| Farewell To Visionary, Growth-Minded Leader Of Northampton Community College, Dr. Robert J. Kopecek |
May 13, 2013 |
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Charlie Dent, R-PA
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"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Robert J. Kopecek, president of Northampton Community College from 1977-2003, who passed away in North Carolina on April 25. Dr. Kopecek’s vision was to expand access to education, foster economic development and make Northampton a world-class community college. Dr. Kopecek achieved these goals and much more, establishing a legacy as one of Pennsylvania’s pre-eminent educational leaders. Under his leadership, enrollment at Northampton grew from 7,900 students a year to nearly 25,000, and the academic offerings expanded to include programs in more than 100 fields of study. To allow more people access to an education, Dr. Kopecek led successful efforts to offer classes in downtown Bethlehem, in the Lehigh Valley, and in Monroe County. As enrollment grew, so did the campus with the addition of Communications Hall and a child care center, the expansion of the College Center and Commonwealth Hall, and growing use of educational technology. In 1986, with private donations, Northampton became the first community college in Pennsylvania to build residence halls, enabling the student body, over time, to become more diverse, including international students. While leading the college, Dr. Kopecek also played an active role in the community. During his tenure, outreach to the community came to include adult literacy and English-as-a-second language programs, Horizons for Youth, and the Art as a Way of Learning program that became a national model in early childhood education. He also worked closely with business and industry, leading local manufacturers to rate Northampton as the “most visible” and “most helpful” organization involved in economic development in Northampton County. Dr. Kopecek led the movement to establish what was then the Northampton County Development Corporation, and served on the boards or advisory committees of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley Partnership, the Northampton County Industrial Development Authority, the Ben Franklin Partnership, and the Private Industry Council. He twice served as president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, and once as chair of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities whose membership includes almost all of the public and private colleges and universities in the Commonwealth. Dr. Mark Erickson, current NCC president, noted “Bob was a true visionary and his impact on this college, our students, faculty and staff will be felt for generations to come.” An editorial in The Express-Times at the time of his retirement described him as “a miracle worker.” Another in The Morning Call credited him with making Northampton and the community better places, noting that one of his gifts was recognizing “the importance of community colleges to provide near-universal access to education beyond high school” and “how vital the community college is to economic development in its supporting region.” It is truly an honor to recognize Dr. Kopecek and his dedicated service and lasting contributions to the Northampton community."
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| Recognizing The 50Th Anniversary Of The San Luis Obispo County Community College District’S Cuesta College |
April 23, 2013 |
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Lois Capps, D-CA
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"Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the San Luis Obispo County Community College District’s Cuesta College. On April 16, 1963, the San Luis Obispo Community College District was established by local voters to serve the residents of the Central Coast. Its first classes were provided in 1964, and it became a fully operational campus and was given the name Cuesta College in 1965. Ground was broken for Cuesta’s first permanent buildings in 1970, and since that time, the San Luis Obispo campus has flourished into a high-quality, well-equipped and dynamic institution of higher learning. Cuesta College expanded to include a North County Campus in Paso Robles in 1998 and now offers off-campus evening instruction at its South County Center in Arroyo Grande. In addition to its academic course offerings, Cuesta provides technical, vocational, and continuing education programs to better serve a variety of students throughout the county. Cuesta College now serves more than 11,000 students among all its campuses. Cuesta College is a source of great pride for San Luis Obispo County and the entire Central Coast. I commend its faculty, administration and other teaching staff for their commitment to excellence and dedication to the students they serve. Today, I congratulate Cuesta on 50 successful years in providing high-quality educational resources to Central Coast students. I am honored to represent such an esteemed institution and look forward to seeing the important and innovative resources Cuesta will continue to provide to our local students in the years to come."
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