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Student Engagement Awards 2025 Set For April 24

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will host its annual Student Engagement Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 24, at 6 PM inside the Richland Campus Auditorium.

Awards will be presented to students who have achieved the highest academic level in their respective programs, as well as those who will be inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Theta Kappa.

Club and athletic awards will also be given to those students involved in their respective clubs and sports. The club awards are based on both leadership and service.

“We are proud to celebrate our students who shine both inside and outside the classroom,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “Many of our students are achieving remarkable success in their academic programs, clubs, organizations, and athletics. We aim to honor these exceptional students and ensure their hard work is acknowledged.”

Nominations for the Distinguished Graduate Award will also be presented during the ceremony. The Distinguished Graduate accolade recognizes a student who has dedicated their time and efforts to enriching Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the surrounding community, while upholding an exemplary academic record.

The Distinguished Graduate Award will be presented at this year’s Commencement on May 16.

For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, a live stream of the event will be available on the College’s YouTube channel.

Click here for the Student Engagement Awards webpage.

Innovative Avatar program Enhances Education for Social Work Students

Students in the Social Work Associate of Arts (A.A.) Program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are utilizing a unique avatar system to aid with degree progress and real-world skills.

The avatar, known as Mika, gives students the ability to practice interview skills and fill out proper forms while they complete application assignments in courses within the Social Work program.

Mika is built with the background of a person struggling with both in school and out of school issues, as it responds to open-ended questions with a recorded voice and gives students feedback while progressing through interviews.

“The avatar is a great way to enhance interviewing skills through application,” stated Yvette Madison, Professor of Social Work. “It gives students additional resources to help them gain experience as they progress through the program. They have been very receptive to the avatar and have given a lot of positive feedback.”

The avatar was developed alongside Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) and was highlighted in a CTC display at the local Showcase of Commerce in 2022.

As Penn Highlands collaborates with its own Computer Information Technology students, the College is also exploring ways to enrich the storyline centered around the avatar, Mika. This includes the potential addition of a secondary storyline or the introduction of another avatar to complement Mika’s journey.

Learn more about the College’s Social Work associate degree program.

Penn Highlands Community College Earns 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School Designation

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced it has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School designation (silver status).

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going above the standard.

The 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, exceeding the standard,” stated Kayla Lopez, Vice President, Military Friendly®.

About Military Friendly® Schools (www.militaryfriendly.com)
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. 
 
About Viqtory (www.viqtory.com)
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity.

Affordable Education & Bright Futures; Students Can Graduate With Little To No Debt

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is dedicated to delivering affordable, high-quality education that empowers students to succeed. At Penn Highlands, students don’t just earn degrees or certificates – they graduate prepared to shape their futures, equipped with financial freedom and unburdened by educational debt. 

Recent graduates are celebrating not just their academic accomplishments, but also the milestone of achieving a debt-free future. In fact, less than 50% of last year’s graduated class borrowed an educational loan. With tuition costs among the lowest in the region, additional scholarship opportunities, and support services, Penn Highlands ensures that higher education remains accessible to all. 

“The financial aid staff at Penn Highlands is committed to educating our students on how to graduate debt-free or with minimal debt,” stated Ashley Krinjeck, Director of Student Financial Services. “With the increasing costs in higher education, Penn Highlands can offer quality academic programming while keeping tuition costs affordable. This allows our students to start their next journey, whether into the workforce or transferring to a four-year institution to continue their education, with little or no debt.” 

During the last academic year, Penn Highlands provided $2.4 million in Pell Grants to support its students, with 75% of those in financial need receiving this crucial assistance. In addition, Penn Highlands awarded over $95,000 in scholarships, including Supporting Scholars Scholarships and Foundation Scholarships, further demonstrating its commitment to making education accessible and affordable. 

Currently, tuition and fees for Cambria County residents equal $7,110 (based on two semesters and 30 total credits). Eligible students may receive a Federal Pell Grant of up to $7,395 and a PA State Grant of up to $3,058, totaling $10,453 in Federal and State aid. This gives the student an estimated refund of $3,343. The student can use these excess funds for other expenses such as books, transportation, and living expenses. 

Students from low-income families can have the cost of college fully covered or face minimal out-of-pocket expenses, thanks to federal and state aid that covers their tuition. 

Penn Highlands also partners with KEYS (Keystone Education Yields Success), which is designed to help TANF and Food Stamp recipients succeed in community college. The KEYS program can provide additional supportive services available through your County Assistance Office for expenses such as childcare, transportation, and books. 

Learn more about the process of paying for college by clicking here. 

Adelyn Dull Receives Gordon Graham Leadership & Ethics In Criminal Justice Scholarship

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College student Adelyn Dull (Hollsopple, PA) has received the Gordon Graham Leadership and Ethics in Criminal Justice Scholarship from the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute (IPSLEI) and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Adelyn Dull

Dull, who currently serves as the College’s Student Senate President, Student Board Trustee, and Phi Theta Kappa Vice President, was given a $1,250 award after being selected through a number of eligibility standards.

“I am deeply grateful to IPSLEI for this incredible opportunity,” Dull stated. “This scholarship not only supports my academic journey, but also reinforces my commitment to criminal justice and public safety. I look forward to using this opportunity to further develop my knowledge and leadership skills to make a meaningful impact in the field.”

The Graham Scholarship program provides scholarships exclusively to Phi Theta Kappa members who demonstrate potential for excellence in the criminal justice field while enrolled in a regionally accredited associate degree public safety program.

To be eligible, the student must have completed 45 or more semester credits by December, have a 3.50 or higher GPA on coursework completed in the last five years, major in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Criminology, Law, or a closely related field, and be a Phi Theta Kappa member in good standing.

This scholarship was established by IPSLEI and Phi Theta Kappa in honor of Gordon Graham, a retired law enforcement commander, attorney, internationally known speaker, author, and lecturer in criminal justice and risk management.

The Graham Scholarship is one of a growing number of scholarships available to Phi Theta Kappa members in career or technical programs. To learn more about the scholarship, click here.

About IPSLEI
The International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institutebrings the concepts of leadership and ethics to the forefront of an individual’s career, rather than waiting until a person is promoted into a supervisory position. This program is based on the belief that one need not be a supervisor or manager to understand leadership principles and contribute to the leadership process. Learn more about IPSLEI. 
 
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.