HACC Offers Black Students An Opportunity To Be the Change They Want to See

Full-ride scholarships will cover 100% of the cost to become a first responder

Jan. 13, 2022

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Black citizens are among the communities underrepresented in law enforcement and emergency medical services – and HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is taking action to change that dynamic.

Each year for three years – in 2022, 2023 and 2024 – HACC will award 12 full-ride scholarships to Black students in the College’s Municipal Police Academy and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program at the Senator John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center on HACC’s Harrisburg Campus. The scholarships will cover 100% of the program costs.

“HACC encourages Black citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to become a first responder and be an active participant in the change they want to see in their communities. Eligible applicants will enroll in HACC’s top-notch police academy or EMT Program,” said John J. “Ski” Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D., HACC president and CEO.

Linnie S. Carter, Ph.D., APR, vice president of college advancement at HACC and executive director of the HACC Foundation, said, “Representation matters. Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging matter. Social justice matters. Democracy, fairness, morality and decency matter. This investment in our community will allow Black students to achieve their professional goals all while being change agents in our community, state and country. Every single member of our community will benefit from this investment in people.”

HACC alumni Chris Bratten and Mauricia Newson became first responders to fill a need for diversity in their communities. To find out what they and supporters have to say about the importance of this initiative, please watch their inspirational stories.

The full-ride scholarships are made possible through a $112,500 grant awarded to the HACC Foundation by the PNC Foundation. To find out more, prospective students should:

Plan to attend one or more of these information sessions
Visit hacc.edu/InvestEMTandPolice
Email the HACC Foundation at foundation@hacc.edu

Applications for the full-ride scholarships are being accepted. To apply, please complete this online application form.

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.

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 15,350 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.

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