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Police Academy To Hold Two Open Houses

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be hosting two Police Academy Open House events at its Richland Campus. Attendees and their guests may choose to attend one of two sessions on Wednesday, February 15, or Wednesday, March 8. Both sessions are from 6 – 7 PM.

Individuals will learn about the Penn Highlands Police Academy and its opportunities, including prescreening testing requirements and timing, the application process, tuition and fees, and equipment needs.

The Penn Highlands Police Academy is a certified unit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (Act 120). Successful completion of the program will earn cadets a certificate and permit graduates to test for a Commonwealth Municipal Police Training (MPT) number required of all municipal police officers in Pennsylvania.

Penn Highlands Community College serves the community with quality and affordable academic options in an inclusive atmosphere. Police Academy classes for the next slate of cadets begin in September 2023.

For additional information, please contact Dennis Miller, Police Academy Director, at 814.262.6443.

Click here to visit the Police Academy page.

Fall 2022 Dean’s List Announced

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce that the following students have made the Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester.

Alexandria – Spencer Garrett Hoover

Altoona – Israa E. Ali, Denise Marie Barnes, Emma Leigh Bender, Rachael Bonsell, Natalie Shae Boose, Devan Anthony Brink, Nicole Horton, Scott Anthony Jurcik, Tara Paige Jurcik, Coleman James Kepner, Maura Marie Lowey, Courtney Michelle Luciano, Hannah Paige Mitchell, Kate Elizabeth Mueller, Victoria Noelle Sauers, Allys Marie Schmidhamer, Mackenzie Renea Shuke, Leah Jane Smith, Alexis Jade Wallace, Emily Warner

Ashville – Madison Marie Bender

Beaverdale – Christie M. Bonfanti, Kellie Howard

Bedford – Felica L. Hafer

Belsano – Katie Faith Long, Ira Lee Sickles

Berlin – Jerika Groves, Emma Rose Martz

Blairsville – Owen Ryan Clark, Beth A. Price

Boswell – Emily Michele Bittner, Madison Jade Burkholder, Sarah Margaret Hostetler

Bradford – Seth Mollander

Brockway – Tanner Joseph Morelli

Cairnbrook – Christy Lou Fleegle

Calvin – Brooke Anne Shee

Carrolltown – Christine Lee Cantalope, Grace Isabella Krumenacker, Tanner J. Maurer, Carly J. Mezzelo, Alyssa Walkingshaw

Central City – Jessica Leigh Collins, Timothy Hale Collins, Connor Anatoly Will

Chicora – Richard B. Goodman

Claysburg – Jordan Lafferty, Joseph D. Mauk, Evan Charles Potter

Clymer – Whitney Nicole Strong

Coalport – Seth Ethan Dillon

Colver- Nicole Cowan, Calvin McCullough Jacobs, Jesse David James, Allyssa Newton Nash

Cresson – Tara Marie Gorba, Robert Clair Kearney, Meghan Claire Mostick, Julia Michelle Taylor, Salvatore Tiracave

Davidsville – Samuel David Brahney, Mary Elizabeth Stanley

Dayton – Gavin John Solley

Delta – Jacob A. Puglia

Duncansville – Morgan Elizabeth Bihary, Jade Kathryn Corbin, Destany Hammel, Lisa Marie Tremmel

East Freedom – Logan Rylee Dick, Macray James Markovich, Tessa Marie Snavely

Ebensburg – Bryce Alan Hessler, Michaela Lees, Elizabeth G. Mundok, Tessa Novotny, Nathan Paul Schilling, Cody James Sral

Edinboro – Matthew George Silay

Erie – Jessica Bauer-Cook, Zachary Davis, Mallory Suzanne Jaquith, Matthew Paul Rinderle, Noah Zbach

Everett – Ashlynn Faith Stoll

Fallentimber – Kayla Finnigan

Franklin – Caden Anthony Toscano

Friedens – Gavin James Kimmel, Jessica Shockey, Andrew Paul Straka

Gallitzin – Austin G. Link

Glasgow – Baine Allan Seilhamer

Glen Hope – Madelyn Noel Peachman

Greensburg – Heather Harmon

Hastings – Lydia Emily Bezilla, Cindy K. Dillon, Carmella Rae Fredo, Jenna Lynn Serafin, Nathan Lee Wholaver

Heilwood – Anthony Joseph Rizzo

Hollidaysburg – Ibrahim Alawad Aljalki, Noah Christopher Best, Benjamin Patrick Dombrosky, Angela Michelle Fox, Damon Joseph Hesley, Laura Jean McNutt, Diksha Raj Pandit, Julianne Pascual

Hollsopple – Maciah Robyn Holsopple

Homer City – Larry Leon Olliver

Hooversville – Hannah Marie Zorn

Houtzdale – Justin Bowman

Huntingdon – Rebecca Bickle, William David Miller Harkleroad, Amanda Lyn Lamb, Amber Joy Newby

Hyde – Sean Lee Miller

Imler – Dodi Rena Krise

Indiana – David Luke Cochran, Jonathan Clark Gibbons, Shane Nicewonger

Johnstown – Seneca Leslie Benjamin, Savannah Lynn Bevec, Shayna Alexandra Blackford, Lauren B. Botteicher, Kayla Marie Brathwaite, Skylar R. Brougher, Lauren Faith Burrell, Michael Steven Cratty, Hannah Dadura, Isabella Marie Dadura, Darshel Daniel, Aaron J. Deffenbaugh, Kayla Danelle Dively, Lori Rose Eamigh, Gavin Robert Eash, Emily E. Euen, Autumn Skye Facci, Mackenzie Starr Flowers, Jenna Rae Foreman, Cody A. Goggin, Olivia Ada Kayin Grant, Brianna Hicks, Alana Marie Hinton, Liam Richard Hritz-Crotzer, Ean Jaber, Madison Elizabeth Keefer, Alyssa Nicole Keiper, Brian Scott Kennedy, Katilynn E. Keyser, Wade Travis Knipple, Kent John Krisay, Emily Rose Lowery, Qiana M. Lucas, Caleb James Mackel, Jeffrey Raymond Matevish, Kayleigh Rae Mikolich, Taylor Anne Mock, Priscilla Ortiz, Krish A. Patel, Riya Hiteshkuma Patel, Clarissa Catherine Pearce, Valerie Nicole Pinella, Seth Macaulay James Plummer, Chloe Rayne Polenik, Austin Ray Reese, Katelynne D. Robertson, Maria Isabel Rolon, William F. Roth, Luke Stephen Rozich, Matthew Paul Rozum, Matthew Joseph Russo, Joseph Facciani Sabo, Nicholas Santos Salguero, Jaclynne Joyce Schario, Dale Schneider, Jordan Wesely Shaw, Stephanie Michelle Shuhayda, Elizabeth Ann Stricker, Myah Nichole Teeter, Carson Lee Thomas, Quentin Andrew Tyndale, Anthony Walters, Erik Laroi Ward, Hannah M. Wenderoth, Renu Williams, Charizma Rose Wilson, Steven Joseph Winfield, Joziah Emanuel Wyatt-Taylor, Marcus E. Zierer, Alexandra E. Zoldos

Kittanning – Drake Henry Atherton

Latrobe – Anthony Lamosek, Samuel Alan Marsh

Lewistown – Sara Paige Chattin, Tyler Lee Hunter

Lilly – Grant William Bossler, Meagan Barbara Leahey, Julia Ann Podrasky, Ethan Everett Reese, Isaac Payne Wiggins

Loretto – Ryan Joseph Lenz

Meyersdale – Jordan Lynn Werner

Mineral Point – Shae Willis Alderfer, Aaron J. Dreikorn, Elliot Michael Knepper, David J. Morley

Mount Union – Logan A. Yakymac

Munster – Madison Marie Wirfel-Latocha

Nanty Glo – Shaelyn Nicole Silko, Christine M. Smith

New Florence – Grace Isabella Blankenbicker, Skye Alexis Cramer, Autumn Lynne Hardy

Northern Cambria – Adrianna Rose Farrell, Joel G. Ludwig, Rebecca Nicole Perrone, Hannah Elsie Phillips, Gavin Thomas Rezk, Jensen Wiewiora

Osceola Mills – Wyatt Alexander Kephart

Parkhill – Peyton Allen Urban

Patton – Brenna Nicole Packard, Isabella Madalynn Stanko, Abbigail Marie Warfield

Pennsylvania Furnace – Jessica Crawley

Penn Run – Dommenic Hrubochak

Petersburg – Tricia May Farine, Corinne Shae Mowrer

Philadelphia – Emily Theresa Reichwein

Philipsburg – Ryan Douglas Kephart

Portage – Jon Patrick Brickley, Austin Michael Feathers, Justin M. Hazlett, Molly Gretchen Hochrein, Levi James Marsh, Jeremy Zane Piatak, Jonathan Robert Wolford

Roaring Spring – Christine Suzanne Brown, Jordyn Mackenzie Heuston, Micah Susan Moore, Madison Musselman

Robertsdale – Karly Denae Schiffel

Rockwood – Alexander Sheldon Benford, Kelly Ann Hearn, Bri Lee Pavkovich

Ruffs Dale – Jacob Manetta

Saint Marys – Jonathan William Krug, Allison Rae Vollmer

Saint Michael – Christopher Kyle Kurchak, Jennafer Anne Ofsanko

Salisbury – Brooke Elise Gnagey

Salix – Adam J. Cann, Robert Stephen Sivi

Saxton – Christina Nichole Sparks

Seward – Carrie Ann Bizich, Patrick Steven Kishlock

Shirleysburg – Jennifer Lynn Seibert, Wyatt James Snair

Silver Spring – Jason Yu

Smithmill – Nathaniel Robert Beers

Somerset – Chloe Rebecca Berman, Renee Ivy Eash, Emma Grace Engleka, Emily Taylor Evans, Meaghan Marie Peters, Gretchen Pritts, Rylee A. Pucci, Cheyenne Elaine Raley, Abigail Marie Reed, Brittani Sarver, Abigail M. Show, Jade Isabelle Williams

South Fork – Kayla Marie Clifford

Spruce Creek – Claire Elise Fisher

State College – Carly Marie Sullivan

Stoystown – Austin Michael Craycraft, Alicia Fyock

Summerhill – Jessica Danielle Burkey, Kylee Lynn Fabo, Brennen Micah Kirchner, Jacqueline Smith

Templeton – Joshua Paul Dunn

Tyrone – Jason Eric Barr, Meghan E. McMullen, Alex Robert Miller, Tyler Haven Riggleman

Vintondale – Tatumn Deleaney Coyle

Waterfall – Ryan Wesley Shields

Williamsburg – Gabriel Ashton Mingle

Windber – Kyra Noel Allison, Jessica Rose Baeder, Tyler Nicholas Brown, Quinn Maddison Charney, Allison Mae Dusack, John Jarrett Evans, Abigail Marie Gordon, Karli Shay Hanik, Mya Angelene Havyer, Gabriel Byron Helsel, Kaden Michael Klonicke, Trinity Jade Klucik, Megan B. Ott, Stephanie R. Reighard, Jordan Anthony Romani, Trinity A. Stewart, Jamin Anthony Tomaselli, Jude Robert Tomaselli, Mason Andrew Toth

York – Patricia Danner

Five NCMPR Medallion Awards Presented to Marketing & Communications

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College congratulates its Marketing & Communications Team on being awarded five (5) Medallion Awards this year from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). These awards were presented recently at NCMPR District 1’s annual conference in Syracuse, New York.

The team took home awards in the following categories: Original Photography – Unmanipulated (gold), Social Media Campaign (gold), Quick-Turn Video (silver), E-Card (silver), and Website (bronze).

“Being recognized for excellence in creative abilities in the industry is quite humbling, but none of this would be possible without a solid, talented team surrounded by the strength of the college community,” stated Raymond Weible, Jr., Director of Marketing and Communications. “Penn Highlands provides an encouraging and supportive atmosphere, one where all can thrive.”

The members of Marketing & Communications that participated in these initiatives consist of the following:

Raymond Weible, Jr., Director of Marketing & Communications, 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.

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

Troy Bugosh, Visual Communication & Marketing Manager, focuses heavily on photography, graphic design, video production, brand integration, and more for the College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Since 2015, the Marketing & Communications team at Penn Highlands Community College has won a total of thirty-one (31) NCMPR Medallion and Paragon Awards, which recognizes excellence in marketing, design, and public relations at two-year schools.

Marketing & Communications Team. Left to right: Andrew Podolak, Raymond Weible, Jr., and Troy Bugosh.

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.

Foundation Assists Police Academy With Grant & Fund For Scholarships

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation has awarded a grant to the inaugural class of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy. Through this Foundation grant, totaling over $2,500, all 2022-2023 cadets received the required uniforms and equipment free of charge.

“Ensuring a quality educational experience and training program for the cadets is the goal of the academy,” stated Dennis Miller, Police Academy Director. “Coupled with the financial impact from the Foundation, this class of cadets is in an excellent position for success. The College Foundation responded quickly to our request and the cadets benefitted significantly from their generosity.”

The inaugural class of the Penn Highlands Police Academy began in September 2022, enrolling 12 cadets from across western Pennsylvania. The Police Academy is a one-year program that runs evenings and weekends; a second class of cadets is slated to begin training in September 2023.

A scholarship fund has been opened to help future cadets. The Police Academy fund was launched with the 2022-2023 Annual Campaign and the Foundation is hopeful the community is moved to donate.

“This first class of cadets is important to the College and the community,” explained Jeff Wood, Foundation President. “The Foundation was happy to help the Police Academy cadets and future classes. We are now asking the community for their support of the cadets. No amount is too small.”

All donations earmarked for the Penn Highlands Police Academy will be used for future classes in the form of scholarships. Click here to donate or call the Foundation at 814.262.6448.

College and Foundation Officials present check to the Police Academy. Pictured (L to R): Dennis Miller, Police Academy Director; Jeffrey Wood, President of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation Board of Directors; Cadet Angel Raehl, Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; Cadet Austin Thomas; Beth Freedline, Executive Assistant to the President and Foundation; David Mordan, Vice President of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation Board of Directors; Kevin Gaudlip, Police Academy Assistant Director.

Inaugural Class of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Police Academy in their uniforms, provided by the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation.

Jeffrey Wood (left), President of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation Board of Directors, shaking hands with Cadet Angel Raehl (right) outside of the Police Academy classrooms at the College’s Richland Campus.

Jeffrey Wood (left), President of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation Board of Directors, shaking hands with Cadet Austin Thomas (right) outside of the Police Academy classrooms at the College’s Richland Campus.

Cadet Angel Raehl in classroom.

Cadets Angel Raehl and Austin Thomas meeting with the College Foundation.

Cadets Angel Raehl and Austin Thomas meeting with the College Foundation.

Cadets Angel Raehl and Austin Thomas meeting with the College Foundation.

About the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation
The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is an innovative non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the efforts of the College with financial resources and scholarships through seeking and securing funds. The College Foundation offers over 10 diverse scholarships to students pursuing an education at Penn Highlands Community College. To donate to the College Foundation, visit www.pennhighlands.edu/donate/.

Cross Country Team Competes In National Meet And Finishes 16th

Cross Country at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College made a big splash in 2022. After a strong showing throughout the season, the Black Bears placed second in both the WPCC and Region 20 competitions.

These finishes earned them an opportunity to compete in the NJCAA Division 3 National Meet, which was held in Westfield, MA over this past weekend. This is the first time the whole cross country team was represented at a national meet.

The Black Bears had a strong showing, finishing 16^th overall in the nation. Runners had an average time of 31:47.41 over the course of the 8K run. The total time for the team was 2:38:58.53.

Coached by Jeff Dick (Johnstown, PA), the 2022 Black Bear Cross Country team that competed consisted of:

• Andrew Straka (SO – Friedens, PA): Finished 41^st with a time of 29:17.90
• Chase Brenneman (FR – Somerset, PA): Finished 57^th with a time of 30:12.34
• Zachary Brandis (FR – Mineral Point, PA): Finished 95^th with a time of 32:27.04
• Cody Sral (SO – Ebensburg, PA): Finished 109^th with a time of 33:21.92
• Cody Miller (FR – New Buena Vista, PA): Finished 116^th with a time of 33:39.32
• Nolan Read (SO – Stoystown, PA): Finished 137^th with a time of 36:36.18

“Cross Country at Penn Highlands gets stronger every year,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “I couldn’t be prouder of these student-athletes and Coach Dick. These individuals have worked hard all season and deserve all the accolades.”

Penn Highlands is a chartered National Junior College Athletic Association member college, competing in Region 20. The Black Bears are part of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference. The WPCC was founded in 1972 and currently consists of 10 member institutions.