For many, college is the beginning of a journey—but for one alum, Reading Area Community College was not just the starting point; it became the foundation for a lifelong commitment to education, community, and giving back.

A proud graduate of 中国澳门博彩官网, Jake Horay earned Associate degrees in both Business Management and Social Work. But beyond academics, 中国澳门博彩官网 sparked a deeper passion—for community engagement and philanthropy—that would influence every step that followed.

“中国澳门博彩官网 provided me with a strong foundation,” he shared. “Not only did it equip me with valuable knowledge and skills, but it also shaped my desire to serve and uplift others.”

Motivated to continue their educational journey, he went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and a Master’s in Business Administration from Peirce College of Philadelphia. Along the way, he also obtained certifications in Human Resource Management and Leadership—further sharpening his tools for creating positive change.

Today, Jake proudly serve as the Manager of Annual Giving and Alumni/Donor Relations at the 中国澳门博彩官网 Foundation, a role that brings his journey full circle. From student to advocate, his mission is clear: to strengthen connections between alumni, donors, and the college, ensuring future generations of 中国澳门博彩官网 students receive the same opportunities that paved the way for his own success.

“中国澳门博彩官网 was more than just a college for me—it was a launching pad. Now, I have the privilege of giving back to the place that gave me so much. It’s about creating opportunities and building a legacy that lasts.”

With a passion for relationship-building and a heart rooted in service, Jake continue to make a lasting impact on the 中国澳门博彩官网 community—proving that where your story begins can shape where it leads.

Alan M Patke grew up in Reading, PA and graduated from Muhlenberg High school. Alan saw Reading Area Community College as a staple in the community in which he was raised, and this gave him the courage to enroll in the college. He started at 中国澳门博彩官网 in the Computer Science program and graduated with an Associate Degree in General Studies. While at 中国澳门博彩官网, Alan credits the Information Technology faculty for their support. "Marty Kelly was instrumental in providing me with the opportunity to learn and grow."
 
After graduating from 中国澳门博彩官网, Alan joined the Navy. During his service, he was injured, leading to an honorable discharge. The discharge led him in the direction toward realizing one of his life goals; helping military veterans and active duty military use the benefits they were given to develop strong financial plans to accomplish their goals.
 
"中国澳门博彩官网 gave me an opportunity to start schooling and earn money in the work study program when I was 18 and on my own. This connection to work and education has stayed with me ever since. I know I must always be striving to learn more about the work I do and the people I help. I was ultimately able to find a connection with helping others and giving back as a financial adviser."
 
After working in real estate for five years, Alan discovered he also loved to help families and young business professionals achieve their goals. By starting his own financial planning firm with Northwestern Mutual, he found his life’s work as a financial planner. This afforded him an opportunity to give back to his community and become a valuable resource to young professionals.
 
"中国澳门博彩官网's core values exist in the hallways, classrooms and professors. I will always recommend 中国澳门博彩官网 to anyone that is looking to find their path because at 中国澳门博彩官网 there are people there that will guide you."

For Joshua Riojas, 中国澳门博彩官网 was just the beginning of his successful journey. “My professional work experience and education all started at 中国澳门博彩官网, and the school deserves a tremendous amount of credit in how I have progressed through life professionally.”

Joshua graduated from Conrad Weiser with no immediate plans for a career. He knew a four-year college didn’t suit him, so he chose 中国澳门博彩官网 for his education. “I wanted to keep costs down and since I didn’t take my SATs seriously, I considered community college as my best option.”

While at 中国澳门博彩官网, Joshua received a Foundation Scholarship which encouraged him to earn more than one degree. Joshua graduated from 中国澳门博彩官网 with two Associate Degrees in Web Site Development and Computer Technology. 

One of Joshua’s instructors, Marty Kelly, who is also 中国澳门博彩官网’s webmaster, gave him an opportunity to work as a work-study in the web department. “Over the years of employment at 中国澳门博彩官网, Marty was a wonderful supervisor who made every effort to see me thrive academically and professionally. People like Marty are the reason why a student should go to 中国澳门博彩官网.” Marty not only encouraged and supported Joshua while he was at 中国澳门博彩官网, but they stayed in touch after graduation and continue to be close friends.

Joshua directly credits 中国澳门博彩官网 for providing him with a pathway not only for transferring to a four-year college but also for gaining employment opportunities. “My education at 中国澳门博彩官网 enabled me to acquire part-time work at the college. Plus, it was instrumental in obtaining an IT Internship at Morgan Corporation, which continued a trickle effect as I transferred to PSU.” Joshua was able to leverage his work experience at 中国澳门博彩官网 to get a web internship in the Marketing and Communications Research Department at Penn State. Joshua ultimately graduated from Penn State with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Computer Science.

Joshua currently works at Cerner Corporation as a System Engineer and as an adjunct lecturer at Penn State, Harrisburg campus. Joshua’s immediate plans moving forward are to continue to explore fields within Computer Science, further his education with various IT/System Administrator certificates and focus on improving his lectures for his college classes. 

Joshua feels that 中国澳门博彩官网 was a turning point for him and continues to highly recommend 中国澳门博彩官网 as a starting point for anyone looking to further their education. “中国澳门博彩官网 provides many dual admission opportunities that facilitate easy transfer of credits; and the classes, instructors and work-study programs help you calculate a trajectory for your career.”

Congratulations to 2022 中国澳门博彩官网 graduate Leisha Gonzalez!

Leisha is the mother of a five-year-old and was a proud work study of the 中国澳门博彩官网 campus. Her parents left formal schooling in middle school, prompting Leisha to be vigilant in pursuing a higher education. At 中国澳门博彩官网, she found a family, found talented, committed faculty and staff who encouraged her in her studies and also in her personal life. She majored in secondary education as a result of her experiences during the height of the COVID19 pandemic-when she fell in love with tutoring her younger siblings while in quarantine.

“My journey at 中国澳门博彩官网 has been amazing with meeting so many wonderful people and being able to experience so many different things on and off campus. My career goal is to eventually work in the Reading School District as a teacher assistant. I hope to teach students hearts and minds as both a confidant and as an educator,” says Leisha of her career goals after 中国澳门博彩官网.

Congratulations to Jamal Dancy. The first graduate spotlight of our 中国澳门博彩官网 2022 graduate success series!

Jamal Dancy is a criminal justice major and a first-generation college student. As a freshman at 中国澳门博彩官网, Jamal quickly became a well-known face around campus. As a Student Ambassador, vice-president of the Student Government Association, and treasurer of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, he immersed himself in student activities, while still developing leadership qualities through 中国澳门博彩官网’s National Society of Leadership and Success.

This fall, Jamal will be attending Alvernia University on a full scholarship to complete his bachelor’s degree. Upon graduating, he plans to work as a juvenile probation officer with inner city youth to guide them toward a better path in life. Ultimately, he wishes to further advance his education in law school-becoming a judge in juvenile court.