YOUNGWOOD, PA – The Greene County Education Center of Westmoreland County Community College celebrated its 10th anniversary with a program and reception highlighting the center’s growth Monday, October 26.

         WCCC offered its first classes at five high schools in Greene County in September 1999 through an agreement with the Greene County Educational Consortium. That semester, 64 students enrolled in evening classes. During the next seven years enrollment and course offerings in Greene County continued to grow under the direction of Dr. Nancy Davis, then coordinator of the Greene County Education Center, and the college’s nursing program began in 2004.  In need of a permanent home to allow further growth, the Greene County Center moved to its present facility in EverGreene Technology Park in August 2006.

         Since the first classes were offered in 1999, 136 students have graduated from the center. This fall, more than 200 students are enrolled in day and evening classes at the Greene County Center.

         WCCC President Daniel J. Obara said, “The Greene County Education Center has been a successful partnership between county government, local school districts and WCCC to provide affordable higher education to the residents of Greene County.”

         During the program, three Greene County Center graduates spoke on their college experiences and their accomplishments since graduation:

         Donna Brown of Jefferson earned an associate in applied science degree in nursing in August 2005 at age 59. She was among the first class of graduates of the WCCC Greene County Education Center nursing program. She had worked as a licensed practical nurse for 21 years at Greene County Memorial Hospital before enrolling at WCCC. Currently, she is the critical care coordinator of the Med-Surge Floor at Southwest Regional Medical Center.

         With her sights set on becoming a teacher, Heather Lowther, 24, earned college credits at the Greene County Center prior to graduating from Mapletown High School. While completing the associate in arts degree program at the Greene County Center, she transferred to Waynesburg University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She worked throughout her four years of college and now is a learning support teacher in grades 5 and 6 at Bobtown Elementary in the Southeastern Greene School District.

         Patricia Filer, 56, enrolled at the Greene County Center to enhance her potential to advance from a caseworker to a higher position in the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. This past May, she earned her associate in applied science degree in business-human resource management option. Now she is a DPW program specialist in the Office of Income Maintenance, Bureau of Operations, Division of Field Management. 

         The program also included remarks by Archie Trader, Greene County commissioner; Donald Painter, former superintendent; Patrick Gerity, WCCC vice president for continuing education, workforce and community development; Dr. Kathleen Malloy, dean of Health Professions; Leyla Olecki-Eddy, Greene County Education Center coordinator; and Dr. Nancy Davis, Greene County Center workforce development coordinator.

         Approximately 100 community leaders attended the event, including Greene County Commissioners, state representatives, superintendents, career and technology center directors, business and community leaders.

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