Newsroom

Local High School Students earn full-tuition Scholarship

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College would like to congratulate the outstanding work of the area high school students that were awarded the College’s Board Academic Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to up to twenty local students that have shown a commitment to excellence inside and outside of the classroom..

The Board Academic Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship to attend Pennsylvania Highlands that is awarded annually to outstanding students throughout the six-county Southern Alleghenies Region (Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset). To be eligible, awardees must be high school seniors, maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5, be recognized as good citizens of their high school community, write an essay, complete all placement testing, and complete proper documentation.

Pennsylvania Highlands would like to honor those who will receive 2014 Board Academic Scholarship:

• Carrie A. Post of Johnstown, PA (Bishop McCort High School)
• Rebecca L. Rager of Nanty Glo, PA (Blacklick Valley High School)
• Kate L. Goldian of Nanty Glo, PA (Blacklick Valley High School)
• Isaac B. Lane of Carrolltown, PA (Cambria Heights High School)
• Nicole M. Myers of Roaring Springs, PA (Central High School)
• Jenna M. Telenko of Jerome, PA (Conemaugh Township High School)
• Vincent L. Reynolds of Johnstown, PA (Ferndale Area High School)
• Madison M. Kundrod of Saint Michael, PA (Forest Hills High School)
• Alexandria A. George of Beaverdale, PA (Forest Hills High School)
• Selena M. Blough of Johnstown, PA (Greater Johnstown High School)
• Charles R. Sidor III of Johnstown, PA (Greater Johnstown High School)
• Tasha L. Deyarmin of Northern Cambria, PA (Northern Cambria High School)
• Audra M. Britton of Nicktown, PA (Northern Cambria High School)
• Amanda R. Bruce of Dysart, PA (Penn Cambria High School)
• Kylie A. Garrett of Lilly, PA (Penn Cambria High School)
• Kayla M. Gaudlip of Portage, PA (Portage Area High School)
• Ryan J. Santichen of Johnstown, PA (Richland Senior High School)
• Alexis L. Graham of Windber, PA (Windber Area High School)

College VP delivers Committee Testimony on College and Student Debt

Edward C. (Ted) Nichols, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Services at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, testified before the Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee on Tuesday, March 25th, at Juniata College. The hearing focused on expanding access to college and keeping student debt low.

Dr. Nichols discussed Pennsylvania Highlands’ mission of providing quality, affordable education and workforce training in the six-county Southern Allegheny region. He cited the College’s ultra-lean administrative structure, efficiently structured outreach centers, use of online and hybrid coursework to reduce student travel, the College’s “borrow wisely” campaign, and credit partnerships with high schools and transfer institutions.

The Majority Policy Committee is the main legislative policy development arm of the House Republican Caucus, providing a broad array of research and foundational information regarding legislative policy. The Committee is chaired by Chairman Dave Reed (R-Indiana). For more information, visit http://www.pagoppolicy.com.

2014 Black Bear Sprint to Success 5K Results

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College held its 7th Annual Black Bear Sprint to Success 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 12th, at the College’s Richland Campus. Over 100 people registered for this year’s race.

Organizers would like to thank Wessel & Company for serving as the event sponsor and recruiting such a large number of participants. Proceeds from the race will help the Pennsylvania Highlands Foundation provide funding for student scholarships, faculty development, and program support.

Results are as follows:

MALE RUN

Top Three Overall
1. Shane May, 17:34
2. Jacob Polca, 17:41
3. Conor Mulcahy, 17:47

14 And Under
1. Reed Uhlar, 20:49
2. Bradley Gearhart, 41:46
3. Errett Kaedan, 50:25

15-19
1. Collin Layton, 23:00
2. Nick Felton, 23:35

20-29
1. Matthew Adamczyk, 20:16
2. Vinnie Mulcahy, 22:08
3. Ben Long, 22:27
4. Evan Sakmar, 23:40
5. Sean McCool, 24:42
6. Kevin Merriman, 27:34
7. Raymond Weible, Jr. , 29:55
8. Derek Sheaffer, 46:38

30-39
1. Brad Eshelman, 18:29
2. Sam Schilling, 19:31
3. Brian Bell, 21:12
4. Ben Wadsworth, 23:35
5. Keith Lenhard, 24:04
6. Tom Newcomer, 25:48
7. Albert Rummell, 27:00
8. Tom Mitchell, 33:15
9. Christopher Bearer, 42:34
10. Charles Porath, 47:34

40-49
1. Michael Puruczky, 20:59
2. Mike Kick, 24:39
3. Dwayne Kaufman, 25:16

50-59
1. Greg Winger, 21:49
2. Paul Baron, 27:32
3. Ed Dreikorn, 29:42

60-69
1. George Hancock, 23:15
2. Roger Haney, 26:04
3. William Haney, 27:17
4. Eric Rummell, 27:55
5. James Cook, 31:57
6. Bob Layton, 34:07

70+
1. Doug Bradley, 36:40

FEMALE RUN

Top Three Overall
1. Catherine Muchesko, 20:22
2. Elizabeth Rummell, 22:32
3. Brenda Szelong, 23:58

14 And Under
1. Allyson Black, 29:02

15-19
1. Amber Easterbrook, 26:22
2. Sammy Jo Podrastsky, 28:30

20-29
1. Jess Petro, 24:37
2. Tiffany Sakmar, 25:36
3. Kasey Hatfield, 28:36
4. Marlissa Bearjar, 32:53
5. Janelle Mowery, 34:09
6. Kaktelyn Mouser, 46:38
7. Danni Porath, 47:34

30-39
1. Danielle Miller, 25:59
2. Michelle Maksymik, 26:33
3. Jennifer Stanek, 27:51
4. Amanda Noon, 28:43
5. Kaye Black, 29:07
6. Kristy Richardson, 29:56
7. Jill Mitchell, 35:05
8. Amber Lenhard, 39:01
9. Kristi Titus, 41:14

40-49
1. Robin Hughes, 27:21
2. Sandra Miller, 29:18
3. Tracee Stinson, 29:39
4. Amy Leventry, 29:57
5. Jan Layton, 30:27
6. Karen Teklinsky, 30:46
7. Tisha Phillips, 32:16
8. Leah Spangler, 40:44
9. Michele Rice, 41:54

50-59
1. Johanna Felton, 30:57

60-69
1. Carol Rummell, 32:34
2. Ruth Ferchalk, 36:14
3. Susan Davis, 37:13
4. Sue Hunt, 37:31

MALE WALK

Top Three Overall
1. Michael Pasierb, 37:33
2. Patrick Lehman, 40:06
3. Frank Stohon, 42:17

14 And Under
1. Donovan Lenhard, 50:27

30-39
1. Britt Williams, 50:53
2. Chad Gontkovic, 52:04

40-49
1. John Zlater, 51:41
2. Michael Benford, 54:42

50-59
1. Doug Gilpatrick, 52:22
2. Larry Brugh, 53:06

FEMALE WALK

Top Three Overall
1. Allison Kick, 36:12
2. Kaydee Swires, 42:12
3. Stephanie Stohon, 42:17

14 And Under
1. Abigail Lenhard, 44:05

15-19
1. Ashley Wray, 51:27
2. Alyssa Gilpatrick, 52:22

20-29
1. Kali Gilpatrick, 51:26
2. Allie Byrne, 51:28
3. Jill Parkins-Gontkovic, 52:08

30-39
1. Angela Novak, 42:23
2. Samantha William, 50:55
3. Stephanie Zlater, 51:52
4. Jill Gontkovic, 52:05
5. Jennifer Biggs, 54:40

40-49
1. Sharon Swires, 43:44
2. Melissa Nagle, 44:52
3. Paula Byrne, 51:29
4. Stacey Gilpatrick, 52:24

50-59
1. Kim Asonevich, 48:39
2. Brenda Orr, 52:50
3. Mindy Nitch, 53:07

60-69
1. Hope Slusher, 46:53
2. Susan Babalonis, 50:58
3. Deborah Cook, :57
4. Sharon Custer, 52:58

Healthcare Information Specialist Degree graduates its first two Students

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce the first two graduates of the Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Information Specialist degree (formerly known as the Healthcare Technology Specialist degree). Ashley Kordish (Summerhill, PA) and Stacy Serenko (of Vinco, PA) successfully completed their associate degrees in December 2013.

Both Ashley Kordish and Stacy Serenko are currently employed at the Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. Kordish serves as a HIS Technician and Serenko serves as a Unit Clerk. Both students began work while completing their degree program.

The Healthcare Information Specialist degree is made possible through the TAACCCT grant and JobTrakPA. The Healthcare Information Specialist degree is designed to train students in a high-demand job area. Graduates who receive their degree can expect to work in a healthcare setting while working with medical records.

College lowers rate of College Prep Courses for Summer

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recognizes the financial burden that attending college could put on some individuals and families. With that in mind, Penn Highlands is once again offering low cost summer courses to assist students in preparing for the fall 2014 semester.

The special summer rate for these college preparatory classes is $49 per credit. These classes are three credits, which would only cost the student $147, with no additional fees added. The college prep classes being offered include:

• Basic Algebra
• Basic English
• Basic Math
• Critical College Reading
• Introduction to Composition
• Pre-Algebra

If students are unsure of which college prep classes to take, the College has a placement testing system that will help determine what courses will help them follow a comfortable and proper path.

These college prep classes will be offered at each of the College’s five locations: Richland, Blair, Ebensburg, Huntingdon, and Somerset. The courses will begin mid-summer, with dates varying by location, and will wrap up in the middle of August. The timing of these courses will lead student’s right into the fall academic semester, giving them a strong academic foundation to build on.