Photo submitted to Times Observer State Rep. Kathy Rapp and Sen. Scott Hutchinson are pictured here with Joan Stitzinger and Donna Smith in celebration of their retirement from the Warren Forest Higher Education Council earlier this month.

Executive Director Joan Stitzinger and Program Manager Donna Smith were celebrated recently for their years of service at the Warren-Forest Higher Education Council (Hi-Ed).

Their retirement comes just shortly after Hi-Ed celebrated 40 years, of which Stitzinger dedicated 28 years as Executive Director, and Smith 21 years as Program Manager for Adult Education. Their leadership, commitment, and impact on the community earned them a special citation from state House of Representative Kathy Rapp and Sen. Scott Hutchinson, to which both retirees found highly honored to receive.

Hi-Ed was incorporated in 1984 when college programming with Jamestown Community College was firmly established during which time Stitzinger was titled as the Assistant director for three years. Smith spoke highly of Stitzinger for the expansion of other hi-eds in the state that have followed suit. Stitzinger had a big hand in fulfilling the role of meeting the community’s adult education needs.

Being the very first higher education council, Warren Forest Hi-Ed influenced nine more community education councils statewide. All were developed and modeled from what was being done in Warren, also making it an organization that encouraged other regional organizations is what Hi-Ed of Warren has been recognized for.

Stitzinger and Smith saw a need for more programs to be offered in the community but that other organizations may not have been able to do. Under their leadership, Hi-Ed expanded into offering their own programming making it a comprehensive center that offers classes from high school drop outs to personal enrichment.

The school to work program in the Warren County School District was developed in order to connect students to the business community, with the intent to keep locals in the area’s workforce. They said that the programing at Hi-Ed offers the baby steps necessary to people who want to get to a point of moving on to college or to move into the next step of their career path.

Stitzinger and Smith credit much of their success to the fact they both knew the need to get back to school for adults because they experienced it themselves. They knew how challenging furthering one’s education was and how to make education available to adults on the time frames that were needed. Smith pointed out that they both gained an understanding of what working class people were while they were grooving up. It gave them a firm understanding of what the working poor were working with and the challenges that come with obtaining further education while raising a family. They understood the needs of those kinds of people. Smith earned her degree in business while Stitzinger earned a degree in accounting and later her MBA (Masters in Business Administration) through Gannon University through Hi-Ed.

Speaking of COVID and the challenges that may have been brought with it, the ladies shared that it was tough but they were too because within 6 weeks, Hi-Ed was holding classes by the summertime in 2020, with learning taking place outdoors at Betts Park which Smith said, “It felt crazy, but people showed up.”

Stitzinger said how there were wonderful relationships that were built amongst programs connected to Hi-Ed. Recognizing that there were dynamic people who guided and supported the success that occurred during their time at Hi-Ed.

Partnerships with Rapp and Hutchinson were both major sources of accessing funding through the grant from the PA Department of Education. Smith mentioned how Rapp arranged meetings in Harrisburg to connect them to other people and Hutchinson sponsored legislation, and is moving a bill through the Senate now to extend dual enrollment dollars for the councils across the state. Stitzinger and Smith are grateful for the collaborative efforts made possible by them and how incredible it was to be recognized by Hutchinson and Rapp at their retirement party.

When asked to provide advice for upcoming seniors, Smith responded that she wanted “People to recognize that there is someplace to go in Warren if you made a mistake, if you feel hopeless; Hi-Ed is a great place to go if facing unexpected unemployment.” Pointing out they’ve seen many lives changed, both women were strong advocates for the community when people came with needs. Stitzinger said how there were many success stories and that, “People can’t let financial needs be barriers. There are scholarships available through the Community Foundation.”

The longevity of Hi-Ed comes from the ability the team has demonstrated for the ability to adapt with the times. What once was an organization that was primarily offering in-person college courses, now there is remote learning and workforce development as well.

The mission of the Warren Forest Higher Education Council has been upheld by its leadership in delivering high-quality educational and enrichment opportunities that are accessible to the community in order to promote lifelong learning. Stitzinger and Smith both played vital roles in the past few decades. Saying there is more to be done, they are confident in the current team at Hi-ed to carry on with what the community’s needs are, along with new ways to help people and the program as it changes and grows.

“Essentially, Donna and I provided education for our generation and things have changed while we have been doing it. Now John Papalia will do the same for his generation,” said Stitzinger. Giving credit to the team and board of directors who were highly engaged in the mission, Stitzinger said that many of them also did programming or took classes at Hi-Ed which enabled them to know just how important this organization is to the community.

Warren Forest Higher Education Council is a College and University Center that acts as a gateway in the area for success in education and career. It is located at 589 Hospital Drive, Suite F in Warren. For more information, see Facebook page or hi-ed.org Phone: 814-723-3222