The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) is celebrating the 11,981 students who recently graduated from one of the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges. Community college graduates continue to fill workforce needs in their communities, with the vast majority receiving degrees in high-priority occupation areas, including health sciences, manufacturing, and information technology/computer science.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our graduates and the meaningful contributions they are making in communities across the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Quintin Bullock, Board Chair of the PACCC and President of the Community College of Allegheny County. “A heartfelt congratulations as well to our community colleges for their steadfast dedication to providing accessible, affordable, and life-changing education and workforce training. Their efforts continue to empower students, open doors to opportunity, and meeting critical workforce needs, particularly in emerging, high-demand fields, with lasting impact.”
Based on data from PA Labor & Industry, it is estimated Pennsylvania is facing a shortfall of more than 300,000 skilled trade workers by 2030. To meet the state’s workforce needs and support continued economic growth, more workers will be required with appropriate credentials and training tailored to regional employer needs – an area in which community colleges excel.
Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges have nearly 240,000 students enrolled across their campuses, providing real savings to students and families as they pursue additional credentials. On average, students save $30,000 on their education by starting at, or selecting, a community college for their degree or certificate. Those same 15 colleges partner with over 2,000 employers for workforce training ensuring that students have the most up-to-date knowledge and providing pathways to careers for them as well.
According to the Community College Research Center, approximately 40 percent of all undergraduate students in the United States attend community colleges. This translates to roughly 8.6 million students. About 72 percent of them are enrolled part-time.
Woolpert has acquired Dawood Engineering Inc., an award-winning, 33-year-old infrastructure and geospatial technology firm with a presence throughout the Eastern U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. Founded by civil engineer and entrepreneur
Bony Dawood, PE, the multidisciplinary engineering company specializes in infrastructure development and geospatial technologies. Dawood is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and has a staff of over 150.
Dawood is a lead engineering and surveying consultant on major bridge, highway, and traffic projects for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and municipal entities such as Philadelphia and Boston. Dawood is also a market leader in the energy and utilities industry, and this experience further diversifies Woolpert’s portfolio in the oil and natural gas, pipeline, electric utility, and alternative energy sectors.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome the Dawood team to Woolpert. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Bony for more than a decade, and I’ve seen the innovative, nimble, and entrepreneurial approach he has taken to building the business,” Woolpert President and CEO Neil Churman said. “I am also thrilled for Woolpert to strengthen our presence in Pennsylvania. Having participated in the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in my hometown of Pittsburgh last week, it’s clear that Pennsylvania is going to be a leader in advancing artificial intelligence, data centers, power and energy development, and critical infrastructure—all areas where Woolpert has deep experience supporting our clients. The addition of the Dawood team further builds on our commitment to creating jobs and supporting economic growth in Pennsylvania and beyond.”
Dawood CEO Bony Dawood echoed Churman’s sentiment.
“Throughout our history, we have focused on delivering excellent solutions to our clients, building lasting relationships, and pushing the envelope of our profession,” Dawood said. “Together with Woolpert, we are ideally suited to support the technological and physical infrastructure needed to advance our clients’ objectives. This next chapter, as part of the world’s leading AEG firm, creates an environment where all of our professionals will thrive.”
Dawood’s turnkey surveying, 3D laser scanning, GIS, building information modeling, digital twin, and first-of-its-kind Twin Track building management mobile application also fit well with Woolpert’s geospatial capabilities. Woolpert is a global leader in geospatial services, collecting, processing, and delivering imagery and lidar data from mountaintops to the seafloor for myriad applications worldwide.
AT&T and Human I-T provided 170 refurbished laptops to the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia (Philly PAL) for the students who participate in programming at Philly PAL centers across the city.
Again this year, the laptops were distributed during the “Back-to-School Pep Rally” organized by Jaws Youth PlayBook (Ron Jaworski’s Foundation) at the Strawberry Mansion PAL center in an effort to bridge the “digital divide,” an issue wherein millions nationwide still don’t have access to the internet or connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world.
This effort is part of AT&T’s initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability and safe adoption. AT&T is committing $5 billion to help 25 million people get and stay connected to high-speed internet by 2030. This includes distributing more than 3,200 computers to students and their families across Pennsylvania since 2021.
“AT&T is proud to once again team up with the Philly PAL, the Jaws Youth PlayBook and Human I-T to help close the digital divide in Philadelphia and prepare students for a successful school year ahead,” said David Kerr, president, AT&T Pennsylvania.
Learn more at att.com. And, learn more about AT&T’s other investments in Pennsylvania at www.attconnects.com/pennsylvania/.