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Athletes Receive Regional Team Honors And Recognition

The NJCAA national office has announced their selection of student-athletes for the 2017-2018 All Region XX Division III Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, as well as Division III Women’s Cross Country and Volleyball teams. Penn Highlands is proud to have six Black Bears named to these teams.

Tim Biakapia (Germantown, MD), a sophomore forward, was named to the First Team All Region XX Men’s Basketball Team. Tim is the all-time points leader at Penn Highlands with 1,202 career points, and is also second all-time in career rebounds with 667. Tim led Region XX in rebounds per game with 14.3 and in field goal percentage at 67.4%. He also was 2nd in both points per game (24.4) and blocks (63). Tim ranked 2nd in the NJCAA national statistics in defensive rebounds (263), 3rd in total rebounds (385), and 4th in points this season (659). He was named NJCAA National Player of the Week twice in his career.

Antonio Carter (Toledo, OH), a freshman guard, was also named to the First Team All Region XX Men’s Basketball Team. Antonio ranked 2nd in the region in 3 point percentage (38.8%), 5^th in points per game (21.1), and 5th in free throw percentage (79.6%). He ranked 13th in the NJCAA national statistics in 3 pointers made (102) and 24th in points (548).

Bryan Acosta (Orlando, FL), a freshman guard, was named to the Honorable Mention All Region XX Men’s Basketball Team. Bryan led the region in assists (205) and ranked 6th in NJCAA national statistics. He was also ranked 4th in the region in field goal percentage (53.2%).

Maddie Sprankle (Johnstown, PA), a cross country runner and sophomore guard, was named to the First Team All Region XX Women’s Cross Country Team and Honorable Mention All Region XX Women’s Basketball Team. Maddie was the first student-athlete in school history to compete in a national event and finished 27th out of 136 at the NJCAA national cross country meet. She finished 3rd in Region XX. In basketball, she averaged 15.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists. Maddie was also named to the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Cross Country and Women’s Basketball Teams.

Lacey Krouse (Johnstown, PA), a sophomore libero, was named to the First Team All Region XX Women’s Volleyball Team. Lacey was 6th in the NJCAA national statistics in digs/set and 27th in overall digs. She led Region XX in both categories with 6.77 digs per set and 474 total digs. Lacey was also named to the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Team.

Lindsey Olshewsky (Johnstown, PA), a sophomore outside hitter, was named to the Honorable Mention All Region XX Women’s Volleyball Team. She was ranked 4th in the region in kills per game (2.41) and 5th in total points (204.5). Lindsey was also named to the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Team in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

“I am so proud of all of our student-athletes, especially these six who helped make history for our Athletics program,” said Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “We won our first WPCC Basketball Championship, won our first regional game, and had our first national qualifier. No matter where they go or what they do, they will always be the ones to have done it first. They worked hard during both the season and offseason, and are very deserving of this recognition.”

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

Antonio Carter

Lacey Krouse

Maddie Sprankle

Tim Biakapia

Lindsey Olshewsky

Bryan Acosta

College Foundation Awarded Over $24,000 In Scholarships

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation distributed $24,955 in scholarships during the 2017-2018 academic year to help aid students in our region. The money was spread across 22 scholarships, all maintained and managed by the Penn Highlands Foundation.

The College’s Foundation Scholarship Application is now open for the 2018-2019 academic year. It closes on Tuesday, May 15th. To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must be accepted to Penn Highlands, have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and have registered for the Fall 2018 semester.

The following is a list of students who received scholarships in 2017-2018.

• American Association of University Women (AAUW), Johnstown Branch Scholarship
  • Timothy Borish (Windber, PA)
  • Kiara Younkin (Salix, PA)

• American Legion Home Association of Ebensburg Scholarship
  • Cody Hartman (Altoona, PA)

• Anna D. Weitz Scholarship
  • Christian Jaramillo (Johnstown, PA)

• College Employee Supported Scholarship
  • John Cicchitello (Altoona, PA)

• Dale W. Miller Scholarship
  • Morgan Snyder (Huntingdon, PA)
  • Candy Jordan (Mount Union, PA)

• Daniel and Diane Holtzman Scholarship
  • Heather Dietrick (Patton, PA)

• Dr. Edward Haluska Scholarship
  • Faith Sodmont (Ebensburg, PA)

• Dr. Walter and Kim Asonevich Scholarship
  • Kyli Foor (Huntingdon, PA)

• Griffith Family Scholarship
  • Kyli Foor (Huntingdon, PA)
  • Candy Jordan (Mount Union, PA)

• Huntingdon Hope Scholarship
  • Morgan Snyder (Huntingdon, PA)

• Johnstown Regional Indian Subcontinent Association (JRISA) Scholarship
  • Jaydrik Hinton (Johnstown, PA)

• Joseph and Joan Mangarella Scholarship
  • Quinn Earnest (Northern Cambria, PA)

• Kathy Holtzman Memorial Scholarship
  • Heather Dietrick (Patton, PA)
  • Austin Burket (Johnstown, PA)

• Krishan Bhatia Scholarship
  • Madison Crum (Windber, PA)

• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Scholarship
  • Daniel Weaver (Somerset, PA)
  • Timothy Borish (Windber, PA)

• Supporting Success Scholarship
  • John Cicchitello (Altoona, PA)
  • Kylee Lonsinger (Duncansville, PA)
  • Faith Sodmont (Ebensburg, PA)
  • Alexandera Ringler (Penn Run, PA)

• Somerset VFW Post 554 Scholarship
  • Cody Hartman (Altoona, PA)

• Stan and Helen Westbrook Scholarship
  • Kyli Foor (Huntingdon, PA)
  • Candy Jordan (Mount Union, PA)

• Stoystown American Legion Scholarship
  • Cody Hartman (Altoona, PA)

• Ursula Pawlowski Memorial Scholarship
  • David Shannon (Ligonier, PA)

• Valenty Scholarship
  • McKenzie Fitzpatrick (Johnstown, PA)
  • Annette Thompson (Altoona, PA)

• Windber Moose Scholarship
  • Hunter Thomas (Windber, PA)

Foundation To Host Puttapalooza Mini-Golf Event

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation will host the area’s most unique miniature golf event, Puttapalooza, on Friday, March 23. Puttapalooza will take place at the College’s Richland Campus. The Foundation is pleased to announce that Somerset Trust Company will again serve as the event sponsor.

Registration begins at 5:00 PM with golf starting at 6:00 PM. A foursome for the event is only $150 and includes pre-game appetizers and drinks, 18-holes of mini-golf, and a post-game dinner. Players will traverse through the College’s hallways on a course featuring a glow-in-the-dark room, windmill, black bears, and our rolling ramp hole. Last year, the Foundation welcomed over 20 teams to the event, and raised nearly $10,000.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is committed to raising funds that provide significant assistance to the College and its students. Each year, the Foundation supports numerous areas including scholarships, programs, facilities, and faculty development.

Spring Open House To Be Held In March

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be hosting an open house in March on Thursday, March 22. The open house will be from 6pm to 7:30pm at each of our five locations: Blair, Ebensburg, Huntingdon, Richland, and Somerset.

Individuals will learn about Penn Highlands and its opportunities, including degree programs and coursework, transfer options, and more. Information on student life, including clubs and activities, and financial assistance will also be presented by representatives.

As an added bonus, prospective students will be eligible to win a 2018/2019 tuition voucher, good for a $250 discount, if they complete a survey while in attendance.

Penn Highlands has been serving the community with quality and affordable academic options for over 20 years. To learn more, contact any of the College’s locations directly or call us toll-free at 1.888.385.PEAK.

College President Receives Distinguished Citizen Award

By Randy Griffith
Source: Content pulled directly from The Tribune Democrat.

Boy Scouting played only a minor role in Walter Asonevich’s childhood in Vermont.

But scouting’s values of leadership and mentoring that give young people direction and purpose in life are values that Asonevich says have defined his life. It led him to expand and refine Pennsylvania Highlands Community College during his 11 years as college president.

Asonevich was presented Thursday with Boy Scouts of America Laurel Highlands Council 2018 Distinguished Citizen Award for his role in developing the college and taking leadership in other areas of the community. 

In presenting the award, 2017 Distinguished Citizen Robert Eyer recounted Asonevich’s accomplishments, taking Penn Highlands from a struggling community college with two campuses to a recognized school of five campuses in four counties. 

Under Asonevich’s leadership, Penn Highlands developed a dual enrollment programs allowing thousands of students in more than 50 high schools to earn college credits before graduation, Eyer noted.

“I think it is really one of the true gems in our area,” Eyer said.

In preparing his acceptance speech, Asonevich said he thought about Boy Scouts values.

“As scouting is about leadership and mentors, I considered those that mentored me over the years and noted that my heroes – those that inspired my life – were people I never met personally,” Asonevich said. “Most had died before I was born.”

It was then that his thoughts turned to his grandfather, who emigrated from Poland to the United States at the age of 18 to take a dangerous job in a Vermont factory. Although his grandfather died before Asonevich was born, he grew up hearing about how the immigrant fearlessly faced new, unknown challenges.

“I always held him in awe for his courage, his bravery,” Asonevich said, noting the spirit of courage was carried on by his own Navy-veteran father, who piloted Marines to enemy-held beaches.

“My father, an immigrant’s son, was a true American hero,” Asonevich said.

Carrying that spirit of courage has directed his own life, he said, recalling how he left a well-paying factory job to pursue higher education.

It led to a career in academia, first as an English professor in West Virginia, then as a dean and then college vice president.

“It was my grandfather’s spirit in me that brought me to Johnstown to take on the presidency of a young struggling college,” Asonevich said.

“I think it is a fitting tribute to the memory of my grandfather that I am here today serving the educational needs of a city that was built upon the work ethic of so many eastern European immigrants, who came to Johnstown with the same dreams as my grandfather.”

He recognized his late grandfather in accepting the Distinguished Citizen award.

“I humbly accept this award, not so much because it marks the culmination of my own career, but the culmination of my grandfather’s dream for his family: A citizens’ award to the son of an immigrant’s son,” Asonevich said. “God bless America.”