Newsroom

Two Students Selected to Lead New Black Bear Student Marketing Agency, Offering a Fresh Learning Experience

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students Jacob Buckley and Morgan Hamel have been selected as founding leaders within the Black Bear Student Marketing Agency.

The Black Bear Student Marketing Agency is a new initiative within the Penn Highlands’ Marketing AAS program. Students complete real-world marketing projects for clients, covering areas such as research, digital marketing, social media, branding, and content development.

Buckley will serve as the first Agency Director, while Hamel will serve as the first Editor-in-Chief of the Black Bear Marketing Journal, the agency’s new online marketing publication.

“Jacob and Morgan are exemplary students who consistently go above and beyond, not only in their academic work, but also in their determination to make college a complete experience both inside and outside the classroom,” stated Mark Parfitt, Assistant Professor of Business. “They have embraced opportunities to learn, grow and get involved, and I’m confident they are the perfect team to lead the inaugural year of our new student marketing agency.”

Buckley, a second-year Marketing student from Huntingdon County, serves as founding Agency Director. He brings hands-on experience from an early internship at FOXPRO Inc. and currently manages social media and marketing for a local business.

“I enjoy marketing because it allows me to connect with people while turning creative ideas into real-world results,” Buckley stated. “I’m excited to continue developing my marketing skills through this semester’s projects and look forward to working with our student teams and business partners to create meaningful and effective marketing solutions.”

The Black Bear Marketing Journal is a new student-written online publication delivering practical marketing insights to individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses in the College’s service area. It also gives students experience in professional writing, editing, and digital publishing.

Hamel, of Blair County, serves as founding Editor-in-Chief. She is completing dual studies in Business Management and Marketing, with plans to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a career in Entertainment Business.

“Marketing gives me the opportunity to understand people, tell stories, and create ideas that make a difference,” Hamel stated. “To me, a future in marketing means expanding horizons and introducing individuals to the future.”

Together, Buckley and Hamel are shaping both initiatives from the ground up, gaining valuable leadership and project management experience in the process.

All Marketing AAS students are eligible to participate in both initiatives.