Newsroom

Twenty-Fourth Graduating Class To Be Honored At Commencement Ceremony

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding a Commencement Ceremony for the Twenty-Fourth Graduating Class on Saturday, May 11th, in their Richland Campus Auditorium. The Ceremony will begin at 10:00am.

Student Senate President Anthony Cornetti, of Nanty Glo, will be giving this year’s Commencement Address. Mr. Cornetti will obtain an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences – History during the ceremony.

He has been very active during his time at Pennsylvania Highlands. He was a member of the 2017-2018 WPCC Championship Men’s Basketball Team, member of the X-Files Club, and served as the Student Senate President. Anthony is also a member of both the National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Theta Kappa. During his tenure, he made the WPCC Academic Team and the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

Anthony Cornetti will share his story to over 320 graduates who are planning to be in attendance. Also addressing the graduates will be Penn Highlands Community College President Dr. Walter Asonevich, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Greg Winger, Cambria County President Commissioner Thomas Chernisky, and Faculty Senate Vice President Daniella Cope.

In addition to awarding associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates at the ceremony, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will also present the Distinguished Graduate Award, which honors a student who has contributed his or her time and effort to Pennsylvania Highlands and the community while maintaining a high level of academic performance.

For those unable to attend in person, Commencement will be live streamed to the College’s Facebook page. Please join us in congratulating our Twenty-Fourth Graduating Class!

Secret City: College Play Created By Theater & X-Files Clubs

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be having its first-ever stage production on Tuesday, April 30th, with additional performances to be shown on Thursday, May 2nd, in the Richland Campus Auditorium. The stage production, Secret City, is being presented by the college’s Theater & X-Files Clubs, and will take audiences on a riveting murder mystery experience.

By the end of the 40-minute production viewers will be dying to know: Who killed Lindsay Hampton? It was written by Bret Sarlouis, and will be co-directed by Hailey Giuffre and Ryan Stout.

Play Dates & Times:

• April 30 | 12:30pm | Richland Campus Auditorium
• May 2 | 12:30pm | Richland Campus Auditorium
• May 2 | 7:00pm | Richland Campus Auditorium

There is a suggested donation of $5 (suggested donation for students is $3).

Note: There will be a 15-minute intermission.

Seminar To Be Held On Making College Affordable At Central Park Center

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, in partnership with area school districts, will be hosting a seminar on Making College Affordable for area families and students. This seminar will take place on Thursday, April 25, beginning at 6pm. It will be held at the Penn Highlands Central Park Center located at 425 Main Street in downtown Johnstown, PA 15901.

In collaboration with Greater Johnstown, Ferndale Area, and Conemaugh Valley school districts, the presentation will focus on what students need to know when planning their future after high school. Topics will include:

• college in high school opportunities,
• articulation and transfer information,
• scholarships and financial aid opportunities,
• choosing the right degree and the right college, and
• planning ahead to graduate on time.

Students are encouraged to attend with their parent or guardian. Light refreshments will be provided along with the Penn Highlands prize wheel. For additional details, visit us online at www.pennhighlands.edu or contact our offices at 814.262.6400.

State Police To Present At Annual Criminal Justice Seminar

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be hosting its 7th Annual Criminal Justice Seminar on Tuesday, April 16th, from 2pm to 4pm. This seminar will take place in the Richland Campus Auditorium at 101 Community College Way. This year’s presenters will be the Pennsylvania State Police.

This event is open to the public. Please contact Criminal Justice faculty members Dennis Miller or Dr. Robert Clark with any questions. They can be reached by phone at 814.262.6400, or email them directly at dmiller3@pennhighlands.edu (Dennis Miller) or rclark@pennhighlands.edu (Dr. Robert Clark).

Board of Trustees Announce Search For Fifth President

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has begun the search for the next President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College following Dr. Walter Asonevich’s announcement of his intent to retire in July 2020.

President Dr. Walter J. Asonevich’s service to Pennsylvania Highlands has been exemplary and the Board has extended its appreciation for his leadership. Pennsylvania Highlands will be celebrating his service as his retirement date nears.

The appointment of Pennsylvania Highlands’ next president will shape the college’s future for years to come and the Board of Trustees is fully committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent national search.

The Board of Trustees has selected the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) to assist Pennsylvania Highlands with the search process. ACCT’s assistance will include recruiting highly-competitive candidates, working with the Search Committee, and supporting the Board of Trustees. ACCT has conducted over 500 community college searches, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the process. ACCT’s mission is to strengthen community college governance through education and advocacy. Dr. Bradley Ebersole will serve as the ACCT Search Consultant.

Public Forums

An important step in the presidential search process is the development of a Presidential Profile. On Wednesday, April 24, our Richland Campus will host four public forums. The Richland Campus can be found at 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA 15904.

The purpose of these sessions is to listen to your input, which will assist with the development of the Presidential Profile. The entire college community is invited and encouraged to participate in a wide-ranging discussion about the qualities, characteristics, and qualifications we are seeking in the next President, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing Pennsylvania Highlands in the years to come. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the presidential search process.

We want to invite and encourage everyone to attend one of the important one-hour open forums on Wednesday, April 24, 2019:

• 9:00 – 10:00am (Board Room, B135, Richland Campus)
• 12:15 – 1:15pm (Board Room, B135, Richland Campus)
• 2:00 – 3:00pm (Board Room, B135, Richland Campus)
• 6:00 – 7:00pm (Workforce Education Center, LGI, Richland Campus)

Search Process Details

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will maintain a Presidential Search webpage, where you can find the Presidential Profile and all pertinent information regarding the search process (as it is all developed and finalized). All information will be up in the coming weeks, and it will include all aspects of the search for both the college community and the candidates. Progress reports and pertinent information will be posted on a regular basis to the webpage.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College looks forward to an extensive and inclusive search that will find an outstanding leader for not only the college, but the region.