BCCC Foundation Honors Community Members for Service, Support

The Bucks County Community Foundation honored members of the community for their support of the college and education during its annual Bucks Community Awards and Breakfast at the Newtown campus.

Among the honorees were Dr. Marjorie Zipin, Jim and Maureen Seibert, Professor Emeritus Lyle Rosenberger, and the Dow Chemical Company.

“The Foundation is proud to recognize the great partners in our community who go above and beyond, and really make Bucks County College a very special place,” said BCCC Foundation Board of Directors President Fred Schea.

Zipin, who was honored in the education category, started at the college as a Learning Disabilities Tutor before becoming a Learning Disabilities Specialist. She retired in 2014. Zipin also used her talents in arts and music working with young adults with brain injuries, and by becoming active with the Board of Directors of Graterford Prison and the Montgomery County Mental Health Consumer Action Team.

With the Foundation’s help, she was able to purchase needed equipment for students with vision impairments. She also made a leadership gift to create a fund that would allow the Director to assist students in need.

Jim and Maureen Seibert were honored in the partnership category for establishing the Brian Seibert Memorial Scholarship, in memory of their son, in 2001. In the 14 years since, the scholarship has been awarded to more than 20 students, who like Brian Seibert, has had or has cancer. The Seiberts established a second scholarship for student-athletes, also in memory of their son, who was a gifted soccer and baseball player. They also have helped the soccer and baseball programs purchase equipment.

Rosenberger was honored in the volunteer category for, in part, founding the college’s Historical Preservation Certificate Program in 1991 and being the coordinator until 2005. Rosenberger also coordinates the Tyler Garden volunteers, and puts in countless of hours into the garden himself. He also leads the lecture series, which benefits the Stella Elkins Tyler Garden Endowment. It has raised more than $77,000 since 2003.

The Dow Chemical Company was honored in the community category for their support with grants for innovative projects in the engineering program at BCCC, as well as biotechnology workshops for Bristol high schools. The company also supported major gift campaigns, supporting Disabilities Services, the Annual Fund, the Lower Bucks Capital Campaign, and many other various efforts over the years.

(Photo/Submitted to Patch. Pictured are (from left) Victoria Maseda, Mark Connelly, and Claire Quinn, all of the Dow Chemical Company, which received the Community Award; Jim and Maureen Seibert, who received the Partnership Award; Professor Emeritus Lyle Rosenberger, who received the Volunteer Award; and Dr. Marjorie Zipin, who received the Education Award. Also pictured are Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, College President Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, Bucks County Commissioner Charles Martin, and Frederick Schea, President of the BCCC Foundation Board of Directors.)