Robert Kopecek, Longtime President of NCC, Dies

President of Northampton Community College for 26 years, Kopecek led while campus, enrollment and community outreach expanded.

  Robert Kopecek, who led Northampton Community College for 26 years while it significantly expanded course offerings and more than tripled the size of its student enrollment, died at his home in North Carolina on Thursday, the school announced. A news release on the college Website said Kopecek is “remembered as a visionary and hard-driving leader, determined throughout his presidency to expand access to education, to foster economic development, and to make Northampton a world-class community college.” Kopecek took over from the college’s founding president, Richard C. Richardson, in 1977 and remained in that role until his retirement in 2003. He was replaced by Arthur L. Scott, who retired a year ago. While Kopecek was president at …

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Nazareth Adopts Other School Budgets

Northampton Community College, Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 and athletic fund budgets all signed off on by Nazareth Area School Board Monday night.

In addition to approving the final 2013-2014 budget Monday night, Nazareth Area School Board took other actions on other budgets: NCC’s total budget is $1.55 million higher—or 2.27 percent—that this year’s budget. Also, the 2013-2014 total operating budget in the educational and supportive area where school districts participate came in at $54.44 million—a $1.30 million increase, or 2.45 percent. NCC’s capital budget, meanwhile, proposes spending $13.10 million—a $150,442 increase. Superintendent Dennis Riker pointed out that Nazareth’s share does not include the costs of IU-related programs at Nazareth schools. That amount represents no change for the third-straight year, Riker said. The board also approved fund transfers throughout the …

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Celebrate Earth Day at NCC Festival Thursday

Northampton Community College will hold a free Earth Day festival with live music on Thursday.

Northampton Community College will observe Earth Day on Thursday, April 25, with a festival called “Love Your Mother.” Displays, demonstrations, games, food and live music will be part of the fun in the Quad outside of College Center on the Main Campus. The event is free and open to the public, and will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Also on April 25 at 11:30 a.m., the College will hold a dedication ceremony for Phase 3 of the Susan K. Kubik Tribute Garden, which recognizes contributors to NCC’s success and provides a space for quiet reflection, student gatherings, and special events, and enhances the beautification of the campus.  This year’s dedication includes a scarlet oak in honor of Sue Kubik, a flowering dogwood from Sen. Lisa …

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Nazareth Grad Named to All-Pennsylvania Academic Team

Stacy Beaty was selected for the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team because of her academic excellence and leadership.

Four Northampton Community College (NCC) students—including Nazareth alum Stacy Beaty—were honored in Harrisburg on Monday, April 8, as members of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team. They were selected from among students at community colleges across the state, based on academic excellence and leadership in a program co-sponsored by USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for students at two-year and junior colleges. To qualify for membership, inductees must have a 3.5 or higher grade point average, be enrolled in an associate's degree program, and perform community service work. In addition to Beaty, the local members of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team are Qi Dong, Kristin Cook and John Shin. …

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Board to Mull Over NCC's $10K Contribution Increase

Dr. Mark Erickson’s news wasn’t necessarily a blow to Nazareth Area School District's working budget. The school board initially expected to pay an extra $18,000.

Although the number of Nazareth graduates who attended Northampton Community College during the 2011-12 school year decreased, the Bethlehem Township-based college is still seeking a 1.80 percent increase in the district’s annual contribution. Dr. Mark Erickson, who was named NCC’s new president in December 2011, presented a budget overview Monday night to the Nazareth Area School Board. He asked the board to consider a proposed 1.80 percent increase, which amounts to $10,358. In February 2012, when Dr. Art Scott was still NCC’s president, he asked the board to approve a $12,414 increase. That amount was tacked on to the district’s yearly contribution of $600,000. But Erickson’s news wasn’t necessarily a blow to the district’s working …

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Nazareth Grad Honored as Newman Civic Fellow

Stacy Beaty is recognized as a Newman Civic Fellow, helping to find solutions to the challenges facing communities.

A Nazareth Area High School graduate—and current Northampton Community College student—is among 181 student leaders from 36 states recognized as a 2013 Newman Civic Fellow. Stacy Beaty, an Easton resident studying biological science, is the third NCC student in three consecutive years to have earned this distinction. Newman Civic Fellows have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Nominated by their college presidents, these students are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.  Before enrolling at NCC, Beaty trained at Second Helpings, a non-profit …

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16 Nazareth Area Students Make Phi Theta Kappa at NCC

Sixteen students from the Nazareth area are inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society at Northampton Community College.

The latest round of students inducted into Phi Theta Kappa at Northampton Community College are being recognized. Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for students at two-year and junior colleges. To qualify for membership, inductees must have a 3.5 or higher grade point average, be enrolled in an associate degree program, and perform community service work, according to a press release. The following students from the Nazareth area were inducted:

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Nazareth Students Excel at 2013 Science Olympiad

Nazareth area students placed in Disease Detectives, Chemistry Lab, Fermi, Boomilever and Gravity during the the annual Science Olympiad competition at Northampton Community College.

Nazareth students participated in and excelled at the annual Science Olympiad competition held on Feb. 22 at Northampton Community College. According to www.northampton.edu, "The Science Olympiad is a tournament of rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events." The competition was broken up into three divisions: Mountain Valley Conference, Lehigh Valley Conference and Overall. Nazareth area students placed in Disease Detectives, Chemistry Lab, Fermi, Boomilever and Gravity. During the 2012 Central/Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Science Olympiad at Kutztown University, Nazareth Area Middle School and high school students won medals in nine events. Lehigh Valley Conference Results: …

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Who's Hiring?

Who's Hiring? Jacobsburg Historical Society, 1818 Tavern and NCC

Here's a small sampling of current job openings in the Nazareth area.

Executive Director / Site Manager Successful applicants will love history, enjoy working with people, write well and have good computer skills. E-mail resume to search@jacobsburghistory.com or mail it to: JHS Executive Director Search P.O. Box 345 Nazareth, PA 18064 No phone calls, please.   Bartender / Server Stemie's 1818 Tavern is looking for a daytime bartender / sever. Apply within -- 2501 Seip Avenue, Easton (Palmer Township). No phone calls, please.   Part-time, Customer Service Representative Click here for more information and/or to apply  NCC is seeking a customer service representative for an inbound call center. Primary responsibilities include responding to registration and general information requests, and other duties as …

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Police Charge 2nd Man in NCC Armed Robbery

Kieara Anthony Williams, 22, of Allentown is the second man to be charged in the September armed robbery of two other men on Northampton Community College’s main campus.

A second man has been charged in the September armed robbery of two other men on Northampton Community College’s Bethlehem Township campus. Kieara Anthony Williams, 22, of Allentown is accused of choking one of the men before he and his alleged accomplice stole two cell phones and a key fob. He then fled on foot, court records say. The alleged accomplice, Darrius Webb, who turned 21 recently and is also from Allentown, is accused of being the gunman. Unlike Williams, who was at large for more than four months, Webb was captured shortly after the incident, driving the men’s car, the records say. A criminal complaint filed by township Patrolman Andrew Keyock includes details of what happened the night of Sept. 27. The victims told police …

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