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Five Faculty Members obtain Advancement in Rank and/or Tenure

Pennsylvania Highlands congratulates five faculty members on their recent accomplishments. Jeannine McDevitt and Matthew Slifko were awarded advancement in rank while William Wolff and Daniel Kerch were awarded tenure. Gaynelle Schmieder was awarded both advancement in rank and tenure.

Gaynelle Schmieder now holds the position of Assistant Professor, Health Care Professions, in addition to earning tenure. She began her career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in August of 2007. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Francis University and a Master of Education from Clarion University.

Jeannine McDevitt now holds the position of Associate Professor, English. She began her career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in August of 2002. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Seton Hill University and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Purdue University.

Matthew Slifko now holds the position of Assistant Professor, Mathematics. He began his career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in August of 2008. He has a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

William Wolff was recently awarded tenure and is an Associate Professor, Natural Sciences. He began his career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in August of 2006. He has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in Chemistry from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Daniel Kerch was recently awarded tenure and is an Assistant Professor, Accounting. He began his career with Pennsylvania Highlands as a full-time faculty member in December of 2006. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Penn State University and a Master of Business Administration from Mount Alyosius College.

Wheeler Bros., Inc. donates to the College Foundation’s EITC Program

Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recently accepted a donation from Chad Wheeler, Senior Vice President at Wheeler Bros., Inc. The $25,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program donation was given to help support the College’s Accelerated College Education (ACE) Program.

The College’s ACE program provides high school students in grades 9-12 with an opportunity to earn college credits while taking courses at their high school. The program served over 1,700 students during the 2011-12 academic year.

“The support of businesses such as Wheeler Bros. is vital to our ability to operate this program at such a low cost to our students,” said Dr. Asonevich. “We thank them for this donation and are honored that they have chosen to partner with us in our mission.”

Board votes to reduce Student Tuition and Fees

At the Board of Trustees meeting on August 28, 2012, the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to reduce student tuition and fees beginning with the Spring 2013 semester.

“Pennsylvania Highlands is committed to supporting our students in every way possible,” said College president Dr. Walter Asonevich. “We were fortunate to receive funding that was not anticipated when our original budget was developed in April. The Board of Trustees believes that this funding should be utilized to reduce the financial burden on our students.”

This tuition reduction will be in effect for classes taken at all of the College’s facilities. For further details on the upcoming reduction, view our article in the Tribune-Democrat.

Kish Bank donates to the College Foundation’s EITC Program

Bill Yaudes, Vice President and Huntingdon Regional Market Manager for Kish Bank, presents a check to Dr. Walter
Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, at the College’s Education Center on Margy Drive. Kish Bank made the $4,700 donation to the College Foundation’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, which helps fund the Accelerated College Education (ACE) Program.

“Kish Bank has been a supporter of Pennsylvania Highlands from the very beginning,” said Dr. Asonevich. “We are proud to be serving this community and certainly honored to have such a dedicated community partner.”

Pennsylvania Highlands served over 100 students from the Huntingdon County area during the 2011-12 academic year.

College partners with Retraining Assistance Program for Veterans

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is reminding all unemployed veterans that training assistance is available through the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). The Department of Labor will offer employment assistance to every veteran who participates in and completes the program.

The VRAP offers training assistance to veterans who:

• Are between 35 and 60 years old
• Are unemployed on the date of application
• Have an other than dishonorable discharge
• Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program
• Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
• Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

This program is limited and filling up quickly. Participants may receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). The Department of Labor will offer employment assistance to every veteran who participates upon completion of the program.

Veterans may contact Pennsylvania Highlands at 814.262.6446 to speak with an admissions representative about participating. For further information, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.