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Women’s Softball Earns 2021-2022 Academic Team of the Year Honors

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College congratulates its Women’s Softball program on being named one of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 2021-22 Academic Teams of the Year. In its inaugural season, the Lady Black Bears competed in Region 20 of the NJCAA while earning a GPA of 3.43.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College congratulates these student-athletes who have been recognized for their achievements in the classroom:

• Lauryn Calhoun (New Paris, PA)
• Jamie Detwiler (Martinsburg, PA)
• Kirstin Emerick (Beaverdale, PA)
• Sarah Favreau (Johnstown, PA)
• Karli Hanik (Windber, PA)
• Maciah Holsopple (Hollsopple, PA)
• Amber Mangus (Johnstown, PA)
• Tessa O’Keefe (Altoona, PA)
• Katie Peters (Robinson, PA)
• Julia Podrasky (Lilly, PA)
• Brailee Price (Dilltown, PA)
• Sydney Sheredy (Northern Cambria, PA)
• Madison Wirfel (Munster, PA)

“These student-athletes thrived on and off the field,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “Our players are strong, both mentally and physically. I couldn’t be prouder of our inaugural women’s softball season and Coach Cory Shay for what they accomplished together during a difficult Spring.”

Pennsylvania Highlands is a chartered National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) member college, competing in Region 20. It is the mission of the NJCAA to foster a national program of athletic participation in an environment that supports equitable opportunities consistent with the educational objectives of member colleges. Their goal is to promote and foster two-year college athletics.

The Black Bears are a part of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC). The WPCC was founded in 1972 and currently consists of 10 member institutions.

2022 Women’s Softball Team. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

I Love My Career

The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

I have been in higher education for more than 27 years, and while I don’t get to work with students every day like I did when I was an instructor, I still treasure those few opportunities that I get to meet with students.

For example, just before the start of each semester, the college conducts an orientation for new students.

I use my time with these new students to tell my own story of growing up in rural America and being an average high school student who had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

I eventually found my local community college, where the faculty and staff helped me grow into a solid student and find direction.

At the new student orientation, I ask these students if they know what they want to major in or do as a career – and most say they do. I think most of them probably don’t feel like they can answer in the negative. (They may be waiting for a sarcastic comment from me like, “You are coming to college, and you don’t even know your major yet?”)

But instead, I smile, and then I tell them that most of them, before they graduate from college, are likely to change their major, and hence their career.

For me, I started as a history major, but ended up as a biology major. For many students, they change their major two, three, four, or more times.

In fact, it is much more common to switch a college major than keep the one you started with.

But I remind these new students that it is OK to be uncertain at this stage of their college career. Choosing a major, much less a career, should be difficult as it is one of the most important decisions in their lives.

Community colleges excel in helping students find their direction (and do it at a reasonable cost). Our staff and faculty help students identify their academic crossroads where passion and ability intersect. But the process takes time – students need to be exposed to diverse subjects and diverse teachers, where they can identify their passions and grow their skill sets.

For me, while I enjoyed history, I found a love for the biological sciences, a subject that seemed to fit my inquisitive nature and my critical thinking abilities. As importantly, I found biology interesting.

I really loved learning about biology – I was hooked.

I probably would have never identified my interest in biology if I wasn’t required to take a biology class as a college freshman that was luckily taught by a passionate, caring, and knowledgeable instructor.

That teacher changed my life and I’m glad I was given that opportunity to learn from him. He helped me identify a passion that fit my personal skill sets.

I can see the upcoming fall semester on the horizon – classes start at Penn Highlands on Aug. 22. I’m excited to see hundreds of new students on our campuses this fall semester and I look forward to talking to them about their futures and how Penn Highlands can help them find their way.

Honestly, my time with them is important to me as it reenergizes and refocuses me for the upcoming year – and reminds me that community colleges are my new passion.

I have a great job. I get to help change and improve people’s lives through education.

I get to give folks second, and sometimes third chances to reach their dreams.

I get to shake the hands of every single graduate at commencement and see the happiness and sense of accomplishment on each of their faces. And then I get to hear about their future successes (at a university and/or in their careers) when they reach back out to me or the college’s foundation and share their stories.

I’m lucky. I love what I do.

See you at Penn Highlands.

Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.

Ten Athletes Receive National All-Academic Team Honors

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) recently announced the 2021-2022 All-Academic Teams, recognizing student-athletes across the country for their dedication in the classroom. Congratulations to the 10 Black Bear student-athletes who made these teams and have been recognized for their achievements in the classroom.

The NJCAA All-Academic Teams are broken down into three tiers: First Team is a 4.0 GPA, Second Team is a 3.80-3.99 GPA, and Third Team is a 3.60-3.79 GPA.

First Team All-Academic Team honorees included:

• Emily Bittner, of Boswell (women’s volleyball),
• Karli Hanik, of Windber (women’s softball),
• Amber Mangus, of Johnstown (women’s softball),
• Madison Wirfel, of Munster (women’s softball).

Second Team All-Academic Team honorees included:

• Dylan Napora, of Windber (men’s basketball)
• Sydney Sheredy, of Northern Cambria (women’s softball)

Third Team All-Academic Team honorees included:

• Ethan Barkley, of Berkley Springs, WV (men’s basketball)
• Maciah Holsopple, of Hollsopple (women’s softball and volleyball)
• Bryce Huss, of Richland (men’s basketball)
• Katie Peters, of Robinson (women’s softball)

“I couldn’t be prouder of these individuals and their accomplishments,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “At Penn Highlands, our foundation is built around accomplishing academic goals first and foremost. These student-athletes define what it means to be a Black Bear.”

Pennsylvania Highlands is a chartered National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) member college, competing in Region 20. It is the mission of the NJCAA to foster a national program of athletic participation in an environment that supports equitable opportunities consistent with the educational objectives of member colleges. Their goal is to promote and foster two-year college athletics.

The Black Bears are a part of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC). The WPCC was founded in 1972 and currently consists of 10 member institutions.

PA Dept. of Education Visits College To Highlight Higher Education Funding

Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Eric Hagarty visited Pennsylvania Highlands Community College to discuss the impact the Nellie Bly Scholarship Program would have on students across the commonwealth and the importance of continued investments in higher education.

“As a product of community college education myself, I know that Pennsylvania’s community colleges offer students a high-quality education at an affordable price. However, we also know that across the nation, young people are entering the workforce with unmanageable student debt,” Hagarty said. “The Nellie Bly Scholarship Program would make higher education more accessible and affordable to more students, helping them pursue their interests and begin a meaningful career without undue financial burden upon graduation.”

Credit: Commonwealth Media Services. For the full release and photos, click here.

Watch this video for more insight from this visit:

Building A Strong Foundation For Education

The original column appeared in the Tribune-Democrat, written by Dr. Steve Nunez. Click here to see original sourced column.

I came to Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in 2020 with 24 years of community college experience. I had served as a faculty member for 15 years, and also brought nine years of experience as a senior administrator to the job.

But even though I was a community college veteran, once here, I quickly learned that I had room – a lot of room – to grow as a leader and had a lot to learn about this region and Penn Highlands.

One aspect of my new job was working directly with the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial support to Penn Highlands and its students. The foundation is distinct and separate from the college and has its own board of directors, which provides oversight of the operations and the fiscal management of Foundation resources.

In my new role as president, my interaction with the college’s foundation is regular and necessary. The directors have been kind and supportive and allowed me to “get my feet under me” and understand the local landscape a little better. After many discussions, I believe we now have a focused and collective shared vision for the future.

What I have discovered is that the foundation is a critically important component of the success of the college and of our students. Due to the generous donations of college employees (current and former), alumni, board members, community members and local businesses, the foundation gives nearly $30,000 in Penn Highlands scholarships annually and has supported a multitude of initiatives throughout the years.

While the cost of attendance at Penn Highlands has always been reasonable (we have the lowest tuition for higher education in the region), the foundation scholarships provide another resource to help our students attend college at the lowest cost possible.

Many of our students will leave debt-free, or nearly debt-free, and can therefore more easily earn bachelor’s degrees or enter the workforce without carrying the extra burden of paying off significant student loans.

Students who have less college debt will have more money to invest in homes and cars, or save their money for a rainy day after their education is complete. This is good for students (and their families) and this is good for our local economy as many of our graduates stay right here in west-central Pennsylvania.

One of the ways we raise funds to support the foundation – and hence our students – is to hold fundraising events throughout the year. You may have attended our Foundation Gala or our signature “Puttapalooza” – an 18-hole miniature golf course set up right inside our Richland campus.

On June 9, we will be hosting the first-ever Sips for Scholarships event, where you can enjoy a tasting of some local beer and wine, listen to live music, and try to solve and break out of a custom-designed escape room.

Why not have a little fun that supports a worthy cause? Hope to see you there. See you at Penn Highlands.

Written By Dr. Steve Nunez, College’s Fifth President. This monthly series appears in The Tribune-Democrat, and will allow Dr. Nunez to provide his perspective on the value of education and of a community college.