Newsroom

Ribbon Cutting & Open House Set For Centre County Location

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the College’s new Centre County location (190 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823) on Friday, August 16, beginning at 10:30 AM.

The event will feature multiple speakers, including Penn Highlands President Dr. Steve Nunez, College Board of Trustees Chairperson Greg Winger, Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County President Greg Scott, and Bellefonte Borough Manager and College Board of Trustees Member Ralph Stewart.

An Open House will follow the ribbon cutting ceremony, from noon until 2 PM, where attendees and the public can tour the facility, ask questions, and meet Penn Highlands faculty and staff. Light refreshments will be provided.

“It is with great excitement that Penn Highlands Community College is opening a new educational location in Bellefonte to serve all of Centre County,” Nunez stated. “We hope the residents of the County can visit us during the open house, where they will be treated with seeing our beautiful, state-of-the art educational facility and the opportunity to gain information from our faculty and staff.”

The opening of the Centre County location marks the College’s seventh site, as Penn Highlands continues to expand its educational opportunities throughout the region.

Pennsylvania Highlands Centre County will be nestled on the second floor of the historic Match Factory. It spans 5,200 square feet, while boasting cutting-edge classrooms, a computer lab, a conference room, offices, and a dedicated area for students.

“We are all enthusiastic about the opening of Penn Highlands Centre County,” stated Marissa Davis, Regional Center Director. “This is a new and exciting beginning, not just for Penn Highlands Community College, but for so many people in this community.”

For more information on the event, click here.

For more information on the Centre County location, click here.

Articulation Agreement Signed With Millersville University For Online Offerings

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has signed an articulation agreement with Millersville University, enabling students to complete any of the six corresponding fields of study entirely online.

The agreement encompasses programs such as Business Administration, Business Management, Early Childhood Education, and Marketing. Additionally, it includes concentrations in Communications and English through the Liberal Arts and Sciences degree.

This program-to-program agreement will allow students to transfer to Millersville University with a guaranteed junior status upon successful completion at Penn Highlands.

“This agreement will present a new opportunity for our graduates, including those completing their Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Registrar & Enrollment Services at Penn Highlands. “This will also give students the chance to complete a bachelor’s degree in a 100 percent online environment with one of Pennsylvania’s premier, state-owned universities.”

Penn Highlands partners with various higher educational institutions to support our students as they pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Sue Brugh Honored By NJCAA For 10 Years Of National Leadership Service

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has recognized Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities & Athletics at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, with an award for her decade-long contribution to National Leadership.

Brugh has served as the Region 20 Women’s Assistant Director since 2014. She is also currently a member of the NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Bowling, and Cross Country Committees.

“It is a great honor to be able to serve and participate in these roles for the NJCAA,” Brugh stated. “Athletics has always been by passion, and I hope to continue to work with so many great people as my career progresses.”

Previously, Brugh was on the NJCAA Division III Softball Committee and served as the National Women’s Lacrosse Chair for five years.

At Penn Highlands, formerly known as Cambria County Area Community College, Brugh played a pivotal role in reviving athletics, which were discontinued in 2001. Starting in 2010, she reintroduced basketball and volleyball. Then, in 2014, she helped expand athletics with bowling and cross country. Future expansion continued under her watch with 2021 additions of softball, golf, and eSports.

During her tenure, Brugh has been named the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Athletic Director of the Year three times. She is currently the WPCC President, a role she has held since 2019, after serving as secretary for nine years.

“It has been a privilege to work with so many great student-athletes who have completed their goals and graduation plans,” Brugh stated. “One of the biggest things that makes my job worthwhile is seeing students succeed in their careers.”

Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities & Athletics

Derek Horner Hired As Head Coach For Black Bears Women’s Volleyball

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the hiring of Derek Horner as the new head coach of the women’s volleyball program.

Horner will take over for Penn Highlands alumna Kylee Doyle, who coached the Black Bears for two seasons from 2021-23.

“I was thrilled when I found out I was being hired for the position,” Horner stated. “I’m willing to put the time in to make this program the best that it can be. I love the idea of recruiting and going out to meet prospective players. I’m very excited to get started.”

Horner has dedicated over three decades to volleyball, beginning his journey at the age of 8. He played on the Conemaugh Valley High School volleyball team and managed an adult volleyball league for 14 years, a league his father initiated at the former Conemaugh Valley Elementary School.

Horner also spent the past three years coaching Conemaugh Valley’s girls junior high volleyball team, where the squad finished above. 500 in all three seasons, including a 19-3 mark last fall.

“My plan is to instill a lot of values I have learned over the years into the players here,” Horner stated. “I want us to have a winning season to start, then try to build on it each year and see how far we can take it. Hopefully, we can bring some championships to Penn Highlands.”

Born and raised in Johnstown, Horner has worked for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport for the past 22 years. He resides in the area with his wife, Brianna, and their children Molly and Henry.

Derek Horner, Women’s Volleyball Head Coach

Over 20 Alumni Recently Completed Bachelor’s Degrees Through 3+1 Agreements

A total of 24 Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have obtained their bachelor’s degrees by utilizing one of the College’s 3+1 articulation partnerships over the past year.

Since the Summer 2023 semester, 21 students have earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Francis University (Loretto, PA), with an additional three graduates completing bachelor’s degrees at Seton Hill University (Greensburg, PA).

These 3+1 (or 3 years + 1 year) articulation agreements enable students to transfer their associate degrees, plus an additional 30+ credits, all earned at Pennsylvania Highlands, toward the requirements of a bachelor’s degree. This leaves students with roughly one year of study remaining at a four-year institution, providing significant financial savings.

Graduates from our region that completed at Saint Francis University include:

Summer 2023

• Crystal Melton (Middletown), Behavioral Sciences

Fall 2023

• Tyler Brown (Windber), Behavioral Sciences
• Nicole Deneen (Central City), Healthcare Management
• Renee Eash (Somerset), Organizational Leadership
• Cheyanne Gregorich (Seward), Organizational Leadership
• Justin Hazlett (Portage), Computer Systems Management
• Samantha Leamer (Patton), Organizational Leadership
• Julie Madonna (Gallitzin), Behavioral Sciences
• Cheyenne Raley (Somerset), Criminal Justice
• Rebecca Velasquez (Ebensburg), Behavioral Sciences

Spring 2024

• Stephanie Cassanese (Johnstown), Behavioral Sciences
• Nicole Cowan (Colver), Healthcare Management
• Noah Drumm (Altoona), Organizational Leadership
• Corey Hammel (Claysburg), Organizational Leadership
• Tiffany Kennedy (Hollidaysburg), Behavioral Sciences
• Makayla Price (Cherry Tree), Behavioral Sciences
• Mckenzie Reilly (Duncansville), Behavioral Sciences
• Kayla Shuster (Windber), Behavioral Sciences
• Victoria Smothers (Monroeville), Organizational Leadership
• Samuel Sottile (Carrolltown), Organizational Leadership
• Julia Taylor (Cresson), Organizational Leadership

Graduates from our region that completed at Seton Hill University include:

Spring 2024

• Teresa Marion (Johnstown), Accounting
• William Roth (Johnstown), Accounting
• Joseph Mattern (Hollidaysburg), Accounting

Penn Highlands partners with other higher educational institutions for the betterment of our students and our region, having 175 articulation agreements with 34 colleges and universities.