Newsroom

Summer Open Houses Scheduled To Highlight New Smart Start Promise Program

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is hosting a series of three summer open houses with a special focus on the new Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program. These events will offer prospective students and their families an in-depth look at how local residents can achieve their educational goals with significantly reduced financial barriers.

These open houses will be held on May 20, June 24, and July 22 at the College’s Richland Campus, located at 101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA 15904. All three open houses will begin at 6 PM.

Attendees will go through the admissions and financial aid processes, learn about activities, academics, and athletics, take a tour, and have one-on-one conversations with an admissions counselor to discuss their futures, as well as gain valuable information about Smart Start.

Launched in April 2026, the Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program is a game-changing initiative that covers all tuition and comprehensive fees for up to 30 college credits during a student’s first year at Penn Highlands. Eligible students include recent Cambria County high school graduates, offering the opportunity for 100% free tuition for an entire academic year.

To make the process even smoother, students can complete a free admission application at the end of each event.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been serving the region since 1994 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Fall classes start on August 24.

Commencement For Thirty-First Graduating Class Set For May 15

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will hold a Commencement Ceremony for its Thirty-first Graduating Class on Friday, May 15th, at 6 PM in the Richland Campus Auditorium (101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA).

Student Senate President and Student Trustee Brian Lanham, of Johnstown, PA, will give this year’s Commencement Address. He will obtain an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management during the ceremony.

Lanham will share his message with the over 225 graduates planning to attend. Also addressing the graduates will be Penn Highlands Community College President Dr. Steve Nunez, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Dr. Janet Grady, Cambria County President Commissioner Scott Hunt, and Faculty Senate President Dr. Robert M. Clark.

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 recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to Pennsylvania Highlands and the surrounding community, while achieving outstanding academic performance.

For those unable to attend, a Commencement live stream is available on the College’s YouTube channel.

Penn Highlands & Alfred State College Partner On Business Administration Articulation Agreement

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the signing of an articulation agreement with Alfred State College, giving Business Administration graduates a new option to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the field.

Alfred State, located in Alfred, New York, is the first college in the state of New York to establish an academic partnership with Penn Highlands Community College.

“We are truly excited to work with Alfred State,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Student Engagement & Success. “Students will appreciate the opportunity to expand their education at such a beautiful campus just across the Pennsylvania/New York border.”

Penn Highlands students who have graduated with a Business Administration (A.S.) degree, fulfilled at least five of the ten State University of New York (SUNY) general education categories, and achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 are guaranteed the opportunity to apply for admission into the Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree program at Alfred State with full junior status.

Students who do not meet all the above criteria will be evaluated for acceptance on a case-by-case basis.

For fall semester admits, students who graduate from Penn Highlands and have met all specified acceptance criteria are guaranteed the opportunity to earn the B.B.A. in Business Administration within five additional semesters of normal coursework through Alfred State.

Courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better for the credits to transfer.

Click here for more information on this and other transfer agreements available at Penn Highlands Community College.

Fall classes at Penn Highlands Community College begin on August 24.

Four Students Named To 32nd All-PA Academic Team

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges recently honored the 32nd 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 2026 scholars include Transfer Pathway students and Workforce Pathway students, with four of those honored hailing from Pennsylvania Highlands. The following students were selected and are members of the All-Pennsylvania Academic Transfer Pathway Team:

• Caitlyn Carnahan (Patton, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Emmie Johns (South Fork, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Gina Pettenati (Ashville, PA) – Transfer Scholar
• Makayla Stephens (Northern Cambria, 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 four students on their selection to the 2026 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

College Launches Smart Start, Offering A Tuition-Free First Year For Cambria County Students

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the launch of the Smart Start Promise Program (Smart Start), a transformative pilot initiative that enables recent Cambria County high school graduates to begin their college education with minimal to no personal expenses.

This program covers all tuition and comprehensive fees for up to 30 college credits during a student’s first year, ensuring that higher education remains accessible and affordable for local communities. Students may apply their funding toward any approved degree or certificate program, with the flexibility to take classes in-person or online.

Comprehensive fees are mandatory charges that colleges require from all students. These fees cover a wide range of non-academic services, student activities, and campus infrastructure. Smart Start now covers these costs for participants.

Students are still responsible for purchasing their own textbooks, classroom supplies, and any applicable course fees. The total cost for these items will vary depending on the student’s class load.

Smart Start acts as a last-dollar scholarship, reducing the need for students to take out loans for their initial year of study. By removing financial barriers, Penn Highlands aims to reduce student debt, improve local labor force participation, and encourage young talent to remain in the region.

“Since Cambria County sponsors Penn Highlands, local residents already benefit from the most affordable college tuition in the region,” said Dr. Steve Nunez, College President. “We are grateful to the Cambria County Commissioners for that longstanding commitment to affordability and access. Smart Start takes that commitment even further, ensuring that recent Cambria County high school graduates willing to do the work can complete their first year of college nearly free, without crippling student debt. Smart Start is a shared promise to our community that cost should never stand in the way of opportunity and hope.”

To qualify, applicants must be recent high school graduates who meet Cambria County residency requirements and enroll in at least six credits during the immediate fall or spring semester after their high school graduation. Other requirements include completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applying for state grants, and seeking at least one external scholarship.

Once accepted, Smart Start participants receive academic and financial aid advising to better prepare for classes.

Smart Start is the result of strong collaboration between community partners and public leaders committed to expanding educational access and opportunity. The program is supported in part by a philanthropic investment from the 1889 Foundation, by the leadership of Representative Jim Rigby, who helped secure funding for Smart Start, and by Senator Wayne Langerholc, whose longstanding support and advocacy continue to benefit the College and its students.

Prospective students and their families are encouraged to review the full eligibility requirements and begin the application process to secure their tuition-free first year.

Contact the Admissions Office at 814.262.6446 or admissions@pennhighlands.edu for additional information.