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Culinary Arts Continues To Expand; Shows Growth & Adds Equipment

The Culinary Arts program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is showcasing significant growth and success at its Center for Culinary Excellence in downtown Johnstown. This expansion underscores the program’s dedication to cultivating a highly skilled workforce to support the region’s hospitality and food service industries.

Recent improvements include the addition of cutting-edge kitchen facilities, a revamped curriculum centered on contemporary culinary trends, and a surge in enrollment driven by growing demand for the program. Students benefit from immersive, hands-on training and develop essential skills that equip them for thriving, dynamic careers in the culinary industry.

“We’re definitely improving in our growth,” Culinary Arts Program Director John Dusack stated. “With our students and equipment, we are becoming more established as a culinary program. That was the main goal.”

The program has seen remarkable growth, more than tripling its student enrollment since its launch in 2024.

Facility Enhancements

The Culinary Arts program has significantly expanded its resources to provide students with real-world experience in a professional setting. New additions include 12 commercial mixers, six induction burners, an industrial meat slicer, and a bread proofing cabinet, which complement the Culinary Center’s existing tools, such as a commercial deep fryer, gas grill, meat smoker, combination oven, and more.

A Look Ahead, New Courses

Looking ahead, the program is set to introduce a Nutrition class in Spring 2026, designed to focus on crafting recipes tailored for skilled clients in nursing homes or hospitals. Plans are also underway to add a wine and beverage course, which will teach students how to pair drinks with meals effectively and how to incorporate them into recipes.

“One great thing about our program is that you are learning hands-on how to make everything in the curriculum,” Dusack stated. “You start from the very basics of cooking and move up to advanced techniques, while working with different aspects of food such as gluten, proteins, and carbohydrates. We really aim to make our students capable of being well-rounded chefs.”

Gain Experience, Career Opportunities

Students are given valuable opportunities to showcase their skills, including preparing meals for external critique at special events held once per semester and attending the Penn Highlands Foundation’s annual Chef Auction. These events allow students to network with industry professionals, gain field insights, and even secure potential job opportunities.

Culinary Arts students have already made an impact, landing positions at esteemed establishments such as Seven Springs, Windber Country Club, Asiago’s, and more.

Join the Culinary Movement

With its growing reputation and robust resources, Penn Highlands’ Culinary Arts at Penn Highlands is paving the way for aspiring chefs to launch successful careers in the culinary field. For more information about the program, please click here.

6 Students Named To the 31st All-PA Academic Team

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges recently honored the 31st 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 2025 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:

• Olivia Cavallo (Northern Cambria, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Hannah Detterline (Petersburg, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Adelyn Dull (Hollsopple, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Sarah DeBose (Johnstown, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Kyle Feliciano (Johnstown, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Lanette Rayman (Cairnbrook, 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.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College congratulates these six students on their selection to the 2025 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

Student Engagement Awards 2025 Set For April 24

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will host its annual Student Engagement Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 24, at 6 PM inside the Richland Campus Auditorium.

Awards will be presented to students who have achieved the highest academic level in their respective programs, as well as those who will be inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Theta Kappa.

Club and athletic awards will also be given to those students involved in their respective clubs and sports. The club awards are based on both leadership and service.

“We are proud to celebrate our students who shine both inside and outside the classroom,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “Many of our students are achieving remarkable success in their academic programs, clubs, organizations, and athletics. We aim to honor these exceptional students and ensure their hard work is acknowledged.”

Nominations for the Distinguished Graduate Award will also be presented during the ceremony. The Distinguished Graduate accolade recognizes a student who has dedicated their time and efforts to enriching Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the surrounding community, while upholding an exemplary academic record.

The Distinguished Graduate Award will be presented at this year’s Commencement on May 16.

For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, a live stream of the event will be available on the College’s YouTube channel.

Click here for the Student Engagement Awards webpage.

Innovative Avatar program Enhances Education for Social Work Students

Students in the Social Work Associate of Arts (A.A.) Program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are utilizing a unique avatar system to aid with degree progress and real-world skills.

The avatar, known as Mika, gives students the ability to practice interview skills and fill out proper forms while they complete application assignments in courses within the Social Work program.

Mika is built with the background of a person struggling with both in school and out of school issues, as it responds to open-ended questions with a recorded voice and gives students feedback while progressing through interviews.

“The avatar is a great way to enhance interviewing skills through application,” stated Yvette Madison, Professor of Social Work. “It gives students additional resources to help them gain experience as they progress through the program. They have been very receptive to the avatar and have given a lot of positive feedback.”

The avatar was developed alongside Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) and was highlighted in a CTC display at the local Showcase of Commerce in 2022.

As Penn Highlands collaborates with its own Computer Information Technology students, the College is also exploring ways to enrich the storyline centered around the avatar, Mika. This includes the potential addition of a secondary storyline or the introduction of another avatar to complement Mika’s journey.

Learn more about the College’s Social Work associate degree program.

Penn Highlands Community College Earns 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School Designation

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced it has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School designation (silver status).

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard.

The 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine 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.

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, exceeding the standard,” stated Kayla Lopez, Vice President, Military Friendly®.

About Military Friendly® Schools (www.militaryfriendly.com)
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. 
 
About Viqtory (www.viqtory.com)
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity.