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2013 Black Bear Sprint to Success 5K Results

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College held its 6th Annual Black Bear Sprint to Success 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 6th at the College’s Richland Campus. 186 people registered for this year’s race, which is a 65% increase from 2012, and the largest turnout in the event’s history.

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. Michael Dautlick, 16, 19:50
2. Sam Schilling, 37, 19:56
3. Taylor O’Hara, 18, 20:12

15U
1. Luke Samay, 23:24

20-29
1. Nicholas Ramirez, 20:26
2. Jonathan Loveridge, 22:03
3. Ben Long, 22:17
4. Andrew Stephenson, 22:55
5. Doug Puchko, 23:34
6. Adam Maddy, 23:35
7. Jimmy Shaffer, 23:44
8. Korey Boyer, 23:46
9. Sean McCool, 23:50
10. Frank Brown, 25:01
11. Albert Rummell, 28:14
12. Seth Michaels, 28:57
13. Michael Hastvy, 28:58
14. Renold Sossong, 30:47
15. Ray Wilhelm III, 35:01
16. Raymond Weible Jr., 35:21
17. Josh Fetcko, 36:51

30-39
1. Joshua Kalp, 21:38
2. Michael Becker, 21:50
3. Brian Bell, 22:02
4. Wes Fritz, 22:13
5. Coey Kovalcak, 22:25
6. John Jacobs, 23:33
7. Robert Sabo, 23:54
8. Nathan Haskins, 24:28
9. Scott Hunt, 26:11
10. Jeff Podrasky, 26:45
11. Ben Wadsworth, 27:51
12. Robert Gall, 28:24
13. Christopher Weir, 29:24
14. Dustin Michaels, 29:40

40-49
1. Greg Winger, 21:44
2. Paul Smiach, 21:56
3. Vince Pavic, 22:19
4. Glenn Katrancha, 22:30
5. Eric Fogle, 23:25
6. Eric Kabler, 24:10
7. Eric Curry, 25:07
8. Josephy Bradley, 25:11
9. Dwayne Kaufman, 25:24
10. Tom Chernisky, 27:30
11. William Paul, 28:23
12. Craig Freedling, 36:36

50-59
1. John Skelley, 24:42
2. Bill Polacek, 24:55
3. Richard Bizjak, 25:28
4. Ernie Peterson, 27:10
5. Patrick Gillin, 28:59
6. Tim Laidig, 29:01
7. John Polacek, 29:58
8. Sean Mahoney, 33:06

60-69
1. George Hancock, 23:51
2. Jim Cook, 29:54
3. Roger Haney, 31:14
4. David Stephenson, 34:19
5. Michael Yargus, 35:11
6. Tom Paterson, 43:30

70+
1. Keith Neff, 25:42

FEMALE RUN

Top Three Overall
1. Catherine Muchesko, 30, 20:30
2. Elizabeth Rummell, 27, 22:32
3. Brenda Szelong, 49, 23:38

15U
1. Kaelin Kirchner, 37:33

16-19
1. Sammy Jo Podrastsky, 26:17
2. Cassie Pleskovic, 29:48

20-29
1. Tonya Bibby, 25:48
2. Amanda McKendree, 25:50
3. Gabrielle Mickus, 27:22
4. Sarah Loveridge, 27:45
5. Kathleen Clark, 28:25
6. Brittany Amrhein, 30:11
7. Laura Mele, 30:27
8. Tammy Mennecke-Haskins, 31:20
9. Nicole Pleskovic, 31:21
10. Kaitlyn Thiel, 33:38
11. Trista Edwards, 34:40
12. Lacey Fetcko, 37:09
13. Alicia Cunningham, 46:47
14. Cara Smay, 48:19

30-39
1. Brooke Steppler, 25:19
2. Michelle Maksymik, 26:02
3. Sharele Hatfield, 28:47
4. Geneanne Fritz, 28:49
5. Amanda Noon, 29:24
6. Sandra Kirchner, 30:23
7. Jennifer Stanek, 30:24
8. Agatha Poole, 31:43
9. Sonya Giuffre, 32:07
10. Dawn Larson, 32:29
11. Jessica Ferguson, 33:47
12. Jodi Kabler, 34:05
13. Elizabeth Bischof, 34:23
14. Kristi Titus, 41:43
15. Kari Ricotta, 43:48

40-49
1. Karen Kohler, 27:12
2. Joannie Nedwreski, 33:07
3. Michele Rice, 33:37
4. Amy Leventry, 33:47
5. Diana Karlinsey, 35:07
6. Roseann Layton, 35:15
7. Sandy Ponzek, 39:30
8. Christine Schriver, 40:49
9. Brenda Ogline, 43:50
10. Sharon Swires, 46:49
11. Cindy Gdula, 49:40

50-59
1. Kathleen Griffith, 27:36
2. Sharon Paterson, 27:47
3. Tina Honkus, 34:00
4. Debby Callihan, 35:15
5. Sue Hunt, 35:53
6. Connie Mercik, 39:31

60+
1. Ruth Ferchalk, 35:51

MALE WALK

Top Three Overall
1. Michael Pasierb, 59, 36:43
2. Bruce Shannon, 57, 38:58
3. William Obert, 65, 42:13

15U
1. Kaedan Errett, 46:08

40-49
1. Rodney Hatfield, 51:32
2. John Zlater, 53:58
3. Mike Pleskovic, 54:07

50-59
1. Kevin Sabo, 51:35
2. Douglas Puchko, 55:57

60-69
1. Lyle Alexander, 47:02
2. Walter Asonevich, 48:49
3. Larry Ramirez, 52:06
4. Robert Mainhart, 52:12

FEMALE WALK

Top Three Overall
1. Sherry Obert, 57, 36:50
2. Karen Ream, 42, 38:48
3. Karen Teklinsky, 45, 40:43

15U
1. Emma Leigh Gress, 45:41
2. Haidee Errett, 46:34

20-29
1. Allie Byrne, 46:38
2. Brittany Conrad, 48:18
3. Nicole Bender, 53:48
4. Kayla Puchko, 55:14
5. Bridget Eash, 56:03
6. Anna Elias, 57:03

30-39
1. Angela Novak, 42:16
2. Christy Falisec, 46:52
3. Toni Brooks, 47:00
4. Samantha Brothers, 47:20
5. Jill Bender, 53:50
6. Stacy Weir, 53:57
7. Stephanie Zlater, 53:59

40-49
1. Krista Peles, 47:19
2. Paula Byrne, 48:20
3. Sheila Mickus, 51:31
4. Sue Brugh, 52:14
5. Michelle Stumpf, 52:48
6. Kristy Curry, 52:49
7. Amanda Fisher, 54:00
8. Patty Shannon, 55:58

50-59
1. Nancy Yargus, 44:12
2. Kim Asonevich, 45:39
3. Mindy Nitch, 52:16
4. Maureen Puchko, 55:59

60-69
1. Hope Slusher, 50:47
2. Susan Babalonis, 51:34
3. Brenda Coughenour, 56:03

College lowers Summer Rates for College Prep Courses

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College believes that everyone should have the opportunity to attend college. They also recognize the strain that such a financial burden can have on individuals and families.

Already known for providing high quality and affordable educational opportunities Penn Highlands will take it one step further this summer by offering college preparatory classes with a special summer rate of $39 per credit. Three credit courses will cost $117 with no 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 courses 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 courses will be offered at each of the College’s five locations: Richland, Ebensburg, Huntingdon, Somerset, and our new Blair facility. The courses will begin mid-summer, with dates varying by location, and will wrap up the week of August 12^th. The timing of these courses will lead students right into the fall academic semester, giving them a strong academic foundation to build on.

PTK to hold WWP Benefit Concert featuring Daryle Singletary with Justin McBride

Pennsylvania Highlands’ Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa will be organizing a country music benefit concert. Community service, a hallmark of Phi Theta Kappa, is infused into every member of the College’s Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter. Each member takes pride in helping others; therefore, all proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

This benefit concert will be held on Saturday, April 2oth, and feature Daryle Singletary, with Justin McBride (two-time Pro Bull Riding champion) opening the night. The concert will start at 7pm, with doors opening at 6pm. The concert will be held in the College’s Richland Campus Auditorium, at 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA.

The costs of tickets are as follows:

• $ 25.00 (At Door)
• $ 20.00 (Non-Student)
• $ 15.00 (Student)
• $ 10.00 (Veteran with military ID)

For more information or to order tickets before the night of the event, contact Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Phi Theta Kappa advisor, at 814.262.6463 or sbrugh@pennhighlands.edu.

More about Phi Theta Kappa: Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society of the two-year college. The mission of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.

More about the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP): The vision of the WWP is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history. The WWP hopes to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, help injured service members aid and assist each other, and provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

College coming to Blair; hires Director

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has served well over 35,000 students since its inception in 1994 and is planning to bring that experience and excellence to Blair County with the opening of its Blair Center.

To helm this facility, the College is pleased to announce the hiring of Julie Patosky as the Center Director. Julie’s primary responsibilities include student recruiting, community relations, and the overall management of the new Blair Center.

Julie Patosky earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Community and Economic Development through Penn State University. Her professional experience in higher education includes serving as a program manager for a graduate program at an accredited educational institution in Pennsylvania.

The Blair Center, scheduled to begin offering classes in late summer (July), will give access to interested community members wishing to pursue an education in Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Psychology, and Teacher Education. As the College continues its preparation in bringing affordable opportunities in education to the area, more information, including facility location details, will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Kevin Slonka appointed to Computer Science Instructor Post

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is pleased to announce the hiring of Kevin Slonka as full-time Computer Science Instructor. A Johnstown resident, Mr. Slonka began his appointment this January, beginning with the College’s spring term. His primary focus is to lead the implementation of the College’s new Associate of Science in Computer Science degree.

Mr. Slonka holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Mount Aloysius College, and dual Master’s Degrees in Information Security and Assurance and Information Technology Project Management from Robert Morris University. Currently, Kevin is pursuing a Doctor of Science in Information Systems and Communications from Robert Morris.

Mr. Slonka previously served as an adjunct faculty member at both Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Mount Aloysius College and was employed at Northrop Grumman as a Cyber Software Engineer. Mr. Slonka will remain current with the rapidly changing industry through ongoing professional development and consulting in systems engineering.