Newsroom

Community Education Releases Personal Enrichment Spring Class Schedule

Community Education has released the dates for its 2024 Spring class schedule. These personal enrichment classes are set to run from March 7 to June 11. 

The non-credit slate consists of 28 total classes in five different subjects, which include Arts & Crafts, Computers, Food & Baking, Spirits, and Phlebotomy. There are also six separate package options for attendees, allowing them to attend multiple or all related classes for a discounted price. 

“These classes offer those who attend a chance to gain some new experiences,” stated Matthew Pudliner, Pennsylvania Highlands Continuing Education Manager. “They get to have fun with friends and family, plus on a lot of occasions, attendees come in large groups, which makes it more enjoyable for everyone. A lot of people become friends within classes.” 

Multiple new class options have been added since the fall. Two new calligraphy classes – Spring Calligraphy Card and Introduction to Watercolor/Flower Bouquet – and two non–alcoholic mixology classes, known as mocktails, are now available. Mocktail classes are open to all ages, while standard mixology classes are limited to ages 21 and over. 

Foundation Receives $10,000 Donation From Somerset Trust Company

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation was presented with a check for $10,000 from Somerset Trust Company. This donation is intended to bolster the College’s Educational Income Tax Credit (EITC) fund.

The donation will enable the bank (based in Somerset, PA), as well as other institutions, to support educational causes offered by the College. With Penn Highlands also applying for and maintaining its EITC status, the donation will help allow the College to offer classes at a reduced price for its Accelerated College Education (ACE) Program/dual enrollment students.

“John Kubinsky, who is on our Foundation Board of Directors, has been very generous to the college over the years,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “He has made multiple donations, and this year he chose EITC. John believes in our mission and values growth in our community.”

EITC assists high school students in taking college-level courses, while earning credits and seeing what Penn Highlands can offer in their respective futures.

“Somerset Trust Company is pleased to support the community-focused, educational mission of Penn Highlands,” stated John Kubinsky, Somerset Trust Company Vice President and Commercial Credit Officer. “The College is a valued asset to our area. Its degrees and programs support the region’s ongoing economic and workforce needs.”

The EITC Program received $17,000 in funds in 2023, allowing the College to award more than 7,000 credits at discounted rates to over 2,000 participating students in the past year alone.

Instructor Matthew Stumpf Aims To Guide Students & Region Through Poetry, English

Though he is in just his second year as a full-time English Instructor at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Matthew Stumpf has already made a significant impact on his students while helping them gain expression both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Stumpf, a Punxsutawney native and a resident of Indiana, has used his love of poetry to develop multiple writing-based incentives that started solely in his home area but have now spread to Johnstown and the Penn Highlands population.

He is the co-organizer and host of “Poeming through the Dark”, an open-mic poetry night held once a month at local outlets. The idea started at a single coffee shop in Indiana before expanding to be held in different venues across the region, including The Indiana Theater and the Write Cup Coffee Shop near Johnstown’s Central Park.

“Our first-ever event at Write Cup had about 20 attendees,” Stumpf said. “We were excited when we saw the number of people that wanted to read theirs or others’ works of poetry. It felt like there was a latent need for it in Johnstown. At the two events we’ve held in Johnstown, the coffee shop was filled. We’ve had upwards of 75 people show up at events in the past, but usually average around 25, which is still a substantial number.”

Stumpf also serves as an editor for Red Flag Poetry, a publication that delivers a postcard once a month to subscribers’ mailboxes containing poetry with a related artwork.  

The publication also has a bi-monthly digital arm called the Poetry Express, aimed at promoting longer samples of work, as well as a press releasing full-length books of poetry two-to-three times per year which Stumpf helps edit, layout, and distribute through orders on the Red Flag Poetry website.

“It definitely is a lot to do alongside teaching, but it doesn’t feel like extra work being it’s something that I am very passionate about,” Stumpf said. “I discovered this love during my undergraduate days just by going to the same type of events that we host now. It really shows how much something can impact you after just stumbling across it.”

At Penn Highlands, Stumpf has taught six different English-based courses, with two more in American Literature coming in 2024, while also working with the ACE Program, which he supervises high school instructors, and serving on the Middle States Steering Committee to help the College with accreditation.

He is also collaborating with Penn Highlands students to develop the Tea Club, where members will read literature from the diverse cultures of tea they drink and converse with friends.

Also, Stumpf said he feels he can relate well to his students due to him being a first-generation college student like many of the Penn Highlands community.

“I’ve really been able to connect with my students and get a lot of positive responses,” Stumpf said. “My goal as an instructor is to better the future of this generation. That’s why I’m in this profession. I see teaching as the most direct way I can change and inspire students to create a better world tomorrow than we have today.” 

Penn Highlands & CPI Establish Landmark Partnership Through Articulation Agreement

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced the signing of three articulation agreements with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology (CPI) located in Pleasant Gap, PA. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in fostering academic partnerships and expanding educational opportunities for students in the region.

In mid-November, the College made official agreements that align with their future expansion plans. These agreements are aimed at opening a new location in Bellefonte, PA, and enhancing the educational experience for students in Centre County.

“Penn Highlands is a mission-focused institution where we connect and partner with like-minded and community-focused organizations like CPI,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, Penn Highlands President. “This partnership is not just good for Penn Highlands and CPI, but most importantly for the communities and students we both serve. I hope this is just the first of many fruitful agreements between our great institutions.”

The associate degrees covered by the articulation agreement include Early Childhood Education (A.A.), IT Network Administration (A.A.S.), and Entrepreneurship (A.A.S.).

CPI Students will be able to transfer up to six courses for a total of 16 credits in Early Childhood Education, three courses for nine credits in Network Administration, and up to 15 credits of technical electives for Entrepreneurship. Moreover, by successfully completing the CISCO Academy Certification exam, they can obtain additional credit in Network Administration.

All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above to transfer and be applied towards finishing an associate degree.

“We are very excited to work with the leadership of CPI to create these articulation agreements,” stated Dr. Cynthia Doherty, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Penn Highlands. “CPI does an excellent job of training high school students and adults to go into the workforce. These articulation agreements will allow their students to continue to Penn Highlands to earn college credit toward a certificate or degree program and continue to build their path to a new career.”

CPI is a vocational technical training school offering over 18 secondary programs, over 60 in-house adult and continuing education programs, and over 350 online courses to its students.

This represents Penn Highlands’ first-ever collaboration with a vocational school in Centre County, expanding their current affiliations with institutions in Blair and Cambria counties.

“Partnering with Penn Highlands is a wonderful opportunity for CPI, our students, and the community,” stated MaryAnn Volders, CPI President. “We strive to provide as many post-secondary options as we can for our career and technical high school students. I appreciate what Penn Highlands has to offer our community and our students. We look forward to working with Penn Highlands in any way that we can to provide new experiences for our students.”

Caring For Cubs Club Makes Regional Impact Through Volunteerism

Morgan Dugan, an Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, started the Caring for Cubs Education Club in 2018 with the hopes of showing how much helping those in need and volunteering can impact others. 

Though it did not dive into volunteer work right from the start, Dugan has developed the Club into one of the biggest outside interest groups at the College, while gaining major support from her Early Childhood Education students, faculty, administration, and the public. 

“When I was a child, the people in my community helped me and my family greatly,” Dugan stated. “I learned at an early age that we as humans are made to connect and help one another. The Caring for Cubs Club helps our students see beyond the four classroom walls that they will be teaching in. They get to experience the impact that people have on one another. It also helps our college students understand how we are all connected in this world, while giving them job opportunities, especially when they discover an authentic interest in one of our volunteer events.” 

The Club is active for the entire College’s academic year – August to May. Students enrolled in either an Early Childhood Education or Education major are automatically added as members of the Club but are free to help as much or as little as they want. 

While teaching at both the Richland Campus and Ebensburg Center, Dugan has gained interest from students at both locations. Club members have even made and sold bracelets to raise money for Suicide Prevention at the Ebensburg Center. 

There are currently 77 active students in the Club. 

“The Club has had many impacts on my life already,” stated Olivia Cavallo, a freshman Education student based in Ebensburg. “It grew me closer to my classmates who have the same passion for teaching that I do while doing the volunteer work that we do. I also love how we get involved with helping kids around our community. Some of the things we do bring the biggest smiles to kids’ faces. That is awesome to see.” 

Members of the Club are involved in many events throughout the year, ranging from literacy events to food drives to helping plant flowers in Downtown Johnstown. 

This past March, the Club traveled to local elementary schools to read children’s books to kindergarten students and complete a literacy activity as a part of Read Across America Week. Students also took part in a Thanksgiving Food Drive, sponsored a Christmas event at the Women’s Help Center, and did regular partnerships with the Cambria County Backpack Project over the last year. 

These activities also assist the students when completing their degree, as they must have accumulated 50 volunteer hours while working with children before transferring to a four-year school. 

“Participating in the club allowed me to meet new people, give back to the community, develop leadership skills, and make memories,” stated Olivia Grant, a 2023 graduate of the Early Childhood Education program. “I am glad I was part of this club. It was so much fun.” 

Dugan uses a bulletin board near her offices at the Richland Campus and Ebensburg Center, and posts online, to communicate volunteer opportunities for her students, with the events list spanning a month. 

She also posts job opportunities for students to obtain while earning their associate degree. 

“This is a great way to get our students out into the field to gain experience working with children before they even complete their degree,” Dugan stated. “While doing this type of volunteer work, they can see how the community is connected and build social skills necessary for leadership. Volunteering truly is a skillset, and we learn something new every time we do it.” 

Caring For Cubs Club participating in a Trunk or Treat in downtown Johnstown (October 2023).