Celebration included surprise HARRISBURG, Pa. – On May 13, 2021, HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, virtually celebrated the remarkable achievements of 1,077 spring 2021 graduating students, as well as 257 summer 2021 graduating students.
 
Randale Scott, spring 2021 student representative and first-generation college graduate, said, “I never thought in a million years that I would be here right now and graduating. At one point, I didn’t believe that I was college material…I was in foster care and group homes… Coming to HACC was one of the best decisions I have ever made…” Scott is eligible to graduate with an Associate in Fine Arts and plans to continue his education and audition for roles in major theatre productions this summer.
 
The ceremony included brief remarks from:

• John J. “Ski” Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D., HACC president and CEO
• Anju Singh, MBBS, M.S., Ph.D., M.H.A., HACC instructor of biology
• Linnie S. Carter, Ph.D., APR, vice president of college advancement at HACC and executive director of the HACC Foundation
• Randale Scott, spring 2021 student representative
• Gina C. Mounfield, Ph.D., interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at HACC
• HACC alumni, including:
  • Benjamin M. Byler
  • J.T. Fredericks
  • Dr. Karen S. Morris-Priester
  • Donald Sterling Pollard Jr.

Sygielski commended those eligible to graduate and said, “I am excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students. The graduating students we celebrate tonight are the wave of our future. In the midst of the global pandemic, many of them made the transition to remote learning… I personally know how hard that they have been working – inside and outside of the classroom.”
 
The HACC Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises private contributions in support of HACC, surprised attendees and provided 10 $1,000 tuition giveaways to graduating students to continue taking classes at HACC. Carter added, “I see firsthand how remarkable our students are… The HACC Foundation works to change the destinies of our students.”
 
Sygielski added that following graduation, HACC students will begin their careers, continue their education at four-year schools, gain promotions at their current place of employment, launch their own business and even finish novels.
 
A full list of graduates will be available on our website. Please visit HACC’s Flickr site for images of the graduates and HACC's YouTube channel to view the Commencement ceremony.
 
Photo Caption: HACC’s President and CEO John J. “Ski” Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D. virtually celebrates HACC’s spring and summer 2021 graduating students

 
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 17,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.
 
About the HACC Foundation
The HACC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1985 to raise private and corporate revenues in support of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. The HACC Foundation provides funding for student scholarships, innovative academic programs, state-of-the art training equipment and modernized facilities. To learn more about the HACC Foundation, please visit haccfoundation.org. To contribute to the HACC Foundation, please visit hacc.edu/GiveNow.