Alumni Alert

Elieza Bague '18

“You have a community of faculty and staff at Bucks who want to see you succeed.” A first-generation college student, Elieza Bague '18 credits Bucks with laying solid groundwork for her academic journey and career. She believes Bucks is the perfect size for students who appreciate connection. “What made Bucks unique to me was being able to connect with my professors and create lasting relationships. My time at Bucks instilled creating connections as a value of mine. Without the relationships I created here, I wouldn’t have understood the value of that in the workplace.” Elieza’s journey to Bucks began in high school when, not mentally ready for a four-year college, she attended a dual enrollment math course thanks to a grant. The experience proved that Bucks was the place for her. “I enjoyed how small the class was and how the professor cared about his students’ understanding and success in the subject. He was the first teacher who helped me understand math, a topic I always struggled with. As a result, I was able to pass Calculus, Statistics, and other math courses years later.” Once at Bucks full time, Elieza made the most of those intimate class settings and approachable professors and often sought guidance on college and career matters. During her first semester, a business class with Professor Kelly Sell reconfirmed her choice of Bucks. “Her teaching style, respect for students, and enthusiasm to help us succeed were the reasons why, from that class forward, I tried my best to take as many classes with Professor Sell as I could. She inspired me and continues to do so today. I know that, years later, I can reach out to professors like Kelly Sell and they will be happy to help.” Another of Elieza’s favorite Bucks memories is sitting in Epstein Campus Director Rose Cooper’s office getting advice on her next steps to transfer from Bucks to Rider. “It was bittersweet...the excitement of continuing my studies and closing my chapter at Bucks...meaning that would be one of the last times I would be chatting and venting about my college struggles with Rose Cooper.” Attending the Bucks Transfer Fair helped Elieza learn more about Rider College and the transfer agreement allowing all Bucks classes to transfer to Rider. After earning her Associate of Arts in Business Administration in 2018, Elieza received her bachelor’s degree and MBA from Rider in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Today, Elieza is Corporate Media Specialist at the global firm Xplor Technologies, where she manages corporate social media pages and is responsible for content creation, copywriting, graphic design and video editing, community management, scheduling, organic targeting, analytics/KPIs, helping product teams with social accounts, and strategy. Elieza believes that Bucks was that crucial first step leading to her current success. She encourages students who may be struggling or questioning their path to reach out for help. “You have a community of faculty and staff at Bucks who want to see you succeed. They’re not there only for lectures but to offer advice, different perspectives, and mentorship. If a professor didn’t know the answer to my question, they always pointed me to someone who could help.”

Loretta Golding '11

“Sometimes life’s circumstances require us to work harder than other people to get what we want.” When considering a journey to law school, Bucks County Community College may not initially come to mind as a first step. Yet for Paralegal Studies graduate Loretta Golding '11, it was the smart choice. Although law was always Loretta’s aspiration, she opted to start at Bucks due to its excellent value, convenient location, and flexible schedule. She appreciated the ability to tailor her classes around her job and complete her degree at her own pace. Loretta’s end goal was clear, but she was unsure of the best major to get her there and her path took unexpected turns. She began as a Liberal Arts major and transitioned to Business Administration before ultimately discovering her passion in Paralegal Studies. There, she found the course material engaging and the faculty members, notably professors Heather Costello and Chris Simcox, to be knowledgeable and inspiring. Loretta extended a rewarding Bucks internship with Legal Aid of Pennsylvania into a subsequent volunteer position, with exciting results. The constant exposure to court personnel provided numerous networking opportunities for her. Prior to her Bucks graduation in 2011, a courthouse friend recommended Loretta to interview with a family law attorney he knew. She agreed to the interview and accepted a job offer as a family law paralegal where she “hit the ground running,” recalling a piece of advice about beginning new jobs Professor Costello often shared with students. Over the 8-year period in this role, Loretta gained the confidence to transition to Law School. She initially attended night classes at Holy Family University while working, earning her bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2016. Less than a year later, she was enrolled at Rutgers School of Law and had taken a new job as a forfeiture paralegal at the U.S. Attorney's Office, where she remained until she graduated in January 2021. Today, Loretta is a practicing family law attorney in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Loretta understands the difficult balancing act many students experience as they go through school and urges students to be open-minded and resilient and, if necessary, to endure. “I spent the majority of my life as a student balancing work and school. By the time I went to law school, I had a husband, two dogs, and a baby. Sometimes life’s circumstances require us to work harder than other people to get what we want. That is okay. These are the times that make you stand out. You will never regret the moments when you try…but you will always regret those times you don’t.” She also encourages students to view these tough times as opportunities for personal growth that can reflect positively to future employers. “When you go to job interviews, employers don’t only want to know you were a great student, they want to know you are a hard worker and are willing and able to withstand the storm.”

Brett Killen

“Without Bucks' career fairs, I don’t think I would be in the position I am in today.” During his high school years, Business Administration alum Brett Killen had interest in various fields of study and was unsure of which path to choose. This curiosity was a key factor in his decision to choose Bucks as his launching point into higher education. “Starting my college career at Bucks allowed me to take core classes while learning more about other available programs. Bucks offered me the space to think about what I would like to study and what I would like my career to be. I ultimately focused on Business and Communications. In addition to the educational and career resources available to Bucks students, Brett took advantage of the beautiful Newtown Campus setting to help manage the stress that all college students sometimes feel. “I took most of my courses at the Newtown Campus. While between classes, I would walk to Tyler State Park to clear my mind and get some space. I really enjoyed how close the campus was to the park.” After choosing his areas of study, Brett shifted his focus to post-Bucks plans where he aimed to pursue a four-year degree. “I decided I would attend Penn State-Abington through the transfer agreement between both schools. The process was easy and seamless. It was nice to review the different agreements between Bucks and each participating university and then compare how each school would help to accomplish my goals.” Brett’s decision to attend career fairs offered by Bucks, and later by Penn State-Abington, had a major impact on his professional trajectory, resulting in an internship that led to a permanent job offer. “After attending a few career fairs, I was intrigued by the stability of a federal job. I was offered a job as an intern with the Department of Defense (Defense Logistics Agency) in Philadelphia and worked through their Pathways to Career Excellence (PACE) program. From there, I worked through the education requirements to become a Contracting Officer. I now work as a Contracting Officer with the U.S. Department of Labor, specializing in procuring information technology. Without those career fairs, I don’t think I would be in the position I am in today. From negotiating with major defense contractors or with the largest technology companies in the world, each day is different and exciting. One of my favorite parts of working in the federal government is that it is easy to move from agency to agency. Anyone interested in a federal job should visit USAJobs to review the many openings available in a range of positions.” Brett encourages any student who may have doubts about whether to continue their program of study at Bucks to persevere. “If you’re ever feeling discouraged about continuing with your education, do not give up! There is a lot of assistance that Bucks can provide that can make a difference. Collaboration in study groups worked best for me. Preparing for exams can be stressful, but when you have more than one mind looking at material, it can change your outlook.”

Rachel Quiring '14

“Any frustration you may feel with classes is temporary and ends when classes do ... but frustration and regret last for years if you don’t finish your program of study.” Rachel Quiring '14 chose Bucks as her first educational destination for several reasons. The flexible admissions process removed barriers other colleges posed for Rachel, who was homeschooled and without GPA or test scores. The exceptional value and top-notch Pastry Arts apprenticeship program were also key factors that attracted Rachel to Bucks. “I was able to not only get an associate degree, but 3 years of hands-on experience. This program was way more valuable than a degree alone.” Rachel has warm memories of her time at Bucks and cultivated professional relationships that still endure. “The culinary and baking department felt more like a family dynamic, and the talented chefs and professors poured their hearts into teaching. Chef John Angeline, my mentor and pastry chef teacher, was vital to my growth and experience at Bucks. As a former pastry chef graduate from the program, he has unique understanding of exactly what students experience. There is no limit to the accolades I have about Chef Angeline.” Rachel worked full time during her years at Bucks, which is part of the requirement for the apprenticeship program. “It was difficult to juggle school and work, and I did not have much free time. It was worth it overall, however, because I had real-world experience to relate to. It helped me decide whether to go straight into the workforce or for my bachelor’s degree.” After graduating from Bucks with an Associate of Arts in Baking and Pastry Arts in 2014, Rachel realized she wanted to be in the industry but was unsure of baking full-time and decided to continue her education with a Food Science degree from Delaware Valley University. However, she found herself missing the small class sizes and financial benefits that Bucks offered and continued taking as many science courses as she could at Bucks to transfer the credits back to Del Val…a real testament to Bucks’ quality education. Today, Rachel is in a corporate role in Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance at Blommer Chocolate Company. Occasional travel is a part of her position, and she is looking forward to a possible business trip to the Ivory Coast in West Africa. In 2021, Rachel returned to her Bucks roots to teach evening pastry classes—including Chocolate Essentials, Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts, and Cookies—where she offers the skills and mentorship to current students that she received during her college days. Rachel advises students who may be discouraged with classes to consider the amount of time they have committed to their education. “If you need your degree and have already put in some time, don't stop without graduating! Any frustration you may feel with classes is temporary and ends when classes do…but frustration and regret last for years if you don’t finish your program of study.” Rachel also encourages students to consider the unique aspects of Bucks that cannot be found at larger schools. “I think higher educational value and smaller class sizes that create a closer working network with your teachers are very positive things that students get from Bucks. No one has looked at my educational background and ever questioned the community college degree portion.”

Judith Toland '79

“Getting a degree tells an employer that you are trainable.” Bucks accounting professor Judith Toland '79 may be at the head of the class with all of the answers today, but she began her time at Bucks as a 17-year-old work study student who, along with her sister, was the first in her family to attend college. As the daughter of blue-collar immigrants from England, Judy was expected to work after high school, but she had dreams of college she was determined to fulfill. Although her parents could not help with tuition, Bucks offered a combination of loans, grants, and work-study that allowed Judy to finance her education on her own. "I did secretarial work in the Bucks Financial Aid office. They were great and so supportive. They let me come back to work over summer break and Christmas holidays. This made me really appreciate college. I truly loved my years learning and working at Bucks." "Bucks has a high standard and prepared me very well for my next step at Bloomsburg University, so there was not a different level of challenge when I transferred. The hardest part was living away from home and missing my friends." Judy also faced family challenges during her first semester at Bloomsburg when her father suffered serious heart issues, making her first months even more difficult. She understands first-hand that class assignments are not the only stressors students face and hopes that students will follow advice she gave herself during those hard months--take things one day at a time. This mindset also helped when, after graduating from Bloomsburg and working in private accounting and public accounting for a time, Judy married and had children and didn’t want to return to corporate accounting. "My sister said, 'Why don’t you apply to Bucks? You always loved Bucks.' So, in 1989, I did. I was hired part time but didn’t have an upper-level degree required for a full-time position. My Dean encouraged me to get my Masters, which I earned from Temple while teaching here part time. I started at Bucks full-time in 2002. "When I was finding it hard having three small children and going to grad school, my Bucks Dean Catherine McElroy would say, 'You can do anything for 15 weeks.' I looked up to her and thought, that's what helped her get to her position. So, I try to remind my students of that and let them know that they can do it." One of the highlights of Professor Toland's career has been coauthoring the leading payroll textbook in the country, Payroll Accounting "Fifteen years ago, my colleague Bernie Bieg invited me to co-author with him. Because payroll laws change every year, it was an annual edition. I recently retired from that; 2023 was my last edition because I wanted to spend time with my grandkids. But Bernie was such a fabulous teacher and mentor, and collaborating with him was the chance of a lifetime." With her unique perspective as a Bucks alum as well as an experienced Bucks professor, Professor Toland provides valuable support to her students, such as encouraging them to reach out to professors and hone their communication skills. “Students must be advocates for themselves, even though it may be out of their comfort zone to reach out to a teacher. They need to put that aside and put themselves out there, learn to be good communicators and get over the unconfident times, because they can do it. That's why we can be proud of ourselves when we succeed--because we worked for it. My most successful students are good communicators.” Another challenge for students can be feeling that a topic or class is unimportant for their future, which can lead to apathy. Professor Toland remembers something similar as a student but received some excellent advice. “When I transferred to Bloomsburg, my roommate's father told me something I will never forget. He said that getting a degree tells an employer that you are trainable. This came up because I was complaining about some courses I didn't think were relevant, so I try to motivate my students to persevere through challenging times and get that degree!” Finally, Professor Toland hopes students will appreciate the advantages Bucks’ small class size adds to their education. She recalls a time when her son, attending a large university, requested a recommendation from a professor but, because he was one of 200 in the classroom and didn’t have a personal connection, that professor initially declined. “Here at Bucks, the class size enables us to know all of our students’ names. I feel like I have a good, transparent, and open relationship with my students and let them know that we are here for them and want them to succeed. “I felt supported like that when I was a student here. Bucks was always a big part of my life…I grew up here.”

Alexis Cain '16

“Surround yourself with people who are where you want to be.” Driving home with friends recently, Business Administration alum Alexis Cain passed the Newtown Campus and was inspired to reflect on what Bucks meant to her. “It’s not the first time I’ve said it, but I told them I wished I had been able to do all four years at Bucks. From something as simple as the cafeteria food to the great opportunities, I wouldn’t be the same professional without Bucks.” In the few years since Alexis graduated from Bucks (‘16) and from Temple (‘18) with her degree in Financial Planning, she has been busy building her practice as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), working as an independent contractor partnering with broker-dealer, Lincoln Investment. She is in a position her younger self might never have imagined, growing up in a family of four headed by a single mother working hard to make ends meet. “I didn't know I would go to college because no one had paved the road, and now it's a beautiful blessing I was able to do that myself. I attribute a lot of my success to my grandfather, who always set the right example. He and I went to a financial aid seminar at Bucks when I was a Pennsbury senior, and that opened the door—like maybe I can do this, maybe this is for me. I think Bucks was the perfect opportunity for someone with low income; I was on free-and-reduced lunch my whole upbringing. I had friends from Yardley and Newtown from two-income households—we were at opposite ends of the spectrum. They had acceptance letters to big universities, but that just wasn't in my cards and frankly, I didn't have the attraction probably because I knew I couldn't afford it. What led me to Bucks was the reality of my financial situation. I paved my own road, self-funding my education with three part-time jobs. They were the cards I was dealt, and I made the most of it. Bucks gave me a clean slate; I came out with no student debt.” Her experience at Bucks confirmed she not only made the right financial decision, but that it was a school she would not trade for any other. “For me, if I had it to do again, I wouldn’t change it if you paid me. If I had gotten a full ride—I’d say you can keep the big university. I thoroughly enjoyed Bucks. I was able to work and stay home, stay connected to my grandparents, and it was wonderful. “I remember professors pouring into us the sense of their real-world experience. As for class schedules, there was flexibility for me as a working student to fit in full-time coursework while juggling three part-time jobs—I felt catered to every semester.” It was that ability to keep working—and to impress her customers—during her time at Bucks that provided a great professional opportunity for Alexis. “While working one of my jobs at the Fairless Hills Produce Center, a frequent customer who was a senior-level exec's wife came in. She presented me with an opportunity at an independent broker-dealer, Lincoln Investment, and from there my future opened. I became an intern for Lincoln Investment during my junior year at Temple. She was a fairy godmother really. She put me in the right places at the right time, and I was able to shadow a lot of different financial advisors.” This led Alexis to the path she is on today, building her own practice as an independent financial advisor. “I’m the first generation in my family to pave a career that is so balanced. I'm in hyper-growth mode right now, but I’m thankful for the autonomy I have at such an early age. I'm only 28. Women who have 30 years in the business tell me how, if I have children, I’ll be able to make every sport or school event and reposition clients at my leisure. That clicked for me, not being chained to a nine-to-five. It's not for everyone, the total ‘Wild West’ of open landscape versus stability, but I’m attracted to that nature of being self-employed.” The networking crucial to Alexis’s current success, as well as putting your best foot forward in every situation, are things she advises current Bucks students to cultivate as they plan their careers. “Surround yourself with people who are where you want to be. Your network and the circle you connect with are so powerful. You never know who's watching you, so always stay positive; that's what led me to the opportunities I have at Lincoln. From someone who has a very blue-collar upbringing, my best piece of advice is to try to stay positive—especially if you're in customer service—because you never know what doors can be opened or shut even without your knowledge.”