Info Session on earning College Credits while in High School to be held in Richland

This event will be streamed live. Click here to stream the event via the College’s Live Stream.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding an information session for students and parents interested in the Accelerated College Education (ACE) program.  The session will take place in the College’s Richland Campus Auditorium on Thursday, September 4th, beginning at 6 pm.

The ACE program is a partnership between local high schools and Pennsylvania Highlands that allows students to earn college credits while taking courses at their high school.  These credits are offered at a greatly reduced tuition rate and taught by certified teachers to assure that the academic rigor is equivalent to courses taught at Pennsylvania Highlands.

This session will cover the enrollment process; plus, experienced Admissions Counselors will be on-hand to answer any questions that you might have. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get a jump start on your future!

This event is open to the public. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the Admissions Office at 814.262.6446 or admissions@pennhighlands.edu.

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Trustee named Recipient of Northeast Regional Trustee Leadership Award

Retired Cambria County businessman and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Trustee, Mr. Joseph Mangarella, has been named the recipient of the 2014 Northeast Regional Trustee Leadership Award.  This award, given by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), recognizes the tremendous contributions made by trustees, equity programs, chief executive officers, faculty members, and professional board staff.  As the Regional Award Recipient, Mr. Mangarella will be the sole nominee from the Northeast region for the prestigious M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award.

“Joe Mangarella epitomizes what a College trustee should be,” said Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands. “He is intently committed to our efforts and works diligently to understand his role as a Trustee and act in the best interest of our students and community.”

Mr. Mangarella has been a Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Trustee since its inception in 1994 and has served as a member of its Foundation Board during that time.  He and his wife Joan are the only members of the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation’s Founders Level for donors and have endowed a scholarship for students attending the institution.

“I think the best part of being a Trustee over these past 20 years is seeing how the College truly impacts lives,” said Mangarella.  “Without this College, many students would not have had the opportunity to continue their education.  I feel blessed to be a part of that and will continue to serve the College as long as I can.”

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond.

“Community colleges have taken on new roles and increased responsibilities in recent years,” said ACCT Chair and Westchester County Community College (N.Y.) Trustee LeRoy W. Mitchell.  “The individuals who have been selected to receive this important recognition are truly vital to their communities and regions.”

Mr. Mangarella will receive his award during the 45th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress, which will take place in Chicago, Illinois, and noted that he will accept his award on behalf of his fellow Pennsylvania Highlands Trustees and Trustees across the country.  “I am proud to be associated with a group of people who are extremely committed to community colleges,” he said.  “There may be many others that are equally as deserving, I will accept the award for all those folks also.”

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Richland to offer free Hospice Volunteer Workshop

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be holding a free Hospice Volunteer Workshop at the Richland Campus on Tuesday, August 26th, and Thursday, August 28th, from 6 to 8pm.

Join Emma Strapple, Volunteer Director at Windber Hospice, for this free introductory workshop on becoming a hospice volunteer. Learn the basics, as well as the various roles and responsibilities a hospice volunteer can have.

At the end of the workshop, you will have the opportunity to enroll in the free extensive training program offered through Windber Hospice. Pre-registration is required. For questions or to register, please contact Workforce Development & Continuing Education at 814.262.3815 or continuinged@pennhighlands.edu.

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Endowed Scholarship coming to Huntingdon

Huntingdon businessman Dale W. Miller has created the first endowed scholarship for the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Huntingdon Center.  The endowment will provide an annual scholarship for a student attending the Penn Highlands Huntingdon Center.

Mr. Miller has worked closely with the College since the Huntingdon Center’s inception in 2008, providing and renovating space for its operation and working with other community leaders to ensure that the College had everything necessary to be successful.

“I am not sure how we can ever thank Dale enough for all that he has done for the College,” said Penn Highlands President, Dr. Walter Asonevich.  “He sees education as a vital component of any community’s growth and success, and through this endowment has once again made a personal commitment to Huntingdon County.”

For the past 63 years, Mr. Miller has owned and operated D. W. Miller, Inc., a highway construction company. Under Dale’s strong leadership, this company has grown into a very successful business, providing jobs for as many as 300 employees throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Dale takes great pride in knowing that his businesses have provided job opportunities for so many people and this was always a driving factor in his willingness to continue seeking to offer new and innovative products and services.

Since the company’s inception, D. W. Miller, Inc. has been responsible for building and repairing bridges, as well as constructing culverts and inlets. Currently, the business specializes in the installation of raised pavement markers.

As a U.S. Army veteran, Dale has also used his knowledge and expertise to help his community by serving on the boards of the Huntingdon School Board, First National Bank of Mapleton Bank, and the Central Mellon Bank. Dale’s philanthropic endeavors have also included the donation of land to the Huntingdon School District, McConnellstown Fire Co., and Walker Township.

Ellis Griffith, a retired local educator and Pennsylvania Highlands Huntingdon County Advisory Council member, shared his thoughts regarding Dale’s commitment to Penn Highlands and the community, “Dale has been a genuine leader for the Community College in terms of providing excellent facilities from the outset and continues to support all of the essential components to ascertain success for the school currently and into the future. Dale has always been a champion for the cause of providing affordable post-secondary education within the local area.”

Pennsylvania Highlands will serve over 100 full and part-time students in the Fall 2014 semester, as well as providing concurrent enrollment programming in all four Huntingdon County school districts through the College’s Accelerated College Education (ACE) program.

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