Newsroom

Second Class Inducted Into Athletics Hall Of Fame

On Friday, November 15, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College held a ceremony to induct the second class into the Black Bear Athletics Hall of Fame.

The six-member class was enshrined in conjunction with the unveiling of the College’s renovated gymnasium at the Richland Campus and before the Men’s Basketball home opener.

“It’s an honor to recognize these former student-athletes and coaches who helped put Penn Highlands athletics on the map,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “They forged a path during the early years, laying the foundation for future success.”

The members of the Class of 2024 include:

• Tim Biakapia (Germantown, MD, 2016-18) – A two-time NJCAA National Player of the Week, Biakapia is the all-time scoring leader at Penn Highlands with 1,202 career points and second all-time in career rebounds with 667. He ranked 2nd in the NJCAA in defensive rebounds (263), third in total rebounds (385), and fourth in points per season (659). After Penn Highlands, Biakapia transferred to NAIA Division I Shawnee State where he had 451 career points, 290 rebounds, 86 assists, and 35 steals in two years. He graduated with a degree in Sports Studies.
• Sarah Fisher Nulton (Johnstown, PA, 2015) – In her lone season at Penn Highlands, Fisher Nulton compiled 163 kills, 168 digs, 62 blocks, and a .360 hitting percentage for the Women’s Volleyball team. She was named to the WPCC All-Academic Team, WPCC All-Conference Team, and the All-Region 20 Team in 2015. After Penn Highlands, she transferred to Mount Aloysius College where she was named First Team All-Conference for the Mounties and graduated with a degree in Nursing.
• Landon Loya (Salisbury, PA, 1999-2000, 2009-21) – Loya played on the first men’s basketball team in school history in 1999-2000 and became a student assistant coach during his second season. He was then hired as the men’s basketball coach in 2010 and also began coaching the women’s volleyball team in 2014. Loya led the men’s basketball team to a WPCC Championship in 2017-18 and a Region 20 runner-up finish in 2020-21.
• Ben Mostoller (Johnstown, PA, 2014-17) – Mostoller was instrumental in creating the Bowling Club at Penn Highlands in 2014-15 that eventually became an official NJCAA sport the next year. He then became the first WPCC Singles Champion in school history in 2016 before service as a volunteer assistant coach in 2017. Mostoller is currently employed at Penn Highlands as a Career Pathways Specialist.
• Maddie Sprankle Dorian (Johnstown, PA, 2017-19) – Sprankle Dorian was the first student-athlete in school history to compete in a national event, finishing 27th out of 136 runners at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships. In basketball, she averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in her lone season. She garnered multiple accolades, including All-Region 20 Women’s Cross Country First Team, All Region 20 Women’s Basketball Honorable Mention, and Western Pennsylvania Collegiate All-Conference for both Cross Country and Women’s Basketball. After Penn Highlands, she transferred to Penn State Dubois and played basketball for two seasons before earning a bachelor’s degree.
• 2017-18 Men’s Basketball Team – The 2017-18 Black Bears posted the winningest season in school history, finishing with an 18-9 overall record and claiming Penn Highlands’ first Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championship. Members of the team included Bryan Acosta, Tyler Bennett, Tim Biakapia, Peyton Brown, Antonio Carter, Anthony Cornetti, Chandler Enos, Jordan Fortson, Prince Griffon, Denzel Mobley, Hunter Thomas, Nathan Thropp, and Von Yoder, as well as Head Coach Landon Loya and Volunteer Assistant Coach Justin Harris.

Black Bear Athletics competes in Region 20 as a member of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference. At Penn Highlands, NJCAA sports offerings include basketball, bowling, cross country, eSports, golf, softball, volleyball, and wrestling.

Members of the Black Bear Athletics Hall of Fame, Second Class. Inducted on Friday, November 15, 2024. Pictured from left to right: Landon Loya, Jordan Fortson, Justin Harris, Tim Biakapia, Hunter Thomas, Peyton Brown, Denzel Mobley, Chandler Enos, Bryan Acosta, Ben Mostoller, Maddie Sprankle Dorian, Sarah Fisher Nulton

Upgraded Gym Unveiled With Ribbon Cutting

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College officials unveiled the College’s recently renovated gymnasium and accompanying facilities with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Richland Campus earlier today, Friday, November 15. 

The ceremony concluded a five-month renovation that began in July with the removal of the old gym divider wall and a vibrant new paint scheme to match the College’s brand. In the following weeks, six brand new basketball hoops, shot clocks, and two upgraded scoreboards were installed. 

Renovations were completed in early November, featuring a newly installed hardwood court adorned with Black Bear Athletics colors and logos. The flooring encompasses a main basketball and volleyball court, complemented by two additional side basketball courts designated for practice. 

“The recent upgrades to our College facilities will significantly enhance the student experience, boost athletic performance, and attract top academic and athletic talent,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, Penn Highlands Community College President. “These improvements reflect our unwavering commitment to providing a top-tier education and preparing our students for future success.” 

Along with the improved gym, Penn Highlands aims to continue making upgrades to the weight room and both men’s and women’s locker rooms. 

“We are very excited to unveil our new facilities,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “This investment reflects our commitment to providing top-notch resources for our student-athletes, enhancing their training experience and fostering success both on and off the field.” 

In the ribbon cutting photos, pictured left to right: Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky, District Director Jim Miliauskas (Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.’s Office, 35th District), Foundation Board Member Ed Porada, Board of Trustees Chairperson Greg Winger, Head Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Coach Will Harris, Head Men’s Basketball and Esports Coach Chris Weakley, Vice President of Student Services Trish Corle, Head Men’s and Women’s Cross County Coach Adrianne Ballarino, President Steve Nunez, Director of Student Activities and Athletics Sue Brugh, Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach Derek Leach, Head Men’s and Women’s Bowling Coach Mike Lucas, Head Softball Coach Steve Costea, and Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Derek Horner.

Students Support Breast Cancer Awareness Through Donation

A group of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students, including Supporting Scholars, Women’s Volleyball players, and members of the Cheer Club, held a “Pink Out” fundraiser to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness on October 15, 2024. 

The event coincided with the final home game of the Women’s Volleyball team, where students engaged in various activities such as hanging posters, hosting a bake sale, and selling bracelets, ribbons, and shirts. Demonstrating their commitment to the cause, the volleyball team donned pink jerseys during the game. 

Through these efforts, the students raised $360.28, which was donated to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center in Windber, PA. The Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center is renowned for its proactive breast cancer care, employing risk-reduction techniques and early detection and treatment to provide exceptional care to individuals in the Johnstown and Windber area. 

“The students spent nearly two weeks preparing for the event so we could have a successful fundraiser and raise awareness for breast cancer,” stated Nicole Wright, Student Services Assistant. “It makes the students even more engaged knowing that it is going to such a worthy cause.” 

This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that over 360,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. However, advances in early detection methods and ongoing support have significantly improved survival rates, with a 99 percent five-year relative survival rate when breast cancer is detected in its earliest stages. 

Franklin University Launches Pathway Portal For Penn Highlands Students

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Franklin University have launched an innovative Pathway Portal for students. This groundbreaking tool simplifies the transition from an associate degree at Penn Highlands to a bachelor’s degree at Franklin University, maximizing the academic and financial advantages of the 3+1 transfer program.

The Franklin Pathway Portal offers real-time updates on how credits earned at Penn Highlands can contribute to a degree at Franklin University. Students from Penn Highlands can effortlessly track their completed courses and understand how they align with their chosen bachelor’s programs.

This transparency empowers students to make informed decisions, optimizing their transfer credits, while saving both time and money on their educational paths.

The Franklin Pathway Portal offers several key benefits, including:

• Optimized Course Selection: The portal suggests Franklin majors that best align with completed coursework. It also recommends additional courses that fulfill both associate and bachelor’s degree requirements.
• Program Comparison: Students can compare their selected programs with other options at Franklin, enhancing decision-making and academic planning.
• Seamless Application Process: A streamlined application within the portal allows students to efficiently transition to Franklin University to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
• Special Tuition Rate: New students enrolling at Franklin University through the Pathway Portal can benefit from a reduced tuition rate of $298 per credit hour, pending eligibility.

“I am excited to collaborate with Franklin University and explore new opportunities for Penn Highlands graduates,” stated Sabrina Lane, Transfer Services Specialist at Penn Highlands. “This portal offers an economical path to obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Franklin University, allowing students to take the maximum number of courses at Penn Highlands for a smooth transfer process.”

Click here for the Franklin Pathway Portal. 

About Franklin University
Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA. 
 
Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE). 

Men’s Basketball Releases 2024-2025 Home Schedule

The Pennsylvania Highlands Men’s Basketball team has unveiled its 2024-25 home schedule, featuring games from November to February.

The Black Bears will play 12 of their 28 games at home. Penn Highlands opens the season with seven consecutive road contests, including competing in the Community College of Beaver County Tip Off Classic.

The home opener will be on Friday, November 15, at 7 PM against Penn State Greater Allegheny. The game will feature the new look of the College’s Richland Campus gymnasium and the induction of the Black Bear Athletics Hall of Fame’s second class.

All home games will be played in the Richland Campus gymnasium. Dates and times are subject to change. The full home schedule is as follows:

“I am looking forward to the season and am excited about our program as a whole,” stated first-year Head Coach Chris Weakley. “When you have a team that thinks defense first, we believe we have set the stage to win championships. Anything less is unacceptable by our standards.”

After the regular season, the Black Bears will compete in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 Tournament at a site to be determined on February 21-23. The winner becomes the conference and regional champion, and will then compete in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship for a possible berth in the NJCAA Division III National Tournament.

For full schedule details, visit www.blackbearathletics.com/.