Please note that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has issued an alert that they will soon close and repair the Kernsville Road bridge crossing Jordan Creek in North Whitehall Township. The bridge will be closed starting May 1, with township officials expecting the replacement to be completed by Aug. 26. Alternate routes will be designated and signage will be posted to guide commuters in order to minimize disturbance to the surrounding community.

The map shows the area.

The LCCC Spirit Committee is inviting nominations for the LCCC Staff/Administrator Spirit Award, presented for the sixth year, and the LCCC Faculty Spirit Award, which will be presented for the third time, both at the Faculty/Staff Appreciation Ceremony in May.

For the Staff/Administrator award, all regular full- and part-time staff/administrators are eligible, including both classified and administrative employees. For the Faculty award, all full- and part-time faculty are eligible. The Spirit Committee will select one award recipient for each category.

We encourage you to nominate a colleague using this form for staff/administrators and this form for faculty. The following are some of the ways the employee can demonstrate spirit:

• Goes above and beyond their job description
• Is known for serving others; always willing to help
• Brings out the best in people; known for being collaborative
• Has creative solutions to problems
• Is a valuable team member
• Promotes the goals of their department and the college
• Is a positive and steady presence
• Is always willing to help without the need for fanfare
• Inspires and encourages others
• Fosters a positive work environment

The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, March 15, at 5 p.m. If you have questions, contact Tina Dowling-Hackett (tdowlinghackett@daves-studio.com) or Ginny Hertzog (vhertzog@daves-studio.com).

LCCC student Marie Victoire Alexis has been selected as a 2023 Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholar from the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and will receive a $1,500 scholarship. This scholarship is designed to assist Phi Theta Kappa members in overcoming unanticipated financial barriers preventing the completion of the college credential, an associate degree, or certificate while enrolled in college.

Marie is the first Oberndorf Scholar from LCCC. A psychology major, she is currently president of the LCCC Student Government Association and vice president of the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Marie is also a peer mentor with the First-Year Experience, is an Honors Scholar and was selected to participate in the Bucknell University Summer Program in 2023. She is also a member of the Student Advisory Council for Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. As an international student, Marie took advantage of numerous opportunities to overcome challenges and to be an involved member of the student community. She will graduate from LCCC in May 2024.

The scholarship is named for Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf. Lou co-founded METI, a world leader in medical education technology whose products are used in many community colleges as well as in the world’s leading medical schools. He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees.

Up to 15 Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarships are awarded annually.

“Marie is a shining example of an LCCC student with her commitment to hard work and improving the lives of her fellow students,” says LCCC president Dr. Ann D. Bieber. “She has made an incredible impact on the college community. Marie has a bright future and I look forward to seeing how she continues to achieve her educational goals.”

The Rothrock Library will be open regular hours, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., during Spring Break, March 11-15, 2024.

Career Development is welcoming AI into our support services atmosphere with an AI vendor service platform. This will be an innovative way for us to support our students in navigating their career pathways. Career Development has integrated the use of AI along with Foucs2, the Cougar CLAW, and Candid Careers. This integration enables students to leverage the best attributes of technology and education to enhance their career prospects and adapt to changing industry trends. Students often struggle with identifying their career interests and determining the right career trajectory for themselves. With these tools, students can receive personalized recommendations based on their skills, interests, and preferences.

Although Career Development has integrated these systems into our services, our human touch will never be missed. The Career Development team will continue to work diligently with our students, alumni, and faculty and provide one-on-one support to help students make informed decisions about their future careers.

The bookstore will be having a 20% off sale on gifts and apparel on Feb. 29. Shop online at www.lcccshop.com or stop in store from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. to shop the sale! If you have any questions, please reach out to bookstore@daves-studio.com.

Blood supplies in the Lehigh Valley are at critically low levels, and your donation will help to save lives! Please consider donating at our blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 28, from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Please be sure to eat something prior to donating and bring along a valid form of photo identification. Online scheduling is recommended. Use sponsor code 0325. Walk-ins will be accepted on a limited basis. Thank you for your continued support of this critical community service initiative.

All faculty, administrators, and staff are invited to nominate an LCCC faculty member whom they believe to be deserving of recognition for the 2023-2024 awards. Click here to view the memos for each award including criteria, lists of previous award winners, and instructions to submit your nominations.

In an effort to keep the campus community informed about Governor Shapiro’s “Vision for a New, Unified Public Higher Education System,” a shared Google folder has been created where documents and updates will be housed. Anyone with an LCCC email address can access the folder. It will serve as a repository for relevant information as it becomes available.

The 2024 annual nominations for staff are now being accepted by the Office of Human Resources. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 1, 2024.

The nominated employee should be able to effectively communicate with others, promote a culture of respect to other faculty and staff, and demonstrate integrity through the employee’s consistent commitment to professionalism and teamwork at LCCC.

For criteria information and to nominate an employee, click the links below:

Administrator of the Year (includes full and part-time administrators)

Education Support Professional of the Year (includes full and part-time classified staff)

PT Employee of the Year (includes part time tutors, student workers, noncredit instructors, and coaches)

The Office of Human Resources is excited to invite you to our upcoming Collegewide Department Information Sessions, where you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into our department service areas and latest developments, initiatives, and future plans.

These sessions aim to foster better communication, understanding, and engagement among our dedicated employees, and we encourage our current and new employees to join us for an informative and interactive experience.

These sessions will provide an overview of the department, recent accomplishments, insights into upcoming projects, a chance to ask questions and provide feedback, and networking opportunities with colleagues.

Friday, March 1, 2 – 2:30 p.m.

Click here to join this session via zoom:

• Department: LCCC Allentown at the Donley Center
• Presenter: Gladys Malpica, Site Supervisor

To view upcoming information sessions, see the attached word document.

Join us for a night of hockey at the LCCC Alumni Night with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday, April 6, at 7:05 p.m. The Phantoms will take on the Cleveland Monsters at the PPL Center. Tickets for the game are $50 each.

Seats are located in the Sweet Spot Sky Lounge and include a two-hour buffet.

Click here to purchase tickets.