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College Foundation Awarded Over $24,000 In Scholarships

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation distributed $24,955 in scholarships during the 2017-2018 academic year to help aid students in our region. The money was spread across 22 scholarships, all maintained and managed by the Penn Highlands Foundation.

The College’s Foundation Scholarship Application is now open for the 2018-2019 academic year. It closes on Tuesday, May 15th. To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must be accepted to Penn Highlands, have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and have registered for the Fall 2018 semester.

The following is a list of students who received scholarships in 2017-2018.

• American Association of University Women (AAUW), Johnstown Branch Scholarship
  • Timothy Borish (Windber, PA)
  • Kiara Younkin (Salix, PA)

• American Legion Home Association of Ebensburg Scholarship
  • Cody Hartman (Altoona, PA)

• Anna D. Weitz Scholarship
  • Christian Jaramillo (Johnstown, PA)

• College Employee Supported Scholarship
  • John Cicchitello (Altoona, PA)

• Dale W. Miller Scholarship
  • Morgan Snyder (Huntingdon, PA)
  • Candy Jordan (Mount Union, PA)

• Daniel and Diane Holtzman Scholarship
  • Heather Dietrick (Patton, PA)

• Dr. Edward Haluska Scholarship
  • Faith Sodmont (Ebensburg, PA)

• Dr. Walter and Kim Asonevich Scholarship
  • Kyli Foor (Huntingdon, PA)

• Griffith Family Scholarship
  • Kyli Foor (Huntingdon, PA)
  • Candy Jordan (Mount Union, PA)

• Huntingdon Hope Scholarship
  • Morgan Snyder (Huntingdon, PA)

• Johnstown Regional Indian Subcontinent Association (JRISA) Scholarship
  • Jaydrik Hinton (Johnstown, PA)

• Joseph and Joan Mangarella Scholarship
  • Quinn Earnest (Northern Cambria, PA)

• Kathy Holtzman Memorial Scholarship
  • Heather Dietrick (Patton, PA)
  • Austin Burket (Johnstown, PA)

• Krishan Bhatia Scholarship
  • Madison Crum (Windber, PA)

• National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Scholarship
  • Daniel Weaver (Somerset, PA)
  • Timothy Borish (Windber, PA)

• Supporting Success Scholarship
  • John Cicchitello (Altoona, PA)
  • Kylee Lonsinger (Duncansville, PA)
  • Faith Sodmont (Ebensburg, PA)
  • Alexandera Ringler (Penn Run, PA)

• Somerset VFW Post 554 Scholarship
  • Cody Hartman (Altoona, PA)

• Stan and Helen Westbrook Scholarship
  • Kyli Foor (Huntingdon, PA)
  • Candy Jordan (Mount Union, PA)

• Stoystown American Legion Scholarship
  • Cody Hartman (Altoona, PA)

• Ursula Pawlowski Memorial Scholarship
  • David Shannon (Ligonier, PA)

• Valenty Scholarship
  • McKenzie Fitzpatrick (Johnstown, PA)
  • Annette Thompson (Altoona, PA)

• Windber Moose Scholarship
  • Hunter Thomas (Windber, PA)

Foundation To Host Puttapalooza Mini-Golf Event

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation will host the area’s most unique miniature golf event, Puttapalooza, on Friday, March 23. Puttapalooza will take place at the College’s Richland Campus. The Foundation is pleased to announce that Somerset Trust Company will again serve as the event sponsor.

Registration begins at 5:00 PM with golf starting at 6:00 PM. A foursome for the event is only $150 and includes pre-game appetizers and drinks, 18-holes of mini-golf, and a post-game dinner. Players will traverse through the College’s hallways on a course featuring a glow-in-the-dark room, windmill, black bears, and our rolling ramp hole. Last year, the Foundation welcomed over 20 teams to the event, and raised nearly $10,000.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation is committed to raising funds that provide significant assistance to the College and its students. Each year, the Foundation supports numerous areas including scholarships, programs, facilities, and faculty development.

Spring Open House To Be Held In March

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be hosting an open house in March on Thursday, March 22. The open house will be from 6pm to 7:30pm at each of our five locations: Blair, Ebensburg, Huntingdon, Richland, and Somerset.

Individuals will learn about Penn Highlands and its opportunities, including degree programs and coursework, transfer options, and more. Information on student life, including clubs and activities, and financial assistance will also be presented by representatives.

As an added bonus, prospective students will be eligible to win a 2018/2019 tuition voucher, good for a $250 discount, if they complete a survey while in attendance.

Penn Highlands has been serving the community with quality and affordable academic options for over 20 years. To learn more, contact any of the College’s locations directly or call us toll-free at 1.888.385.PEAK.

College President Receives Distinguished Citizen Award

By Randy Griffith
Source: Content pulled directly from The Tribune Democrat.

Boy Scouting played only a minor role in Walter Asonevich’s childhood in Vermont.

But scouting’s values of leadership and mentoring that give young people direction and purpose in life are values that Asonevich says have defined his life. It led him to expand and refine Pennsylvania Highlands Community College during his 11 years as college president.

Asonevich was presented Thursday with Boy Scouts of America Laurel Highlands Council 2018 Distinguished Citizen Award for his role in developing the college and taking leadership in other areas of the community. 

In presenting the award, 2017 Distinguished Citizen Robert Eyer recounted Asonevich’s accomplishments, taking Penn Highlands from a struggling community college with two campuses to a recognized school of five campuses in four counties. 

Under Asonevich’s leadership, Penn Highlands developed a dual enrollment programs allowing thousands of students in more than 50 high schools to earn college credits before graduation, Eyer noted.

“I think it is really one of the true gems in our area,” Eyer said.

In preparing his acceptance speech, Asonevich said he thought about Boy Scouts values.

“As scouting is about leadership and mentors, I considered those that mentored me over the years and noted that my heroes – those that inspired my life – were people I never met personally,” Asonevich said. “Most had died before I was born.”

It was then that his thoughts turned to his grandfather, who emigrated from Poland to the United States at the age of 18 to take a dangerous job in a Vermont factory. Although his grandfather died before Asonevich was born, he grew up hearing about how the immigrant fearlessly faced new, unknown challenges.

“I always held him in awe for his courage, his bravery,” Asonevich said, noting the spirit of courage was carried on by his own Navy-veteran father, who piloted Marines to enemy-held beaches.

“My father, an immigrant’s son, was a true American hero,” Asonevich said.

Carrying that spirit of courage has directed his own life, he said, recalling how he left a well-paying factory job to pursue higher education.

It led to a career in academia, first as an English professor in West Virginia, then as a dean and then college vice president.

“It was my grandfather’s spirit in me that brought me to Johnstown to take on the presidency of a young struggling college,” Asonevich said.

“I think it is a fitting tribute to the memory of my grandfather that I am here today serving the educational needs of a city that was built upon the work ethic of so many eastern European immigrants, who came to Johnstown with the same dreams as my grandfather.”

He recognized his late grandfather in accepting the Distinguished Citizen award.

“I humbly accept this award, not so much because it marks the culmination of my own career, but the culmination of my grandfather’s dream for his family: A citizens’ award to the son of an immigrant’s son,” Asonevich said. “God bless America.”

Men’s Basketball Team Wins First Conference Title in School History

For the first time in school history, the Penn Highlands Community College Men’s Basketball team (16-8, 12-2) won the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference crown. The Black Bears defeated Westmoreland County Community College (11-17, 9-5), 94-65, on Sunday afternoon at the East Hill Recreation Gymnasium to capture the WPCC conference title. The WPCC consists of ten institutions throughout Western Pennsylvania who compete at the NJCAA level.

Facing Westmoreland for the third time this season, Penn Highlands overcame poor shooting in the first half to pull away in the second. They were led by Antonio Carter, Jr. (Toledo, OH) who had 31 points, including six three-pointers.

Westmoreland took an early 18-14 lead with ten minutes left in the first half, but Carter hit five late threes to help the Black Bears go into half time with a 42-35 lead.

“Antonio carried us in the first half while some other guys struggled shooting,” Head Coach Landon Loya said. “In the second half, everyone else caught fire, and we were off and rolling.”

With Westmoreland in foul trouble, Penn Highlands was able to pull away quickly in the second half.

Sophomore standout Tim Biakapia (Germantown, MD) collected his twenty-fourth double-double of the season with 26 points and 17 rebounds. Named the NJCAA DIII Player of the Week in early January, Biakapia came alive in the second half during his last home game for the Black Bears.

“Tim really came alive in the second half,” Loya said. “I always say about him, ‘as you go, we go’, and the rest of the team followed suit. I’m so proud of the player, and the man, that he has become in two years here.”

Rounding out the top scorers for the Black Bears were Jordan Fortson (Hagerstown, MD) with 22 points and 12 rebounds and Bryan Acosta (Miami, FL) with eight assists. Local products Hunter Thomas (Johnstown Christian) had six points, Chandler Enos (Turkeyfoot Valley) had four points, and Peyton Brown (Williamsburg) had eight rebounds.

“Our guys executed the game plan really well,” said Loya, who was named the WPCC Coach of the Year following the game. “It was a huge win in Penn Highlands history, and it was a great game played in a fantastic atmosphere. I’m happy for our fans and our players.”

Joaunn Rivers led the Wolfpack with 17 points. Kyle Carrington, Kaleb Winchester, and Ja’Kory Freeman added 13, 12, and 11 points, respectively.

Penn Highlands will advance to the Region XX Basketball Tournament on February 23^rd-25^th. They will face the Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce on Friday evening.