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Volleyball Team Releases 2023 Schedule

The Pennsylvania Highlands Women’s Volleyball team has released its 2023 season schedule, consisting of 12 total matches spanning September and October.

Penn Highlands will play seven of the 12 contests at home, as the Black Bears will host Butler County Community College to open the season on Friday, September 8 at 6 PM. All home games are played in the Richland Campus gymnasium (East Hills Recreation). The full home game schedule is as follows:

All home matches are scheduled to begin at 6 PM except for October 10, which is set for a 7 PM start.

“This year, the team is motivated to try their best through wins and losses,” stated Kylee Doyle, Pennsylvania Highlands Head Volleyball Coach. “Not just in games, but in their own efforts as well. These girls bring a positive energy to the table, and I am looking forward to getting to know them and watching them improve throughout the season.”

Following the completion of the regular season, the Black Bears will compete in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 Tournament on Saturday, October 21.

The winner will be crowned both conference and regional champion and will advance to play the Region 10 champion in the District Championship on October 28. The district champion will then advance to the NJCAA National Tournament at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Penn Highlands will be returning two starters from last season’s team in Taylor Rapsky and Olivia Weyandt. Rapsky, a middle hitter, recorded 86 kills and 123 digs in 12 matches while leading the team with a .204 hitting percentage. Weyandt compiled 116 assists and 104 digs as a setter.

Doyle, a 2017 graduate of Penn Highlands and former Black Bear volleyball player, is entering her second season as head coach.

21st Annual Cambria College Fair Coming To Richland Campus

The 21st annual Cambria County College Fair will be held Tuesday, September 19, from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM inside the main gym of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College’s Richland Campus.

This event, which is sponsored and hosted by Pennsylvania Highlands, is open to anyone, including students, parents, and the public, who are looking to further their education or trade.

“This is a great opportunity for local high school juniors and seniors, plus anyone looking to find a new school or career, to come and see what is available,” stated Hannah Ross, Admissions Specialist at Pennsylvania Highlands. “There will be a lot of vendors to talk to, with a widespread variety of representatives coming from outside the state as well. There will be many chances to gain knowledge from different perspectives at this event.”

More than 50 representatives will likely be appearing at the fair, including four-year universities, technical schools, business colleges, cosmetology schools and universities, branches of the military, local businesses, and more, giving everyone who attends an opportunity to find and discover the many educational and career opportunities that are right in their own backyard.

The representatives, which hail from Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Maryland along with Pennsylvania, will be on-hand to meet with and assist guests regarding their educational and career needs.

The College Fair’s mission is to promote higher education and future opportunities to not only high school students and their families, but to the public as well. We invite the community to stop by the Cambria County College Fair and learn about all the educational opportunities our region offers.

College Collaborates With IUP’s Eberly College of Business To Add Six Articulation Agreements

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Penn Highlands) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s (IUP) Eberly College of Business have partnered to create six new articulation agreements, adding to the strong connection already established between the two institutions.

These agreements will give students who earn an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Penn Highlands the opportunity to transfer up to 75 credits toward one of six business-related bachelor’s degrees at IUP.

These majors include Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, Accounting, and a double-major with Human Resource Management and Management.

“This agreement with IUP is great because it provides an affordable, attainable, and efficient pathway for students to earn an excellent degree from a prestigious program,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Enrollment Services and Registrar at Penn Highlands. “This is a terrific model of how successful articulation agreements are working for our students, enabling them to not only transfer their associate degree, but credits beyond that degree, saving them additional money.”

The updated partnership raises Penn Highlands to more than 135 articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities across the state, including 12 with IUP.

Upon transferring from Penn Highlands to IUP, students will then be able to take classes in-person, online, hybrid, or virtually.

“We are excited to embark on this new partnership with Penn Highlands,” stated Susan Brant, Outreach Program Administrator at IUP’s Eberly College of Business. “We see this as a win-win situation for all, especially the students who will be able to get their bachelor’s degree in Accounting, General Management, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or a double major in Human Resources Management and Management from IUP and never step foot on IUP’s main campus. All IUP classes will currently be taught by Zoom or online and at convenient times, so students may continue to work while attending classes. We hope that we can have the same success with Penn Highlands as we have with our previous partnerships.”

IUP’s Eberly College of Business is AACSB accredited, which is the highest ranking a business school can hold. Only 856 business schools in the world have this prestigious ranking.

Eberly College is not new to this type of partnership, having graduated well over 1,000 students with business degrees from IUP.

“The partnership between IUP’s Eberly College of Business and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is an example of a true win-win collaboration that will benefit students who want to pursue an undergraduate degree at an affordable cost,” stated Prashanth Bharadwaj, Dean’s Associate of IUP’s Eberly College of Business. “Our business school has helped students not only from Pennsylvania, but also from numerous regions of the country and the world to meet their educational and professional goals. We are excited about the opportunity to work closely with the students, faculty, and administrators at Penn Highlands.”

Founding President Dr. John Hunter Passes Away

Dr. John O. Hunter, the founding president of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (formerly known as Cambria County Area Community College), passed away from natural causes on August 3, 2023. He served the college community from 1994 to 1999.

Dr. Hunter received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees all from SUNY Buffalo (University at Buffalo). Dr. Hunter’s doctorate degree was in higher education.

Before serving in public education for 46 years, he served as a special forces Army Ranger. Dr. Hunter was the recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa International Distinguished President Award in 2004.

“Dr. Hunter was a true beacon of dedication and service. His transformative leadership has left an indelible mark on our institution, shaping the lives of countless students and colleagues. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to know and work alongside him,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, current president of Penn Highlands Community College.

Dr. Hunter was a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lyla Beth Brown Hunter. They are proud parents of four children, Elaine (Jim) DeWeen; John (Nayeema) Hunter; Suzanne (Tim) Hunter; and Elizabeth Olver of Hornell, NY, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Workforce Solutions Forum Coming In September

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is hosting a Workforce Solutions Forum on Wednesday, September 20, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the College’s Richland Campus.

The forum will provide employers with information on services and program resources to assist with employee recruitment and training needs. Participants will also learn about funding opportunities that can help defray the cost of employee training.

“The foundation of every local economy is an educated workforce who not only has the technical skills to conduct their job, but also can effectively communicate, solve problems, be respectful and kind colleagues, and develop into competent leaders in your organizations,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College President. “This forum will provide community and business leaders with the knowledge and resources necessary to better train their current and future employees.”

Speakers Gwen Ross and Johanna Pro from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will be featured at the forum, as well as Kim DeLellis, Ed Legge, and Nick Reighard from the PA Center for Workforce Information and Analysis (CWIA).

DCED offers locally based technical assistance and workforce development grants. CWIA is Pennsylvania’s home to a wealth of workforce and economic data, including industry and occupational data, income statistics, and career information.

“The purpose of the forum is to provide employers with information on services and resources available to assist with employee recruitment and training needs,” stated Julie Davis, Director of Workforce Education. “Participants will also learn about funding opportunities that can help defray the cost of employee training. The program also includes an employer panel made up of employers who have successfully utilized their WEDnet funds, and training provided by Penn Highlands. The panelists will share information on how the funding was used and the impact the training had on their employees and the company.”

In addition, local workforce partners will share information on their services, while business representatives will highlight best practices for employee training. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the speakers and ask questions.

There is no cost to attend.