Newsroom

Annual Community Trick Or Treat Event Scheduled For October 27

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be celebrating the Halloween season by hosting its annual Community Trick or Treat event on Monday, October 27, from 5:30 to 7 PM at the College’s Richland Campus (101 Community College Way, Johnstown).

The event will feature a craft station, a live skit, and trick-or-treating on the C-Level of the Richland Campus.

Intended for families with children who are 12 years old and under, this event is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween in a safe and welcoming environment. Faculty, staff, and students will be on-hand to give out free treats (while supplies last) and provide a unique Halloween experience to visitors.

Averaging around 1,000 visitors each year, we are prepared for that number and more, as we continue with this community and family tradition.

We kindly ask visitors to park and enter through the main gymnasium entrance. Lastly, we are asking you to leave your pets at home, as pets are not permitted on our campus, with the exception of service animals.

Click here for more details on the event.

Men’s Basketball Team Releases 2025-2026 Game Schedule

Men’s Basketball at Pennsylvania Highlands has unveiled its 2025-26 season schedule, consisting of 27 games set to take place between November and February.

The Black Bears will play 14 games at home. Penn Highlands begins the season by competing in the Northampton Community College Tip-Off Tournament on November 1-2. After a road contest at WVU Potomac State College, the Black Bears will host seven consecutive home games from November 8 to December 5.

During that stretch, the team will host the Penn Highlands Turkey Classic on November 15-16. This two-day tournament will also feature Bryant & Stratton College (Ohio), Salem Community College (New Jersey), and Sandhills Community College (North Carolina).

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:

After the completion of the regular season, the Black Bears will compete in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 Tournament at Butler County Community College beginning February 20.

The winner becomes the conference and regional champion and will host the Mid-Atlantic District Championship for a possible berth in the NJCAA Division III National Tournament.

Click here for more information on Black Bears Athletics.

About Black Bear Athletics
Black Bear Athletics, the official sports program of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, is dedicated to fostering excellence both on and off the field. As a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Black Bear Athletics offers a diverse range of sports, including basketball, bowling, cross country, esports, golf, softball, volleyball, and wrestling. Our mission is to help student-athletes succeed in sports, academics, and life. By focusing on teamwork, leadership, time management, and discipline, we prepare them for success in all areas. 
 
Black Bear Athletics is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) and NJCAA Region 20, competing against programs across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. 

The Cambria Memory Project Honored As Runner-Up For The Noel Prize

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College’s Cambria Memory Project was chosen as first runner-up for the inaugural Noel Prize by the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries, Inc. (PACSCL).

The Cambria Memory Project focused on preserving the history of a rural community, with an emphasis on underrepresented populations, including the history of African American, Jewish, and woman’s organizations and education in Cambria County.

“It’s such an honor to be a runner-up winner of the Noel Prize and to have the Cambria Memory Project recognized as an outstanding example of open access and digital preservation,” stated Dr. Barbara Zaborowski, Dean of Library Services & Special Projects at Pennsylvania Highlands.

Penn Highlands was runner-up to the National Indian Boarding School Digital Archive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Six Honorable Mention selections were also awarded.

“The Committee was impressed with the project description,” stated Beth Lander, Managing Director of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries. “They agreed that the project fulfills the ideals of the prize: an open access project, of high value to its audiences and stakeholder communities, and that is significant relative to the size of the institution that undertook it.”

The PACSCL created the Noel Prize to honor its late chair, Dr. William Noel, in recognition of achievements in open access, a focus of Noel’s work.

Noel, who passed away in April 2024, was the Associate Librarian for Special Collections at Princeton University. He served on PACSCL’s Board of Directors from 2015-22 and was Chair of the Board from 2019-22.

Click here to view The Cambria Memory Project.

Police Academy Honors Third Graduating Class With Ceremony

The third class of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy (Cadet Class #91) was honored during a graduation ceremony held at the Richland Campus Auditorium on Wednesday, October 1.

Each of the six cadets received a certificate acknowledging their completion of the Penn Highlands Police Academy, with two receiving their recognition from the police chief representing the respective department they will be employed at upon graduation and successful completion of a state test.

The list of cadets, including those with a conditional offer of employment, are:

• Brayden Dean, Johnstown, PA
• Cy Firestone, Somerset, PA (Somerset Borough Police Department)
• Troy Jarrett, Duncansville, PA (Martinsburg Police Department)
• Kent Krisay, Johnstown, PA
• Jacob Rhoades, Johnstown, PA
• Jacob Wagner, Duncansville, PA

Wagner was named class valedictorian after achieving a combined score of 919 out of a possible 940 points, which included his performance on 26 tests and the completion of eight different real-life scenarios.

Krisay received the Physical Fitness Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement as determined from three required P.T. tests and physical training that occurs throughout the Academy.

Jarrett earned the Distinguished Marksman Award for accumulating the most points throughout the firearms training with the pistol, shotgun and patrol rifle. Wagner was also presented with the Defensive Tactics Award for outstanding performance during extensive control tactics training.

Krisay was chosen as the first recipient of the Chief James Mock Memorial Achievement Award. Established by Catherine Rager and the James Mock family, the award honors an exceptional cadet annually during graduation for each cadet class, while celebrating outstanding performance and unwavering commitment demonstrated during their training, recognizing their dedication to excellence in law enforcement.

The curriculum included subjects ranging from constitutional law, ethics, de-escalation strategies, criminal law and procedures, and search and seizure. Additionally, each cadet successfully completed practical training in physical fitness, defensive control tactics, emergency vehicle operation, firearms, first aid, and CPR, along with optional certifications in field sobriety, taser, police baton, and pepper spray.

Cadets underwent a total of 919 hours of instruction spanning 11 months, divided between 498 hours within a classroom and 421 hours of practical, hands-on training.

The Police Academy ran four nights per week. The cadets’ firearms training and qualifications took place on Saturday and Sunday, spanning eight consecutive weekends.

To conclude their training at the Police Academy, cadets underwent 40 hours of practical scenario training. This comprehensive program involved three role players, each with a background in criminal justice and drawn from the local community, providing the cadets with a realistic and immersive learning experience.

A total of eight instructors assisted in the training and certification process.

The Penn Highlands Police Academy’s fourth class, consisting of 18 cadets, began training on September 8.

College Foundation To Host Annual Chef Auction Fundraiser

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation will hold its annual Chef Auction fundraiser event on Wednesday, October 22, at 5 PM at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown, PA.

The College Foundation is looking to continue its successes from the first two events under the College’s umbrella, having raised more than $118,000 for student scholarships. All proceeds from the event go towards the Supporting Scholars Fund and future Culinary Arts scholarships.

“We’re proud to continue the Chef Auction fundraiser, now in its third year, as a celebration of community generosity and student achievement,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “The support we receive from local sponsors to attendees directly fuels scholarships and resources that help our students thrive. It is inspiring to see how this event brings people together to invest in the future of Penn Highlands.”

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour and silent auction in the venue’s lobby. Guests can bid on a range of local experiences, such as restaurant gift cards and premium seats for the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, signed memorabilia, including a 1977 Johnstown Chiefs puck and a Jack Ham jersey, will be available for auction.

Appetizers for the cocktail hour will be prepared by students from the Penn Highlands Culinary Arts program. The event will also include a cash bar and a performance by local radio host and musician Bo Moore.

Multiple restaurants are slated to attend the event, including Balance, Harrigan’s, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, and more. Each participating restaurant will provide packages for attendees to bid on during the live auction.

Harlan Speigle will serve as the live auctioneer. UPMC Altoona and WorkLink Staffing are the Master Chef sponsors.

Click here for more information on the Chef Auction or to purchase tickets.

Interested restaurants or potential sponsors should contact the College Foundation at foundation@pennhighlands.edu or 814.262.6448.

About Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation
Established in 1995, the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is a non-profit educational trust under Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation seeks and secures financial support to advance the mission of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College by fostering relationships and managing resources. It focuses on providing scholarships, supporting academic programs, and promoting faculty and staff development to meet the College’s and community’s educational needs. Through donations, events, grants, and deferred giving, the Foundation enriches student opportunities and strengthens community partnerships.