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Graduate & Gold Scholar Says Community College Changed Her Life

Original article appeared on the Pennsylvania Commission For Community Colleges website, written by Carolyn Simpson. Click here to see original sourced article. 

Emily Krisko

“Pennsylvania Highlands Community College changed my life,” said Emily Krisko. “I identified my passion and charted an educational pathway to a career in that profession; I enriched myself and my community through volunteer work; and I had the opportunity to learn, grow, and excel. I really found myself there.”

Emily Krisko, a December 2019 Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Penn Highlands) graduate, was recently named a member of the 26th Annual All-Pennsylvania Academic Team and honored as one of two 2020 Coca-Cola Gold Scholars in the Commonwealth.

The Academic Team recognizes an exceptional group of community college students who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated a commitment to their colleges and communities. As a Gold Scholar, Ms. Krisko will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Pennsylvania’s community colleges also partner with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities to provide scholarships to eligible All-PA Transfer Team members at PASSHE institutions, providing two years of tuition at any PASSHE school.

Ms. Krisko is currently enrolled at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and pursuing a degree in Speech Language Pathology with a minor in Deaf Studies.

“I always wanted to find a career in the medical field – somewhere I could help people – but I found my calling when I began working with people with disabilities after high school,” she shared. “I saw the struggles they face every day, particularly with communication. Prior to that job, I did not have experience working with disability, but now it is the only future I want. Penn Highlands helped plan my education around a career in that field and I can’t wait to realize my goals.”

Although Ms. Krisko first chose Penn Highlands for its affordability, she quickly realized the college offered quality education. She said that her courses more than prepared her for IUP.

She is jubilant about the scholarship she earned when she was named to the 2020 Academic Team, calling it a blessing and expressing pride while remaining humble about her hard work. She said the certainty of paid tuition relieves some of the anxiety she would have felt about paying for school in the current climate.

“I always try my hardest,” Ms. Krisko said modestly. “I didn’t expect to get so involved at Penn Highlands, but I’m glad I did. I believe that is what ultimately set me on the path to receive this unbelievable honor. I would encourage everyone to go to campus events, get involved, and give back. It changes you for the better and can result in unexpected, yet welcome, advantages.”

In addition to excelling at her studies, Ms. Krisko has become a dedicated volunteer since enrolling at Penn Highlands. She volunteers at Able, a church group for people with disabilities, and Camp PARC, a summer camp for adults with disabilities. She also served as secretary for the Phi Theta Chapter (PTK) chapter at Penn Highlands, in addition to taking part in campus events like Toys for Tots.

As an outspoken advocate for persons with disabilities, Ms. Krisko said she is concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these populations and the added challenges they face due to social distancing. She notes the Deaf and hard of hearing community is particularly impacted.

“Deaf people often read lips to communicate. Face masks, while necessary, make that impossible. Imagine you woke up tomorrow and could not speak English anymore. That is what they are facing – a total language blackout at the flip of a switch,” Ms. Krisko explained.

“In a time when many are desperate to see a caring gesture, I challenge Pennsylvania to be the change they wish to see in the world by meeting Deaf people halfway,” she continued. “I made a short video of some simple signs you can learn to make limited communication possible and their lives slightly easier. After socializing with this population for years, I can assure you, this small effort to understand will mean more than I can put into words.”

College Honoring Graduates With Virtual Commencement

In light of the current pandemic and our in-person Commencement being postponed, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding a Virtual Commencement Ceremony for the Twenty-Fifth Graduating Class this Friday, May 15th, at 7pm. This unique celebration has been created to ensure the graduating class of 2020 does not go unrecognized.

Virtual Commencement will be hosted on the following platforms:

• College’s Commencement Webpage
• College’s Facebook Page
• College’s YouTube Channel

Penn Highlands’ new president, Dr. Steve Nunez will kick-off the virtual festivities with an uplifting speech to the over 350 graduates planning to watch the celebration with family and friends in the comforts of their own homes.

Student Senate President Sophie Sprankle will be giving this year’s Commencement Address. Ms. Sprankle will be obtaining an Associate of Arts in Social Work and a Certificate in Substance Abuse and Addiction Technician during this online gathering.

In addition to awarding associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates, this virtual ceremony will announce the recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award. This award honors a student who has contributed his or her time and effort to Pennsylvania Highlands and the community while maintaining a high level of academic performance.

DRIVE-THRU REGALIA AND DIPLOMA DISTRIBUTION

To best serve and honor our graduates, Penn Highlands is hosting drive-thru diploma pick up sessions at all college locations this week. Graduates will have the opportunity to pick up their honor chords, regalia, diplomas, transcripts, and a congratulatory yard sign. They will simply need to drive to the front of their facility and show their ID to a staff member. The items will then be placed in their trunk or back seat. Graduates are not permitted to leave their vehicles, as this is a drive-thru service.

Distribution dates and times are as follows:

• Richland Campus and Ebensburg Center
  • Wednesday, May 13th: 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm
  • Thursday, May 14th: 10am-12pm, 6pm-8pm

• Blair, Huntingdon, and Somerset Centers
  • Wednesday, May 13th: 10am-12pm
  • Thursday, May 14th: 6pm-8pm

PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY

Penn Highlands continues to take measures to protect the health of the community, the region, and beyond. Please continue to monitor our COVID-19 website for updates on Penn Highlands Community College’s response to the pandemic, as well as information and details regarding summer classes.

Marketing Team Honored With National Paragon Award

Marketing and Communications at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recently earned national recognition for its efforts in design and marketing through logo wear.

The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) awarded Penn Highlands Community College a silver Paragon Award in the Logo Wear category, for the design of the college’s “Black Bear Country” sweatshirt. Penn Highlands received this coveted, national honor among two-year colleges at NCMPR’s annual awards event.

“Being nationally recognized for the work we do in promoting Penn Highlands Community College is fantastic,” stated Raymond Weible, Jr., Director of Marketing and Communications at Penn Highlands Community College. “This award, along with all other regional and national level awards, highlights the commitment and effort that is put forth daily to highlight Penn Highlands as a premier institution.”

This is the department’s second national award. It has also earned sixteen regional awards since 2015.

The members of Marketing & Communications that participated in this initiative consist of the following:

Raymond Weible, Jr. is the Director of Marketing & Communications, and he has spearheaded a multitude of web, digital media, and overall brand initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism/Advertising and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications, both from West Virginia University.

Sean McCool is the Creative Services & Marketing Specialist and focuses heavily on photography, graphic/web design, video production, brand integration, and more for the College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Emerging Technology and Multimedia from Slippery Rock University.

Andrew Podolak is the Marketing & Communications Assistant and serves as an integral member of the team, playing a role across all initiatives. His focus includes writing, social media, campaign planning, and more. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of Pittsburgh.

Former Student Modeling Black Bear Country Sweatshirt.

Close-Up of Black Bear Country Sweatshirt

About NCMPR
The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations is a professional organization for individuals involved in marketing, communications, public relations and enrollment management at community, junior, and technical colleges. NCMPR provides professional development opportunities, advocates on behalf of the profession and the institutions it serves, and recognizes professional excellence.

NCMPR is the only organization of its kind that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges. They are one of the fastest-growing affiliates of the American Association of Community Colleges, representing more than 1,550 members from over 650 colleges across the United States, Canada, and other countries.

Pennsylvania Highlands is a part of District 1, which includes schools from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and United Kingdom.

College’s Efforts To Help Both Students And The Community During COVID-19

To help with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the community, Penn Highlands Community College students, faculty, and administration are striving to inform, donate, and connect with each other in unique ways during these difficult times.

Laura Gaunt, Instructor of Health Care Professions and Patient Care Technician Program Coordinator, donated isolation gowns, gloves, masks, and caps to the Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring, PA (just south of Altoona). The Patient Care Technician program is a one-semester certificate program that trains students in basic patient care by teaching emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of caregiving.

“With Penn Highlands’ facilities currently closed, it only made sense to donate these items since students would not be using them,” stated Gaunt. “We’re glad we were able to help.”

Here are just a few more ways that Penn Highlands Community College is ensuring that their students, faculty, administration, and community are staying healthy, productive, and positive during this unprecedented time in history:

• Faculty are going above and beyond to help their students with their online classes by creating innovative ZOOM and chat classroom teaching techniques.
• Student Services is working with Marketing & Communications to develop short informational and uplifting videos for students. These videos range from mental and physical wellness, to crafts, time management, and virtual studying ideas.
• The Admissions Office is working to virtually connect and meet with all new prospective students for the upcoming semester. All virtual Admissions events can be accessed here.
• A Virtual Awards Ceremony honoring outstanding students in academia was held on the college’s website and social media on Friday, April 24th.
• Penn Highlands is planning a virtual Commencement for all graduates on Friday, May 15th.

Penn Highlands Community College is continuously monitoring the rapidly changing situation related to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and have taken numerous steps in response to the pandemic. For additional information regarding campus events and online classes, please visit our coronavirus section.

Sequestered Realizations

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

I’m very new to Cambria County. I literally arrived here on Dec. 31, with the moving truck pulling away at midnight on New Year’s Day.

As I have physically isolated myself over these past several weeks, I’ve had time to sit quietly and reflect more than I think I ever have. These quiet contemplations led to this Top 10 list of “sequestered realizations.”

1. West-central Pennsylvania is one beautiful place. Having grown up in southwest Virginia, I know what beautiful landscapes look like. Here in Pennsylvania, parks and recreational areas are open for hiking and cycling as long as social distancing is practiced; I have taken advantage of it as much as I could. I must have biked and hiked 100 miles of trails over these past few weeks in the sun, rain, and even snow. We have a real treasure here.

2. And speaking of sun, rain, and snow – this area must have the most unpredictable weather in the nation. If I had my druthers, I’d take a few more days of sunshine.

3. Cooking at home more frequently has been inexpensive, fun, and satisfying. With that said, I can’t wait to head back to my favorite restaurants and break bread and drink beer with my friends and colleagues.

4. TV programming has gotten much better over the past five or 10 years. While there is only so much TV one person can watch, I always seem to find another show to keep my attention.

5. Essential workers rock. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate our essential workers, especially our health care workers who are putting themselves clearly in harm’s way. Kudos to your dedication.

6. I really appreciate my colleagues at Penn Highlands. As a collective, they have been supportive, positive, understanding, and hard-working. I am proud to be their colleague.

7. Moving into a new home during a pandemic is problematic.

8. The students of Penn Highlands are rock stars. I have called several of them over the past few weeks and I’m so proud of them for the way they have adapted to taking all of their classes completely online. Many of them are also essential workers at our local restaurants and grocery stores. Thank you for what you do and let’s finish the semester strong.

9. Most of my family and friends live outside the area. I cannot wait until I see them in person.

10. Going back to “normal” is not going to happen overnight. We will be practicing some type of social distancing for many more months.

But know this, despite any challenges, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is open for business and will continue to provide high-quality education to our community.

Until next time.

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.