Newsroom

Board of Trustees Announce Search For Fifth President

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has begun the search for the next President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College following Dr. Walter Asonevich’s announcement of his intent to retire in July 2020.

President Dr. Walter J. Asonevich’s service to Pennsylvania Highlands has been exemplary and the Board has extended its appreciation for his leadership. Pennsylvania Highlands will be celebrating his service as his retirement date nears.

The appointment of Pennsylvania Highlands’ next president will shape the college’s future for years to come and the Board of Trustees is fully committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search.

The Board of Trustees has selected the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to assist Pennsylvania Highlands with the search process. ACCT’s assistance will include recruiting highly-competitive candidates, working with the Search Committee, and supporting the Board of Trustees. ACCT has conducted over 500 community college searches, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the process. ACCT’s mission is to strengthen community college governance through education and advocacy. Dr. Bradley Ebersole will serve as the ACCT Search Consultant.

Public Forums

An important step in the presidential search process is the development of a Presidential Profile. On Wednesday, April 24, our Richland Campus will host four public forums. The Richland Campus can be found at 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA 15904.

The purpose of these sessions is to listen to your input, which will assist with the development of the Presidential Profile. The entire college community is invited and encouraged to participate in a wide-ranging discussion about the qualities, characteristics, and qualifications we are seeking in the next President, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing Pennsylvania Highlands in the years to come. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presidential search process.

We want to invite and encourage everyone to attend one of the important one-hour open forums on Wednesday, April 24, 2019:

• 9:00 – 10:00am (Board Room, B135, Richland Campus)
• 12:15 – 1:15pm (Board Room, B135, Richland Campus)
• 2:00 – 3:00pm (Board Room, B135, Richland Campus)
• 6:00 – 7:00pm (Workforce Education Center, LGI, Richland Campus)

Search Process Details

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will maintain a Presidential Search webpage, where you can find the Presidential Profile and all pertinent information regarding the search process (as it is all developed and finalized). All information will be up in the coming weeks, and it will include all aspects of the search for both the college community and the candidates. Progress reports and pertinent information will be posted on a regular basis to the webpage.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College looks forward to an extensive and inclusive search that will find an outstanding leader for not only the college, but the region.

Network With Employers At Annual Job & Internship Fair

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Annual Job and Internship Fair will be held on Wednesday, April 3rd, from 11am to 2pm. This job and internship fair will take place in the East Hills Recreation Gym, which is connected to the college’s Richland Campus at 101 Community College Way.

This event is open to all Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students and alumni, plus any member of the community who holds or is pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. Individuals looking for jobs will have the opportunity to network with a variety of local and regional employers from a variety of industries.

For additional information, please contact the Career Services Center at 814.262.3850 or CareerServices@pennhighlands.edu.

Foundation Awards Over $21,000 In Scholarships

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation distributed over $21,000 in scholarships during the 2018-2019 academic year to help aid students in our region. The money was spread across 19 scholarships, all maintained and managed by the Penn Highlands Foundation.

The College’s Foundation Scholarship Application is now open for the 2019-2020 academic year.  It closes on Tuesday, May 15th. To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must be accepted to Penn Highlands, have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and have registered for the Fall 2019 semester.

The following is a list of students who received scholarships in 2018-2019.

• American Association of University Women (AAUW), Johnstown Branch Scholarship
  • Angela Santacroce (Conemaugh, PA)

• Dr. Walter and Kim Asonevich Scholarship
  • Jamey Sleesman (Altoona, PA)

• College Employee Supported Scholarship
  • Samantha Burket (Martinsburg, PA)
  • Tyler Landis (Berlin, PA)

• Griffith Family Scholarship
  • Trevor Dixon (Huntingdon, PA)

• Dr. Edward Haluska Scholarship
  • Victoria Smothers (Johnstown, PA)
  • Nicole Wright (Summerhill, PA)

• Daniel and Diane Holtzman Scholarship
  • Monica Breth (Colver, PA)

• Kathy Holtzman Memorial Scholarship
  • • Derek Kisic (Nanty-Glo, PA)

• Huntingdon Hope Scholarship
  • Amanda Hartman (Huntingdon, PA)

• Amanda Jenkins State Farm Scholarship
  • Hanna Booher (Saltillo, PA)

• Johnstown Regional Indian Subcontinent Association (JRISA) Scholarship
  • Morghan Krug (Loretto, PA)

• Joseph and Joan Mangarella Scholarship
  • Marcayes Hutchins (Johnstown, PA)

• Dale W. Miller Scholarship
  • Amanda Hartman (Huntingdon, PA)

• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Scholarship
  • Jeanne’ Heinrich (Saint Michael, PA)
  • Lindsay Norman (Salix, PA)

• Ursula Pawlowski Memorial Scholarship
  • Nevin McIntosh-Higgins (Twin Rocks, PA)

• Roth Family Scholarship
  • John Battisti (Altoona, PA)
  • Shavet Lamont (Altoona, PA)
  • Kaitlin McKee (Duncansville, PA)
  • Taylor Rickabaugh (Altoona, PA)
  • Lyndzi Vaughn (Duncansville, PA)

• Supporting Success Scholarship
  • Madison Crum (Windber, PA)
  • Cheyenne Hayes (St. Benedict, PA)
  • Jaydrik Hinton (Johnstown, PA)
  • Andrew Mattis (Windber, PA)

• Valenty Scholarship
  • Faith Sodmont (Ebensburg, PA)

• Anna D. Weitz Scholarship
  • Nicole Wright (Summerhill, PA)

• Stan and Helen Westbrook Scholarship
  • Kimberlyn Lape (Mount Union, PA)

Free Public Event Designed To Help People With Finances

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be hosting Financial Fitness, a financial literacy fair free to the public, on Wednesday, March 27th. The event will take place from 10am to 1:30pm at the college’s Richland Campus, located at 101 Community College Way in Johnstown.

Financial Fitness will bring seven financial institutions to our Richland Campus to discuss their services and products, and ways they can help individuals find financial stability and success. Those attending include 1ST SUMMIT BANK, AmeriServ Financial, First Commonwealth Bank, First National Bank, Somerset Trust Company, G.A.P. Federal Credit Union, and Intuit.

In addition, there will be presentations offered by some of the financial institutions for educational purposes. These presentations include:

• Do you know your credit score?
  10-10:20am (AmeriServ Financial)

• Where does all my money go? 
  10:30-10:50am (G.A.P. Federal Credit Union)

• How to be a smart borrower. 
  11-11:20am (1ST SUMMIT BANK)

• How to retire early.
  12:30-12:50pm (First National Bank)

• Do you know about the Mint® app? 
  1-1:20pm (Intuit)

Financial Fitness is a free event open to the public. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College encourages anyone who may have financial questions to attend and receive valuable information.

Oliver Lindrose & Tiffaney Smith Named Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholars

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College would like to congratulate Oliver Lindrose, of Johnstown, and Tiffaney Smith, of Vintondale, for being named 2019 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholars. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

Oliver Lindrose will be graduating this May with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Around campus, he is active as Vice President of Student Senate, President of the Psychology and X-Files clubs, and Vice President of the Gender Sexuality Alliance. He also serves as a tutor. After graduation, Mr. Lindrose plans to continue his education at California University of Pennsylvania

Tiffaney Smith will be graduating this May with an Associate of Science in Business Administration. Around campus, she is active as Secretary of Phi Theta Kappa, and she participated in women’s basketball. She is also a member of the Ebensburg Activities Club and owns her own spray tanning company. After graduation, Ms. Smith plans to continue her education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Oliver Lindrose, Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar

Tiffaney Smith, Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa and make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”

Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

“Oliver Lindrose and Tiffaney Smith are outstanding students and leaders,” said Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. “Both serve as role models, and are well deserving of being named Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholars. The college community is proud to have them represent us.”

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, April 4-6 in Orlando, Florida.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of community college students and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society consists of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations. Learn more at www.ptk.org.