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Women’s Volleyball Releases 2024 Home Schedule

The Pennsylvania Highlands Women’s Volleyball team released its 2024 season schedule, with matches spanning August through October.

The Black Bears will play six of their 15 games at home. Penn Highlands will open the season on the road at Westmoreland County Community College on Tuesday, August 27 at 6 PM. The home opener will be Friday, August 30 against Butler County Community College.

Home games will be played in the Richland Campus gymnasium, with all six contests slated to start at 6 PM. Dates and times are subject to change. The full home schedule is as follows:

“We have a great group of athletes, and I think we will hold our own in a lot of games,” stated Black Bears first-year head coach Derek Horner. “We have some great returning players and have been lucky to add a few more during the off-season. They work hard together and are motivated to win.”

After the regular season, the Black Bears will compete in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 Tournament in Butler on October 26. The winner becomes the conference and regional champion, and will face the Region 10 champion in the Mid-Atlantic District Championship.

For full schedule details, please visit www.blackbearathletics.com.

College Unveils Centre County Location With Ribbon Cutting & Open House

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College unveiled its new Centre County location in Bellefonte, PA, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house event on Friday, August 16.

The Center opens to the public with the Fall 2024 semester, which starts in just under two weeks. Centre County marks the College’s seventh location, as Penn Highlands continues to expand its educational offerings throughout the region.

“We are thrilled to announce that the Penn Highlands at Centre County educational facility is open for business,” stated Steve Nunez, Penn Highlands President. “As President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, I am honored to witness this milestone that was several years in the making. Our commitment to affordable, accessible, and quality education, to community enrichment, and to local economic development remains unwavering. As with any project of this scope, there are many partners to thank including the CBICC, the Borough of Bellefonte, and the Bellefonte Intervalley Chamber of Commerce. A big thank you to all that helped us get here.”

The event featured 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.

“This is a great day for Centre County and the surrounding area,” Stewart stated. “Penn Highlands Community College has established a first-class education and training facility here at the Match Factory for Centre County residents. It is going to be great to see Penn Highlands help people get the education and training they need in order to be competitive and to thrive.”

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

The location currently offers 14 associate degree and certificate options that can be fully completed online. Four courses will also be offered in-person for the Fall 2024 semester, including English Composition 1, US History 1, Mathematical Concepts & Application, and General Psychology.

The College aims to increase both degree options and class offerings for 2025.

“Everyone in the area has been so welcoming and supportive of Penn Highlands becoming a part of Centre County,” stated Marissa Davis, Regional Center Director. “Business and industry, county school districts, local governments, and so many others have supported our arrival. We’ve already made so many great partnerships. I’m looking forward to building more as we serve the area. We are all looking forward to being a part of such a great community.”

The ribbon cutting at the Penn Highlands Centre County location in Bellefonte, PA. This photo was taken at our reception desk. Left to right: Mark Higgins, Centre County Commissioner Chair; Greg Scott, President & CEO of the CBICC; Ralph Stewart, Borough of Bellefonte Manager; Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; Greg Winger, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees Chairperson; Marissa Davis, Regional Center Director at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; and Kerry Benninghoff, District 171 Pennsylvania State Representative.

The ribbon cutting at the Penn Highlands Centre County location in Bellefonte, PA. Left to right: Mark Higgins, Centre County Commissioner Chair; Greg Scott, President & CEO of the CBICC; Ralph Stewart, Borough of Bellefonte Manager; Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; Greg Winger, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees Chairperson; Marissa Davis, Regional Center Director at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; and Kerry Benninghoff, District 171 Pennsylvania State Representative.

Four Black Bear Athletes Earn NJCAA All-Academic Honors

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) recently announced its 2023-24 All-Academic Teams, recognizing student-athletes from across the country for their dedication in the classroom.

A total of 12,245 student-athletes have been honored for achieving a GPA above 3.60, including four from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

Student-athletes who recorded a 4.0 GPA were named to the First Team. Second Team honors were given for a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99, while Third Team sits between 3.60 and 3.79. The honorees from Penn Highlands include:

Second Team:

• Christian Haberkorn (Freshman, Johnstown, PA, Cross Country)
• Autumn Montgomery (Freshman, Homer City, PA, Volleyball)

Third Team:

• Will Latuch (Freshman, Somerset, PA, Golf)
• Jeremie Washington (Freshman, Bushkill, PA, Men’s Basketball)

“On behalf of the athletic department, I want to commend our student-athletes for their exceptional performances in the classroom,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities & Athletics. “Their dedication to academic excellence, while balancing the demands of training and competition, is truly inspiring and reflects the values of our College.”

Penn Highlands now has 69 student-athletes who earned NJCAA All-Academic honors since athletic programs were reinstated at the College in 2010.

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.