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Cross Country Runners End 2023 Season On High Note At National Meet

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Cross Country Team closed its 2023 campaign with all three runners setting personal record race times during the NJCAA Division III Cross Country Championships at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama, in early November. 

The Black Bears were led by Chase Brenneman, the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) individual champion, who placed 23rd out of 126 total runners in the 8K race (4.97 miles).  

Brenneman (Somerset, PA) posted a time of 28:24.50, breaking the school record previously held by Andrew Straka (28:41.01) for the lowest time at the NJCAA meet. Brenneman also recorded the highest individual finish for a Penn Highlands athlete at a national event. 

“Nationals was an amazing experience that brought together the best athletes,” Brenneman said. “The competitiveness of this race really showcases the work the team has put in. Seeing the whole team achieve new personal records in our last race of the season is always a positive, while reaching my personal goal of top 30 in the nation made it an even better close to the season. I could not have achieved this without the support from my coaches and parents.” 

Fellow Penn Highlands runner Christian Haberkorn placed 61st with a time of 31:06.90, while Connor Haberkorn came in 106th at 36:28.40. 

Christian Haberkorn (Johnstown, PA) now holds the sixth-best time at the NJCAA meet in school history. 

“I am very proud of all three runners for their performances in the meet,” Penn Highlands Head Coach Adrianne Kuhar said. “Their determination has been there all season, and they proved that hard work does pay off. It was an amazing experience for them and for the coaches. Now, it is time to get back to work for next season.” 

Cross Country Team at National Meet in Alabama.

Three Volleyball Players Earn All-Region Honors

Taylor Rapsky, Leonela Nichols, and Olivia Weyandt of the Pennsylvania Highlands Women’s Volleyball Team were each given Division III All-Region 20 honors on Tuesday afternoon. 

Rapsky, a sophomore from Central City, PA, was named to the First Team, while Nichols (Hollsopple, PA) and Weyandt (Jerome, PA) were given Honorable Mention.  

“Receiving this honor is an amazing feeling knowing all of the great athletes we competed against this season,” Rapsky said. “I could not have done it without my teammates and coaches pushing me to be better on the court. They deserve as much credit as I do for all of the successes we achieved over the year.” 

The All-Region award adds to the multiple accolades that Rapsky and Nichols have already received this season, as both were named to the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) All-Conference Team and the Region 20 Division III All-Tournament Team. 

“This is a great achievement for three of our players to make All-Region,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “Taylor is probably one of the best players in the Region, while Olivia and Leonela really showcased their skills this season.” 

Rapsky was among the statistical leaders in Region 20 for most categories, compiling 138 kills (4th), 155 digs (7th), and 35 blocks (3rd). She was ranked first in the region in kills per set (3.14) and points per set (4.3) and was second with a .279 hitting percentage. Rapsky’s hitting percentage also ranked 26th in the nation for Division III. 

Weyandt, a fellow sophomore, tallied 150 assists and 73 digs. She was second in Region 20 in assists and assists per set (3.41). Nichols, a freshman, finished with 144 digs and ranked second in digs per set (4.24). 

Olivia Weyandt, Division III All-Region 20 Honorable Mention

Taylor Rapsky, Division III All-Region 20 First Team

Leonela Nichols, Division III All-Region 20 Honorable Mention

Marketing & Communications Team Earns Five Medallion Awards at 2023 NCMPR District 1 Conference

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Marketing & Communications Team was presented with five Medallion Awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) at the group’s annual District 1 Conference on November 3 in Boston, Massachusetts. 

The team took home awards in four distinct categories, including Website (Gold Medallion), Video Shorts (Single, Silver and Bronze Medallions), Video Shorts (Series, Silver Medallion), and Logo Wear (Silver Medallion).  

“It is nice that our commitment to excellence and creativity has been recognized by industry experts and peers. This is not just a testament to creativity, but also a reflection of the dedication and professionalism of all staff and faculty at Penn Highlands for delivering memorable experiences to our students and constituents,” stated Raymond Weible, Jr., Executive Director of Marketing and Communications. “We will continue to push the boundaries of design through compelling and meaningful pieces that connect with the region.” 

Since 2015, the Marketing & Communications team at Penn Highlands has won a total of 36 NCMPR Medallion and Paragon Awards, which recognizes excellence in marketing, design, and public relations at two-year schools. 

Being a part of the NCMPR’s District 1, Penn Highlands was chosen out of schools from 12 states along the East Coast, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and the United Kingdom. 

Cross Country Team Claims Awards; Brenneman Wins WPCC Title & Kuhar Named Coach Of The Year

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College sophomore Chase Brenneman won the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Individual Championship and Black Bears coach Adrianne Kuhar was named the conference’s Coach of the Year at the WPCC/Region 20 Cross Country Meet on Saturday at Westmoreland County Community College. 

Brenneman (Somerset, PA) finished eighth overall out of 41 runners to claim the conference crown. He was the first competitor from a Division III school to cross the finish line, posting a time of 30:08.7. 

“In the seven years of my athletics career, I have had many highs and lows,” Brenneman said. “Throughout this, I have learned important life lessons, with the highest being persistence. Regionals was a tough race with many talented competitors, but the result came from good coaching all season. This race will be a stepping stone for my athletic future.” 

Brenneman has finished within the Top 10 in all five meets this year. After posting a fourth-place finish in the season opener, Brenneman was runner-up in three consecutive meets prior to Saturday. 

Teammates Christian Haberkorn and Connor Haberkorn placed 21st and 37th, respectively.  

Afterwards, Kuhar (Mundy’s Corner, PA) was awarded WPCC Coach of the Year in her first season at the helm. 

“It’s truly an honor to be given this award,” Kuhar said. “I would not be in this position if it were not for my student assistant coaches and my team of dedicated runners. They are the ones that deserve the credit for putting in all the hard work during practices and then carrying that strong effort into our races. Thank you to all of them and everyone within the Penn Highlands community for the support we received this season.” 

The Black Bears will compete next at the NJCAA National Meet on November 11 at the John Hunt Cross Country Running Park in Huntsville, Alabama.  

Penn Highlands is looking to build off a 16th place finish at last year’s national meet.

Black Bears Cross Country Coach Adrianne Kuhar is holding her WPCC Coach of the Year award at Westmoreland County Community College after the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 meet (October 2023).

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Black Bears Cross Country Team, including (from left) Connor Haberkorn, student assistant coach Tim Roddy, student assistant coach Andrew Straka, Chase Brenneman, head coach Adrianne Kuhar and Christian Haberkorn, pose for a photo after the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 meet, Saturday, at Westmoreland County Community College (October 2023).

Winter Session Offers Five Class Options

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be offering five different class options for students during the College’s Winter Session, which spans four weeks from December 18 to January 12. 

Classes that will be offered include Academic & Career Planning, Public Speaking, College Algebra, Probability & Statistics, and General Psychology. With Penn Highlands currently holding articulation agreements with more than 40 schools, credits earned through these winter session classes will be easy to transfer to other colleges. All class options will be offered online.  

“The opportunity to take classes during the winter session is great for students because it can help them stay on track, get ahead, or keep momentum going towards completing their major,” stated Michelle Stumpf, Dean of Enrollment & Registrar at Penn Highlands. “All five classes are good for our students, as well as students who are visiting from other colleges that need to pick up an elective.” 

Current Penn Highlands students can register for the winter classes, while new students can enroll on November 1. The registration period closes on Friday, December 15. 

Before registering for the classes, new and guest students must apply. Penn Highlands students can enroll in the classes via the myPEAK portal. All students are limited to one class (or three credits) for the Winter Session.