Pennsylvania Highlands Community College freshman Addison Manges was named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Women’s Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week for September 28 to October 4.
Addison Manges
Manges, a native of Johnstown, PA, is the first player in women’s volleyball program history to earn a national Player of the Week honor and seventh overall for Penn Highlands.
In three matches, Manges compiled 53 kills, 32 digs, and nine service aces. She also tallied a .321 hitting percentage and averaged 4.42 kills per set.
In the Black Bears’ 3-2 victory over Anne Arundel Community College on September 30, Manges set a new program record with 27 kills, a career-high, while also tying her career-best mark with six aces.
She also set a then-personal best with 18 digs in a match against Garrett College on October 1, which she has since broken with a 21-dig performance against Carroll Community College on Tuesday, to go along with 25 kills.
In 15 matches this season, Manges has totaled 198 kills, 163 digs, and 28 aces, leading the Black Bears in kills while ranking second in the latter two categories.
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies has awarded Pennsylvania Highlands Community College two Community Initiative Grants, helping fund projects that spur community and economic development in the Greater Johnstown region.
The College’s Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program was given a $100,000 grant, while its Nonprofit Partnership Training and Initiatives Project has been allocated a $10,000 grant.
“The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies understands that workforce development begins with educational opportunity,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Pennsylvania Highlands. “By investing in Smart Start, CFA is helping local students earn workforce-aligned credentials, reducing barriers to college participation, and strengthening the talent pipeline that is essential to Cambria County’s long-term economic success. We are grateful for their partnership and commitment to our region’s future.
Launched in April, the Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program covers all tuition and comprehensive fees for up to 30 college credits during a student’s first year at Penn Highlands, ensuring that higher education remains accessible and affordable for local communities.
Smart Start was established as a transformative pilot initiative that enables recent Cambria County high school graduates to begin their college education with minimal to no personal expenses.
The Nonprofit Partnership Training and Initiatives Project began in 2025, after the College received the initial funding to develop the Nonprofit Learning Industry Partnership.
The Project assists agency partners with workforce recruitment and training opportunities. Partners will appreciate the advantages of a centralized training center for sharing and accessing resources for new hires and current employees, while offering relevant, cost-effective training programs for non-profit employees who deliver essential services to residents of the communities in Cambria and Somerset Counties.
“The continued support of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is instrumental to the success of the Non-Profit Learning Industry Partnership,” stated Julie Davis, Dean of Workforce Development. “This funding allows us to provide affordable, relevant training that helps non-profit professionals enhance their skills, strengthen their organizations, and better serve our communities. We look forward to another successful year of delivering impactful professional development opportunities, and cannot thank the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies enough for their ongoing partnership and commitment to this important initiative.”
To date, the partnership has more than 100 members.
“Strong workforce development programs are essential to the long-term success of our region,” stated Mike Kane, President of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. “We are happy to support both of these projects that ensure accessible and quality education and training for local students and non-profit leaders.”
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies has been assisting citizens in the community for more than 35 years. The Foundation supports donors’ generosity to work through strategic grant-making and connect individuals with opportunities to make an impact, while also supporting grassroots efforts, collaborating with community partners, and facilitating philanthropy across the region.
Penn Highlands contributes a strong foundation of academic excellence, innovative curricula, and a steadfast commitment to student success. With experienced educators and modern infrastructure, the College cultivates an environment that encourages critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lifelong learning.
(Left to Right) Dr. Steve Nunez, President of the College, Carole Van Meter, Director of the College Foundation, and Mike Kane, President of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, pose for a photo outside of the College’s Richland Campus, showcasing a large check representing the combined total of both grant awards.
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Men’s Basketball team has released its 2026-27 season schedule, consisting of 27 games spanning from November to February.
Penn Highlands, the back-to-back Region 20 champions in Division III from 2024-26, will take the court as a member of NJCAA Division II this season for the first time. The Black Bears spent the past 16 years in Division III after the reinstatement of athletics at the College in 2010.
Of the team’s 27 games, 19 will coincide as doubleheaders with the Black Bears Women’s Basketball team. Penn Highlands will open its season at Garrett College on Tuesday, November 3. After five road games, the Black Bears will host Prince George’s Community College on Sunday, November 22, for their home opener.
All home games will be played inside the Richland Campus gymnasium. Dates and times are subject to change. The full home schedule is as follows:
November 22 vs. Prince George’s Community College
November 24 vs. Community College of Beaver County
December 4 vs. Virginia Peninsula Community College
December 5 vs. Community College of Allegheny County
December 12 vs. Garrett College
December 16 vs. Butler County Community College
January 10 vs. Chesapeake College
January 13 vs. Montgomery College
January 16 vs. Community College of Baltimore County – Catonsville
February 6 vs. College of Southern Maryland
February 20 vs. Allegany College of Maryland (Sophomore Day)
Following completion of the regular season, qualified teams will compete in the Region 20 Tournament beginning March 3. The higher-seeded team will host first-round matchups.
The tournament semifinals and championship game will then be held March 5 and March 6, respectively, at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland. The Region 20 champion will advance to the Mid-Atlantic District Tournament for an opportunity to earn a berth in the NJCAA Championships.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College sophomore Kat Walker has been named a 2026 Chime Workforce Scholar, joining 200 students nationwide recognized for their academic achievement and pursuit of career-focused education.
Funded by the Chime Scholars Foundation and administered by the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, the Chime Workforce Scholarship supports students pursuing career and technical education at two-year colleges.
Each scholar will receive a $1,000 scholarship to help cover educational expenses as they complete a certificate or associate degree, preparing them to enter the workforce in a high-demand field.
“It’s an honor to receive this award,” Walker stated. “It is meaningful to me because I feel that all the hard work and dedication I put into my studies is being recognized with this scholarship. As a non-traditional, first-generation college student, my goal is for my son to see that you can follow your dreams no matter what age you are. Penn Highlands is helping me realize my dream of obtaining an associate degree, and there is no place I would rather be.”
Walker was born and raised in Windber, PA. She is a Culinary Arts major at Penn Highlands and set to graduate in Spring 2027. At the College, Walker has maintained a 4.0 GPA, been named to multiple Dean’s Lists, and is on the Student Engagement & Success Committee, all while earning multiple Foundation scholarships.
Upon graduation, she plans to enter the workforce in the field of Hospitality Management.
Outside of Penn Highlands, Walker currently works as a caregiver. She is also a member of the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cambria County and the Master Naturalists of Pennsylvania.
“At the Chime Scholars Foundation, we believe that career and technical education opens doors to financial progress and long-term opportunity,” stated Jeni Izuel, President of the Chime Scholars Foundation. “We’re proud to support students who are working hard to gain in-demand skills and build better futures for themselves and their families.”
The Chime Workforce Scholarship supports students preparing for high-demand careers that strengthen their communities and local economies. By helping students complete their education and earn workforce credentials, the program helps create a stronger pipeline of skilled workers in fields where they are needed most.
Penn Highlands contributes a strong foundation of academic excellence, innovative curricula, and a steadfast commitment to student success. With experienced educators and modern infrastructure, the College cultivates an environment that encourages critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lifelong learning.
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Men’s Wrestling team has released its 2026-27 season schedule.
Penn Highlands is coming off its inaugural campaign last season, where multiple Black Bears made history for the program. Three wrestlers placed at the Gulf Atlantic District Tournament, with two earning spots at the NJCAA Championships.
The Black Bears will compete in 13 events from October to February, which includes five open tournaments.
Penn Highlands will begin the season by holding its first-ever home match, a tri-meet against Northampton Community College and Garrett College, on Saturday, October 31. This will be one of two home matches on the team’s schedule. All home matches will take place inside the main gymnasium of the College’s Richland Campus.
The full schedule is as follows:
October 31 vs. Northampton Community College (tri-meet)
October 31 vs. Garrett College (tri-meet)
November 7 at Adrian Invitational
November 21 at Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Open
December 5 at Thunderwolves Open
December 22 at Wilkes Open
January 12 vs. WVU Potomac State College
January 14 at Penn State Altoona (tri-meet with Bethany College)
January 19 at Garrett College (tri-meet with WVU Potomac State College)
January 24 at Jamestown Open
February 7 at University of Scranton Duals
Following completion of the regular season, the Black Bears will compete in the Gulf Atlantic District Tournament in late February. Qualified wrestlers will then advance to the NJCAA Championships in March at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
