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Commission Celebrates Recent Grads Set To Fill Workforce Needs Statewide

The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) celebrated the graduation of 7,530 students from the state’s 15 community colleges last month. Of those, Pennsylvania Highlands celebrated the graduation of 303 students in May, with the top associate degrees being Liberal Arts and Sciences (72), Business Management (31), Medical Coding and Billing (19), Education (19), Accounting (13), and Radiologic Technology (13). 

Pennsylvania’s community colleges annually enroll over 245,000 students at 80 different campus locations, providing real savings to students and families as they pursue additional college credentials.  

“Penn Highlands continues to provide affordable, accessible and quality education to the communities we serve, and our graduates are expertly trained to either transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree at a university or to quickly enter the workforce,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, Pennsylvania Highlands President. 

Based on current census and population data, it is estimated Pennsylvania’s projected skilled worker shortage could reach 820,000 in the coming years. Community colleges already excel in providing skilled graduates to help meet the state and the region’s workforce needs that will support continued economic expansion.  

Around half of Penn Highlands graduates will immediately enter the region’s workforce as highly trained professionals while the remainder will focus on a bachelor’s degree before entering the workforce.  

Community colleges are the state’s largest provider of public postsecondary education and workforce training and offer the lowest public postsecondary cost of attendance in Pennsylvania. About 55 percent of undergraduate students enrolled in a Pennsylvania college or university are enrolled at one of the state’s community colleges.  

Additionally, 75 percent of community colleges’ programs align with High Priority Occupations in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, and public safety. Community colleges award over 4,000 healthcare credentials annually on average, including 75 percent of all associate degrees in nursing in the state.  

“Penn Highlands will remain focused on its mission to provide outstanding educational opportunities to the communities we serve,” Nunez stated.  

Somerset Trust Donates $20,000 To College Foundation

The Somerset Trust Company generously donated $20,000 to the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, aimed at strengthening the College’s Educational Income Tax Credit (EITC) fund.

The donation will enable the bank (based in Somerset, PA) and other institutions to support educational causes offered by the College. With Penn Highlands also applying for and maintaining its EITC status, the donation will help allow the College to offer classes at a reduced price for its dual enrollment students through the Accelerated College Education program.

“We are very grateful for Somerset Trust Company’s continued generosity towards our college and our students,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “”They are supporting a valuable program that attracted over 1,100 students from 53 school districts last year, and it continues to experience growth.”

The EITC program empowers high school students to enroll in college-level courses, allowing them to earn credits and explore the opportunities that Penn Highlands can provide for their future careers. This is the second contribution Somerset Trust Company has made to the College’s EITC fund, joining a donation made in 2023.

“Somerset Trust Company is pleased to support the community-focused, educational mission of Penn Highlands,” stated John Kubinsky, Somerset Trust Company Vice President and Commercial Credit Officer. “The College is a valued asset to our area. Its degrees and programs support the region’s ongoing economic and workforce needs.”

The EITC Program received $17,000 in funds in 2023. This allowed the College to award more than 7,000 credits at a discounted rate to over 2,000 participating students in the past year.

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is grateful to the Somerset Trust Company for its donations and continuous partnership.

Check being given to the College Foundation at the Richland Campus. Left to right: Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation; Nancy D’Aniello, Director of Education and Training Solutions at Concurrent Technologies Corporation; Traci Naugle, Attorney at Forr, Stokan, Huff, Kormanski & Naugle; Jeffrey Wood, President of the Pennsylvania Highlands Foundation Board of Directors; Steve Nunez, Pennsylvania Highlands President; John Kubinsky, Somerset Trust Company Vice President/Commercial Credit Officer; Ed Porada, Foundation Board Secretary; David Mordan, Foundation Board Vice President (May 2023).

New Culinary Scholarship Supports Students Seeking Culinary Arts Careers

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is delighted to introduce a new scholarship opportunity for our community: the Ignite the Fire Culinary Scholarship. This initiative supports students pursuing studies in the College’s Culinary Arts program.

This is funded through the support of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the 1889 Foundation, and other generous community donors.

“Current and future Culinary Arts students have a wonderful opportunity,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “This scholarship is designed to help students succeed academically and in their careers. In most cases, culinary students can attend Penn Highlands with minimal or no cost.”

To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must be high school graduates with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Applicants must enroll as a full-time Culinary Arts student at Penn Highlands and have accepted any aid eligible to help pay for a college education.

Culinary students not meeting eligibility criteria due to a lower credit load (less than 12 enrolled credits) or high school GPA can directly appeal to the College Foundation for exceptions.

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation awards scholarships based on the availability of annual funds, at their discretion. Each student’s financial aid amount is decided after carefully reviewing their application, ensuring assistance is tailored to individual needs.

The Ignite the Fire Culinary Scholarship accompanies the launch of the College’s Center for Culinary Excellence, which officially opened its doors in March of 2024 in downtown Johnstown.

Dean’s List For Spring 2024

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College announces that the following students have made the Dean’s List for the Spring 2024 semester.

Altoona – Dillon Wayne Donnelly, Nicole L. Fulcomer, Nikki Gunther-Geesaman, Gage Lynn Haselbarth, Evan Himes, Shaylee Jackson, Nichole Marie Kerstetter, Bruce K. Krestar, Kristal Masic, Victoria Paola Neuprine, Michele Elyse Plummer, Taylor Morgan Rickabaugh, Alexander Christian Wilkins

Alverda– Natalie Linn Pileski

Bellefonte – Hunter Knisely

Belleville – Michaela Susan Yoder

Berlin – Tobias Morgan Craig, Alexander Dively

Boswell – Bobbi Ann Dragt

Calvin – Brooke Anne Shee

Central City – Haily Nicole Wagoner, Sara Sue Watkins

Conemaugh – Alexis Ann Kane

Connellsville – Jessica Dawn Frye

Cresson – Angela Diane Noel, Ian David Rice, Salvatore Tiracave

Davidsville – Chase Joseph Dinyar, Logan Robert Pitera

Duncansville – Rylee Paige Boyer, Raechel Collier, Jonathan David Edmundson, McKenzie Lynn Woods

East Freedom – Macray James Markovich

Ebensburg – Kaley Storm Fleck, Joseph Thomas Flick, Mary Danielle Gittings, Lauren Elizabeth Kiepert, John Anthony Edward Wolf

Elton – Bryce Ian Johnson

Fairhope – Megan Riley Persuhn

Fallentimber – James Richard Eakins

Friedens – Jessica Shockey

Gallitzin – Christiana Mary Rosella Koytek

Greensboro – Leah Ann Minick

Hastings – Anna Michele Charney, Carmella Rae Fredo, Holly Jean Leamer, Krista Rose Watt

Hollidaysburg – Benjamin Patrick Dombrosky, Holland Sterling Johnson, Alexis Paige Ketner, Zachary Hunter Knee, Emily Doris McNutt, Megyn L. Nolan

Hollsopple – Kristie Byer, Adelyn Nicole Dull, Courtney M. Grimme, Leonela Nichols, Amy C. Roberts

Homer City – Autumn Sue Montgomery

Huntingdon – Rebecca Bickle, Dylan Edward Miller, Thomas Allen Reihart, Deanna Alexandra Sorensen

Hyde – Sean Lee Miller, Peyton William Reasinger

Indiana – David Charles Croyle, Devin James Croyle, Carla Jean Frederick, Michael John Mundwiler

James Creek – Lakeesha Gibbons

Jenners – Joseph B. Hornick, Ben Storoz

Jerome – Erin Maria Sutton

Johnstown – Sarah Akoto, Trinity Ashanti Akoto, Evan Joseph Allen, Gabriel Anderson, Nancy Arias, Maria Alejandra Baez, Kaitlyn Marie Baxendale, Noah Christopher Best, Skylar R. Brougher, Ryan Louis Brown, Myra Lianna Bush, Hannah Nichole Cameron, Stephanie Dawn Cassanese, Alyssa Renee Cogley, Linsey E. Dabbs, Hannah Dadura, Molly Margaret Davies, Kyleigh R. Duranko, Kyle Lee Feliciano, Carlyn Gorden, Ryan Arthur Gorden, Christian J. Haberkorn, Connor F. Haberkorn, Nichole Myra Harrity, N’evaeh Maseik Haskins, Alyse Renae Hastie, Gabriel Byron Helsel, Tranise Hill, Kara M. Himes, Riley E. Holsopple, Marcayes E. Hutchins, Matthew James Jasper, Alexa Leasha Kelly, Xenia E. Kobal, Michele Krutch-Paonessa, Sage Nevaeh Lodolinski, Harry Douglas Lonas, Dalton J. Lynch, Emma F. McAfee, Laurell C. McClurkin, Christopher Matthew McKendrick, Elijah James Minahan, Akram Moustafa Moaz, Yolanda Monge, Amanda Nicole Mosorjak, Brice W. Mroczka, Jennafer Lynn Palmer, Brooke Pasquerilla, Justin Pierre-Paul, Seth Macaulay James Plummer, Mackenzie Lynn Quinn, Nicholas Santos Salguero, Dylan Charles Santichen, Julia Nicole Suhayda, Lexington T. Tanaka, Taya L. Thomas, James Vasilko, Jeremie Travis Washington, Emily Elizabeth Weiser, Madelyn S. Wilfong, Kelvin Moises Williams, Charizma Rose Wilson, Evan Joseph Wiseman, Joziah Emanuel Wyatt-Taylor

Laureldale – Jalimaris Morales

Lebanon – Taylor Lee Cross

Lilly – Grant William Bossler

Loretto – Jaden Conrad, Ryan Joseph Lenz, Kayla Weslager

Lucerne Mines – Cholena Dunlap

Manns Choice – Olivia Danielle Miller

Mapleton Depot – Lilyana F. Hicks

Martinsburg – Kirsten Elizabeth Ayers, Jarrin Butler, Paikea Croyle

McVeytown – Kaitlyn Walk

Meyersdale – Paige Elizabeth Beal, Samuel Robert Hughes, Hailey Paige Secrest, Keira Nikol Younkin

Mineral Point – Christopher Evans, Elliot Michael Knepper, Allie Anne Polchito, Alyssa Mae Primel

Nanty Glo – Kylee Lynn McMullen

New Enterprise – Ashley E. Kichman

New Florence – Skye Alexis Cramer, Megan Deann Rougeaux

New Paris – Lauryn Elizabeth Calhoun

Newry – Travis John Molliver

Northern Cambria – Ariana Bush, Olivia Ann Cavallo, Carly Despoy, Serenity Lorraine Pala, Alexandra Elizabeth Rummell, Joshua Robert Walters

Osterburg – Nickie Sue VanPelt

Patton – Paige Ann-Marie Jones, Skylar Marie Kovac, Charlene Miko

Petersburg – Hannah Marie Detterline

Portage – Olivia Ann Burk, Sara Mary Gearhart, Jessica Dawn Karstetter, Anissa Lynn Rosemas

Revloc – Cynthia Estelle Dotson, Marah June Ketchock

Roaring Spring – Payden Joseph Imler-Knisely, Paul R. Rhodes

Rockwood – Alexander Sheldon Benford, Mary Jane Hudson, Joscelin Marie Revello

Saint Michael – James Barber

Salix – Shaylan Lee Liebig

Schellsburg – Mary Bernadette Martell

Seward – Aidan J. Strong

Shirleysburg – Abigail Joanne Aurand

Somerset – Asa M. Belardi, Chloe Rebecca Berman, Kate Riley Berman, Hayley M. Fieg, Anna Louise Emma Hersh, Rebekah Marie Krishak, Will Andrew Latuch, Logan Ling, Emily Grace Miller, Abigail M. Show, Jade Isabelle Williams

South Fork – Kayla Marie Clifford, Tresa Ann Mackel, Christina Nicole Schrader

Spruce Creek – Hailey Dawn Weyer

State College – Farhan Hassan Talukder

Stoystown – Austin Michael Craycraft, Alicia Marie Fyock, Hunter Luke Martin

Three Springs – Miley M. Druist, Katelyn M. Harper

Tyrone – Emma Riley Dibert, Victoria Greene, Stacy Teresa Kustaborder

Uniontown – Mylaysia Ellis

Williamsburg – Aliyah Logan Ross

Windber – Andrew Lawrence Betcher, Abigail Elizabeth Bush, Karli Shay Hanik, Hannah M. Knappenberger, Gianna R. Manippo, Caroline Annabelle McClain, Amy Lynn Mirilovich, Mason Carter Popovich, Jude Robert Tomaselli, Braydon Alexander Wojcik

York – Nick Roomsburg

Transfer Agreement With Jeff Tech Assists Media Production Students

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Penn Highlands) has signed an articulation agreement with the Jefferson County-Dubois Area Vocational-Technical School (Jeff Tech) in Reynoldsville, PA.

The agreement allows Jeff Tech’s Digital Communications students to apply their completed program credits into the Media Production associate degree program at Penn Highlands.

“We are excited to be working with our partners at Jeff Tech in providing meaningful pathways for students to further their education after graduation,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Enrollment Services and Registrar at Penn Highlands.

A maximum of three classes or nine credits can be transferred through the articulation process and into the Media Production program, including:

• MPR 100 Introduction to Production
• MPR 130 Radio Production
• MPR 250 Video Production

All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher to be eligible to transfer.

Jeff Tech is a comprehensive career and technical high school offering training in 14 specific areas. Jeff Tech provides high school academics alongside Career & Technical Education (CTE) and Cooperative Education programs.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College holds over 150 articulation agreements with various educational institutions.