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Commencement Set For 29th Graduating Class

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding a Commencement Ceremony for the Twenty-Ninth Graduating Class on Friday, May 10th, in the Richland Campus Auditorium (101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA). The ceremony will begin at 6 PM. 

Student Senate President and Student Trustee Hannah Dadura, of Johnstown, PA, will be giving this year’s Commencement Address. She will obtain an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management during the ceremony. 

Dadura will share her message with the nearly 200 graduates who are planning to be in attendance. Also addressing the graduates will be Penn Highlands Community College President Dr. Steve Nunez, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Greg Winger, Cambria County President Commissioner Scott Hunt, and Faculty Senate President Greg Paonessa. 

In addition to awarding associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates at the ceremony, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will also present the Distinguished Graduate Award. This award 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, you may watch a Commencement live stream on the College’s YouTube channel. 

6 Students Named To 2024 All-PA Academic Team

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges recently honored the 30th annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, consisting of select students representing 15 community colleges from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This honor recognizes high-achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society. The students are selected for the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team based on a nomination and application process.

The 2024 scholars include Transfer Pathway students and Workforce Pathway students, with six of those honored hailing from Pennsylvania Highlands. The following students were selected and are members of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Transfer Pathway Team:

• Madison Bender (Ashville, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Seth Dillon (Coalport, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Kelly Hearn (Rockwood, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Marcayes Hutchins (Johnstown, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Ean Jaber (Johnstown, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Tessa Snavely (East Freedom, PA) – Transfer Scholar

Transfer Pathway honorees plan to transfer to a four-year college after graduation. They must have completed at least 36 credits at a community college with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Pennsylvania’s community colleges partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to provide scholarships to Transfer Pathway students, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College congratulates these six students on being selected for the 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

Early Childhood Education Transfer Agreement Signed With State College Area School District

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has signed an articulation agreement with the State College Area School District, allowing State College high school students to transfer their education credits into the Pennsylvania Highlands Early Childhood Education (A.A.) program.

This marks the second agreement signed with an institution in Centre County, joining the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology (CPI). Penn Highlands is also the first college to sign a dual enrollment agreement with the State College Area School District.

A maximum of six classes or 16 credits can be transferred towards the degree, including:

• ECE 101 – Introduction to Early Childhood Education
• ECE 105 – Education Essentials
• ECE 110 – Child Development
• ECE 198 – Early Childhood Practicum
• ECE 298 – Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood
• EDU 230 – Children with Special Needs

Students must complete the full Early Childhood Education program at State College High School, earning a grade of “C” or better to be eligible to transfer.

“We are looking forward to future expansion of this partnership to enable even more students to earn advanced standing in our associate degree programs,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Enrollment Services and Registrar.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Centre County is set to start classes this fall in Bellefonte, PA.

New Accounting Courses Form CPA Exam Prep Program

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has unveiled new Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preparatory courses designed to equip students for the CPA Examination. These courses are a crucial milestone for aspiring accountants, paving the way toward licensure and professional acclaim. 

Comprising four sections (Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulation), the CPA Exam assesses a candidate’s knowledge and skills in accounting principles and practices at a level required for entry into the profession. 

“These new courses, intended solely for post-baccalaureate students, were developed with the intent of increasing the number of students in the CPA pipeline,” stated Melissa Boback, Associate Professor of Accounting. “As the demand for CPAs continues to rise, CPA prep courses for college credit offer a valuable opportunity for aspiring accountants.” 

Penn Highlands has partnered with Becker, a renowned authority in CPA review courses, to provide our students with access to the most current, cutting-edge, and comprehensive study resources available on the market. This collaboration ensures that Penn Highlands students are exceptionally well-prepared for their CPA examinations. 

The courses included in this CPA Exam Prep program include:  

• ACC 281: Financial Accounting and Reporting 
• ACC 282: Taxation and Regulations 
• ACC 283: Auditing and Attestation 
• ACC 284: Information Systems and Controls 

These classes are credit-based, meaning that in addition to general career advancement and CPA exam prep, students can also use these classes, along with other possible Penn Highlands classes, to count for some of the 150 credits needed for licensure.  

“Because our courses have a course facilitator, students will have someone monitoring their progress, answering their questions, and guiding them through the materials,” stated Dr. Cynthia Doherty, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Students won’t feel like they are on their own while preparing for the test.” 

Ralph Stewart Added To Board Of Trustees As Centre County Representative

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has appointed Ralph Stewart to the Board of Trustees as the College’s Centre County representative.

Ralph Stewart, Borough of Bellefonte

The motion follows the College’s plans to open a new location in Bellefonte, PA, beginning in Fall 2024. Stewart’s duties as the Centre County representative will be to bring forward the interests of the region regarding educational advancement. His initial term will expire on July 31, 2026, at which time he will be eligible for a three-year reappointment.

“I am delighted to welcome Mr. Stewart to the College’s Board of Trustees,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, Pennsylvania Highlands President. “His wealth of experience, local connections, and commitment to education will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our institution’s continued growth and success. We look forward to working closely with Mr. Stewart as we shape the future of our college and empower our students to achieve their dreams.”

Stewart is currently the Bellefonte Borough Manager, a position he has held since January 2001. He has worked within Bellefonte Borough since July 1994, starting as the Planning, Zoning, Code, and Grants Administrator before becoming the Assistant to the Borough Manager and the Assistant Borough Manager.

He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association (PRWA) Board of Trustees, the PA State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) Board of Trustees, and the Centre County Airport Authority Board.

“I am honored to be on the board and to help anywhere I can,” Stewart stated. “Pennsylvania Highlands Community College brings a high-quality and affordable career education option to this region. Every industry needs well-trained people. Their timing could not have been better. We welcome them to Centre County.”

Stewart holds a certificate in Community & Economic Development, a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Penn State University. He has also graduated from the Institute of State and Regional Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg and the Centre County Leadership Program.