Welcome to our newsletter, HACC Yeah®! News
Greetings, HACC supporters!
We will continue to share relevant information and keep you “in the know” as we serve and support HACC students.
Please contact foundation@hacc.edu if you have any questions or need additional information.
Thank you!
John J. "Ski" Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D., HACC President and CEO, Announces Retirement
John J. "Ski" Sygielski, president and CEO of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, announced his plans to retire from the College on July 18, 2025. Sygielski is the longest-serving president in HACC’s history. To read more, please visit us here.
Amber, a mother of two, always planned to go to college. However, she had to overcome a number of challenges first, including substance misuse and divorce. At age 42, she enrolled in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at HACC and sees a bright future for herself.
Read more about Amber on our website.
The HACC Foundation received a six-figure gift from the Justamere Foundation to support the (1) HACC High School Career Readiness Program: Micro-credentials and Workforce Skilled Training Certifications and (2) HACC Workforce Certificate Training in Healthcare and Skilled Trades.
The HACC Foundation Board of Directors recently welcomed Sheri Leo as its newest member.
For details, please visit our online newsroom.
HACC Foundation donors provided funding for HACC website testing and redesign.
HACC conducted extensive user testing to create three new HACC website designs with enhanced navigational features. The new structure includes landing pages that will act as a gateway to the main sections of content, creating a more intuitive pathway to locate resources. The design is fresh and visually appealing, and the new information architecture arranges website content to better serve future and current students.
One of HACC’s greatest marketing tools - www.hacc.edu - has never before had such extensive user testing or evaluation. External vendor contracting was also instrumental in alleviating the unconscious bias that may occur during in-house testing.
This project will affect future and current HACC students for many years to come, as the new home page and website layout were created specifically with future and current students in mind. The rewards of this project will be felt for many years to come.
HACC Foundation donors provided funding for the KEYS (Keystone Education Yields Success) Program end-of-semester events.
The KEYS Program is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges to support student success initiatives. The focus of the Program is retention, degree completion and gainful employment for students experiencing academic and personal barriers. Throughout the program, students were incentivized to register early, maintain mid-term grades, secure employment and actively participate in program events.
This initiative has had a transformative impact on KEYS students and HACC as a whole, they achieved the following:
Achieved an average retention rate of 86% between fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters among KEYS students.
Contributed to significant enrollment for the summer and fall 2024 semesters, with 67% of enrolled KEYS students registering early.
Provided invaluable personal connections and positive experiences for KEYS students and staff.
The KEYS Program recently hosted a series of end-of-semester events celebrating the success of KEYS students and graduates. The HACC Foundation funding provided food, incentives and prizes at these events to enhance student engagement and foster a sense of belonging and support.
One KEYS student shared their gratitude in a letter to the HACC Foundation, describing the positive impact and benefits of the program:
Dear HACC Foundation,
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the HACC Foundation for their generous donations that they have presented to us students here in the KEYS program. It's nice to have incentives to push us students to get the grades that are needed, so that we are eligible to receive our incentives. For me at least it comes into clutch when you're short on funds, you have four boys, a wife, a large dog, and two cats to look out for on a full-time student’s salary. Thank you, HACC Foundation for helping to lessen the stressors that we students
have during times in need.
Sincerely,
Paul
We look forward to celebrating the future success of these students, like Paul, as they continue their studies and also launch into the workforce.
August is not just a time for summer vacations and outdoor fun - it's also Make-a-Will Month.
Creating a will is essential in ensuring that your wishes are honored and your loved ones are provided for after you pass away.
In addition to personal benefits, making a will provides an opportunity to leave a lasting impact through planned giving. Planned giving involves setting aside a portion of your estate to support charitable organizations that are important to you. This act of generosity can help support causes you believe in and create a legacy beyond your lifetime.
By including HACC in your estate planning, you can contribute to the future of education and support programs that benefit students and the community. To learn more about how you can make a difference through planned giving to HACC, please visit HACC Planned Giving.
Transformational Impact of the HACC Foundation on HACC Students and the Central Pennsylvania Community
We have all seen the video clips of Oprah Winfrey exclaiming, “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!” Life at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, can be just as exhilarating when we announce to HACC students that they have been selected to receive scholarships from the HACC Foundation. Instead of cars, the students receive a college degree, second chances, satisfying careers and pathways out of poverty. To read more, please visit us here.
Are you #HACCproud to be a graduate of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College? If so, we are proud to have you as a member of the HACC Alumni Association. To join the Alumni Association or update your contact information, please complete this form. Thank you!
You are invited to participate in the exciting HACC events we have coming up.
Please visit the HACC Events Calendar for more information. We will see you there!
HACC is looking for high-performing professionals ready to serve and transform the lives of students.
If you are interested in being a part of the HACC employee community, please visit our career site to view available positions.
Do you love HACC? Do you want everyone to know it? HACC yeah you do!
Please share your story with us and help others see what makes HACC so great!
We want to hear about how HACC has impacted your life and the people who helped you on your path to success.
It only takes a few minutes to share your story, but taking the time to share your experience can have a lasting impact on someone else, including future students who may be considering HACC. Don’t be shy!
Please:
Go to hacc.edu/Stories
Complete our brief online form (if you are a current HACC student)
Scroll down to the bottom of the page (if you are a HACC supporter, including an alumni or donor) and find the category that fits you
Share your HACC story with us
Note that your information may be shared in a variety of ways, including on HACC’s website and social media channels
