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Delivering Free Grant Workshops Through Partnership With JARI

Career Services and Workforce Development at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, with support from JARI through the Supporting Learning Communities grant program, recently completed two workshops in September and October on communications and diversity that successfully assisted 38 total participants.

The first workshop discussed communication skills, helping to improve the level of professionalism amongst co-workers. The second workshop discussed diversity in the workplace, allowing employees to let their guards down and build healthy business relationships.

The overall objective of the Supporting Learning Communities grant is to provide individuals with resources to access education programs, leading to careers that pay family sustaining wages and offer opportunities for career advancement.

“This grant program will help make a long-term impact on local individuals, families, and the region’s economy,” stated Debi Balog, Director of Workforce Development at JARI. “Building up our current and future workforce, that’s the vision for this program.”

The grant provides both pre-employment and workforce training. Pre-employment training provides soft skills and digital literacy training courses for job seekers and those seeking career advancement. Workforce training provides relevant group training for incumbent workers in need of “middle skills” upgrades.

Additional free workshops are coming in November and December. These cover Time Management and Zoom Basics, and are currently registering participants. More workshops are in the works for early 2021 and beyond.

“We are excited to be the provider of these ongoing, timely, and essential career readiness workshops for Cambria and Somerset County residents,” stated Larry Brugh, Dean of Career Services and Workforce Development at Penn Highlands Community College. “The generosity of an anonymous donation made it possible for this grant program to offer this training at no cost to the participants.”

“In addition to serving our residents with pre-employment training topics, we are able to implement career advancement education for our middle-skilled incumbent employees from regional businesses. We look forward to working in collaboration with our JARI colleagues and regional industry partners.”

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been serving the area with inclusive workforce training needs since 1994.

Ribbon Cutting Held For Re-Opening of Ebensburg Center

College officials and members of the Board of Trustees were joined by Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. and Amy Bradley, President of the Cambria Regional Chamber, to celebrate the recent renovations and re-opening of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Ebensburg Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, October 26^th. This event was held along at 881 Hills Plaza Drive, along Route 22 in Ebensburg, PA.

Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Penn Highlands, and Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. spoke to those in attendance. Bradley then presented the College with a plaque to mark the occasion.

Renovations at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Ebensburg Center include changes that “right-sized” the facility to create a more useable, inclusive workspace better equipped to ensure future success for students. These changes include a new student lounge, a work room for Education students to create their projects, and a new crime scene lab for Criminal Justice students.

This major update also included new outdoor signage, providing a visible and vibrant display to those traveling on Route 22. And, in early 2021, new furnishings are set to be delivered and placed in the facility.

In addition to the ribbon cutting, tours of the updated facility were provided to those in attendance.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been at its current location in Ebensburg on Route 22 since 2004. In total, Penn Highlands has been serving the region since 1994.

Ribbon cutting with (L to R) Reb Brownlee, Director of Facilities Operations; Lorraine Donahue, Vice President of Finance and Administration; Greg Winger, Board Chairperson; Dr. Steve Nunez, College President; Carl DeYulis, Board Member; Senator Wayne Langerholc; and Kathleen Morrell, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.

Plaque presentation with (L to R) Amy Bradley, President of the Cambria Regional Chamber, presenting the plaque to Dr. Steve Nunez, College President.

In-Person Open House Scheduled For November 11th & 12th

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding an in-person Open House at its facilities on Wednesday, November 11th, and Thursday, November 12th. Prospective students and their guest may choose from one of five sessions to attend:

• November 11^th: 2pm or 4pm
• November 12^th: 2pm, 4pm, or 6pm

Individuals will learn about Penn Highlands and its opportunities, including degree programs and coursework, transfer options, and financial assistance opportunities. Information on student life, including clubs, activities, and athletics, will also be presented. Faculty and alumni will be on-hand to discuss their personal experiences.

As an added incentive, prospective students will be eligible to win a 2021-2022 tuition voucher, good for a $250 discount, if they complete a survey while in attendance.

To attend, individuals must RSVP by clicking here.

No walk-ins are permitted due to COVID-19. Additionally, as pre-cautions to keep everyone safe, masks are required and social distancing protocols will be followed.

Open House locations include:

• Blair Center
  Logan Valley Mall (Next to Macy’s)
  5580 Goods Lane, Altoona, PA 16602
  814.201.2700 | blair@pennhighlands.edu

• Ebensburg Center
  881 Hills Plaza Drive, Suite 450, Ebensburg, PA 15931
  814.471.0010 | ebensburg@pennhighlands.edu

• Huntingdon Center
  6311 Margy Drive, Huntingdon, PA 16652
  814.643.6200 | huntingdon@pennhighlands.edu

• Richland Campus
  101 Community College Way, Johnstown, PA 15904
  814.262.6446 | admissions@pennhighlands.edu

• Somerset Center
  Somerset County Education Center
  6024 Glades Pike, Suite 210, Somerset, PA 15501
  814.443.2500 | somerset@pennhighlands.edu

Penn Highlands has been proudly serving the community with quality and affordable academic options in an inclusive atmosphere since 1994.

For additional information, contact any of the college locations directly, or call us at 1.888.385.PEAK.

Penn Highlands Foundation Awards Over $22,000 in Scholarships

Lauren Sichko accepting her JRISA Scholarship Award: (L to R) Kathleen Morrell, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement; Lauren Sichko, JRISA Scholarship Award Recipient; and Dr. Kamal Gella, Gella LLC and JRISA Scholarship Donor.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is excited to announce the distribution of more than $22,000 in scholarship money to students for the 2020-2021 academic year. These scholarships, sponsored by numerous businesses and area philanthropists, are fostered and maintained by the Penn Highlands Community College Foundation.

Foundation scholarships are vital in supporting aid to students in need within our region while at the same time ensuring that we are fulling our mission: To seek and secure financial support for the College and its students by raising friends ands funds while successfully managing resources and relationships within the surround communities.

The Foundation is proud to announce the following 2020-2021 Academic Scholarship Recipients:

• American Association of University Women (AAUW), Johnstown Branch Scholarship: Brianna Tustin (Johnstown, PA)

• Dr. Walter and Kim Asonevich Scholarship: Jocelynn Galat (Asheville, PA)

• College Employee Supported Scholarship: Evie Johnson (Derry, PA)

• Griffith Family Scholarship: Chloe Schiffel (Mount Union, PA)

• Dr. Edward Haluska Scholarship: Jennifer Charbonneau (Meyersdale, PA)

• Daniel and Diane Holtzman Scholarship: Lauren Sichko (Northern Cambria, PA)

• Kathy Holtzman Memorial Scholarship: Kylee Hamilton (Parkhill, PA)

• Huntingdon Hope Scholarship: Jonathan Crocefoglia (Tyrone, PA)

• Amanda Jenkins State Farm Scholarship: Angelina Grove (Hesston, PA)

• Johnstown Regional Indian Subcontinent Association (JRISA) Scholarship: Lauren Sichko (Northern Cambria, PA)

• Joseph and Joan Mangarella Scholarship: Leah Farabaugh (Ebensburg, PA)

• Dale W. Miller Scholarship: Scott Griffin (Shirleysburg, PA)

• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Scholarship: Elizabeth Ruszkoski (Johnstown, PA), Sierria Echon (Johnstown, PA)

• Ursula Pawlowski Memorial Scholarship: Jennifer Stouffer (Jerome, PA)

• Roth Family Scholarship: Makayla Langenbacher (Hollidaysburg, PA), Kendra Culp (Altoona, PA), Imani Vaughn (Altoona, PA), Casey Mabry (Altoona, PA)

• Somerset VFW Scholarship: Jacqueline Ziatyk (New Florence, PA)

• Stoystown American Legion Scholarship: Danelle Roberts (Williamsburg, PA)

• Supporting Success Scholarship: Danelle Roberts (Williamsburg, PA), Kylee Hamilton (Parkhill, PA), Kendra Culp (Altoona, PA), Elizabeth Ruszkoski (Johnstown, PA)

• Valenty Scholarship: Emilee Wertz (Altoona, PA)

• Anna D. Weitz Scholarship: Lauren Wiseman (Johnstown, PA)

• Stan and Helen Westbrook Scholarship: Nicholas Hurley (Mount Union, PA)

Mentorship Matters

The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat , written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column. 

When I was a young man of 19 years, I was a sophomore at my local community college. At the time, I was majoring in history and had postponed taking any science classes. But by the fall of 1990, I could no longer avoid them, and I found myself sitting in my first college biology class. It felt dreadful.

It was here that I met my first mentor. It was in that classroom, over two semesters, that a young, excited, intelligent, fun professor taught me about the world of science in general, and biology specifically.

I was transfixed by his engaging teaching style and interesting take on the world. As a student, I couldn’t wait to attend his class.

But it was his kindness, his love for teaching, his individual attention and nudging, that eventually helped me turn my sights toward majoring in biology and to seek a career in science. Thank you, Dr. Bruce Gillihan.

Mentors are just as valuable to adults. A little more than five years ago, Sauk Valley Community College hired a new president.

He quickly won over his leadership team with his ability to relate to them, to believe in them, and to create opportunities that stretched them professionally.

His encouragement, friendship, and faith in me eventually led me to apply, and ultimately win, this job as president at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

His only glaring flaw was his undying love for the Green Bay Packers, but none of us is perfect. Thank you, Dr. David Hellmich.

When I was taking my doctoral classes on leadership and still thinking about and refining my own leadership style, I found myself thinking back to the virtues and values of my parents. They treated everyone with kindness and respect, despite any ideological differences. They taught me to be open-minded, that you could disagree without being disagreeable, that the way you communicate is as important as what you communicate.

I hope that I carry those same virtues and values with me in my leadership role here at the college. Thank you, Patsy and Frank Nunez, or Mom and Dad, as I call you.

Mentors come in many varieties.

Most mentors, I believe, don’t even recognize that they are providing mentorship. In truth, mentors are just people who have taken professional interest in another person and provide guidance, much like a professional “parent,” and encourage, offer advice, and help direct or redirect a mentee’s focus.

I look back at my life and see that I am standing on the shoulders of many who took an interest in me, who became willing mentors and nudged me (or sometimes pushed me) to be the professional and human being I am today.

Thanks to all of you who have helped me in this journey of mine.

Today I challenge you, the reader, to take a few minutes of your day and think of those people who may have changed your life for the better and reach out to them, if possible, to thank them.

And, then find some time in the future to talk about and recognize them, to share those stories that celebrate their lives, with your friends and family.

Ultimately, mentorship matters.

Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.