HACC, central Pennsylvania's community college, selected Peter C. Wambach, II, as speaker for the college's first winter commencement scheduled for January 8.

HACC decided to add the mid-year celebration as it has nearly 500 students eligible to graduate and felt the size of the class warranted the addition of the winter graduation ceremony.

Wambach, who graduated from HACC in December of 1967, did not have a winter commencement available to him when he completed his associate's degree.

"When I walk on stage January 8, I will finally be at a [HACC] commencement exercise," said the former state legislator who currently serves as executive director of the Bipartisan Management Committee of the State House of Representatives. Wambach had chosen not to return to the college for the spring commencement following his graduation.

Wambach, who went on to earn a bachelor's degree at Penn State University, has led a successful professional and public life, having held a variety of positions in state government and having served as a state representative for 12 years.

One of his most notable contributions came with the passing of Pennsylvania's Whistleblower Law, which he authored.

"The other area I focused on [as a state representative] was drug and alcohol prevention, education and treatment," said Wambach. "The major laws on the books today, I authored and worked to get passed and renewed."

Wambach attributes much of his success to his HACC education.

"Without the community college system created by the Legislature, I don't know if I would have been able to approach college," admitted Wambach, who is one of 14 children, four of which were already in college when he graduated from high school. "I don't know where I would have been or what my life would have been like without that system available to me."