Contact Us Apply

Newsroom

  • Penn Highlands Named To Top 200 Community Colleges Eligible For The Aspen Prize

    Posted October 28, 2025 at 1:36 pm

    Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been named as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.

    Aspen Prize Top 200 Logo for 2027The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

    “Being nominated for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is a meaningful recognition of the work our college community does every day to support student success while maintaining the academic rigor necessary for students to thrive beyond their time at Penn Highlands,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, Penn Highlands President. “This honor reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, and the collaborative spirit that drives our mission to serve our communities. While we remain focused on continuous improvement, it’s encouraging to see our efforts acknowledged on a national level.”

    The 200 eligible colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Starting in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize.

    The eligible colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. Located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across the country, these colleges serve anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of students.

    “The Aspen Prize rewards colleges that achieve the kind of outcomes that actually matter to students — completing college degree programs that, in turn, lead to lifelong success,” stated Josh Wyner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Aspen Prize winners offer a powerful message: Community colleges can deliver the kind of life-changing education that makes the American Dream real.”

    A list of 25 semifinalists will be announced in April 2026, chosen based on assessments of extensive data and strategy documents by the Prize selection panel, a group of 16 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce training, and interviews with institutional leadership teams.

    Ten finalists will be selected in June, which will be followed by a visit to each of the ten colleges in the ensuing Fall. The winner will be announced in Spring 2027 at a banquet in Washington, D.C.

    For a full list of the top 200 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/.

    About the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program 
    The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program supports colleges and universities in their quest to achieve a higher standard of excellence, delivering credentials that unlock life-changing careers and strengthen our economy, society, and democracy. We know it takes visionary college leaders to lead scaled, sustainable reforms, and we make it our mission to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and research-backed tools to inspire change, shift practice, and advance the capacity of colleges to deliver excellent and equitable student outcomes. For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. 
     
    About the Aspen Institute 
    The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. 

  • Four Women’s Volleyball Players Earn Postseason Awards

    Posted October 27, 2025 at 9:48 am

    Four members of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Women’s Volleyball Team received postseason honors following the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 Tournament this past weekend. 

    Freshmen Aidan Barnick and Riley Olish earned spots on the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) All-Conference Team, recognizing their performances throughout the season. Additionally, Olish was named to the WPCC/Region 20 All-Tournament Team, along with sophomores Tara Corradini and Tori Harrison. 

    Barnick (Boswell, PA) compiled 187 assists, 91 digs, 22 serving aces and 21 kills in 16 games. Her assist total ranked second in the WPCC. 

    Olish (Northern Cambria, PA) recorded 150 kills, which ranked fourth in the conference, 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. 

    In tournament play, Olish totaled 22 kills and 16 digs in two matches, as Penn Highlands finished runner-up, marking the Black Bears’ second runner-up finish in Region 20, joining the 2021 team, and the first WPCC runner-up in program history. 

    Corradini (Central City, PA) tallied 33 digs and three aces in the tournament, while Harrison (Portage, PA) added 19 digs and eight kills.  

    This was Harrison’s second All-Tournament selection in as many seasons. 

    For more information on Black Bears Athletics, visit www.blackbearathletics.com. 

  • Marissa Davis Earns Volunteer Of The Year Award From The Huntingdon County Chamber

    Posted October 22, 2025 at 12:06 pm

    Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Regional Center Director Marissa Davis was recently presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Huntingdon County Chamber at its annual Gala held at Trophy Mountain Lodge.

    Davis was chosen for the award, which has been given annually since 2001, via a nomination process by members of the community.

    Davis has been a dedicated volunteer with the Huntingdon County Chamber for more than a decade, where she also serves on the Board of Directors and as chair of the Education Committee.

    “I am humbled and grateful to the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce, the community of Huntingdon, and those who chose to nominate me for Volunteer of the Year,” Davis stated. “So many people work together to make our community beautiful, caring, strong, and united. This is about making sure that our future generations continue to love this community and do their best to see it thrive as a place to live, work, and visit. When you love something, you will always try to put the time in that it takes to make it the best it can be.”

    She is a 2015 graduate of the Leadership Huntingdon County Class. She has continued to give back as a member of the Leadership Huntingdon County Steering Committee, playing a key role in shaping the program’s ongoing success.

    At Penn Highlands, Davis demonstrates a deep commitment to the College’s mission through her sustained volunteer service over the last 14 years. Her internal roles include Vice Chair and Secretary of the Administrative Senate. She was previously the Diversity Committee Chair and served as a co-chair for both institutional accreditation processes.

    Her dedication continues with three years on the Social Welfare Committee and current service on the Employee Development Committee, alongside her work on various advisory committees for local school districts.

    Beyond her professional work, Davis serves as a member of the Missions Board at First Baptist Church of Three Springs. She is also a trained volunteer “Support Parent” for Parent-to-Parent of Pennsylvania, a connection program for parents seeking guidance and resources for children with autism spectrum disorder.

    Marissa Davis Portrait

    Marissa Davis. Image of the award. Volunteer of The Year.

  • Black Bears Wrestling Releases Inaugural Season Schedule

    Posted October 20, 2025 at 11:15 am

    The Pennsylvania Highlands Wrestling team has released the schedule for its inaugural 2025-2026 season.

    The Black Bears will compete in seven regular season events, comprising of four open tournaments, two dual meets, and one tri-meet. All seven events will take place on the road.

    Penn Highlands will begin its campaign on November 9 with a tri-meet at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia, along with the University of Scranton. The full schedule is as follows:

    • November 9 at Shenandoah University (tri-meet)
    • November 21 at Garrett College (dual)
    • December 6 at Thunder Wolves Open
    • December 19 at Wilkes Open
    • January 22 at Penn State Altoona (dual)
    • January 24 at Jamestown Open
    • February 14 at Messiah Open

    Following the regular season, the Black Bears will compete in the Gulf Atlantic District Tournament in late February. Those who advance out of the district tournament will compete in the NJCAA Wrestling Championships on March 6-7 at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

    Dates and times are subject to change.

    Click here for more information on Black Bear Athletics. 

  • College Adds Accelerated Online Format Option To The Cybersecurity Certificate

    Posted October 15, 2025 at 8:57 am

    Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the Cybersecurity Certificate program will now be offered in a fully online, accelerated format, beginning this upcoming Spring 2026 semester.

    The Cybersecurity Certificate can now be completed over both the Spring and Summer semesters. The program consists of seven classes, totaling 22 credits, and will run annually.

    “The new certificate format allows existing students to retake or catch up on core courses without getting off track,” stated Greg Paonessa, Assistant Professor of Computer Technology. “The online nature of the courses will also allow more students access to the Cybersecurity program without limits on their geographical locations, helping students achieve their associate’s degree in case they’re having any issues with past core courses or attending typical in-person classes.”

    The inaugural Spring semester will feature four courses, with two scheduled during the first seven weeks and the remaining two during the second seven weeks.

    In the Summer semester, students will complete two courses during the Summer A session (the first six weeks) and the final course during the Summer B session (the last six weeks).

    The College hopes to offer this certificate with a Fall semester start as well, making the accelerated program available year-round.

    “This new offering will provide flexible and timely in-demand training for students across our region,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Enrollment & Registrar. “It opens the door for working professionals, as well as students new to higher education, to gain not only high-level technical training, but the opportunity to earn industry certifications in the cybersecurity arena.”

    Click here to visit our Institute for Cyber Security (ICS) for more details on this certificate and other related programs. ICS programs are connected to the Cyber ACCESS project. The Cyber ACCESS project is supported with ARISE funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).