Penn Highlands graduates 30th class, marks three decades of service
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – As Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduate Olivia Cavallo entered the gymnasium Friday for commencement, she adjusted the regalia that marked her time at the school where she studied early childhood education.
The Northern Cambria resident, who was one of two Class of 2025 presidential scholars, wore three honors cords, two stoles and an academic medal.
Identifying each of the pieces – one for graduating with honors, another for being a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, and the medal representing her position on the Pennsylvania All-Academic Team – she smiled and lauded the college for helping her achieve her dreams.
'I loved it here,' Cavallo said.
Not only did she dedicate time to studies, she was also president of the Caring for Cubs Club and was involved in the student activities club in Ebensburg.
'It was amazing,' Cavallo said. 'I met so many new people. They pushed me out of my comfort zone.'
Now that she's earned her associate degree, she plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall to continue her studies in early childhood education.
Cavallo and the rest of the class of 2025 were honored with a special commencement that marked Penn Highlands' 30th anniversary Friday.
Penn Highlands President Steve Nunez told the students that they are part of the rich legacy of the school that started three decades ago and has grown to serve five counties with six educational centers and boasts 6,000 graduates in its time.
At a commemorative dinner held before graduation, he compared the 'small vote' in 1993 of the Cambria County commissioners to serve as sponsor of the college to a butterfly effect, saying that action has had a significant ripple effect throughout the region's history.
'At the heart of all of this it's, to me, really measured in lives changed,' Nunez said. 'We improve lives through education.'
The dinner also featured comments from Dean of Library Services and Special Projects Barbara Zaborowski, who is one of the most tenured faculty at the school, having joined in 1995.
She reflected on the origins of her job and told the story of the first accreditation visit from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which ended with a representative stating they 'couldn't imagine a place in Pennsylvania more deserving of a community college.'
Throughout the past year, Penn Highlands has held a variety of commemorative events to mark the anniversary, and Friday was no different.
In addition to the dinner, Nunez during commencement conferred onto former Cambria County Commissioner Mark Wissinger an honorary associate degree in public service.
Wissinger was one of three county leaders who voted to sponsor the college more than 30 years ago – his fellow former Commissioners Kathy Holtzman and Ted Baranik have since died.
'I appreciate it,' he said. 'Just the fact that they remember me.'
Wissinger described the evening as a 'special night' not just for the college, but all the graduates as well.
Students earning their diplomas ranged from high schoolers walking with an associate's degree before their own high school graduation to nontraditional students who returned to education years later.
Richland High School senior Karsyn Ford said she was relieved her associate's program was complete, adding that the dual enrollment track was a challenge. Despite that, she's excited for her next chapter at St. Francis University, where she's enrolled in the physician assistant program.
Ford and fellow Richland seniors Taylor Nagle and Carissa Kaufman received their diplomas at the dinner because of a conflicting high school event.
For Taylor Rickabaugh, 27, the idea of graduating again was 'surreal.' Although she was entering school again years after graduating from high school, she said the staff at Penn Highlands were phenomenal and made the transition seamless.
Rickabaugh added that her experience overall 'was amazing.'
'It's nice to be here,' United High School student Melina Fry said. She was also enrolled in the dual enrollment offering and noted the stressful challenge of managing it, but said it was worth it to earn her associate degree early.
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