communiquĂŠ A n u p d at e f o r fa m i ly & f r i e n d s o f r e a d i n g a r e a c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e
SPRING 2011
Dear friends, RACC attracts and serves a wide variety of students. This issue highlights a number of opportunities that Berks County residents have pursued in order to further their educational, professional and personal goals. I hope you enjoy reading about our diverse student body and that this helps paint a more complete picture of what RACC is, who we serve and how we help. Many students find our College’s programs help them reach their transfer or employment preparation objectives conveniently and at an affordable cost. RACC also has programs for those who need to strengthen their basic academic skills as well as their knowledge of the behaviors required to be successful in the workplace. Increasingly these are being delivered in an integrated manner. In many cases some of these students need to begin in our growing number of short-term occupational training programs typically completed in less than a full year. In our newly articulated One College Concept, these programs may be where students start, but once they are employed, they can return to RACC to acquire additional skills and credentials in an accelerated fashion. We are fortunate that our College has recently received two significant grants that address these issues and will help us add new programs in the next year — one in Health Information Technology, and the other in Energy Technology. These grants will allow us to develop
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innovative ways to address the preparation gap as well. The funders clearly believe that RACC has the capacity as well as the will to tackle head-on the educational needs and workplace preparation challenges facing our community. Today’s challenging times are evident in many ways in our region. One aspect is the changing nature of employment and what is now being called the disconnect between many residents’ skills and the demands of jobs that are available in and around Berks County. Unless specific measures are taken to reduce the divide between skills and employability, many residents, and therefore our region, will not be able to thrive. Doing our part to address these issues, RACC is building stronger pipelines to encourage more individuals to consider RACC’s technical programs that are tied to employers’ needs now and for the foreseeable future. One such cost-effective and time-to-completion initiative is our newly-expanded Technical Academy, an educational partnership with the County’s two Career and Technology Centers that is described in this issue. I look forward to providing more updates on these exciting efforts as RACC continues to demonstrate why we are The Community’s College.
In this Issue 4
Lisa Mademann will turn 50 this summer and will be looking for a new job. Think she’s intimidated?
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Designing a Mission to Mars “I’m going to Germany.” Crossing Barriers Miller Center Winter 2012 Rachel Stoudt, a recent graduate of RACC’s Practical Nursing program, is a perfect example of believing in life-long learning.
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RACC’s Dr. Capotosta: A Woman on a Mission
Foundation for RACC 2012 Annual Fund On Our Cover Tubingen, Germany featured on page 6, “I’m Going to Germany”.
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Reading Area Community College 10 South 2nd Street P.O. Box 1706 Reading, PA 19603 www.racc.edu President Dr. Anna D. Weitz Editor Melissa Kushner Contributors Alison M. Wenger, Caehlin Bell, Ryan Bertoldi, Michael Nagel Design Liz Berdow Photography Secoges Photographics, Alison Wenger, Dr. Capotosta, Ryan Bertoldi Reading Area Community College is an equal opportunity institution. www.facebook.com/ReadingArea CommunityCollege
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www.facebook.com/RACCalumni RACC_edu
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“This program allows me to take my time and go at my own speed to learn the different machines. I feel like I need to be highly- qualified when I start looking for a new job and this will give me more credibility…”
Lisa Mademann will turn 50 this summer and will be looking for a new job. Think she’s intimidated? Not in the least. Mademann has spent more than 30 years working in a mechanical engineering field dominated by men and earning a chance to play a role in incredible projects that have left a lasting impact. She is now pursuing another less traditional path by entering into the CNC Machine Operator Program at the Schmidt Training and Technology Center to boost her résumé. “I never had any hands-on machining experience,” Mademann said. “I never got to run a lathe or drill press. I was nervous, but it was exciting to get to work on the machines. I’m not afraid of stuff; I just never had any access. In high school, girls had a two-week shop class where we made little plastic hearts.” The CNC program is self-paced, a benefit for students because it allows them to concentrate on areas where they need work, while providing a refresher of material they previously learned. Successful completion of the program will also result in National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certification. “This program allows me to take my time and go at my own speed to learn the different machines. I feel like I need to be highly-qualified when I start looking for a new job and this will give me more credibility,” she added. If you look back on Mademann’s career, her experience speaks for her credibility. While working at DANA Corporation when it was based in Reading, she was a Product Designer and Quality Specialist and then became a lead designer on the aluminum spaceframe for the Z06 Corvette. She also worked on frames for Ford F150s, Toyota and Chevy. In another position, Mademann worked on the Limerick power plant near Pottstown. “I got a chance to walk 4
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the pipes and be inside the reactor core before it was functional. You could even see the five-foot lead wall that surrounds the core,” she said. As an employee at Arrow International, she was one of the lead prototype designers on a medical implant device used on former Vice President Dick Cheney after multiple heart attacks. As she worked at companies through the years, Mademann always had a familiar home as a custom cabinet and woodwork designer at Interior Environments. The owner is a friend of her mom. “It was fate. She just always seemed to need help when I needed a job,” she said. Regardless of her job, Mademann always prided herself on accuracy and details. “I wanted to give a good representation because there still are not that many girls in these fields. I’ve always been a good student and worker and that comes from my upbringing,” she said. As a student at Governor Mifflin in the 1970s, she dreamed of being an artist. “I really liked art, but wasn’t a good artist. And, I really liked math. When we were offered vo-tech, architectural drafting allowed me to put those two things together,” Mademann said. Although she spent her high school years designing houses, Mademann said she doesn’t regret her career path in mechanical drafting. “Those were the jobs that were here at that time. This was my hometown, I had a big family here and I didn’t want to leave,” she said. Soon, Mademann hopes to have a new job and enjoy watching her young grandson grow up right here in her hometown.
Designing a Mission to Mars RACC student Kevin Arentz recently realized a childhood dream of many young boys— building a spaceship for a trip to Mars. Maybe not exactly a spaceship, but Arentz did spend three days at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) working with other community college students to build a robotic rover that could travel to space. He was one of 48 students chosen from across the country to participate in the National Community College Aerospace Scholars program. “I first saw it advertised in an email from Phi Theta Kappa (the College’s honor society),” said Arentz, a Liberal Arts Transfer student. “I had to write a short essay on why I wanted to go. I thought if I want to teach someday, then this would be a good experience to share with my students.” Arentz made the initial cut of 200 students based on his essay, a letter of recommendation and his academic qualifications. Then it got hard. “For the next step of the selection process,
we had to propose a mission to Mars and design a rover that could be used,” he said. “It was a lot of research writing because it had to be realistic and include a budget and timeline. I used Google SketchUp for my design.” RACC adjunct professor Dan Glass provided Arentz’s recommendation letter and remarked how this incredible opportunity will benefit him. “Thinking about how Kevin used his scholastic opportunities at RACC to do this, not only for the experience of learning with NASA’s best teachers, but also to be inspired and to inspire those future STEM (science/technology/engineering/ math) job workers is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Glass said. “I look forward to seeing how much this elevates his growth not only as a student, but as a person.” Once the students arrived at NASA, they split into groups of 12 for their assignment of proposing a mission to Mars. As part of the presentation, the group was required to design and build a functioning rover that had
to go through an obstacle course and complete certain tasks. Another key was designing the rover to be as versatile as possible with as few parts as possible to keep the cost down. The group worked within budget constraints and used a catalog to track the prices of the various parts. “I did more of the hands-on work like designing the chassis for the rover,” said Arentz. “Other people on the team did the research, budget or the actual presentation. It was three long days, and we would work until 9 at night.” Now when Arentz looks back on his experience, he knows it will make a great addition to his résumé. He also brought home a recommendation letter from the head of the program that he hopes will help him earn a scholarship toward his bachelor’s degree. “Being able to perform well enough that an organization like NASA would see potential in me has greatly increased my academic confidence,” he added.
He started taking classes at RACC in the summer of 2010 after spending several years working as an electrician. After a few years, Arentz decided he wanted a more personally fulfilling career, and since he always enjoyed science, he opted to enroll at RACC and get started. “I was already 31; I didn’t want to wait any longer to start looking for a teaching job,” he said. After graduating from RACC in May, Arentz plans to transfer to Kutztown University to pursue a degree in Secondary Education and Biology. “I don’t think I would have been able to attend school if it were not for RACC,” he said. “I decided to come to RACC because it was local and economical. Then, after hearing some friends of mine complain about their professors at other colleges, I am reminded of how glad I am that I spent my first two years here. All of my professors have been friendly, knowledgeable and excellent teachers.”
“I first saw it advertised in an email from Phi Theta Kappa… I had to write a short essay on why I wanted to go. I thought if I want to teach someday, then this would be a good experience to share with my students.”
Left to Right: Kevin Arentz and the finished Rover designed by Arentz and his team at NASA.
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RACC Abroad
“I’m going to Germany.” By Ryan Bertoldi
Ryan Bertoldi, a 29-year-old Business Administration student, was able to travel and see part of the world thanks to RACC’s partnership with the Danzer Foundation. Bertoldi was one of 40 international students – just four from the U.S. – to spend a semester studying at Reutlingen University in Germany. Bertoldi has a strong interest in business, but also worked as an ESL aide in the kindergarten classes at Amanda Stout Elementary through a work-study position at RACC. This trip gave him the opportunity to combine both business and education into a once-in-alifetime experience. Above: Castle ruins in Heidelberg Right: Heidelberg town square packed with people during a fall festival.
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The statement echoed through the room to the ears of my now much more interested parents. The ensuing slew of questions reminded me of a post-Super Bowl coach’s interview. I had known for a week now that I was chosen as the next recipient of the Danzer Foundation Scholarship, an award that would take both me and my educational path to Europe for a semester to study International Business at Reutlingen University, the top Hochshule (focused-study University) in all of Germany. The anxiety was building; I had never lived outside of the small, comfortable confines of my home in Berks County, a town and state settled heavily by Germanic tribes in the early parts of the migration to America. Growing up, signs of our “Pennsylvania Dutch” surrounded me along the sprawling countryside, insignia’s emblazoned on 150+ year old hand-built barns, families dressed in all black riding down the roadways in a covered horse and buggy that still spoke a form of German dialect, and local societies such as the Reading Liederkranz, all made it almost blindly apparent that while we were “Americans” we were still very much a product of our early heritage. Months prior, while finishing my Associate Degree in Business Management and Marketing at RACC, my business professor, advisor and acquaintance Mary Lou Kline came to me once again with an application opportunity. I say “once again” because this was not the first time that she had mentioned the Reutlingen Fellowship program to me.
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A year prior she had piqued my interest in this wonderfully beneficial scholarship program, but at the time I found myself overwhelmed with school, work and decisions that forced me to forego applying for a chance at international travel. However, with the introduction of the inquisitive spark, I found myself doing research on the program, school and city in my spare time during the following year, and when I once again saw posters for the Reutlingen Fellowship posted on the school’s bulletin board, my ambition was far from subtle. I would be one of a number of applicants among all the local colleges, one of a number of equally eager and interested business pupils, but as my luck would have it I would be the one that would be chosen to undergo an amazing, life-changing experience that would not just make me more aware of my own heritage and educational capacity, but would also give my life a fire and depth that I could have never imagined for myself. In foresight, I knew that I would essentially be a blind man walking into the unknown. In hindsight, I learned that overcoming fear and walking into the theoretical “dark” is the most stimulating, educational, and eye-opening experience that one may ever know in life. This would not yet be the end of my surprise, however. A month after learning of my acceptance into this esteemed program, I found myself presented with a new additional opportunity to supplement my already overwhelming travel plan. “Are you interested in going
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to Germany two weeks early to a kids’ camp called Burzelbach?” was the surprise that Mary Lou had for me now. In the previous few weeks, I had the chance to mentally prepare myself for where I thought this trip would take me, but working with kids on top of living in a place where I knew that I would be completely misunderstood and confused literally because I hadn’t yet had the chance to learn a significant amount of German, well that was a horse of a different color. While already an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in a kindergarten classroom in Reading, I had learned very quickly that a language barrier could make or break both the teacher and the children and could lead to distrust and insecurity in a setting where both are extremely acidic to any type of learning process.
“I found myself in a city the size of Reading, with the lowest crime rate, lowest poverty level, lowest unemployment (3%), and highest income in all of Germany.” Yet, all that aside, I had always felt a great connection with children and had always been both a teacher and a student in their company learning from them at times just as much as I felt I had been teaching them. So, with little reluctance and rolling with the tide of positivity that had already presented itself and begun growing, I decided that I would embrace the opportunity and go to Burzelbach with the best of intentions. Hoping that while lost-in-translation I would find a way to make a connection, with the little bit of German that I had already listened to, absorbed and taught myself.
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Summer would, as I soon found out, arrive and evaporate just as quickly as the morning dew and Aug. 27 would be upon me before I could even complete my “things to remember” list, but who needs it anyway. After all, I really wasn’t trying to stick out like the sore thumb American tourist that I had already convinced myself I saw. At the airport I was met by Petra, an employee of the city and a great help. In the coming months, she would be my personal tour guide and a wonderful source of information. During my stay we would find ourselves among the company of fellow Reading High students and teachers as well as our mayor Tom McMahon and our cities mayor “Uberburgermeister” Barbara Bosch. She would take me to Betzingen where I was offered a free stay while working at the camp. I was amazed almost immediately by not only the cleanliness of the city streets and surrounding areas, but by the overall beauty and picturesque surroundings. I was reminded over the next few months of my stay, almost daily, that the Germans were overwhelmingly helpful, even to a struggling Deutsche speaker like me. I also found that much like Berks County; here mountains and sprawling acres of organic farmland met historical city limits without a hitch. All maintained as if they had never changed in the three, four and five hundred years they had been there, granite cobble-stoned sidewalks met cobblestone streets and led your eye off into the distant vision of red terra-cotta roofs paired with wood stove burning chimney’s, not a single shot of graffiti or rundown structure in sight. Bicycles and buses filled the sidewalks and streets amongst the numerous pint-sized Mercedes, BMW, Fiat and other makes and models that I’d only ever seen in magazines and on TV. The lifestyle was, visually active to say the least, where bus routes and efficient speedy public transportation ran on 15-minute cycles every day.
A common sight in the mornings, Bosch, Porsche, and other leading world corporate headquarters were fronted with large, covered, filled, parking lots holding two hundred-plus bikes ridden daily to work by all employees regardless of age. Some of what I had imagined, and so much more, it was truly amazing how this society, and all of its citizens had advanced to such a high level of environmental and civil awareness and how it was visible through everything that they did. Recycling was painstakingly separated into four containers, solar panels were commonplace on commercial and residential roofs everywhere, and the term Fair Energie was evident across the countryside displayed on buildings and structures proclaiming Germany’s new anti-nuclear powered initiative. My time well spent would make me continually more in-tune to what Germany was all about. By December, I had toured most of the major automotive production plants in the region in places with names such as Untertürkeim, Neckarsulm, and Sindelfingen, all based loosely within the state of Baden-Württemberg. Primarily made up of and formed around the headquarters of top world companies such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Bosch, Siemens and BASF to name a few, this was an economical hub that’s currently doing 3% of all world trade. While at home we had been proclaimed “the poorest city in the U.S.,” I found myself in a city the size of Reading, with the lowest crime rate, lowest poverty level, lowest unemployment (3%), and highest income in all of Germany. This was an industrially booming place that needs to fill 2 million jobs in the next five to eight years, and has arguably one of the best healthcare and business policies in the entire world. Led by the Dean of the college and head of the business department, Baldur Veit, I would find myself weekly on Mercedes tour buses taking us to our next excursion. This was a type of hands-on, visually
stimulating education that I had never been privy to, and while I found myself unaccustomed to this international exchange experience I learned that all European students were actually required to do at least one semester abroad. An educational system that proved to make for much better students and civilians alike, a better educated and more individually responsible people, it became commonplace to see 6- and 7-year-old children take the public bus daily to school through multiple stops without a parent in sight. Just one more aspect of a country that I would soon find lent to my desire to return. Through months of classes in German History, Language, and European Business Law I worked hard, striving to represent my college and my “Americanness” and would do nothing short of everything in my power to be a positive role model and student. My work paid off in December when, after a series of conversations with both my professors and Dean, I was offered an interview with the most prestigious business consulting firm in Germany, MBtech or Mercedes Benz’s International Business Consulting division. Germany, and the experience that I was fortunate enough to have because of my college RACC, has exponentially changed my life, and I’m sure that if I was writing a book and not a short article I could elaborate and go on for days about my time there. Most importantly though, I learned through this who I truly am and what I am capable of. I learned that the world is an amazingly large place and that it would benefit all of us to take the time to venture into the unknown, into a place where you are forced to conform. In February, I will continue my journey into the dark when I begin my six-month internship with Mercedes Benz in Stuttgart, an opportunity that I hope will open future doors for me in business and will fuel my desire to continue my education at Columbia University next fall.
Above left: Tubingen Above right: Switzerland in Flims Laax
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“In the beginning, I used to sit in the back; now I sit in the front. I used to be afraid to speak English with other people, but not anymore.”
Crossing Barriers Vanessa Ruiz is set to graduate in May with a degree in Computer Information Systems. Like many RACC students, her path to success met more than a few obstacles in her 36 years. Born in Puerto Rico as the third of eight children, Ruiz knew minimal English when she arrived in Reading in 2006. A divorced mom, she moved to Reading with her four children after meeting a man through one of today’s common ways of connecting with new people — the Internet. “We were long distance for a year then I came to visit him and he proposed to me, but I didn’t answer right away,” she said. After a year of life together, they married in 2007. Ruiz knew that if she was going to stay in Reading and raise her family, she needed to learn English. She started with free ESL classes offered at RACC and worked her way up to the more advanced credit classes, advancing toward a degree. “The first class was very basic,” she said. “I already knew some English, but here I learned verbs and the order of sentences. They gave us more time to pronounce the words. The pronunciation was a challenge for me, but our instructor gave us an opportunity to pronounce correctly. She was so patient and kind with us and gave us confidence.” Ruiz’s confidence carried over into her other classes as well. “In the beginning, I used to sit in the back; now I sit in the front. I used to be afraid to speak English with other people, but not anymore.” Her ESL instructor encouraged her to pursue a degree and also 10
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suggested searching for scholarships to help cover expenses. “I first started searching national Hispanic scholarships, but then I realized there are more people who need it than me, so I just applied to the local instead. I hope I can be a role model to not only Hispanic people, but others who are isolated because of a language or educational barrier,” she said. With her renewed spirit, Ruiz started working toward an associate degree in computers. “My husband now is in IT and our goal some day is to open our own business. I already help my neighbors with their computer problems, and I’m proud of myself for that,” she said. Ruiz said she keeps in touch with her ESL instructors and offers her help for any students who need extra support. Her advice for those students is to always be positive. Ruiz is already serving as a role model to her younger brother, now 25, who also moved to Reading from Puerto Rico. She said she became closer with her younger brothers after her mother passed away when they were young. “They saw me as a mother and I said, ‘Don’t ever say that.’ I can never replace her. They don’t remember her face, so I try to tell them her legacy and what she did for us. I’m the one who kept all the photos and those bring back memories,” she said. Along with her younger siblings, Ruiz also aims to inspire her four children to make difference. Ranging in age from 11 to 16, they are well aware of the national attention that their new home is receiving because of its poverty. Ruiz is active in parent
teacher organizations and knows that parents must set examples for their children. “We really want to try to change Reading’s status,” she said. “We’re encouraging children to do it. I spend (all my) time on my children and my studies, but I still try to give something back to the community. People can make a difference.” Ruiz’s children learned English though ESL classes in their schools and now says it is a delicate balance between the two cultures. “There are some words that they forget how to say in Spanish. We’re trying not to lose their Spanish heritage or our Puerto Rican culture,” she said. Overcoming life’s hard lessons of losing her mother and learning a new language and culture were difficult for Ruiz, and unfortunately life dealt her another blow last year. After seeing her grades slip and being unable to concentrate, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She spent four months taking care of herself before returning to school. Ruiz credits the Disability Services staff for helping her succeed in the classroom. “RACC has helped me a lot. I’m just happy about what everyone at RACC has done for me. This is a chronic disease that I have to live with, but I’m still going to keep trying to achieve my goals. I don’t want my kids to struggle like I struggled,” she said. After earning her degree at RACC, Ruiz plans to pursue a bachelor’s program at either Penn State Berks or Kutztown.
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Miller Center Winter 2012 RACC’s Miller Center for the Arts continues its fifth anniversary season with diverse quality programming. This winter our Downtown Performing Arts Series features Ballet Hispanico* on Saturday, February 25 and Dala on Saturday, March 10. Ballet Hispanico creates a new style of concert dance, fusing Latin dance with classic and contemporary techniques, and propelling theatricality and passion in every move. Founded in 1970 by Tina Ramirez, the New York-based company is now under the direction of Eduardo Vilaro, who continues the tradition of supporting new and old masters of contemporary dance and exploring the diverse voice of Latin culture. In continuing with our mission of community engagement, members of the troupe will hold a master class for local dancers.
RACC’s Miller Center for the Arts continues its fifth anniversary season with diverse quality programming. In March, Canada’s newest musical darlings Dala, singersongwriters Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine, visit Miller Center with their catchy and insightful acoustic folk-pop songs. Amanda’s ethereal soprano voice blends seamlessly with Sheila’s velvety alto, creating the lush harmonies that have become their trademark. With a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award, a 2011 Juno nomination, and a much-anticipated follow-up to their live album and special, Girls from the North Country, debuting in June, Dala is a group on the rise; this is a performance not to be missed.
On April 22, the ever-popular New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players return for their third performance: the romantic comedy H.M.S. Pinafore. Featuring classic songs including “I am the Captain of the Pinafore,” and “We Sail the Ocean Blue,” this production highlights the inherent social commentary about class and ambition while still being hilariously entertaining. The final show of the series, Vox Lumiere’s Metropolis on Saturday April 28, is the next evolution in entertainment: a unique live performance that combines theatre, original music and silent film. Musicians, singers, dancers, and state-of-the-art multi-media are weaved together with the 1927 Fritz Lang science fiction film classic Metropolis in a thrilling retelling of this masterpiece of German Expressionism. The Miller Center for the Arts also presents a series of family shows each season. This year’s concluding performance is Visible Fictions’ Zorro, a new story about the swash-buckling hero. The Scottish production company, known for producing quality programs for audiences young and old, brings us a touring show about the masked champion ricocheting from one sticky situation to another in a world where adventure is the name and justice is the game, on Saturday, April 14. A mainstay of Miller Center programming is the Illustrated Series Lecture Series. This winter visit Wales: Land of Song and travel Inside Ireland. Celebrate the return of spring with Exploring Costa Rica. Visit the Miller Center website for a full listing of events and to purchase tickets: www.racc.edu/millercenter or www.facebook. com/MillerCenterfortheArts. *Funded in part by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts. NDP is supported by lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with additional funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation, and the Boeing Company Charitable Trust. At left: Collage of featured Miller Center performances. This page: Illustrated Lecture Series Inside Ireland
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At left: Rachel Stoudt (center) and her classmates learn from instructor Frank Ippoliti.
Rachel Stoudt, a recent graduate of RACC’s Practical Nursing program, is a perfect example of believing in life-long learning. A 1997 graduate of Oley Valley High School, Stoudt’s career started like many teenagers — at McDonald’s. Her next job was with Genesis Healthcare, working in the kitchen at a nursing home. This, she said, first sparked her interest in nursing and working with older patients. The true fire, however, began with Stoudt’s aunt who was working at The Lutheran Home at Topton. An instructor from RACC would come to the home to conduct Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training, which is how her aunt learned of RACC’s program. She relayed the information to Stoudt, and at 20 years old and with no prior college experience, Stoudt enrolled in RACC’s CNA career training program. “The experience of the class was just as I was told it was going to be — hands-on learning to care for people in long-term settings,” said Stoudt. 14
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The class ran three weeks and included clinical experience at a long-term care facility for her and her 15 classmates. “It did lead to a better job when I was finished, since the Lutheran Home hired us,” she added. While Stoudt was enjoying her new position, the years passed and her co-workers started to ask about her future plans. “One nurse specifically asked me what I was going to do the rest of my life. I’ve been told I have great people skills and that being a nurse is my calling,” she said. Thanks to her encouragement and that of other co-workers, Stoudt returned to RACC in 2009, enrolling in the Practical Nursing program. Sitting through orientation and the ensuing program overview was overwhelming, and she remembered wondering if she was in over her head. “One girl picked up her stuff and walked out after they said we would
have at least one test a week,” she said. Despite being intimidated that first day, Stoudt persevered and graduated from the program this past December. “The LPN program takes total commitment,” said Stoudt, one of 30 students in her graduating class. “All of your time is committed to completing your school assignments and studying. It is fast-paced and in order to keep up, it requires dedication.” Stoudt was one of two students honored at graduation with the Mildred M. Clungeon Award, which is bestowed upon a Certified Nursing Assistant who is furthering their education to become an LPN and plans to focus their career in geriatric nursing. Jennifer Tim was also honored with the award. “I was so excited to receive this scholarship,” Stoudt said. “Because I am married, I did not qualify for most scholarships, so
when I got this scholarship, I felt like I hit the lottery.” “Rachel is a caring and compassionate individual who is competent in her skills and will be an asset to the profession of nursing,” said Merilee Grimes, Assistant Director of RACC’s Practical Nursing Program. Stoudt continues to work for Genesis Healthcare, but now has a full-time position in geriatric/ rehabilitation nursing. In her spare time, she is preparing to take the Practical Nursing board exams. This fall, she would like to start taking classes to earn an associate degree in Nursing to qualify her as a Registered Nurse. “Nursing is not an easy field to work in,” she said. “It takes a lot of patience and commitment. I think I was lucky to find my place and to be happy in the field I work in. I would say that job working in the kitchen opened my eyes to what I really wanted to do with my life.”
“I feel it is important to treat others as I would want to be treated…being willing to take time, effort and money to relate to people, to do something good that counts for more than the here and now.”
RACC’s Dr. Capotosta: A Woman on a Mission
Dr. Capotosta said her translator at the clinic played a critical role in helping patients.
While most of us were enjoying the last few weeks of summer, Amelia Capotosta, Ed. D., RN, was filling prescriptions for hundreds of patients in South Sudan, Africa. Dr. Capotosta, Chairperson of the Health Professions Division, traveled with an independent faith-based group for a mission trip to the newly- formed country. The group visited different villages and spent the days providing medical care to the local people. “You saw a lot of malaria, respiratory problems, worms and fungus,” said Dr. Capotosta. “Some of what you saw, too, was typical aches and pains that you see here. But, there, it’s worse because the sicknesses are not treated.” For Dr. Capotosta, this was one of several trips she has taken over the last few years. Other trips included travel to Ghana, India, Haiti and South Africa. She first got involved when she saw an advertisement at her
church. She then researched different organizations, places and what kind of needs existed through the power of the Internet. Dr. Capotosta ultimately settled on a faith-based group that exemplified her Christian beliefs. “I feel it is important to treat others as I would want to be treated,” said Dr. Capotosta. “To me, that means sometimes getting out of my comfort zone and being willing to take time, effort and money to relate to people, to do something good that counts for more than the here and now.” Dr. Capotosta traveled with 10 other medical professionals or people familiar with the healthcare environment. Longterm missionaries hosted them and provided shelter at a compound where they also ran a dental clinic. Her living arrangements consisted of a building without electric and limited cold running water, so they had to be very conservative. Dr. Capotosta said there were lizards that would run through now and then and bats outside at night. For meals, the group dined on fried bread and hard boiled eggs for breakfast and rice and beans for dinner. The villages the group visited were very rural and required traveling on roads that would be closed in our country due to their bad condition. It was the rainy season, so it rained about every day. The villages often had no electric or running water, and the people lived in mud huts with
thatched roofs. She described the people as industrious and many of them were farmers. While there are numerous countries in Africa featured on the news for their dire conditions or tribal wars, Dr. Capotosta said she never had any fear about traveling there to help. “I could go outside and get hit by a bus,” she said. “I’ve never had an issue on a trip. This time there was some fighting that broke out again in the north and some of our translators were called back to active duty. But it did not bother us.” So just why does she risk her safety, endure 20-hour flights and travel to all of these countries? She admits that it is rewarding to see the reactions of the local people. “They are very grateful and appreciative. In my role, the translators are very important so that the people understand what medication they are taking and how to take it.” Dr. Capotosta also noted that many of the people spoke English. She said there were schools in the villages, although often only one person from a family attended since they have to pay a small amount to attend. Dr. Capotosta rewarded herself at the end of the trip with an extended stay that allowed her to take a safari and see all of the amazing animals. Despite traveling to numerous countries already, Dr. Capotosta is already looking forward to planning next year’s mission.
Dr. Capotosta has worked at RACC since 1988, starting as an adjunct faculty member and earning a full-time faculty position a year later. In 2000, she became the program director for the College’s Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs and now holds the title of Assistant Dean for the Division of Health Professions. In her current position, Dr. Capotosta is responsible for running the Medical Laboratory Technician and Respiratory Care programs in addition to the two nursing programs. She also oversees the Occupational and Physical Therapy transfer programs, and the Physical Education and Health courses. Dr. Capotosta belongs to the National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
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The Foundation for RACC kicked off its 2012 Annual Fund in February of this year. As one of our most visible and far-reaching campaigns, the Annual Fund provides RACC with the ability to meet emerging needs, support new programs and provide our students with the tools that they need to be successful. We are currently focusing on: • Professional development programs for faculty and student services staff. • Purchase of specialized instructional equipment including media equipment, industrial simulators and medical equipment. • Financial aid for credit and non-credit students, including students enrolled in careerbased training. • A wide range of student support services including developmental education, mentoring, tutoring and internships. Have you already made your gift? If so, we thank you. For those considering a gift, please know how very much your support will mean to our students. A return envelope is enclosed within this magazine for your convenience. Thank you for considering a gift to the Foundation for RACC.
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SPRING 2011 Communiqué
Foundation for RACC 2012 Annual Fund Spring truly is a magical time, reminding us of new beginnings, excitement and anticipation. For the Foundation for Reading Area Community College, it is also our time to say “thanks” to the generous people, companies and organizations whose support means so much to our students. In an age of hyperbole, I would normally hesitate to use the phrase life-changing, but the truth is that charitable giving creates opportunities and encourages our students to follow their dreams. Could anything be more life-changing? The list of donors that we are honored to share with you today is, simply put, remarkable. Although it has become our way to share a simple list, with no categories or levels, rest assured that the scope of generosity and the breadth of the causes, projects and programs supported would, if outlined, fill several
additional pages. Please know how very much we appreciate your generosity. We hope that you share our delight in the accomplishments of our students. 2011 marked RACC’s 40th anniversary—a milestone that we celebrated through a variety of events throughout the year. These events, while distinct from one another in many different ways, shared one theme. RACC is the Community’s College and our success, measured via the success of our students, reflects not simply what RACC did but what we did, College and community. We are honored to partner with you, and ever-grateful for the generosity of our donors as are the more than 200,000 students who have passed through our doors since we first opened in 1971!
Sincerely,
Michael E. Nagel Vice President for Institutional Advancement/Executive Director of the Foundation for RACC
The official registration and financial information of the Foundation for Reading Area Community College may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll free within Pennsylvania, 1-900-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
The Broadbent Family Foundation
Nicolas & Christina Accomando
John & Ann Broadbent
Anne C. Adair
Michael H. Brooke
Mary & Charles Aims
Burkey Construction Company
Dr. Sam & Mrs. Nancy Alley The Andrea Cavitolo Foundation
Donna M. Burns
Earl & C. Kay Andrews
Cacoosing Family Charitable Foundation
Dr. Kristen R. Angstadt
Hettie A. Campion
Lawrence Angulo, RN, MBA
Mary S. Canner
Connie Archey
Joseph & Sandra Carrozza
Heidemarie Arndt
Chrissada M. Caruso
Automotive Service, Inc.
Susan Charron
The Bachman Company
Mary Ann Chelius Smith
June B. Baker
Suzanne Christie
Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Banco
Robert M. Ciervo
Jim & Barbara Barber
Robert & Rosemarie Clapp
Gene Barnes
Brian & Julie Clements
Donald & Linda Bartashus
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.
Ron & Beverly Bashore
Irvin & Lois E. Cohen
Harriet M. Baskin
Paul & Jo Cohn
Bernadette Bauer
Virginia Colaprete
Norma & Marty Beckerman
Irene E. Cole
Michael & Linda Bell
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Cole
Morton & Lrel Bell
Colonial Oaks Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce P. Bengtson Ellen W. Bennis
Concord Public Financial Advisors, Inc.
Berks County Learning Disabilities
E. J. Breneman, LP
Rep. Mark M. Gillen
E. R. Stuebner, Inc.
James A. Gilmartin
East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Glenmede Trust Company, N.A.
Eastern PA Water Pollution Control Operators Association, Inc.
GMI First, Inc.
David Eckhart Peter & Susan Edelman Jermaine D. Edwards Ehlerman Family Fund of Berks County Community Foundation
Deborah Goodman & John Moyer Libby Goodman Sam & Alexandra Goodman Mr. & Mrs. Gerald E. Gray Donald Greth
P. Michael & Judy Ehlerman
Griffin Financial Group LLC
Ralph & Josephine Elia
Judge Arthur & Mrs. Lois Grim
Joan & John Elliott
Jean L. Grim
Steve Elmarzouky
Dennis & Maryann Grous
Jonathan D. Encarnacion
Scott Gruber
EnerSys
Hair on the Avenue
Cheryl Engle
Victor & Dena Hammel
Entech Engineering, Inc.
Dr. LaNetta Hammill
Kathleen Ernst
John & Katie Hannon
Elisa Ewald
Natalie Hannon
Severin H. Fayerman
Dr. Susan B. Hartman
Beulah B. Fehr
Mary Ellen & Robert Heckman
Rev. Paul H. Feil
Scott Heffelfinger
Santo & Ann Ferrarello
Anna L. Hehn
Lloyd & Joyce Field
Nancy Hemmerich
Dr. Lawrence & Mrs. Joni Finkel
Henry Janssen Foundation
Steven I. Finkel
Herbein + Company, Inc.
Diann M. Connor
First Priority Bank
Roger S. Hertz
Berks County Tuberculosis Society
Connors Investor Services, Inc.
FirstEnergy Foundation
Ronald & Anne Hertzog
Berks Encore
Jim & Anna Connors
Mary S. Flagg
Sharon S. Hess
Berks Engineering Co., Inc.
Cornell Associates, Inc.
Philip & Judy Fleck
Dr. Jeanne Hey
Berks Fire Water Restorations, Inc.
Brenda Creasy
Sherry Flippin
Heyco Metals, Inc.
Berks Products Corporation
Gretchen Darlington
Theresa Fort
Dr. & Mrs. J. Frederick Hiehle
Dr. Eric C. Bluestone
Dr. A. Wade Davenport
Maureen D. Frei
Dr. Thomas F. & Mrs. Marilyn Hinrichs
Karen “Strupp” Boltz
Andrew & Amanda Davis
Fromm Electric Supply Corp.
Patricia C. Hoover
Frances Bortz
Dr. Constance Dent
Darla Moyer Fulmer
Dr. James G. Hughes
Joseph L. & Shirley K. Boscov Philanthropic Fund
Marianne Desmarais
Fulton Bank
Daniel B. & Ellen M. Huyett
John M. DeVere
Tomma Lee Furst
Family of Jerry Iezzi
Shirley K. Boscov
Patricia M. Diefenderfer
Gage Personnel
J. C. Ehrlich Co., Inc.
Boscov’s Department Store, LLC
Bruce & Renee Dietrich
Austra Gaige
Sharon K. Jacklin
Danelle Bower
Benito & Margaret Dimarcantonio
Charles M. Gallagher
Robin R. Jacobs
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas K. Braun
Mary Anne & Jack Disegi
Daniel Gallagher
Breidegam Family Foundation
Nancy S. Dresher
Diane L. Gaul
Karen & Martin Jacobson Charitable Gift Fund of Berks County Community Foundation
Joan Gurshick Breneiser
Jeffrey & Lynn Driben
Georgeadis II Setley
Edward & Joan Jastrzembski
Pamela E. Breneman
Jeane’s Hospital Staff (the Operating Room Staff, the Anesthesia Staff, the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit)
Sandra Duffy
Carol & Bernie Gerber
Brentwood Industries, Inc.
Charles & June Dunn
Patricia S. Gery
Susan J. Briskin
P. Allison duPont
The Gilbert Family
Toby J. Briskin & Michael P. Vender
Foundation for RACC 2012 Annual Fund
Gifts 2011 (January 1 – December 31)
Jefferson Univeristy, Department of Otolaryngology
Communiqué SPRING 2011
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Masano Bradley
Patricia A. Pelchar
Korie L. Sandridge
Louis & Sicily Masciotti
Mary V. Pendleton
Michael & Janice Schiffman
Materion
Penn National Gaming Foundation
Joanne Schlosser
William & Ruth Mathews
Penske Truck Leasing Co.
F. William Schmidt
Doris L. Maurer
Patricia A. Perfect
Mary F. Schmidt
Mr. & Mrs. John Mazzo
Henry A. & Janet J. Peters
Roger J. Schmidt
Edward J. McCann, Jr.
Walter & Diane Pohl
Rolf & Renate Schmidt
Tom & Sandi McCarthy
John & Beth Pomper
Beverly & Marty Schmittberger
Samuel A. McCullough
Robert W. & Claude J. Poole
Sylvia Schneider
McGlinn Capital Management, Inc.
George & Sandra Post
Kathleen L. Schoch
Sue Merryfield
Ruth B. Potteiger
Paul & Karen Schofield
Frances B. Messina
Terry R. & Ann de C.B. Powers
Marc & Elizabeth Schogol
Douglas Messinger
Precision Medical Products, Inc.
Jon & Alva Scott
Sidney & Barbara Kline
ClearView Global Wealth Advisors/ William Metzinger
Chris & Robin Pruitt
Sealstrip Corporation
David Knudsen
Brian & Holly Michelson
PSEG
Security First, Inc.
Robin & Bill Koch, Sr., CPA
Janet M. Miller
PSNA District 2
Luis & Abigail Serrano
Vivian E. Koller
Marlin & Ginger Miller
R. M. Palmer Company
SFS intec, Inc.
Dr. Peter & Mrs. Dorothy Kowey
Otmar Christopher Miller
Peter Radwanski
The Timothy & Ramona Sharkey Family
Kozloff Stoudt
Roger & Loretta Minear
Bert & Ann Kramer
Charles & Patty Minehart
Esther C. Krasevac
Lucille M. Mock
Richard & Barbara Kratz
John & Anne Morahan
Richard & Lucille Kraus
John C. Morgan
Mary B. Kreider
Elizabeth R. Moriarty
Georgette Krick
Mosteller & Associates
Kenneth R. Kurtz
Michael & Lynn Nagel
L. Robert Kimball & Associates, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Najarian
Michael Kurpiewski
National Penn
Alma & Edwin Lakin
National Penn Investors Trust Co., Inc.
Foundation for RACC 2012 Annual Fund
Jerlyn Foundation/ Jerry & Carolyn Holleran The Family of Charlotte Jones Dr. Donald & Mrs. Jacqueline Kahn Cleo Stevens Kamelhar Leon & May Kaplan Dr. Sheldon J. Kaplan Steven C. Katsarides George & Louise Kellenberger Sandra & Ed Kern Rev. Dr. & Mrs. James A. Killian Julia Klein & Eric Jenkins Lyndell Kline Mary Lou Kline
John Langan & Dr. Judith Nadell
Reading Phillies Baseball Club Redner’s Markets, Inc. John A. Reedy Mrs. Bruce Rehr Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP Catherine M. Reitnauer Remcon Plastics Richard C. Panagacos Insurance Joshua Riojas Richard & Patricia Risinit Zylkia R. Rivera
Marianne M. Sharon Peter G. Shaub Karen L. Shearer Clark R. Sheffy Hipolito Shish Jeanne Shober Carol Siegel Steven C. Silverman Shelby & Emma Simmons Jonathan & Jan Simon Dr. Kim Sivak Dawnita A. Smith
Richard Natow
Riverfront Federal Credit Union
Ray & Carole Neag
Dr. Gary E. Rizzo & Susan M. Liberace
Hongloan T. Nguyen
Paul R. & Mary Frances Roedel
Ben & Michele Leisawitz
James & Regina Nielsen
Susan Rohn
Dr. Elliot G. & Mrs. Doris Leisawitz
Joan A. Noll
Roland Stock LLC
Liberty Anesthesia Associates, P.C.
Jorge & Patricia Nouhra
Sandra C. Rosencrans
Jack A. Linton
Eleanor A. O’Hara
Seth E. & Barbara Rosenzweig
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children – Operating Room
Long Barrell & Company Ltd.
Deb & Lee C. Olsen, AIA
Irwin & Lana Rosner
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Kay Long
D. Robert & Yvonne Oppenheimer
Justin & Bria Rothenberger
Anthony T. & Mary M. Stajkowski
The Loomis Company
Todd & Tara Oswald
Elizabeth Bowman Rothermel
John & Kathleen Lukasik
The Oxholm Family
Dr. & Mrs. Lee D. Rowe
Judge Albert A. & Mrs. Orpha Stallone
Sally & Jack Mahon
Lee Pace
Lisa H. Rowe
Sherry Stephenson
Andrew & June Maier
Donna A. Page
Mr. & Mrs. Philip D. Rowe, Jr.
Stevens & Lee
Arthur J. Mandjuris
Vincent & Ann Paolini
Theresa Rowles
Eileen & David Stevenson
Diane & Lee Marabella
ParenteBeard LLC
James & Judy Rubright
Mr. & Mrs. David A. Stitt
Marcia & Tom Martell
Beverly Pattilo, MD
Alan Ruggles
Edwin & Camille Stock
David & Marcia Martin
Thomas Paules
Whitney A. & Cathy Sanders II
Geoff Stoudt
Thomas H. Lechner Commissioner & Mrs. Christian Leinbach
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Raylon Corporation
SPRING 2011 Communiqué
Dr. Edmond C. Smith Susan Kaye Smith Nancy L. Snyder Trudy Snyder Christopher & Noreen Sobottka
Tom & Dianne Work
JP Tailoring
Phyllis “Flip” Imber
STV, Inc.
The Wyomissing Foundation
Judy’s on Cherry
Esther Koukulis
Dr. William & Mrs. Karin Sweet
XI Omega of STTI
Just Curious
George Krasevac
David & Barbara Tecosky
Victor & Nancy Yarnell
LiliBea’s
Henry “Hank” Lessig
Michael Toledo
Doug & Nancy Yocom
Miller Center for the Arts
John Liptock
Angel L. Torres
Yocum Family Perpetual Trust
Mixx
Kathryn Messina
Townsend Press, Inc.
James H. Yocum Zelda Yoder
Lee C. Olsen, AIA/Olsen Design Group
Robert A. Mutzel
Tray-Pak Corporation Rev. Msgr. James A. Treston
Yuasa Battery, Inc.
Geraldine Trider
Loren G. Zadnik
The Deaf Congregation (Friends of Pastor Jeanne Beadle) of Trinity Lutheran Church
Dr. Richard F. Zarilla
Benita A. Trotter
Gust & Doris Zogas
Joseph & Lidia Zidik
Norman Vadner Sandra L. Van Sickle Alfred T. & Mary T. Vanim Earl D. Varney Verizon Foundation Philip & Bonnie Versace VIST Financial Corporation Rosemary & William Vitale Kathleen S. Volz Marilyn A. Wademan Dr. Boyd C. & Tracy Schottman Wagner
Matching Gifts PSEG
PSNA – District 2 Panevino/David Brennan Papillon Brasserie The Peanut Bar Restaurant Piazza Honda & Acura of Reading Pollack Furs & Leathers Reading Movies II and IMAX Reading Phillies Baseball Club Reading Royals Hockey Club
In-Kind Gifts
Sunshine Wellness Resources
A to Z Vacuum Stores
Sweet Street Desserts
Ady’s Cakes
Taste Buds
Affinity Bank of PA
Third & Spruce Café
All Star Distributors
Tina’s Salon & Day Spa
Baldwin Brass Center
Van Scoy Jewelers
The Beer Mart
Winedown Café & Winebar
Bella Jules
Mary Yocum Pendleton Marie Reedy Charles M. Reinsel Christopher L. Rowe Delbert M. Sharon Bruce Stanley John Stoudt Martha A. Sykes Gifts were given to the Foundation in honor of the following: Paul D. Cohn Alexandra Goodman Dick Henry Mary B. Kreider Clayton E. Weber
New Scholarship Established in 2011
Gifts were made to the Foundation in support of the following:
Jeanette Finkel Starfish Scholarship Endowment
Auctioneering program
Gifts were given to the Foundation in memory of the following:
Miller Center for the Arts
Bowers Photo
Dr. Anna D. Weitz
Bright Sign, Inc.
Peter D. Archey
Respiratory Care program
Dr. David E. Weller, Jr.
Café Harmony
Alan I. Baskin
RHS/RACC Opportunity Scholarship
Wells Fargo Advisors
ClearView Global Wealth Advisors/ Wm. Metzinger
Pastor Jeanne Beadle
Sign Language program
Harry Boltz
SkyWell Falls
Ronald Borkert
Volunteer Tutor program
Sonia & Samuel Briskin
Waste Water Treatment Program
Arthur Brooks
Workforce Development Programs in the STTC and the Gateway Center
Dr. Clifford C. & Doris A. Wagner
Berks Arts Council/Berks JazzFest
Joanna L. Wagner
Berks County Living
Eva M. Waldman
Berkshire Country Club
Dr. Stephen Waller
Bistro 614
Weidenhammer
Justin Bortz Jewelry Designs
Randy & Dawn Weidner
Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Foundation Alison Wenger White Star Tours Louise L. Wiener Shari Wilkins
Cloud Nine Café Mary Anne & Jack Disegi Philip & Judy Fleck The Frame Guild Go Fish
Terrence E. Connor, Esq. Dr. Leo DeSantis
Thomas O. & M. Courtenay Willcox, Jr.
Goggleworks Theater & Center for the Arts
Nancy J. Wilson
Golf Committee
Jeanette Finkel
June F. Winston
Good Eatz Green Café
Douglas Fisher
Chester & Rosemarie Winters
Haute Chocolate Café
Jacob Fogelman
Patt & Paul Wolfe
Dick Henry, Auctioneer
Pauline M. Gilmartin
John & Peggy Woodward
Hollywood Cleaners
Dr. Robert Greenberg
Floyd Dissinger, Sr.
Foundation for RACC 2012 Annual Fund
Albert J. Stratton, Ph.D.
Just for You/Fashion Mentoring program Nursing programs
Yocum Library We have received gifts from several individuals who would like to remain anonymous. We apologize if we have inadvertently omitted or incorrectly listed your name. Please report any error to our attention at 610-607-6239.
Charles Hutcheson Fine Jewelry
Communiqué SPRING 2011
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Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Reading, PA Permit #755
10 South 2nd Street P.O. Box 1706 Reading, PA 19603 www.racc.edu
F or comm e nts , f e e dback or stor y id e as , pl e as e e mail mk u s h n e r @ racc . e d u or call 6 1 0 . 6 0 7 . 6 2 1 2 .
Technical Academy Expands to Include New Programs and Job Opportunities Reading Area Community College along with partners Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) and Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center (RMCTC) recently announced the expansion of the Technical Academy during a ceremony at the Schmidt Training and Technology Center. The three institutions collaborated to develop a 2+2 program in the fields of Business and Information Technology. The goal of the program is to provide students with multiple successful entry points
to employment and help them earn industryrecognized certifications. Under the new program, students who are currently enrolled in either BCTC or RMCTC will have the opportunity to earn up to 18 RACC credits at no cost to them during their sophomore, junior and senior years. Once those courses are completed, students will be encouraged to continue on the path to their degree by completing specific courses at RACC. Upon successful completion of the 2+2 program, students will earn either an AA or AAS degree in Computer Technology and/or
Business Management. From there, students can either pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution or enter the workforce. Also, at the ceremony, a new logo for the Technical Academy was unveiled. Students currently enrolled in BCTC and RMCTC participated in a contest to design the new logo. RMCTC and Reading High student Jose Mora designed the winning selection to represent the Technical Academy, and he was awarded an iPad for his work. The Technical Academy launched last year with a 2+2 program in Engineering Technology (Mechatronics). Jose Mora, RMCTC and Reading High student who designed the new Technical Academy logo