Northampton Community College

Partnership provides access to trades

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, representing the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges including Northampton Community College, is partnering with TradesFutures, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization established by North America’s Building Trades Unions and industry partners, to implement the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (M3C) and apprenticeship readiness program model. This collaboration between our community colleges and TradesFutures will give many men and women access to careers in the building trades.

TradesFutures is dedicated to expanding pathways to union apprenticeships and family-sustaining construction careers, remove barriers for underrepresented communities, and championing proven practices that work. Their MC3 curriculum is a building and construction trades pre-apprenticeship program registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

A memorandum of understanding agreement was signed by PACCC and TradesFutures officials on May 6 -- National Skilled Trades Day -- at the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association in Harrisburg.

Grant helps NCC parent students

Northampton Community College has been awarded a $150,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Parent Pathways Initiative from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to expand support services for parenting students and help them achieve educational and family success.

Running from June 2026 through June 2027, this funding will launch Pathways to Completion: A Two-Generation Initiative Expanding Services to Parenting Students & their Families, a comprehensive program designed to address the unique challenges parenting students face while pursuing their education.

Food & Wine Gala raises scholarship funds

As beautiful as it was delicious, The Art of Food was the theme of the 2026 Northampton Community College (NCC) Food & Wine Gala, which raised $304,410 this year for student scholarships.

“Your presence tonight is a powerful expression of your belief in our students and in the life-changing impact of NCC,” President of NCC, David A. Ruth, Ph.D., said to the room of nearly 400 gala attendees.

On May 29, donors, sponsors, and community members spent their evening at the NCC Bethlehem campus in support of NCC students. The Food & Wine Gala has provided over $3.4 million in scholarships since its inception. Seventy percent of NCC students worry about having enough funds to pay for school, and scholarships raised during events like these help students focus on their education without taking on additional financial burden

Northampton Community College’s main campus is located at 3835 Green Pond Road. The Fowler Family Southside Center is located at 511 E. Third St. For information, call 610-861-5000 or visit www.northampton.edu.