Newsroom

Holocaust Survivor Eva Olsson to speak with community at Richland Campus

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is honored to provide community members with the opportunity to hear the moving and visceral story of Holocaust survivor Eva Olsson. On Tuesday, April 5th, Eva Olsson will return to Pennsylvania Highlands to give two free presentations to the general public: 9:30am and 6:30pm. All presentations will be held at the College’s Richland Campus, in the Auditorium. The Richland Campus is located at 101 Community College Way in Johnstown.

Eva Olsson was born in Szatsmar, Hungary in October of 1924 into a poor family of Hasidic Jews. This was the beginning of her lifelong struggle against other people’s attempts to control her.

She is a survivor… of a repressive religious upbringing, World War II, the deaths of many of her loved ones, bigotry and racism, and being ostracized because of her determination to live life on her own terms. Eva’s innate curiosity and need to develop along a different spiritual path would not be stifled and she struggled against this restrictive life.

The outbreak of World War II plunged Eva into the heart of the Holocaust concentration camps, slave labor factories, disease, and the deaths of millions, including most of her family. Eva’s strong faith in God and in herself has enabled her to maintain a positive focus throughout the rest of her life.

For 50 years she remained silent about her experiences during the Holocaust, partly out of denial and partly out of fear it might happen again. Since 1996, Eva has been speaking about her life in over 3,000 schools, churches, meeting halls, conference rooms, colleges and universities, and to over one-and-a-half million individuals throughout Canada, in the hope that people who hear her story will know that it is possible to survive the worst life has to throw at them.

For additional information on this inspirational presentation, please contact Trish Corle, Diversity Committee Chair, at 814.262.3841 or tcorle@pennhighlands.edu.

Eva Olsson, Holocaust Survivor.

Dual Enrollment program excels; other Colleges take notice

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been receiving recognition for its nationally accredited dual enrollment program known as Accelerated College Education (ACE). This has prompted both two and four-year institutions to seek the assistance of Pennsylvania Highlands in improving their own dual enrollment programs. Jennifer Parizo, Community Education Specialist at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, recently visited Penn Highlands and Dr. Melissa Murray, Dean of School Partnerships, to learn more about how the College’s ACE program operates in the hopes of emulating that success.

“Having the chance to talk with Dr. Murray, her team, and related professionals at Penn Highlands provided us with validation that we’re on the right track,” said Parizo. “We’re excited for the chance to establish the next phase of our program and build it around the exemplary program that Penn Highlands has developed.”

The Accelerated College Education (ACE) dual enrollment program is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment, which makes it one of only two such accredited programs in Pennsylvania. Through ACE, Pennsylvania Highlands partners with high schools throughout the state, providing students with the opportunity to earn college credits during their regular school day. The program benefits high school students in a variety of ways according to Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

“The opportunity to participate in a class that has been developed to include college-level coursework and rigor provides a great overall learning experience for these students,” stated Dr. Walter Asonevich. “They are studying the subject matter and also developing skills that they can take with them to the next educational level, while earning transferable credits at a dramatically reduced tuition rate.”

The College’s ACE program began in 2004 with only seven high schools and just over 250 students participating. Today, ACE operates in over 50 high schools across 12 counties, teaching over 1,200 students through more than 250 instructors. The growth of Pennsylvania Highlands’ ACE program highlights the strength and benefits that ACE provides high school students not only in our region and across the state.

Group Photo (from left to right): Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; Dr. Ted Nichols, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; Jennifer Parizo, Community Education Specialist at the University of Maine at Fort Kent; Dr. Melissa Murray, Dean of School Partnerships at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College; and Joe Slifko, Accelerated College Education Faculty Coordinator.

College appoints Assistant Center Director for Blair & Huntingdon

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Heather Eckels as the College’s Assistant Center Director for Blair and Huntingdon. Ms. Eckels holds a Master of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Public Service from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

College appoints Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Susan Fisher as the College’s Assistant Vice President of Human Resources.

Ms. Fisher will manage all of the Human Resource functions at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from West Virginia University. Additionally, Ms. Fisher has earned her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

Prior to joining Pennsylvania Highlands, Ms. Fisher worked in Human Resource positions in the manufacturing sector.

Blair Center & United Way collaborate on The Glass Slipper Project; Help Students receive Prom Gowns

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Blair Center is anxious to once again host The Glass Slipper Project, a program of United Way of Blair County. This program collects new and gently-worn prom, special occasion, and bridesmaid gowns to distribute, at no cost, to Blair County High School students through multiple boutique days held in February and March at the College’s Blair Center.

Many of Blair County’s high school students are economically disadvantaged and might not otherwise be able to afford a gown to attend their prom. The Glass Slipper Project helps to assure that the needs of these young women are met.

The boutique days will be held at the Pennsylvania Highlands Blair Center, located in the Logan Valley Mall next to Macy’s. There will be three boutique days, which are scheduled for:

• Saturday, February 27th, from 12 – 4pm
• Friday, March 18th, from 5:30 – 8:30pm
• Saturday, March 19th, from 12 – 4pm

If you are interested in donating gently-worn prom and special occasion gowns and formal accessories for The Glass Slipper Project, donations are being accepted at the Penn Highlands Community College Blair Center. Gowns should be clean and currently-styled in misses/women’s sizes 0-26. In addition to gowns, formal shoes, purses, and accessories are also being accepted. Donations may be dropped off at the College until February 18th.

For additional information about the Glass Slipper Project, please contact the United Way of Blair County at outreach@unitedwayofblaircounty.org or 814.944.0884 ext. 302.