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Three Women’s Volleyball Players Named To All-Region Team

Penn Highlands freshmen Aidan Barnick and Riley Olish, as well as sophomore Tara Corradini, were recently named to the NJCAA Women’s Volleyball Division III All-Region 20 Team.

Barnick earned a spot on the First Team as a setter, while Corradini and Olish were given Honorable Mention.

The Black Bears finished as Region 20 runner-up for the second time in program history, while also earning runner-up in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) for the first time.

Barnick (Boswell, PA) compiled 187 assists, 91 digs, 22 serving aces and 21 kills in 16 games, with her assist total ranking second in the region.

Corradini (Central City, PA) totaled 177 digs and 12 service aces as the team’s libero. Her dig total was fourth in the region while ranking first in digs per set (4.54).

Olish (Northern Cambria, PA) recorded 150 kills, which ranked fourth in the region, along with being second in kills per set (3,41), hitting percentage (.301) and solo blocks (16). She also tallied 97 digs and 10 aces.

Barnick and Olish were also named to the WPCC All-Conference Team for 2025. Corradini earned WPCC/Region 20 All-Tournament Team honors, alongside Olish. 

Click here for more information on Black Bear Athletics.

Police Academy Partners With Cambria County’s Shop With A Cop Program

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy is partnering with Cambria County’s Shop with a Cop program for this year’s holiday season.

Police Academy instructors and cadets will actively support the initiative by assisting with event operations and accompanying children as they shop for Christmas gifts alongside local police officers.

“As a child, I experienced the joy of a similar program, and years later, as a police officer, I had the chance to shop with kids, inspiring me to involve the Penn Highlands Police Academy,” stated Cory Fairman, Assistant Director of Police Academy & Campus Security. “My hope is that the cadets will not only assist now, but also continue this as officers, creating community connections and investing in the future of all our children. I’m thrilled to see this partnership grow and succeed.”

The Shop with a Cop program will be held on two separate dates this year. The first event is scheduled for December 9 at the Richland Township Walmart, and the second will take place on December 16 at the Ebensburg Walmart. Both events will begin at 5:30 PM.

“This partnership is dedicated to supporting and encouraging children, all while fostering trust between them and law enforcement,” stated Allyson Lonas, Cambria County Shop with a Cop Program Director. “Partnering with the Penn Highlands Police Academy strengthens our mission and creates a lasting collaboration to benefit children in our community. Thanks to the dedication of individuals and local businesses, this program is here to stay, bringing joy to kids across Cambria County during the holiday season.”

Now in its fourth year, the Shop with a Cop program continues to bring joy to children who have been victims of crime, witnessed or experienced trauma, or faced other unfortunate circumstances. The program provides these children with the opportunity to go shopping with a local police officer.

This initiative gives children a memorable holiday experience, while offering them the chance to choose gifts for themselves and their loved ones.

Donations are still being accepted to help make this event possible. A $150 contribution sponsors a child, giving them the opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts with a local officer and spend up to $150 at Walmart.

For more information or to donate, visit the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies website or visit the Cambria County Shop with a Cop Facebook page.

Marketing & Communications Team Earns Silver Medallion Award In Photography

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Marketing & Communications Team has received a District 1 Silver Medallion Award from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). This honor was given at the organization’s annual District 1 Conference held on November 4, 2025.

The team took home an award in the Photography/Illustration category for an original, unmanipulated photography submission, which depicted a Black Bears softball player sliding into second base during one of the home games this past Spring.

“It is nice to see our commitment to excellence through creativity acknowledged by industry experts and peers. This medallion award reflects the dedication and professionalism of not only our Marketing and Communications team, but also the entire community of hard workers that encompass Penn Highlands Community College,” stated Raymond Weible, Jr., Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. “We are committed to continuing to create memorable moments for the region through our design and storytelling efforts.”

Since 2015, the Marketing & Communications team at Penn Highlands has won a total of 37 NCMPR Medallion and Paragon Awards, which recognizes excellence in marketing, design, and public relations at two-year schools.

Being a part of the NCMPR’s District 1, Penn Highlands was chosen out of schools from 12 states along the East Coast, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and the United Kingdom.

Silver Medallion Award Winner: Pennsylvania Highlands freshman Brooke Snyder sliding into second base during a Region 20 softball game against Howard Community College on April 29, 2025. Photo taken by Rose Mazey.

Police Academy Welcomes Largest Cadet Class In Over A Decade, Invests In Equipment & Supplies

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy Cadet Class No. 92 officially began its training in September, with the group setting a new benchmark for the program and its future success.

Class No. 92 consists of 18 cadets, the highest starting attendance in Penn Highlands Police Academy history and the highest number of cadets in the Academy in over 10 years, dating back to when the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center maintained it.

The Police Academy saw key metrics, including inquiries, applications, physical fitness tests, and successful candidates, all roughly double compared to previous years.

“This was in part due to huge recruiting efforts by Assistant Directors Cory Fairman and Kevin Gaudlip,” stated Cregg Dibert, Director of Police Academy & Campus Security. “We’re actively responding to inquiries as they come in. We’ve also been proactive, attending high school events and job fairs. We’re always open to giving a presentation to any interested parties.”

Additionally, to attract prospective cadets, the Police Academy has upgraded its training equipment and supplies, investing over $100,000 through a Perkins Grant. As a result of these investments, cadets are now only responsible for tuition and uniform expenses, making this a more affordable career path.

The length of Academy instruction was also shortened from 11.5 months to 9.5 months by making the training schedule five days per week instead of four.

“It feels great to walk into the classroom and see it nearly filled,” Dibert stated. “We hope to continue this trend and help fill the job vacancies within ours and the surrounding areas. This would foster safer communities for the public and alleviate the burden on officers within the department.”

According to statistics, there are more than 1,500 job vacancies at municipal police departments across the state of Pennsylvania, with up to another 1,600 more officers having the possibility of retirement in 2025.

In the three years since Penn Highlands took control of the Police Academy, more than 90% of the cadets have earned employment upon graduation.

Click here for more information on the Police Academy.

College Recognized For Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Efforts

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for the College’s commitment to preventing suicide and promoting mental health resources for learners.

Penn Highlands was one of 11 postsecondary institutions to be added to the list of schools designated as a PA CARES campus. Since May, the PDE has named 26 total institutions of higher education as PA CARES campuses for their work to ensure students have access to support and resources to stay safe, healthy, and well.

“As a community college, we strive to create a culture of care among our students, faculty, and staff,” stated Bridget Hall, Penn Highlands Counselor. “We know that students’ mental health matters for their focus in the classroom, success in courses, and retention from orientation to graduation. By sharing resources and information with our students, we cultivate that culture of care and work with students to ensure that they receive the support necessary to build success inside and outside of the classroom.”

PA CARES, which stands for “Connect, Assess, Respond, Encourage, Support,” recognizes postsecondary institutions that have implemented Act 110 mental health and suicide prevention plans, enabling school staff to engage with the campus community and empowering students to seek help when they need it.

This initiative furthers the efforts of the Shapiro Administration to promote mental health in Pennsylvania’s school communities.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death on America’s college campuses, a statistic that is sobering, tragic, and preventable,” stated Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Pennsylvania’s PA CARES campuses are taking a proactive approach, rooted in compassion and humanity, to meaningfully engage with learners and empower them to not just live, but thrive.”

To become a PA CARES campus, postsecondary institutions must provide:

• Contact information for national, state, and local suicide prevention hotlines.
• Crisis intervention services, including contact details for trained mental health professionals focused on suicide prevention, available 24/7.
• Access to mental health services, including health promotion, wellness, counseling, crisis services, and local providers.
• Multimedia resources on mental health and suicide prevention, including warning signs, free services, and mobile apps.
• Student communication plans for outreach on mental health services and suicide prevention.
• Post-intervention plans to communicate with students, staff, and parents after a student suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling and needs support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available. You can connect with them at https://www.988lifeline.org/.