Latest news with #JohnYudichak
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Luzerne County Community College launches Career and Technology Academy
Jun. 4—NANTICOKE — Luzerne County Community College's new Career and Technology Academy dispels the myth that students gifted in skilled trades don't have a path to college, LCCC President John Yudichak said Wednesday. LCCC officially launched the LCCC Career & Technology Academy — an unprecedented educational partnership between the college and the region's three Career and Technical Centers (CTCs) — Hazleton Area Career Center, Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center and West Side Career & Technical Center. Yudichak said the new academy was made possible through a $1 million Dual Credit Innovation Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and $150,000 in private scholarship support. "The Academy allows high school students to earn college credits — free of charge — while completing their CTC programs," Yudichak said. "The initiative aims to transform workforce development in Northeastern Pennsylvania by creating accessible, affordable and high-impact educational pathways for students pursuing skilled trades." Yudichak said the Career & Technology Academy will empower more than 2,000 CTC students across Luzerne County to earn post-secondary credentials while still in high school. "It's a bold, necessary innovation that will transform our regional economy and individual lives," Yudichak said. The Academy's first class includes 27 students who attended LCCC this spring at no cost, thanks to the generous $100,000 William Rinaldi Career & Technology Academy Scholarship and the $50,000 Joseph Yudichak Career Pathway Scholarship provided through the Luzerne Foundation. Local entrepreneur William Rinaldi, who Yudichak called "a key donor and visionary partner," was honored for his contributions. "Bill recognized the value of LCCC as a workforce development epicenter," Yudichak said. "His generosity ensures that our students have every opportunity to succeed." Rinaldi said, "The best way to help someone is to assist them in finding the right path to success. And I am always willing to help them." A regional partnership with statewide implications Dr. Thomas Duffy, chief administrator of West Side CTC, praised the collaborative model. "This is a first-of-its-kind partnership," Duffy said. "By centralizing resources and leveraging the strengths of all three CTCs with LCCC, we're creating unprecedented opportunities for our students." Dr. Anthony Guariglia, administrative director at Wilkes-Barre Area CTC, highlighted the real-world confidence this model provides. "Students get to transition to college-level courses with their peers and build on skills they've already mastered," Guariglia said. "It gives them the confidence to succeed in college and beyond." Dr. Brian Uplinger, Hazleton Area superintendent, pointed out how the program relieves capacity issues at overcrowded CTCs. "We have limited seats," Uplinger said. "This program opens up opportunities for more students to participate in CTC training by moving some students to LCCC." Dr. Graceann Platukus, LCCC vice president of enrollment management, underscored the rising demand. "Parents and students are looking for affordable, fast-tracked routes into trades," Platukus said. "This program answers that call." LCCC's academic affairs vice president, Dr. Russ Bigus, emphasized the broader impact. "This program gives high schoolers the chance to gain experience, confidence, and even meet future employers while still in high school," Bigus said. Jocelyn Sterenchock, CAN DO's Director of Economic Development, added, "To be 18 years old and graduate with a diploma in one hand and a job offer in the other is exactly what we should be striving for." State support for a new model of workforce education The $1 million state grant will fund tuition, upgrade LCCC's Advanced Technology Center, and expand lab space for high-demand programs like welding, HVAC, and electrical technology. "Pennsylvania needs more skilled workers with college credentials," Yudichak said. "Thanks to Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Department of Education, and our legislators, we're ready to deliver. "At LCCC, community is in our name, in our mission, and in our heart. The Career & Technology Academy is a model of what higher education and workforce development should be — accessible, innovative and focused on student success." In his welcoming address on Wednesday, Yudichak said LCCC's Career & Technology Academy will deliver a first-of-its-kind opportunity for students in the region's career and technical high schools to earn a post-secondary credential or college degree while they are still in high school. "Empowering local CTC students to earn a post-secondary credential or a college degree will change the financial trajectory of individual lives, and it will transform our regional economy by meeting the growing workforce demands for skilled workers in the high-demand career fields of technology, energy and the construction trades," Yudichak said. "The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified a workforce credential gap of more than 12,500 workers in the skilled trades and called on institutions of higher education to partner with CTC high schools to develop a 21st-century skilled, educated workforce." John Naldony, training director for IBEW Local 163, and Bill Feist, president of J&E Sheetmetal, spoke in support of the new program "With the insight of business leaders like Bill Feist and leaders in organized labor, like John Naldony, it is clear to me that the creation of LCCC Career & Technology is a necessary and essential innovation in higher education. Pennsylvania needs more skilled trade workers," Yudichak said. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teach in NEPA program plans to keep teachers local
HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A new educational partnership program in Luzerne County hopes to fight the teacher shortage here in Pennsylvania. According to state data there are currently around 5,500 teacher vacancies. Those vacancies are why the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Luzerne County Community College (LCCC), and the Hazleton Area School District are teaming up to create the Teach in NEPA Project. Fire department prepares for rescue training at coal mine The Teach in NEPA Project aims to follow the Shapiro administration and the general assembly's goal of addressing the statewide teacher shortage. It starts and ends right here in Hazleton. 'You will not have to leave this community to go to school. You will not have to leave this community to earn your degree, and in most respects you're not gonna have to leave this community to find a job as a teacher,' stated John Yudichak, President, LCCC. Through the program, students can obtain their associate's degree with LCCC and get their bachelors with commonwealth university all at LCCC's Hazleton campus. 'All four years are here in this building. The services will be brought to them. The teachers and the professors will be brought to the,' explained Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, Commonwealth University President. While students are completing their degrees, they will train at Hazleton area, and when they graduate, they will have employment opportunities within the district. Hazleton Area Superintendent Brian Uplinger says this is crucial as the number of students within the district continues to grow and the number of teachers declines. 'We have 80 emergency-certified folk in the district, and we have a number of teachers that are going to retire this year,' said Superintendent Uplinger. Through a grow your own model, the Teach in NEPA Project aims to recruit and retain local students to ease the shortage and create a new generation of teachers here at home. 'The Teach in NEPA Project really is about go here, graduate here, and teach here. So this historic partnership really makes a pathway to the most affordable, accessible four year degree anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I would say anywhere in the country,' added Yudichak. Students can begin the program in the fall, and it will allow them to obtain their degrees for under $30,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
INNOVATION: Luzerne County Community College excels in regional partnerships
Apr. 27—NANTICOKE — John Yudichak, president of Luzerne County Community College, said LCCC is at the forefront of educational innovation in Pennsylvania — establishing robust regional partnerships designed to enhance accessibility, affordability and workforce readiness for students. "These strategic collaborations are transforming the higher education landscape and addressing critical workforce gaps in the regional economy of northeastern Pennsylvania," Yudichak said. One of the most significant new educational partnerships comes through groundbreaking articulation agreements with the 10 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Yudichak said higher education reforms embodied in Act 69 of 2024 that was championed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and a bipartisan coalition of state legislators, guarantees junior status for LCCC graduates at any PASSHE institution. "Creating the best pathway to a debt-free college education, the initiative makes transferring seamless for students and empowers them to pursue a four-year degree in a timelier, more cost-efficient way," Yudichak said. "LCCC has long been recognized as the leading institution for students transferring to Commonwealth University, and this new partnership will foster greater collaboration among public institutions, stretching the value of public investments in these institutions and strengthening their abilities to respond to workforce development needs in Pennsylvania. The alliance aims to cultivate new professionals in high-demand careers such as education, nursing, and criminal justice." In addition to its collaboration with PASSHE, Yudichak said LCCC has forged Regional Articulation Agreements with private universities in Luzerne County, like King's College, Misericordia University, and Wilkes University. "These agreements simplify the transition for students moving from LCCC to pursue bachelor and graduate programs, ensuring a smoother path to graduating with a degree," Yudichak said. Recognizing the trade and technology skills gap in the local workforce, Yudichak said LCCC is also partnering with career and technical high schools, including the Hazleton Area Career Center, West Side Career & Technical Center and the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center. With a startling 61,000 credentialed worker shortage revealed in the 2023 Post Secondary Workforce Credential Gap Analysis, this initiative aims to provide more than 2,000 high school students with college credits toward certifications in vital trade and technology fields. Yudichak said LCCC's commitment to accessibility is evident in its "Go Here, Graduate Here, Work Here" model that will be featured at its seven campus centers across northeastern Pennsylvania. The LCCC Centers in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Scranton, Berwick, Shamokin and Watsontown serve as community hubs where students can access academic resources, financial aid assistance and career advising. Yudichak said LCCC's localized approach to higher education breaks down transportation barriers and fosters a sense of belonging among students, significantly enhancing their chances of success. "In a rapidly changing job market, LCCC is mindful of the need for relevant career education," Yudichak said. LCCC's new Micro-Credential Certification Program is designed to address workforce demands by offering targeted training in high-demand fields like AI in Manufacturing. Yudichak said recognizing that success is seldom linear and students may need greater support to achieve their academic goals, LCCC established the AllOne Recovery Educational Institute (AREI) to support students in recovery from substance use disorders by emphasizing recovery through earning a post-secondary credential. With the support of a $250,000 grant from the Luzerne County Council and ongoing support from the AllOne Foundation, Yudichak said the institute has served nearly 250 students since its inception and produced impressive outcomes in recovery and educational attainment. "In a world where educational accessibility and workforce development are more critical than ever, Luzerne County Community College is setting a standard for higher education innovation and regional partnerships," Yudichak said. "Luzerne County Community College is the largest, most popular, most accessible college in northeastern Pennsylvania. "At LCCC, community is in our name, community is our mission, and building stronger communities is exactly what we are invested in every day to ensure each succeeding generation of students can achieve their educational and career goals right here at Luzerne County Community College." For more information on programs and partnerships at LCCC, visit Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsmakers to Feature: Challenges and Changes in Education, April 13, 2025
(WBRE/WYOU) Newsmakers will take a closer look at some of the challenges facing higher education this Sunday Host Jayne Ann Bugda will be joined by a panel from Luzerne County Community College. John Yudichak, LCCC President, Rebecca Brominski, Executive Director, LCCC Foundation, and Dr. Graceann Platukus, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Enrichment, will discuss the changes and challenges in higher education and the vital role community colleges play. April is Community College Month. Newsmakers airs Sunday, April 13, at 7:30 am on WYOU and Noon on WBRE. LCCC History Luzerne County Community College formally began operations on October 2, 1967. The first class of 836 students attended classes in two buildings in downtown Wilkes-Barre located near the Hotel Sterling. The college offered 11 programs at the time, with tuition at only $12.50 per credit. In January 1974, the College moved to its permanent 122-acre campus in Nanticoke. Missions of Community Colleges Help Students transfer to a four-year university Career Ready Education Build foundational skills of students who need more help in their math or English Community colleges educate 40 percent of all undergraduates in the United States To learn more about Luzerne County Community College Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
