On Monday, August 18, a group of elected officials and Bucks County Community College trustees gathered along Veterans Highway for the unveiling of a new sign outside the recently completed Center for Advanced Technologies at the college's Bristol campus. Philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein, from Upper Makefield, were the guests of honor on this day.
College president and CEO Patrick M. Jones spoke about how Bucks County Community College continues to grow in enrollment and in stature in the community. “Bucks County Community College last year served over 11,000 students in credit bearing programs, and over 19,000 students in non-credit programs.” said President Jones. “Many of them are in the Center for Advanced Technologies facility in which people learn trades and prepare for pre-apprenticeship programs to enter the workplace. We really are changing lives everyday.” he continued. President Jones went on to say that after finishing his first year as president, he heard people say that the college is the best kept secret in Bucks County. “This sign is a way of trying to reverse that, and make sure that as people drive by, they know what is here. Through the generous donation of Gene and Marlene Epstein, we have funding to continue the programming for years to come.” said President Jones. “Eighty-one students have already been awarded scholarships from the most recent scholarship fund of $100,000.”
BCCC now has three campuses in Bucks County–the Newtown campus, the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, and the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie-making the school more accessible to students across the county of Bucks. There are also off-campus public safety training locations in Doylestown and Croydon.
State Representative Tina Davis thanked the staff and teachers for all they have done in preparation for the day. County Commissioner Bob Harvie said, quoting philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, “Education is the key to success.”
“We are honored and grateful to have been a part of the college for fifty years” said philanthropist Gene Epstein “Without this scholarship, students who would not have the opportunity to attend college now have that chance. [As a result of these scholarships], no student would have any debt when they graduate.” The Epsteins did not want any burden on the students themselves. “The only burden that will be on the students,” according to Gene, “is the burden to do the best that they can do, and that will change not only the students’ lives but the lives of their families and for future generations.“ Gene went on to say, “I feel it is incumbent on everybody to do everything they can to help other people, and that’s what it is all about.”
The Epsteins will be donating an additional $100,000 for next year's students. Gene also announced that they will be pledging another $1,000,000 for future scholarships.
To learn more about Bucks County Community College, visit them online at www.bucks.edu.
