 2021-2022 academic year. For more information on these grants managed by PALCI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization, visit PA GOAL’s website, pagoal.org.
Lackawanna College Announces School of Petroleum & Natural Gas Sponsor Lackawanna College announced Williams as an official sponsor of the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas with their sponsorship of a 4,500-square-foot teaching lab located in the new Tunkhannock Center as part of a three-year partnership. “We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with Williams,” said Susan Gumble, program director for the College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG). “Through their sponsorship, we can continue to provide students with real-world, hands-on experience that will fill in-demand positions in the oil and gas industry.” As part of the sponsorship, Williams will receive naming rights to a teaching lab that houses compressors, engines, and other industry equipment. Funds from the partnership will be used to support the School of PNG degree and certificate programs. “Williams is thrilled to support the School of Petroleum & Natural Gas,” said Mike Atchie, director, Community and Project Outreach. “We’ve hired more than 70 graduates over the years, and they are a critical part of our operations workforce both in the Tunkhannock area and other parts of our enterprise. We also are pleased to support an endowed scholarship at the school, enabling even more students to enter an industry that is adapting to a clean energy future.” Lackawanna College offers associate degree programs in petroleum and natural gas business administration and technology along with certificate programs in natural gas technician and compressor/engine mechanic. For more information on Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas programs, visit Lackawanna.edu.
Lackawanna College Grows Medical Assistant Program with $150K Grant Lackawanna College has received a $150,000 grant from Moses Taylor Foundation to launch a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) certificate program at the main campus in Scranton and the Lake Region Center in Hawley. Funds from the grant will be used for the purchase of equipment and supplies for hands-on teaching laboratories and to upgrade lab equipment at the College’s Towanda Center. “This grant will provide state-of-the-art equipment to students, giving them the hands-on experience, they need to enter the workforce as skilled medical assistants,” said Christine Martin, Program Director. “Thanks to the generosity of the Moses Taylor Foundation, Lackawanna College can meet Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania’s need for certified medical professionals.” Lackawanna College’s program is matching the growing demand for medical assistants which stems from several factors including an aging population, rising chronic disease rates, and advancements in healthcare. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in this field are expected to grow 19% by 2029. The certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) certificate program at Lackawanna College is one of only a few of its kind available in Northeastern and Central Pa. For more information on the Lackawanna College medical assistant program, visit lackawanna.edu/certificates/.
Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate Registration Open The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center is accepting registrations for Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate which will begin Sept. 2, 2021. The Intermediate Beekeeping certificate is part of an intensive multi-level program designed to provide students with a deep understanding of honey bees and beekeeping. The three levels of certification are as follows: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. The Intermediate program is designed to support beekeepers who have completed the Beginner Beekeeping Certificate or have kept bees for two or more seasons. By the end of the course, beekeepers will be able to grow their apiary, improve their colonies beyond the beginner level and maintain a sustainable apiary. Upon successful completion of the course, students will earn an Intermediate Beekeeping Certificate and will be prepared to take the Advanced Beekeeping Certificate program, which is set to begin Spring 2022. The Intermediate Beekeeping program runs every Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00pm from Sept. 2 to Nov. 4. The cost is $250 for the certificate, textbook not included. The program will be held at the Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center (LCEEC) which is located at 93 MacKenzie Road, Covington Township. For more information about the program, please visit lackawanna.edu or contact Sharon Yanik-Craig at yaniks@lackawanna.edu or call (570) 842-1506.
Lackawanna College Towanda Center Invites Transfer Students to Special Event The Lackawanna College Towanda Center will host its Transfer Week from Aug. 9-13 to welcome students looking to transfer college credits to Lackawanna. The event takes place at the center, 1024 S. Main St., Towanda, daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students will meet one-on-one with an enrollment specialist and receive help with their financial aid and registering for classes. A cookout will also be provided by the College. Perks of enrolling at the Lackawanna College Towanda Center include affordable tuition, a location close to home, and easily transferrable credits. “Students especially enjoy the small class sizes, which rarely exceed eight students per section,” Center Director Brad Reid said. “It is significantly less overwhelming than some of the larger state school class sizes, and instructors can get to know the students and provide more individualized attention. The low tuition combined with finances saved on room and board gives students a better opportunity to save money for the next step in their career or education.” The Towanda Center offers the most affordable Clinical Medical Assistant certificate program in Northeastern Pennsylvania along with certificate programs for Phlebotomy Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant, and Medical Billing & Coding. Associate degrees are offered in majors including Accounting, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Business Studies, Criminal Justice, Cyber Security, Human Services, Pre-Allied Health, Professional Studies, and Sports Management. Human Service majors, who can obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree at Lackawanna, may find job placements close to home with Northern Tier Counseling. One of the center’s largest programs, Pre-Allied Health, offers many readily transferrable credits that open an umbrella of career opportunities in the medical field. Students may also spend two semesters at the Towanda Center to start their coursework in Hospitality Management or Petroleum and Natural Gas Business Administration before finishing their degree at the Scranton Campus or the brand-new Tunkhannock Center. Students who begin their major coursework at the Towanda Center can also finish their bachelor’s degrees online in Business, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Restaurant & Foodservice Management, and RN-to-BSN. The Transfer Week event welcomes walk-in or pre-registered students. For more information, please visit www.lackawanna.edu/towandatransfer, call (570) 265-3449, or email towanda@lackawanna.edu.
Lackawanna Students Earn National PBL Awards Six Lackawanna College students competed alongside nearly 800 of the country’s top business students in the 2021 Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) National Leadership Conference (NLC) held virtually between June 24-27. Several Falcons placed in the top ten in their respective categories. The students had previously competed and won between first and third place in state competitions, also held online in April 2021, qualifying them to advance to nationals. At the NLC, Business graduate Jillian Martin ’21, of Berwick, and Accounting major Brian Davis, of Scranton, partnered to earn fourth place in the business category. Current Professional Studies bachelor’s degree student Mason Kay ’19, of Clarks Summit, earned fifth place in Digital Media. Current Accounting bachelor’s major Sara Kellerman ’17, of Honesdale, obtained seventh place in Accounting for Professionals. Brittany Flynn ’21, of Mayfield, placed eighth in Sports Management and Marketing and ninth in Contemporary Sports Issues. Scranton native Kelly Kuzma ’21 also competed in the national event. College faculty and staff supporting PBL include advisor Carolyn Chupko, co-advisors Suzanne Cercone and Karen Lipnichan, and Pennsylvania PBL State Advisor Beverly O’Hora. PBL is the college division of FBLA with over 8,000 members and more than 350 chapters, helping students prepare for careers in business. As PBL’s mission is to “prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences,” Lackawanna’s chapter is open to students of all majors.
Rally for Restaurants: E-commerce Workshop Lackawanna College has been awarded a $150,000 CARES Technology Assistance Grant to support an initiative that will create e-commerce solutions for struggling Scranton restaurants. This funding will be used to support 36 restaurants in the Lackawanna College Rally for Restaurants: E-commerce Edition presented by the Venture Lab. Participants in the program will be able to: Launch websitesCreate online ordering systemsReceive training on how to use digital media to boost sales Restaurants who complete the program will receive one year of ongoing and cost-free tech support through the Lackawanna College Venture Lab for marketing, online ordering, social media, and the restaurant’s website. How to participate: RSVP to the e-commerce workshop hosted locally at the Venture Lab inside Lackawanna College. Can’t attend the workshop? Send an email to venturelab@lackawanna.edu with your first and last name, business name and state your interest in the Lackawanna College Rally for Restaurants: E-commerce Edition.
Lackawanna College Training Future Scranton, Wilkes-Barre Officers Lackawanna College’s Police Academy Class 255 is off to an impressive start. Comprised of 11 officers from both the Scranton and Wilkes Barre Police Departments, this cohort of cadets embarked on a fully funded police training program in the Scranton campus on April 26, 2021. Both the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton Police Departments will pay for the cadets’ tuition. The departments are eligible for reimbursement upon cadets’ completion of the program by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer’s Training Commissions (MPOETC) thanks to an Act 89 annual grant of $5 million authorized in 2013. This grant stipulates that police officers must be trained and certified through the Act 120 Pennsylvania Municipal Police Basic Training Program for the departments to receive reimbursement. “Currently, MPOETC will reimburse a department 75 percent of the tuition and 45 percent of the hourly wages required for the training of any cadet hired by the department and paid to attend the Lackawanna College Municipal Police Academy,” Lackawanna College Director of Police Academy Operations John Chilleri explained. Lackawanna College’s Police Academy is the only academy in northeastern Pennsylvania authorized by MPOETC to provide both the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Basic Training Program and the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Annual Mandatory In-Service Training (MIST). “The academy also provides law enforcement training for police departments in 13 counties in the Commonwealth, including lethal weapons training (Act 235) and customized training programs, meeting the training needs of law enforcement agencies, private security, and other first responder organizations,” Chilleri added. Class 255 is expected to graduate in December 2021. Learn more at www.lackawanna.edu.
Rally for Restaurants Announces Not Just One, but Five #RallyFinale Contest Winners Lackawanna College Rally for Restaurants and Metz Culinary Management had committed to raising up to $10,000 for the #RallyFinale Contest through their final dinner event with Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, but exceeded the amount, raising $14,000. Instead of awarding just one grand prize, Rally for Restaurants awarded the grand prize of $10,000to the winning restaurant, The 16th Ward which received the most community votes along with $1,000to each of the four finalists at an award ceremony on May 10 at 409 on Adams at Lackawanna College. In collaboration with Metz Culinary Management, the Rally for Restaurants #RallyFinale Contest asked local restaurants to submit videos explaining how the funds would help support their eatery after being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finalists stated that the funds would help replace equipment, pay for building repairs, cover bills, and pay employees. “The spirit of Rally for Restaurants is an entire community coming together to help our local restaurants survive the pandemic,” said Stephanie Decker, AVP for Social and Economic Impact at Lackawanna College. “We are blown away by the overwhelming support. Once again, Northeast Pa. comes through for our area businesses. Lackawanna College is not a community college, but we are a college for our community and together we are making a difference.” The Lackawanna College Rally for Restaurants initiative was able to donate a total of $79,300 to the local restaurant community and generate over $17,000 in scholarships for students in the Kiesendahl School of Hospitality. “Our community continues to come together in amazing ways. We have a long road ahead to help our businesses and households recover – projects like Rally for Restaurants are a huge piece of getting us there,” said Scranton MayorPaige Gebhardt Cognetti. “We were overwhelmed with the positive response and attendance this past Thursday for the final night of the Rally for Restaurants event held at the College featuring our Ruth’s Chris Steak House menu executed by the service and culinary team at Lackawanna College,” said Jeff Metz, President & CEO of Metz Culinary Management. “The sold-out event allowed us to raise even more money than we expected which will allow us to give back to the community in an even more meaningful way. We are proud to help support local restaurants as we are all in this together.” #RallyFinale Contest Finalists included The 16th Ward, Bar Pazzo, POSH, El Buen Amigo, and Eden a Vegan Café.
Lackawanna College Receives $5,000 Grant to Support STEM-Focused Summer Camp Lackawanna College has received a $5,000 Business Education Partnership (BEP) grant from the Lackawanna County Workforce Development Board (WDB) to support the FIRST LEGO League: Robot Game Camp, a STEM-focused, hands-on summer camp for Scranton School District students in grades six through nine. Run by the Continuing Education department, the program will run Aug. 2 – August 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will work in teams and engage in a friendly competition to build and program LEGO robots to accomplish tasks and meet challenges. These unique challenge missions will provide students with hands-on experiences that relate to a variety of STEM occupations, such as engineering, coding and information technology, architecture, manufacturing and logistics, the trades, and technician positions. “Lackawanna College supports the community through youth programming and activities that encourage growth and active learning,” said Bridget Duggan, Lackawanna College Youth Program Coordinator. “Through this grant, we are able to provide accessible opportunities to Scranton School District students that get them excited about the STEM field. Partnerships like this are extremely valuable to everyone involved.” The college has opened registration to Scranton School District students for the FIRST LEGO League: Robot Game Camp. The program will be available free of charge with 15 spots available. This project is funded, in part, under an Agreement with money allocated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, through the Lackawanna County WDB, and its Fiscal Agent, Lackawanna County. For more information and to register your child for the FIRST LEGO League: Robot Game Camp at Lackawanna College, call Bridget Duggan at (570) 961-7883 or email dugganb@lackawanna.edu.
