Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers an inclusive, supportive, and affordable environment that empowers students to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in work, life, and the pursuit of lifelong learning.
VISION
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be a premier institution of higher education and a driving force in regional growth; positioning students to be recognized as highly competent and exceptional members of the community and workforce.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College strives to be a community of learners where every student, employee, and community member is respected and supported. The College is deeply committed to the following values:
Student Success Quality and Accountability
and Ethics Collaboration and Collegiality
Responsiveness to a Diverse and Changing Community
Letter from the President and Board of Trustees Chair
As we close another year at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, we celebrate our collective achievements with this 2023-2024 Community Report. Our dedicated faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, county commissioners, and local legislators have all contributed to our mission of providing affordable, accessible, and quality educational opportunities to the communities we serve. We all know that the College transforms lives through education.
Celebrating Over 300 Graduates
Our Commencement ceremony is an annual highlight, honoring students’ dedication and hard work. This year’s graduates pursued diverse academic fields with the most popular majors being Liberal Arts in Science, Business Management, and Medical Coding and Billing, among others. Notably, our Police Academy graduated its first class of 11 cadets, and 22 high school students earned their associate degrees.
Expanding Our Reach: Penn Highlands Centre County
We’re excited to open our new Centre County educational facility this fall. This 5,500 square-foot space will offer comprehensive services, mirroring those at our other locations. The enthusiastic reception from the Centre County community has been heartwarming and we’re eager to forge more strong partnerships.
Culinary Arts Take Center Stage in Johnstown
The new Center for Culinary Excellence in downtown Johnstown marks a significant milestone. In collaboration with Greater Johnstown High School and supported by the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies and the 1889 Foundation, we’re nurturing the next generation of culinary professionals.
Foundation’s Record-Breaking Fundraising
Under the guidance of our Foundation Board, the Foundation raised over $110,000, supporting our Supporting Scholars and dual enrollment programs. The Foundation also provides crucial emergency assistance to students in need in the form of monetary help, food, and hygiene items.
Innovative Academic Programs
Our faculty and administration have made significant enhancements to our curriculum, particularly in cybersecurity/IT, healthcare, and education. Our dual enrollment program reached over 1,400 high school students across 52 school districts.
Looking Ahead
As we anticipate the 2024-2025 academic year, we prepare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, reflecting on our past and envisioning our future.
The College continues to diligently serve our communities by offering contemporary academic programming and forming strong community partnerships that help the prosperity of the entire region. We hope that you can visit one of our locations in Richland, Johnstown, Ebensburg, Somerset, Altoona, or Bellefonte today!
Dr. Steve Nunez, President Greg Winger, Board of Trustees Chairperson
By The Numbers 2023-24
ACCREDITATIONS
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
Dual enrollment at Penn Highlands is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
19:1 STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO
$2.94
$2.94 MILLION AWARDED TO STUDENTS IN GRANT AID 78% OF OUR STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED RECEIVE GRANTS
65,000 STUDENTS SERVED SINCE OPENING
3,125 STUDENTS HAVE EARNED DEGREES, CERTIFICATES, OR DIPLOMAS
LOWEST COST IN THE REGION
#1 GRADUATION RATE AMONG ALL COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN PENNSYLVANIA
IN MEMORIAM
DR. JOHN HUNTER
Dr. John O. Hunter, the founding president of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (formerly known as Cambria County Area Community College), passed away from natural causes on August 3, 2023. He served the college community from 1994 to 1999.
Dr. Hunter received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees all from SUNY Buffalo (University at Buffalo). Dr. Hunter’s doctorate degree was in higher education.
Before serving in public education for 46 years, he served as a special forces Army Ranger. Dr. Hunter was the recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa International Distinguished President Award in 2004.
GAYNELLE SCHMIEDER
Faculty, staff, and administration held a heartfelt tribute in honor of Gaynelle Schmieder, faculty emeritus, with her family and husband as a tree was planted in her memory on August 17. Her passion for education resonated with colleagues and students. This living symbol will serve as a reminder of the cherished moments shared and the impact they had on everyone’s lives.
OVER 1,200 LOCAL EMPLOYEES TRAINED BY PENN HIGHLANDS IN LAST YEAR
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College reached its highest total ever for managing Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA) funding, reaching $569,220 in grants available for the training of employees across Pennsylvania in 2022-23.
Penn Highlands, which is one of 22 educational institutions that are considered partners of WEDnetPA, received $457,420 in grant funds and an additional $111,800 from the Governor’s Action Team (GAT) Fund to cover the Laurel Highlands and Southern Alleghenies regions of Pennsylvania.
Funds supplied by the GAT were used to train employees at DelGrosso Foods in Tipton, PA.
This past year, Penn Highlands helped train 1,214 total employees from 35 companies, which was an increase in funds of over 78 percent and a jump of more than 300 employees since 2021. Cambria County was assisted the most by the funding, with 517 employees trained, a rate of 48 percent. Blair County was second with 470 (34 percent), while Somerset County had 56 (8 percent).
WEDnetPA is an alliance of educational providers across Pennsylvania that act as the delivery mechanism for the Commonwealth’s WEDnetPA program. It was created to make companies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania more competitive locally, nationally, and internationally by updating and improving the skills of their employees to meet specific company needs.
WEDnetPA brings training funds to qualified companies across the Commonwealth through a network of community colleges, state system universities, and other educational institutions.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ADDS SIX NEW MEMBERS
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees added five new members in 2023-24.
Rev. Reginald Floyd, Lladel Lichty, Jennifer Mitchell, and Ralph Stewart will all serve three-year terms. Jennifer Anderson and Brett Smith will each serve a six-year term.
Lichty, who is the Somerset County Director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, will serve as the board representative for Somerset County. Mitchell, the Superintendent of Huntingdon Area School District, will represent Huntingdon County. Stewart will represent Centre County, following the College’s new location opening in late 2024.
Lichty is currently a member of six different volunteer boards, including the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Somerset Advisory Committee, a spot she has held for two years. Mitchell has served as the superintendent of Huntingdon Area School District for nearly two years. She began her career in education as a kindergarten teacher in 1999 and has steadily advanced in rank since.
Stewart is currently the Bellefonte Borough Manager, a position he has held since January 2001. He has worked within Bellefonte Borough since July 1994, starting as the Planning, Zoning, Code, and Grants Administrator before becoming the Assistant to the Borough Manager and the Assistant Borough Manager.
Floyd has served the local community through various roles, with four years of active duty in the United States Army and 26 years with the Johnstown Police Department under his belt. He has also worked as a School Resource Officer for the Greater Johnstown School District, a Camp Trojan Director, and is the outreach minister for St. James Missionary Baptist Church. Anderson is the Director of Professional Learning and Organizational Development with the Office for Educational Programs and Services with Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 (IU8). Throughout her 21 years at the intermediate unit, she has served as a special education teacher, educational consultant, special education supervisor, and executive-level administrator.
Smith is currently the head of Brett Smith Law Offices, LLC, a private law practice which he has been a part of since 2009. He is also the current solicitor for Cambria County Crimestoppers, Portage Township, the West Carroll Water Authority, and the Adams Township Zoning Hearing Board.
PATRICK JOYAL VISITS PENN HIGHLANDS
Patrick Joyal, former Southwest Region Director for the Office of Governor Shapiro, visited our Richland Campus on September 1. Joyal and Pennsylvania Highlands administrators discussed insights, support, and important issues, as well as shared ideas concerning the dedication of education in the region.
GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR INAUGURAL CLASS
The inaugural class of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy was honored during a graduation ceremony held at the Richland Campus Auditorium on Thursday, September 7.
Each of the 11 cadets was presented with a certificate acknowledging their completion of the academy, with 10 receiving their recognition from the police chief and/or sheriff representing the respective department they will be employed at upon graduation and successful completion of a state test.
Cadet Angel Raehl was named valedictorian of the class after scoring 908 out of a possible 940 combined points on 26 tests and completion of eight different real-life scenarios.
The curriculum included subjects ranging from constitutional law, ethics, de-escalation strategies, criminal law and procedures, and search and seizure. Additionally, each cadet successfully completed practical training in physical fitness, defensive control tactics, emergency vehicle operation, firearms, first aid, and CPR, along with optional certifications in field sobriety, taser, police baton, and pepper spray.
Cadets endured 919 total hours of instruction over the course of 11 months – 498 inside a classroom and 421 practical hands-on training.
The Police Academy ran four nights per week with each class lasting four hours. The cadets’ training and qualifications in firearms took place on Saturday and Sunday, spanning 10 consecutive weekends.
To close out the Police Academy, cadets completed 40 hours of real-life scenario training involving three individual role players, all of whom have experience in criminal justice-related fields and hail from our local communities.
A total of 12 instructors assisted in the training and certification process, including Miller and Assistant Director Kevin Gaudlip.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PENN HIGHLANDS POLICE ACADEMY
PENN HIGHLANDS
HOSTS CAMBRIA COUNTY COLLEGE FAIR
Pennsylvania Highlands was proud to sponsor the 21st annual Cambria County College Fair that took place on September 19 at the College’s Richland Campus. Students from across the region met with more than 60 colleges and universities from all over the state to discuss educational and career opportunities.
The mission of the College Fair is to promote higher education and future opportunities to not only high school students and their families, but to the public as well. The Cambria County College Fair helps local community members find and discover the many educational and career opportunities that are right in their back yard.
RICHLAND CAMPUS ADDS NEW SIGNAGE
The exterior of our Richland Campus got a minor facelift, with a new College sign having been installed above our main entrance, as well as a large nylon one placed on the wall next to our rear entry doors.
ANIMATRONIC ROBOT ACQUIRED TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN COMPUTER
SCIENCE & PROGRAMMING
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has introduced a new technologically advanced learning tool for its students: an animatronic robot.
The animatronic, known as a “RADEON”, was purchased from Garner Holt Education through Imagination, LLC, using grant funds. Pennsylvania Highlands is now the only school on the East Coast to house this type of animatronic.
The animatronic was built based on a mixture of the frameworks for professional entertainment venues and a military design.
It is operated using a mixer board and a proprietary software package, as well as an air compressor that is attached via a series of hoses. The animatronic has 24 separate controls – 12 electrical and 12 hydraulic – that allow it to make movements such as tilting its body forward and upright, moving its wrists, arms, head, neck, and eyebrows, and having the ability to open and close its eyes and mouth.
The mouth can be programmed to run alongside a speaker located in the chest area of the animatronic, making it seem as if it is talking.
Faculty members said there are plans to enhance the existing programmable interface of the animatronic, as well as add sensor technology to expand its capabilities. The animatronic is also planned to be involved with the College’s annual OneBook event, faculty kickoff, and used as a subject matter for a business writing class.
The animatronic is housed within the Richland Campus and is used primarily for Computer Information Sciences classes, which offers four degrees and three certifications.
NATALIE TOMA HIRED TO DIRECT COLLEGE’S BLAIR CENTER
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce that Natalie Toma has been hired as the College’s Director of the Blair Center.
Toma, a native of Altoona, has over 20 years of experience in higher education, including working in four different positions over a span of 15 years at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Toma holds an associate degree in hospitality management from Harrisburg Area Community College, a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, and a master’s in health & wellness coaching from Maryland University of Integrated Health. She is a proud first-generation college graduate.
Prior to Penn Highlands, Toma served as an Admissions Counselor, Healthcare Specialist, Enrollment Manager, and Director of Admissions at Harrisburg from 2005 to 2020. She was then a Workforce Coordinator at Shippensburg University from March 2020 to January 2022 before relocating back to the area and becoming a Health & Wellness Adjunct Instructor at Penn State Altoona.
Toma said one of her main goals is to bring more awareness to the local community that Penn Highlands is a place where students can earn a quality education.
COLLEGE RECEIVES VISIT FROM MAJOR WILLIAM BROWN
Major William Brown, Executive Director of the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC), stopped by on November 2 to view our Police Academy and Use of Force Simulator facilities. We received information from Brown pertaining to our continued development of graduates who move into law enforcement careers.
DR. PAUL DOUGLAS NEWMAN PRESENTS AT PENN HIGHLANDS
Dr. Paul Douglas Newman, a Professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, presented an insightful and meaningful discussion surrounding “Indigenous PA: 1637 to 1758” to celebrate Native American Heritage Month on November 29.
COLLEGE ADDS NEW BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES DEGREE
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the start of a new online program, the Associate of Arts in Behavioral Sciences degree. This exciting opportunity will be available for enrollment starting with the Fall 2024 semester. Students can pursue this degree and their academic goals conveniently and flexibly, with the added advantage of it being in a 100 percent online format.
The Behavioral Sciences degree provides an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the underlying psychological and social mechanisms that drive it. This program integrates concepts from psychology, social work, and criminology, enabling students to develop a comprehensive perspective on individual and societal actions.
The program is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year institution with the goal of earning a bachelor’s degree in a social science field. It is also suitable for those seeking entry-level positions in various human service roles after graduation.
Graduates will be prepared for entry-level employment in social and behavioral sciences. Positions include Human Resources intern, pharmacy technician, home health aide, law enforcement officer, office administrator, assistant counselor, teacher’s aide, and social worker assistant.
OMAR STROHM HIRED AS ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College appointed Omar Strohm as the College’s new Associate Vice President (AVP) of Finance.
A native of Altoona, Strohm has more than 20 years of experience working in local government, including serving as the Finance and Human Resources Director (2003-18), Deputy City Manager (2018-21), and City Manager (2021-23) in the City of Altoona.
As the AVP of Finance, Strohm serves as the College’s Chief Financial Officer, providing leadership and guidance to the business office, student financial services, procurement, the bookstore, and dining services. In this capacity, he is responsible for the development, assessment, and improvement of services in each of the supervised areas.
LITERACY NIGHT RECEIVES BIG TURNOUT
Our Children’s Literacy Night consisted of faculty members and students from the “Caring For Cubs” Education Club playing roles in leading participants through diverse stations designed to enhance academic literacy and appreciation for literature.
PENN HIGHLANDS SIGNS LEASE
FOR NEW BELLEFONTE LOCATION
Penn Highlands has signed a lease in Bellefonte, PA to open a new facility in late 2024. This new location will offer a blend of in-person courses eligible for transfer and comprehensive online degree programs.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Centre County (Penn Highlands Centre County), as it will be known, is designed to serve residents from all over the region and will be housed on the second floor of the converted Pennsylvania Match Company building on Phoenix Avenue in Bellefonte Borough. The 5,200-square-foot establishment will contain three classrooms, one computer lab, one conference room, five faculty and/or employee offices, and a student activity area.
CAREERFEST
In the Spring, the College hosted Careerfest, an engaging experience that connects local high school students with regional industry experts and our faculty. This event promotes meaningful dialogue and exploration of various career opportunities.
INSTITUTE FOR CYBER SECURITY LAUNCHED
The new Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Institute for Cyber Security offers a comprehensive educational suite of pathway programs that includes three associate degree programs and two certificate options.
Starting with the Fall 2024 semester, the Institute for Cyber Security’s Computer Technology program will unveil updated curriculums for both of its tracks –Cyber Security and Information Technology Administration.
The certificate program in Cybersecurity also has a revamped curriculum, which teaches the skills to effectively safeguard computers and networks against a wide range of threats, including malware, viruses, protocol attacks, and more.
COLLEGE ADDS NEW ACE BRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has launched the ACE Bridge Scholarship, designed to assist former ACE dual enrollment students in achieving their goal of earning an associate degree or certificate.
The scholarship is available in three tiers. It is awarded to students based on the quantity of ACE credits they have accumulated. To be eligible, students must have completed ACE dual enrollment credits while in high school with Penn Highlands, earned a “C” or higher in all ACE dual enrollment classes, and have achieved a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA.
The student is required to enroll full-time at Penn Highlands in the fall semester immediately after graduating from high school and must select a major field of study. ACE Bridge Scholarship awards will be available starting with the 2024-2025 academic year.
CENTER FOR CULINARY EXCELLENCE UNVEILED WITH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College unveiled its Center for Culinary Excellence at a ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, March 27, in its new downtown Johnstown location.
The initial class using the Center for Culinary Excellence consists of students from the Greater Johnstown School District participating in an early college program through dual enrollment. The Center will be open to the public for those seeking an associate degree or certificate in culinary arts beginning with the Fall 2024 semester, which starts in August.
A grant from the 1889 Foundation helped with final renovations of the Center and to purchase state-of-theart culinary and educational equipment needed for the Center for Culinary Excellencewhile the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies donated $30,000 to provide scholarships for second-year students in the culinary arts program.
The Greater Johnstown School District plans to send a new class of dual enrollment students annually. Students who complete the full two-year program will receive an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts. The curriculum will consist of multiple culinary, business, and general education courses, along with an internship during the final semester.
NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CULINARY ARTS CERTIFICATES ADDED
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the addition of new Criminal Justice and Culinary Arts certificates. Both are set to start with the Fall 2024 semester.
The Culinary Arts program consists of eight classes, with seven of them taking place at the College’s new Center for Culinary Excellence in downtown Johnstown. This cutting-edge facility is furnished with high-quality equipment, offering students a valuable hands-on learning experience.
It will extend over three semesters and totals 23 credits. The in-person courses can be taken in different combinations, including four classes in the first semester, two in the second semester, and two in the third semester. Students will be prepared for entry-level and management positions within the food service industry. They will receive a general business management foundation and advanced culinary skills that can be applied to future employment.
The Criminal Justice program is designed to be completed in one year, consisting of 18 credits. Students will take three classes each semester.
Students will be prepared for an entry-level position in any of the three criminal justice components – law enforcement, courts, and corrections. It provides students with classes designed to introduce them to each component of the criminal justice system with an emphasis on how these components relate to, interact with, and complement one another while seeking public safety and equal justice for society.
A Criminal Justice certificate can also be earned by graduating from the Penn Highlands Police Academy.
PENNSYLVANIA AUDITOR
GENERAL TIMOTHY DEFOOR VISITS RICHLAND CAMPUS
Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor visited the College’s Richland Campus in April2024 to discuss his department’s expanded career pathways for graduates of accredited associate degree programs via a press conference, as well as tour our facility.
NEW ACCOUNTING COURSES
FORM CPA EXAM PREP PROGRAM
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College unveiled new Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preparatory courses designed to equip students for the CPA Examination. These courses are a crucial milestone for aspiring accountants, paving the way toward licensure and professional acclaim.
Comprising four sections (Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulation), the CPA Exam assesses a candidate’s knowledge and skills in accounting principles and practices at a level required for entry into the profession.
Penn Highlands has partnered with Becker, a renowned authority in CPA review courses, to provide our students with access to the most current, cutting-edge, and comprehensive study resources available on the market. This collaboration ensures that Penn Highlands students are exceptionally well-prepared for their CPA examinations.
These classes are credit-based, meaning that in addition to general career
advancement and CPA exam prep, students can also use these classes, along with other possible Penn Highlands classes, to count for some of the 150 credits needed for licensure.
RICHLAND CAMPUS OPENS FOOD PANTRY
FOR STUDENTS IN NEED
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College established a food pantry at its Richland Campus designed to offer students the resources they need to prepare meals at home.
The pantry, known as the Bear Necessities Food Hub, is housed in a renovated space that consists of shelving, a refrigerator, and a freezer to provide a variety of food options to Penn Highlands students. The project was funded with assistance from the Hunger-Free Campus Grant, which Penn Highlands received after being designated as a PA Governor’s Hunger-Free Campus in January.
A dedicated committee has been established to manage donations for the pantry and oversee the procurement of the initial food stock. Meanwhile, Information Technology (IT) at Penn Highlands is creating an inventory system designed to monitor both the flow of visitors and the distribution of food items within the pantry.
The committee plans to use student and staff volunteers to assist in pantry operations. The College is also working with Food for Families, a branch of the Pittsburgh Food Bank, to acquire additional inventory. The College also has the Black Bear Food Share Program, which provides students with grab-and-go meals.
COLLEGE HOSTS 17TH ONE BOOK, ONE COMMUNITY READING EVENT
More than 1,000 students and teachers from across the region attended this year’s One Book, One Community event, which took place over a span of three days in May 2024.
Students read “Benjamin Franklinstein Lives” and had the opportunity to meet one of the authors, Matthew McElligott. Attendees learned about and participated in activities related to the book.
College Partnerships
CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING CENTER
FORMED THROUGH MULTIPLE PARTNERSHIPS
Pennsylvania Highlands officials, along with representatives from the Cambria County Prison, Laurel Highlands Region Police Crisis Intervention Team, and Cambria County Coroner’s Office, signed multiple local partnerships in August, officially establishing the formation of the Criminal Justice Training Center.
The Criminal Justice Training Center serves as a hub for five different areas of the criminal justice field, including two stemming from Penn Highlands with the Police Academy and Use of Force Simulator, as well as classes and seminars for the three other groups: Cambria County Prison, Laurel Highlands Region Police Crisis Intervention Team, and Cambria County Coroner’s Office.
The Police Academy will serve as the flagship component of the Training Center after being transferred to the College in late 2021.
The Use of Force Simulator, which will be utilized by multiple groups, consists of approximately 800 real-life scenarios where officers are tested on their responses to given situations. The Cambria County Prison Basic Correctional Officers Certification will bring in recruits to attend sessions at Penn Highlands.
Both training aspects were also added within the last two years.
The Laurel Highlands Region Police Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is an innovative program of police-based crisis intervention involving community health care and advocacy partnerships based on a nationally recognized model developed by the Memphis (Tenn.) Police Department.
Under this model, police officers, first responders, probation/parole officers, and correctional officers receive extensive training provided by community mental health professionals, family and consumer advocates, and experts in related fields in responding to citizens experiencing a behavioral crisis. The emphasis is on mental health knowledge, crisis resolution skills, and access to community services.
Penn Highlands has been housing the County Coroners Training Symposium for the previous 10 years. Each May, Coroners from across Pennsylvania are trained and educated on current events and emerging trends, as they relate to situations such as the handling of subpoenas, death certificates, criminal investigations, mass fatalities, coroner inquests, partnerships with law enforcement agencies, and positive relationships with the media.
COLLABORATION WITH IUP’S EBERLY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Penn Highlands) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) Eberly College of Business have partnered to create six new articulation agreements, adding to the strong connection already established between the two institutions.
These agreements will give students who earn an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Penn Highlands the opportunity to transfer up to 75 credits toward one of six business-related bachelor’s degrees at IUP.
These majors include Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, Accounting, and a double-major with Human Resource Management and Management.
Upon transferring from Penn Highlands to IUP, students will then be able to take classes in-person, online, hybrid, or virtually.
IUP’s Eberly College of Business is AACSB accredited, which is the highest ranking a business school can hold. Only 856 business schools in the world have this prestigious ranking.
Eberly College is not new to this type of partnership, having graduated well over 1,000 students with business degrees from IUP.
PENN HIGHLANDS AND WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY PARTNER
ON ARTICULATION AGREEMENT
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College announced the signing of a new 2+2 articulation agreement with West Virginia University, allowing Penn Highlands graduates to transfer their associate degrees to a selection of 23 bachelor’s degree options and complete the final two years at West Virginia University or any of its affiliate schools.
These options include choices such as Anthropology, Animal & Nutrition Sciences, Sport & Exercise Psychology, Environmental & Energy Resources Management, Agribusiness Management, and Advertising/ Public Relations, along with a multitude of traditional majors.
West Virginia University is the first four-year school in West Virginia to sign an agreement with Penn Highlands Community College.
PENN HIGHLANDS AND CPI ESTABLISH LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College signed three articulation agreements with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology (CPI) located in Pleasant Gap, PA. This marks a significant milestone in fostering academic partnerships and expanding educational opportunities for students in the Centre County area.
In mid-November 2023, the College made official agreements that align with their future expansion plans. These agreements are aimed at opening a new location in Bellefonte, PA, and enhancing the educational experience for students in Centre County.
The associate degrees covered by the articulation agreement include Early Childhood Education (A.A.), IT Network Administration (A.A.S.), and Entrepreneurship (A.A.S.).
CPI Students will be able to transfer up to six courses for a total of 16 credits in Early Childhood Education, three courses for nine credits in Network Administration, and up to 15 credits of technical electives for Entrepreneurship. Moreover, by successfully completing the CISCO Academy Certification exam, they can obtain additional credit in Network Administration.
This represents Penn Highlands’ first-ever collaboration with a vocational school in Centre County, expanding their current affiliations with institutions in Blair and Cambria counties.
COLLEGE ADDS ARTICULATION AGREEMENT WITH POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the signing of an articulation agreement with Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.
The agreement gives Penn Highlands students 15 different options to transfer to Point Park to complete their bachelor’s degree, including Business Administration/Management, Psychology, Social Work, Marketing, and Paralegal Studies, among other majors.
Upon acceptance into Point Park, all full-time, on-campus students will be awarded a Merit Scholarship ranging from $14,000 to $20,000 per year. Students will also receive a one-time Community College Transfer Scholarship for $2,000. Also, if the student is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, they will receive an additional $1,500 per year.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH STATE COLLEGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College signed an articulation agreement with the State College Area School District, allowing State College high school students to transfer their education credits into the Pennsylvania Highlands Early Childhood Education (A.A.) program.
This marks the second agreement signed with an institution in Centre County, joining the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology (CPI). Penn Highlands is also the first college to sign a dual enrollment agreement with the State College Area School District.
A maximum of six classes or 16 credits can be transferred towards the degree. Students must complete the full Early Childhood Education program at State College High School, earning a grade of “C” or better to be eligible to transfer.
PENN HIGHLANDS INKS MEDIA PRODUCTION TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH JEFF TECH
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College signed an articulation agreement with the Jefferson County-Dubois Area Vocational-Technical School (Jeff Tech) in Reynoldsville, PA. The agreement allows Jeff Tech’s Digital Communications students to apply their completed program credits into the Media Production associate degree program at Penn Highlands.
A maximum of three classes or nine credits can be transferred through the articulation process and into the Media Production program. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher to be eligible to transfer.
Jeff Tech is a comprehensive career and technical high school offering training in 14 specific areas. Jeff Tech provides high school academics alongside Career & Technical Education (CTE) and Cooperative Education programs.
Athletic Achievements
CROSS COUNTRY TURNS IN SUCCESSFUL 2023 SEASON
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Cross Country Team earned multiple accolades and awards during a strong campaign this year.
On October 28, sophomore Chase Brenneman won the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Individual Championship and Black Bears coach Adrianne Kuhar was named the conference’s Coach of the Year at the WPCC/Region 20 Cross Country Meet at Westmoreland County Community College.
Brenneman (Somerset, PA) finished eighth overall out of 41 runners to claim the conference crown. He was the first competitor from a Division III school to cross the finish line, posting a time of 30:08.7.
Fellow Penn Highlands runner
Christian Haberkorn placed 61st with a time of 31:06.90, while Connor Haberkorn came in 106th at 36:28.40. Christian Haberkorn (Johnstown, PA) now holds the sixth-best time at the NJCAA meet in school history.
Afterwards, Kuhar (Mundy’s Corner, PA) was awarded WPCC Coach of the Year in her first season at the helm.
Just two weeks later at the NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on November 11 in Huntsville, Alabama, all three runners set personal record race times. Brenneman led the way, placing 23rd out of 126 total runners in the 8K race (4.97 miles).
Brenneman posted a time of 28:24.50, breaking the school record previously held by Andrew Straka (28:41.01) for the lowest time at the NJCAA meet. Brenneman also recorded the highest individual finish for a Penn Highlands athlete at a national event.
CHASE BRENNEMAN SIGNS TO RUN CROSS COUNTRY AT SFU
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College sophomore Chase Brenneman signed a letter of intent to join the Cross Country team at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA.
Brenneman (Somerset, PA) became the first athlete in Penn Highlands history to sign with a Division I program.
THREE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS EARN ALL-REGION HONORS
Taylor Rapsky, Leonela Nichols, and Olivia Weyandt of the Pennsylvania Highlands Women’s Volleyball Team were each given Division III All-Region 20 honors on Tuesday afternoon.
Rapsky, a sophomore from Central City, PA, was named to the First Team, while Nichols (Hollsopple, PA) and Weyandt (Jerome, PA) were given Honorable Mention.
The All-Region award adds to the multiple accolades that Rapsky and Nichols had already earlier in the season, as both were named to the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) All-Conference Team and the Region 20 Division III All-Tournament Team.
Rapsky was among the statistical leaders in Region 20 for most categories, compiling 138 kills (4th), 155 digs (7th), and 35 blocks (3rd). She was ranked first in the region in kills per set (3.14) and points per set (4.3) and was second with a .279 hitting percentage. Rapsky’s hitting percentage also ranked 26th in the nation for Division III.
Weyandt, a fellow sophomore, tallied 150 assists and 73 digs. She was second in Region 20 in assists and assists per set (3.41). Nichols, a freshman, finished with 144 digs and ranked second in digs per set (4.24).
TEN ATHLETES EARN WPCC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM HONORS
Ten Pennsylvania Highlands Community College athletes were awarded Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) All-Academic Team honors for the Fall 2023 semester.
Student-athletes given High Honors status finished with a grade point average (GPA) between 3.5 and 4.0. Honors status was a 3.0 to 3.499 GPA.
The honorees include:
Cross Country
• Chase Brenneman (Somerset, PA) –High Honors
• Christian Haberkorn (Johnstown, PA) –High Honors
• Tim Roddy (Windber, PA) – High Honors
• Connor Haberkorn (Johnstown, PA) – Honors
Men’s Basketball
• Christian Harding (Washington, D.C.) –High Honors
• Jeremie Washington (Bushkill, PA) –High Honors
• Austin Svencer (Johnstown, PA) – Honors
• Joziah Wyatt-Taylor (Johnstown, PA) – Honors
Women’s Volleyball
• Autumn Montgomery (Homer City, PA) –High Honors
Golf
• Will Latuch (Somerset, PA) – Honors
BRADY HUSS RECORDS
HISTORIC SEASON FOR BLACK BEARS BOWLING
Penn Highlands freshman Brady Huss completed an accolade-filled season as a member of the Black Bears bowling team in 2023-24.
Huss claimed the All-Events Championship and finished runner-up in the male singles division at the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Bowling Tournament held at Coral Lanes in West Mifflin, PA.
He became the second male Penn Highlands bowler to win the All-Events Championship. He is also the highest male finisher in the singles division since Ben Mostoller took first place in the 2016 season.
Huss followed this by capturing the Regional Singles Championship with a 771 series, the highest in Penn Highlands history, and the All-Events Championship after totaling a score of 1,986, an average of 220 per game.
Finally, he capped off the season by finishing in the middle of the standings at the NJCAA Bowling Championships in Lansing, Michigan.
Huss’ performances earned him interviews on WJAC-TV and FOX 8 TV’s The Zone.
TWO BASKETBALL ATHLETES
RECEIVE ALL-REGION HONORS
The National Junior College Athletic Association announced that Pennsylvania Highlands Community College sophomores Joziah WyattTaylor and Jamar Wilson were awarded Men’s Basketball Division III All-Region 20 honors for the 2023-24 season.
Wyatt-Taylor (Johnstown, PA) was named to the First Team for his second All-Region selection after earning Honorable Mention in 202223. Wilson (Baltimore, MD) was given Honorable Mention.
Wyatt-Taylor led the Black Bears with 21.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He ranked second in Region 20 in points per game, total points (582), field goals made (222) and blocks (20). Wilson tallied 15 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest. He was second in Region 20 in assists (121), fourth in steals (52), and fifth in rebounds per game.
JOZIAH WYATT-TAYLOR NAMED NJCAA DIVISION III
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pennsylvania Highlands sophomore Joziah Wyatt-Taylor was named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of January 17-23, 2024.
A native of Johnstown, Wyatt-Taylor averaged 33 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 57.7 percent from the floor in the two contests over the week for the Black Bears, which included a 98-65 victory over Westmoreland County Community College.
He also set a new school record for points in a game after tallying 46 against Westmoreland, breaking the previous mark of 45 set by Cliff Eddins in December 2016.
MATTHEW STUMPF
Though he is in just his second year as a full-time English Instructor at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Matthew Stumpf has already made a significant impact on his students while helping them gain expression both inside and outside of the classroom.
Stumpf, a Punxsutawney native and a resident of Indiana, has used his love of poetry to develop multiple writing-based incentives that started solely in his home area but have now spread to Johnstown and the Penn Highlands population.
He is the co-organizer and host of “Poeming through the Dark”, an open-mic poetry night held once a month at local outlets. The idea started at a single coffee shop in Indiana before expanding to be held in different venues across the region, including The Indiana Theater and the Write Cup Coffee Shop near Johnstown’s Central Park.
Stumpf also serves as an editor for Red Flag Poetry, a publication that delivers a postcard once a month to subscribers’ mailboxes containing poetry with a related artwork.
The publication also has a bi-monthly digital arm called the Poetry Express, aimed at promoting longer samples of work, as well as a press releasing full-length books of poetry two-to-three times per year which Stumpf helps edit, layout, and distribute through orders on the Red Flag Poetry website.
At Penn Highlands, Stumpf has taught six different English-based courses, with two more in American Literature coming in 2024, while also working with the ACE Program, which he supervises high school instructors, and serving on the Middle States Steering Committee to help the College with accreditation.
He is also collaborating with Penn Highlands students to develop the Tea Club, where members will read literature from the diverse cultures of tea they drink and converse with friends. Also, Stumpf said he feels he can relate well to his students due to him being a first-generation college student like many of the Penn Highlands community.
In The Community
CARING FOR CUBS SELLS SUICIDE PREVENTION BRACELETS
In an effort to raise awareness for suicide prevention, the Caring for Cubs Education Club created and sold suicide awareness bracelets at our Ebensburg Center twice per week for the month of September.
PLANTING MUMS
In September, Students, Faculty, and Administration came together with local community members to volunteer and plant mums around downtown in collaboration with the Downtown Johnstown Partnership.
HELPING GIVE BACK
Our Caring for Cubs Education Club volunteered their time by packing and handing out boxes and bags of food for the Military Food Share Program at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown in October.
COMMUNITY TRICK OR TREAT
EVENTS
Our Richland Campus hosts an annual Community Trick or Treat event every October. Faculty and staff greet hundreds of young dinosaurs, superheroes, monsters, princesses, and more as they fill our hallways, enjoying trick-or-treating, crafts, and a family-friendly haunted hallway experience.
To also celebrate Halloween, our Caring for Cubs Education Club buzzed their way to the Trunk or Treat event at Central Park in Downtown Johnstown, led by their beekeeper, Early Childhood Education assistant professor Morgan Dugan.
HELPING SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER
In December, our Early Childhood Education students volunteered at Jackson Elementary School and Richland Elementary School to assist young students in selecting thoughtful gifts for their families at their Santa Shop.
Students and staff from our Somerset Center also embraced the holiday spirit by volunteering to ring bells for the Salvation Army.
READ ACROSS AMERICA
In celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and Read Across America Week, our Early Childhood Education students visited kindergarten classrooms throughout our region. They applied practical skills by reading as well as conducting literacy activities with the children.
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE HOLDS INTERFAITH ROUNDTABLE
Our Diversity Committee held an Interfaith Roundtable on April 17. The highlighted speakers discussed a variety of world religions, examining the essence of faith practices and identifying commonalities in worship. The roundtable included:
• V. Rev. Elijah Bremer
• Catherine S. Cox
• Samaah Izmirli-Sbeitan
• Brandon C. King
• The Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D.
GREATER JOHNSTOWN YMCA DAY CAMP VISITS PENN HIGHLANDS
Local Kindergarten through 6th grade students attended a YMCA Day Camp event on June 13 at our Richland Campus. They participated in fun activities involving both computers and geology.
The Greater Johnstown YMCA group, which takes weekly field trips throughout the summer, made Penn Highlands its first stop in 2024.Education students visited kindergarten classrooms throughout our region. They applied practical skills by reading as well as conducting literacy activities with the children.
COLLEGE HOSTS JOHNSTOWN HOUSING
AUTHORITY GRADUATION CEREMONY
The Johnstown Housing Authority Employment & Training Program celebrated its 2024 Graduation Ceremony on June 20, 2024, at our Richland Campus Auditorium.
Partnerships with JARI, PA CareerLink, and the Johnstown Housing Authority enabled us to offer instructor-led training. The program equips individuals with skills for long-term employment.
Awards and Honors
FACULTY ADVANCEMENT
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College promoted two faculty members and granted tenure to one faculty member who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, professional development, and service to the college and the community.
Their work with students is exemplary and serves as an inspiration to students and colleagues alike. The new status of each faculty member became effective in August 2023.
Eligible faculty members undergo a rigorous application and review process that assesses their effectiveness in full-time teaching/advising and service to Penn Highlands, the community, and professional development.
Faculty earning advancement in rank:
• Wayde Simington from Instructor to Assistant Professor, Mathematics.
• Dr. Matthew Sisak from Associate Professor to Professor, Biological Sciences.
Faculty earning tenure:
• Morgan Dugan, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education.
CORY FAIRMAN HONORED BY JOHNSTOWN MAGAZINE
Cory Fairman, the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Assistant Director of Security and Safety, was featured in Johnstown Magazine’s “35 under 35” campaign in their August 2023 Edition.
The campaign honored 35 local citizens under the age of 35 who make an impact on the community. Honorees were nominated for the campaign.
SUE BRUGH RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Sue Brugh, the Pennsylvania Highlands Director of Student Activities and Athletics, was recognized in a Chapter Spotlight by the National Society of Leadership and Success for her work with the Cambria County Backpack Project.
Sue Brugh has been with the College since 2008. She has been integral in student activities, clubs, and athletics during her tenure.
STUDENTS EXCEL IN GROWING HONORS PROGRAM
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Honors Program graduated its second class of members during the College’s Commencement ceremony in May 2023, and now Penn Highlands and the program’s advisors hope to continue the positive trend as it finishes year three.
The Honors Program’s Class of 2023 included four members, all of whom were the first to complete the full curriculum, which included presenting a Capstone Project to multiple members of the College’s Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors, and the College’s Cabinet.
Brianna Pavkovich (Rockwood, PA) credited much of her success to her completion of the College’s Honors Program. In April 2023, she presented her capstone on the use of medicinal herbs. Subsequently in May, she graduated with an associate degree and then worked as a mechanic for airplanes housed at Pittsburgh International Airport.
Pavkovich’s educational foundation helped her secure a position with Saint Francis University, where she will now create and direct a curriculum for the Aviation Maintenance Technician Program.
To become a member of the Honors Program, students must complete an application process, reach the requirements of a 3.5 GPA, be a full-time
student within a college program, and complete 10 service hours per semester.
Upon acceptance, a student will have to add four more credits (two classes) to their schedule and academically enhance three courses already on their schedule.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TEAM EARNS FIVE AWARDS
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Marketing & Communications Team was presented with five Medallion Awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) at the group’s annual District 1 Conference on November 3 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The team took home awards in four distinct categories, including Website (Gold Medallion), Video Shorts (Single, Silver and Bronze Medallions), Video Shorts (Series, Silver Medallion), and Logo Wear (Silver Medallion).
Since 2015, the Marketing & Communications team at Penn Highlands has won a total of 36 NCMPR Medallion and Paragon Awards, which recognizes excellence in marketing, design, and public relations at two-year schools.
Being a part of the NCMPR’s District 1, Penn Highlands was chosen out of schools from 12 states along the East Coast, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and the United Kingdom.
COLLEGE AWARDED $20,000 HUNGER-FREE CAMPUS GRANT
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College received a $20,000 grant for its designation as a 2023-2024 PA Governor’s Hunger-Free Campus.
The College was honored with the grant for the first time following its recognition as a Hunger-Free Campus for two consecutive years. Penn Highlands is one of 30 institutions to receive $1 million in funds distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
The grant will be used to fund the establishment of a food pantry at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Richland Campus, providing students with grab-and-go meals and supplies to prepare meals at their homes. Necessary equipment for the pantry, including refrigerators, freezers, and shelving, as well as site renovation and an inventory system, will also be purchased.
JABER AND BENDER NAMED PASSHE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Ean Jaber and Madison Bender were chosen as this year’s PASSHE Scholarship recipients. This partnership between PA community colleges and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities provides two years of tuition at any PASSHE school to eligible All-Pennsylvania Transfer Team members.
PENN HIGHLANDS AWARDED 2024-25 GOLD MILITARY FRIENDLY®
DESIGNATION
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce that it has earned the 2024-2025 Gold Military Friendly® School designation.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® Schools Awards designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2024-2025 survey, with 537 schools earning awards level designations in Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Penn Highlands was one of 243 schools selected for “Gold” award status for their leading practices, outcomes, and effective programs. The 2024-2025 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in G.I. Jobs magazine’s May issue and found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer), and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.
SIX STUDENTS NAMED TO 2024 ALL-PA ACADEMIC TEAM
The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges recently honored the 30th annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, consisting of select students representing 15 community colleges from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
This honor recognizes high-achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. The students are selected for the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team based on a nomination and application process.
The 2024 scholars include Transfer Pathway students and Workforce Pathway students, with six of those honored hailing from Pennsylvania Highlands. The following students were selected and are members of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Transfer Pathway Team:
• Madison Bender (Ashville, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Seth Dillon (Coalport, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Kelly Hearn (Rockwood, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Marcayes Hutchins (Johnstown, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Ean Jaber (Johnstown, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Tessa Snavely (East Freedom, PA) – Transfer Scholar
Transfer Pathway honorees plan to transfer to a four-year college after graduation. They must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to provide scholarships to Transfer Pathway students, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school.
SETH DILLON NAMED DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE
Seth Dillon (Coalport, PA) was honored with this year’s Distinguished Graduate Award. Dillon graduated with a degree in Business Administration and plans to transfer and continue his education. Seth was a member of Sigma Alpha Pi, Phi Theta Kappa, completed the Honors Program, and was a member of the All-PA Academic Team.
The Distinguished Graduate honor is given to a student that has contributed their time and efforts to the College and their community while maintaining a high level of academic performance.
COLLEGE HONORS 29TH GRADUATING CLASS AT COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Pennsylvania Highlands celebrated its graduating Class of 2024 during a Commencement ceremony held on Friday, May 10. More than 300 graduates were honored at the ceremony, which was also streamed live on YouTube and the college’s website.
Faculty Spotlight
MORGAN DUGAN
Morgan Dugan, an Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, started the Caring for Cubs Education Club in 2018 with the hopes of showing how much helping those in need and volunteering can impact others.
Though it did not dive into volunteer work right from the start, Dugan has developed the Club into one of the biggest outside interest groups at the College, while gaining major support from her Early Childhood Education students, faculty, administration, and the public.
The Club is active for the entire College’s academic year – August to May. Students enrolled in either an Early Childhood Education or Education major are automatically added as members of the Club but are free to help as much or as little as they want.
While teaching at both the Richland Campus and Ebensburg Center, Dugan has gained interest from students at both locations. Club members have even made and sold bracelets to raise money for Suicide Prevention at the Ebensburg Center.
There are currently 77 active students in the Club. Members of the Club are involved in many events throughout the year, ranging from literacy events to food drives to helping plant flowers in Downtown Johnstown.
These activities also assist the students when completing their degree, as they must have accumulated 50 volunteer hours while working with children before transferring to a four-year school.
Dugan uses a bulletin board near her offices at the Richland Campus and Ebensburg Center, and posts online, to communicate volunteer opportunities for her students, with the events list spanning a month. She also posts job opportunities for students to obtain while earning their associate degree.
COLLEGE FOUNDATION DONATES MORE THAN $70,000 TO SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation presented Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, and members of his Cabinet with more than $70,000.
The $78,000 in donations will help fund the Supporting Scholars program, which grants more than 32 academic scholarships annually.
These funds will be spread amongst three scholarships awarded to more than 16 high school seniors. The awards include the Destination Graduation Scholarship ($1,000 per semester to a minimum of one student annually), the Emerging Leader Scholarship ($1,000 per semester to 13 students annually), and the Presidential Scholarship ($3,000 per semester to two students annually).
This marked the first occasion that the College Foundation fundraised money to be used in the College’s scholarship funds. Before them, Pennsylvania Highlands
had provided students with these scholarships out of its annual operating expense budget.
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation also manages funds for 21 other scholarships totaling over $30,000 annually to students. These scholarships are funded by local businesses, area philanthropists, Pennsylvania Highlands staff and faculty, and Foundation fundraisers.
CAROLE VANMETER HIRED AS NEW FOUNDATION DIRECTOR
Carole VanMeter was hired as the new Director of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation in August.
VanMeter brings more than 15 years of public relations field experience in the Johnstown area to the table. Already having relationships with local businesses, she aims to continue and utilize them while working with the Pennsylvania Highlands Foundation.
She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Public Relations from Frostburg State University in Maryland.
As Director of the College Foundation, VanMeter aims to build stronger relationships within our region and looks to continue the growth of business partnerships locally and in the surrounding areas that Penn Highlands Community College serves.
RETURN OF CHEF AUCTION ACHIEVES GREAT SUCCESS
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, in partnership with the 1889 Foundation, held a successful Chef Auction at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center, raising over $53,000 for local students seeking a college education.
All of the money that was either brought in or donated will go towards the Supporting Scholars Fund at the College, as well as future scholarships in culinary arts at Penn Highlands. The Supporting Scholars Fund includes three distinct scholarships with multiple awardees each year: the Destination Graduation, Emerging Leader, and Presidential Scholarships.
The fundraising amount also marked the highest number ever recorded at a Penn Highlands Community College Foundation event.
The event consisted of 17 silent auction items and 11 live auction items to bid on. Eight restaurants participated in providing dinner for more than 160 attendees, with some also supplying packages for the live auction. The 50/50 drawing winner donated their prize back to the Foundation.
Overall, more than $28,000 was raised, which was matched by a $25,000 donation by the 1889 Foundation to achieve the grand total.
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and Worklink Staffing served as Master Chef sponsors for the event, alongside seven Executive Chef sponsors and 16 Sous Chef sponsors.
FOUNDATION’S EITC FUND RECEIVES MULTIPLE DONATIONS
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation received donations from Somerset Trust Company ($10,000 and $20,000), First National Bank ($4,500), and 1st Summit Bank ($2,500) to be put towards the College’s EITC Program.
The donations will enable the banks, as well as other institutions, to support educational causes offered by the College. With Penn Highlands also applying for and maintaining its EITC status, the donation will help allow the College to offer classes at a reduced price for its Accelerated College Education (ACE) Program/ dual enrollment students.
EITC assists high school students in taking college-level courses, while earning credits and seeing what Penn Highlands can offer in their respective futures. The EITC Program’s funds allowed the College to award more than 7,000 credits at discounted rates to over 2,000 participating students in the past year alone.
COLLEGE FOUNDATION DONATION ASSISTS WITH NEW ATHLETIC UNIFORM PURCHASE
Black Bear Athletics at Pennsylvania Highlands received a donation of $3,500 from the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, helping fund the purchase of new uniforms for their respective volleyball and basketball seasons.
Both athletic programs added a set of home and away jerseys. The volleyball team will wear either black or green jerseys for home and away games. The basketball team will sport a white jersey at home and black for on the road.
The College Foundation also donated dress uniforms to the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy’s Inaugural Class of cadets in Fall 2022.
FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES CREATION OF THE BASIC HYGIENE PROJECT
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation developed The Basic Hygiene Project, an initiative that will supply Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students with full-size hygiene products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and other items.
Former students Renu Williams and Laura McNutt conceptualized the idea. They delivered a compelling presentation to administrators, advocating for the importance of hygiene products and highlighting their potential impact on students at the institution.
The Basic Hygiene Project will be housed in the KEYS Office, alongside the Black Bear Food Share Program, and in the Student Activities Office at the College’s Richland Campus. All locations will also have a cart with hygiene items for students to take as needed.
FOUNDATION HOSTS 12TH ANNUAL PUTTAPALOOZA EVENT
Our college Foundation extended its tradition by once again hosting the region’s most unique miniature golf event for the 12th time. Puttapalooza was held at our Richland Campus on April 9, with Somerset Trust Company serving as the Headline Sponsor.
The indoor event, which consisted of an 18-hole course, food, drinks, team prizes, and a raffle auction, raised more than $8,000 for the College’s Supporting Scholars Fund.
FOUNDATION
INTRODUCES
NEW IGNITE THE FIRE CULINARY SCHOLARSHIP
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is delighted to introduce a new scholarship opportunity for our community: the Ignite the Fire Culinary Scholarship. This initiative supports students pursuing studies in the College’s Culinary Arts program.
This is funded through the support of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the 1889 Foundation, and other generous community donors.
To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must be high school graduates with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Applicants must enroll as a full-time Culinary Arts student at Penn Highlands and have accepted any aid eligible to help pay for a college education.
Culinary students not meeting eligibility criteria due to a lower credit load (less than 12 enrolled credits) or high school GPA can directly appeal to the College Foundation for exceptions.
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation awards scholarships based on the availability of annual funds, at their discretion. Each student’s financial aid amount is decided after carefully reviewing their application, ensuring assistance is tailored to individual needs.
The Ignite the Fire Culinary Scholarship accompanies the launch of the College’s Center for Culinary Excellence, which officially opened its doors in March of 2024 in downtown Johnstown.
TO OUR LOCAL LEADERS
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College would like to express its gratitude to the Cambria County Commissioners for sponsoring the College. Your support allows us to provide Cambria County residents with a 25% reduction in tuition and fees.
We would also like to thank all other local legislators for their unwavering support of our esteemed institution. Your commitment to education and continuous efforts to uplift Penn Highlands have not gone unnoticed. Your dedicated advocacy and generous allocation of resources have allowed us to expand educational opportunities, enhance our programs, and provide invaluable resources to our students. Your support has not only benefited the current student body, but will also have a lasting impact on the future of our region. By investing in education, you are paving the way for growth, development, and a brighter future for all.
Penn Highlands recognizes the tireless work you do to ensure that education remains a priority, and your dedication to fostering an environment of learning is admirable. Your belief in the transformative power of education serves as an inspiration.
COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
President’s Cabinet
Gary Boast, Associate Vice President of Technology & Analytics
Trish Corle, Vice President of Student Services
Dr. Cynthia Doherty, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Susan Fisher, Associate Vice President of Administration
Omar Strohm, Associate Vice President of Finance
Dr. Barbara Zaborowski, Dean of Library Services & Special
Board of Trustees
Gregory Winger (Chairperson)
Dr. Janet Grady (Vice Chairperson)
Carl D. DeYulis (Secretary / Treasurer)
James Foreman (Public Relations Officer)
Linda Thomson (At-Large Officer)
Jennifer Anderson
John Augustine
Rev. Reginald Floyd
Jacqueline Kulback
Lladel Lichty
Jennifer Mitchell
Mike Puruczky
Brett Smith
Dr. Leah Spangler
Ralph Stewart
Carissa Itle Westrick
Hannah Dadura (Student Trustee)
Foundation Board of Directors
Jeffrey Wood (President)
David Mordan (Vice President)
Roberta Ream (Treasurer)
Nancy D’Aniello (Secretary)
Traci Naugle (At-Large Officer)
Mike Artim
John Kubinsky
Tim Leventry
Mike Lynch
John Polacek
Ed Porada
Doug Puchko
We understand that choosing a college is not an easy task. You have dreams. You have goals. We have options.
What is discover you? It’s more than a tag line. We want you to discover your dreams. Discover your future. Discover your career. Penn Highlands is prepared to equip you along this journey of discovery.
START YOUR JOURNEY.
Applying is easy. From start to finish, you can start your journey in about 15 minutes. No essays. No SAT/ACT. No application fees. No problem!
We have locations throughout the Laurel Highlands and Southern Alleghenies regions. With online classes and multiple convenient locations, there is a flexible option for you. Start your journey today and #DiscoverYou.
Penn Highlands covers a vast region with various locations. Visit pennhighlands.edu/locations for current hours and directions.
