Mid Penn Bank and HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, Kick Off Educational Partnership
Harrisburg, Pa., October 18, 2022 — Mid Penn Bank (the “Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. (“Mid Penn”) (Nasdaq: MPB), was joined by HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College (“HACC”), today at a lunch and learn to present their collaborative College Through Work program to local high school administrators and guidance counselors. The event was hosted by Mid Penn President and CEO Rory Ritrievi and HACC President and CEO John J. “Ski” Sygielski, and was held at Mid Penn University in Harrisburg. Mr. Ritrievi and Dr. Sygielski detailed the components of the program and participated in a question and answer session with the attendees. The partnership is designed to grant high school graduates access to higher education while gaining valuable firsthand experience through positions with the Bank.
The initiative will provide mentoring and career development through the Bank while each participant earns a Certificate of Banking and an associate degree through HACC without an interruption to their income. In its inaugural year, the Bank will create up to 20 positions within the organization in a variety of departments. During the first six months, the participants will focus on learning specific job skills, acclimating to a professional environment, and completing the prerequisites necessary to enroll in an associate degree program at HACC.
“We are thrilled to announce this one-of-a-kind program that will give individuals a pathway for career development while accomplishing educational objectives in a cost-free environment,” Mr. Ritrievi said. “Within two and a half years of high school graduation, the successful candidates in this program will have almost three years of practical experience and income, as well as an associate degree with no out-of-pocket costs. We are particularly thrilled to do this in a pilot format with HACC, which has been providing world-class educational experiences in an affordable manner for almost 60 years. At Mid Penn and HACC, we share the philosophy that educating and developing our youth is among the most important work we can accomplish.”
Mid Penn worked closely with HACC administrators to develop the customized curriculum. The first 15 credits of the program will focus on coursework aligned with the financial services industry and will result in the student earning a Certificate of Banking. Mid Penn will continue to fund the remainder of the associate degree program for each participant under the condition that they remain employed with the Bank. The Bank will also provide textbooks, laptop computers, and other required materials for participants to find success.
“HACC is excited to partner with Mid Penn Bank on this new initiative that allows high school students to enter the banking industry while earning a HACC associate degree with no out-of-pocket costs. This is a significant opportunity for qualified high school graduates to prepare for their future careers in commerce with a very respected financial institution in our region,” Dr. Sygielski said.
The Bank believes that this strategic partnership will be key to hiring and retaining a strong community-focused workforce while providing a path to higher education to those who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to attend college. After graduation from the program, upon obtaining an associate degree, the employees may choose to continue their academic pursuits while working through Mid Penn’s tuition reimbursement program.
About Mid Penn Bank
Mid Penn Bank, headquartered in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, has been serving the community since 1868. The Bank operates retail locations in 16 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has total assets in excess of $4.3 billion. Mid Penn offers a comprehensive portfolio of financial products and services to meet the banking needs of the communities it serves. To learn more, please visit www.midpennbank.com.
About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 14,023 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.