Newsroom

Lady Black Bears coach and players earn awards.

Originally published on October 28, 2010.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to congratulate Coach Eric Gerko and players Lauren Brant and Kelsey Poborski on their stellar achievements this season. Coach Eric Gerko, a Richland High School Graduate and Juniata College Alum, has been named Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Coach of the Year. Lauren Brant, a Richland High School Graduate, and Kelsey Poborski, a Conemaugh Valley Graduate, have been named to the All-Conference Team for the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC), which participates in Region XX of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Lauren Brant led the team with 101 kills, 101 digs, 30 service aces, 21 solo blocks, 11 assists, and 4 assisted blocks in 40 games played. Kelsey Poborski contributed 66 kills, 67 digs, 12 service aces, 5 assisted blocks, 4 solo blocks, and 3 assists in 26 games played. Kelsey was a force to be reckoned with until an ankle injury sidelined her for 3 matches. During Kelsey’s absence, Lauren Brant rose to the occasion and propelled the Lady Black Bears to the fourth seed of the WPCC Tournament in Pennsylvania Highland’s inaugural season.

In the first round of the WPCC Tournament, The Lady Black Bears of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College easily defeated the Titans of the Community College of Beaver County in three straight games: 25-17, 25-8, and 25-13. Pennsylvania Highlands then faced number one seeded Butler County Community College Pioneers in the semi-finals, who were the pre-season ninth ranked team in the nation in NJCAA Division III Volleyball. After an intense match, the Lady Pioneers defeated the Pennsylvania Highlands Lady Black Bears in three straight games: 20-25, 8-25, and 14-25, en route to the conference championship where they defeated Potomac State College of West Virginia.

The Lady Black Bears, in just their first season, finished conference play with a 6-6 record, tied with Westmoreland County Community College for third place, but ended up ahead of them because of games won (4-3) and in head-to-head points (160-133).

The Lady Black Bears featured players from Bishop McCort, Conemaugh Valley, Forest Hills, Northern Cambria, and Richland high schools. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to offer student-athletes the ability to continue playing volleyball at the collegiate level.

College distributes over $40,000 in scholarships.

Originally published on October 18, 2010.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation has announced the distribution of over $40,000 in scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year marking the largest scholarship distribution in the College’s 16 year history. “We are very pleased and proud to be able to provide this assistance to our students,” said Brenda Coughenour Director of Financial Aid. “Our goal is to continue to increase the number of available scholarships so that we can assist as many students as possible.”

This year’s scholarships were provided by American Association of University Women Johnstown Branch, Dominion, Dr. Edward Haluska, Joseph and Joan Mangarella Endowment, Ursula Pawlowski Memorial Scholarship, Sam and Sara Valenty Endowment and the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Trustees.

The College has received commitments from three new donors to create scholarships during the 2011-12 academic year. In addition to the Dr. Walter and Kim Asonevich Endowed Scholarship, Crown American Hotels has committed to a one year full tuition scholarship for a first year culinary arts student beginning with the fall 2011 semester and the Johnstown Regional Indian Subcontinent Association will provide a partial scholarship to a first year student taking a minimum of 6 credits.

College announces Asonevich Scholarship

Originally published on September 9th, 2010.

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation has announced the establishment of the Dr. Walter and Kim Asonevich Endowed Scholarship. The Asonevich’s have pledged $12,500 to fund the scholarship starting in the Fall 2011 semester. The scholarship will provide assistance to a full-time first semester student who is a single parent enrolled in an associate’s degree program.

Dr. Asonevich was inaugurated as President of the College in March of 2008 and is pleased to be able to give this gift to the College Foundation. “My wife and I have decided it is time to give back to the institution that has provided me my first presidency,” he stated.

Since the arrival of Dr. Asonevich the College has moved to its current location on Community College Way in Richland, revamped its offerings at the Ebensburg Education Center, and added expansion sites in Somerset and Huntingdon counties. The College has added new career-technical programs in welding and culinary arts and will be offering a pilot training course starting in Fall 2010. Enrollment has grown tremendously, and the College has rejoined the NJCAA with men’s basketball and women’s volleyball ready to begin in Fall 2010.

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation currently administers 6 endowed scholarships. They include the Johnstown Branch of The American Association of University Women, the Joseph and Joan Mangarella Scholarship, the Anna D. Weitz Scholarship, Sam and Sara Valenty Scholarship, Dr. Edward Haluska Scholarship and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.