Latest news with #McCort
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
War Memorial to host PIAA Team Wrestling, Cheerleading Championships,
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) – The PIAA Team Wrestling and Competitive Spirit Championships will have a new home. The PIAA announced on Wednesday that 1st Summit Arena at Cambria County War Memorial will host both events for the next three years. 'Bocce ball is for all,' becomes official sport in LHAC The PIAA Team Wrestling Championships were held this past season at Altoona Area High School, where Bishop McCort finished second. Previously, the team championships have been held in Hershey for 25 out of the past 27 seasons. In the past, the cheerleading championships were recently hosted in Hershey and Reading, which is where Richland won the state title this past year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local schools set to host Mini-THON activities
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Students at Bishop McCort Catholic and Westmont Hilltop high schools are gearing up to host Mini-THON events to benefit the Four Diamonds organization, which helps families who are battling childhood cancer. Bishop McCort will celebrate its 10th anniversary of Mini-THON from 7 p.m. March 21 to 7 a.m. March 22. 'The impact is most important because every single donation, even if it's just $1, can change someone's life,' said senior Sydney Kaminsky, event chairwoman. 'If McCort can make a difference that's something that we want to do,.' This year's theme is 'Let's Glow Crazy for Kids!' It will feature glow-in-the-dark decorations with neon and blacklights. Kaminsky said the event will kick off with a prayer service. 'We'll have a dance party for about two hours and then we'll split up and do different activities,' she said. 'We'll have meals throughout the night, and this year we're having a masked singer event. We'll also have different sporting events and tournaments along with inflatables, challenges for prizes, a mini golf room, a tie-dye station, arts and crafts and board games.' Kaminsky said about 150 students are expected to take part. 'Everyone involved has been trying to find sponsorships, and each person has their own donor drive where they can ask friends and family for donations,' she said. 'Everybody looks forward to it.' This year's goal is $45,000. To date, Bishop McCort has raised $270,000 for Four Diamonds. 'It's incredible that even as a small high school we've been able to make that big of a difference, and it feels really good,' Kaminsky said. 'Every year our goal gets bigger and we raise more money. We try to make the event as big as possible and spread the word.' To donate to Bishop McCort's Mini-THON, visit Westmont Hilltop brought back its Mini-THON last year to great success and organizers are hoping to surpass expectations this year. 'We're raising money for a good cause; it's all for the kids,' said senior Joseph Nibert, event chairman. 'Everyone loves Penn State's THON, and we want to foster that same environment.' The event will run from 6 p.m. March 21 to 6 a.m. March 22. 'It's 12 hours long, and we'll have meals throughout the night along with a different activity every hour,' Nibert said. 'We'll have sports tournaments like dodgeball, volleyball and spikeball, and there will be games like 'Family Feud' and trivia, karaoke and dancing contests.' He said 145 students plan to participate in the event. 'It's a long night, but everyone really makes the best of it,' Nibert said. 'It's a lot of fun because we're all there together in a great environment.' He said this year's goal is $30,000, but they've already hit that mark. 'Now we're trying to push to $40,000,' Nibert said. 'We've reached out to local businesses asking them to be a sponsor, but most of the money is raised by the students who ask friends and family to donate.' He said it's awesome to see so many students wanting to fundraise and be a part of the experience. 'This is a selfless service, and we're raising money for a greater cause,' Nibert said. 'It gives students something to look forward to, and it's a fun event while you're doing a good thing.' Those interested in donating to Westmont Hilltop's Mini-THON can visit
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McCort ends district title drought in close win over Penns Manor
CRESSON (WTAJ) — Bishop McCort leaned on defense to edge Penns Manor Thursday night in the District 6, 2A Championship game, 54-49. Timely second half turnovers fueled a few late baskets as the Crushers and Comets traded scores, but those ultimately helped McCort build a cushion and raise its first District 6 crown in seven seasons. 'I can't believe it,' said head coach John Hahn. 'I thought I'd be here last year. I thought I'd been here the year before. But, you know, there's there's good teams and I think Laurel Highlands gets us prepared for this, and Penns Manor, we watched them all year long because we assumed that's who was going to be here. And, for this feeling now, this just never gets old.' Scores posted below reflect central Pennsylvania high school scores that have all been submitted to WTAJ or the Associated Press. To submit scores, email sports@ Corresponding highlights may be included above. BOYS BASKETBALLDISTRICT 6Class 2A ChampionshipPortage 54, Northern Cambria 48 DISTRICT 5Class 3A ChampionshipNorth Star 51, Chestnut Ridge 47 Class 2A ChampionshipMcConnellsburg 48, Windber 34 GIRLS BASKETBALLDISTRICT 6Class 2A ChampionshipBishop McCort 54, Penns Manor 49 DISTRICT 5Class 1ANorthern Bedford 41, Fannett-Metal 20 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Penn Highlands and IUP sign clinical training agreement
CLEARFIELD COUNTY (WTAJ) – Penn Highlands Healthcare is teaming up with IUP's College of Osteopathic Medicine for a clinical training affiliation. 'The new IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine is going to present wonderful opportunities for the students to be beneficial to both the university as well as patients we care for at Penn Highlands Healthcare but most importantly the rural communities that we serve,' Dr. Trina Abla said. Bishop McCort Catholic High School receives $1 million gift for Centennial Campaign The agreement between the two will give students the opportunity to complete their clinicals in a rural setting. Doctors say that experience can make a better physician. 'Learning how to practice medicine in a rural setting is challenging. But it's extremely rewarding and I think that it makes the best physicians coming out of it because you learn to not just treat first or second degree aspects of a disease process, but you tend to extend yourself a little bit further,' Family Medicine Chief Resident Dewit Ayalew said. The university and healthcare system believe that bringing students into the rural environment will also be a step forward in helping what they call a rural healthcare crisis. 'Too many rural residents need medical care and there are too few medical professionals to provide it. According to the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, our state's rural hospitals are dealing with a shortage of physicians that has become dire,' IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bishop McCort alum gifts $1M to alma mater
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – For the second time in three years, Bishop McCort Catholic High School graduate Bernard Skubak has donated $1 million to his alma mater. The school announced the 'transformative' news Tuesday with Chief Academic Officer and Principal Thomas Smith stating how appreciative he is that Skubak 'stepped up.' 'He believes in what we're doing here,' Smith said. 'He not only tells us that, but shows us that.' The boost in funding will be used in every facet of the parochial school from assisting students and staff to facilities and more. 'That is transformational for our school,' Smith said. 'The impact that type of donation has on a school like ours is absolutely amazing.' Skubak recognizes how powerful this donation is, and is happy to provide it. 'I am delighted to continue my longstanding support of Bishop McCort and Catholic education in Johnstown,' he said in a statement. 'It is vitally important that students in the region have access to a faith-based school that emphasizes scholarship, service and spiritual development.' The $1 million gift puts Bishop McCort's Centennial Capital Campaign, which is beginning its second phase, at nearly $4 million. There's a goal of $6 million for the multiyear fundraiser, and the total stands as of Tuesday at $3.7 million, including both of Skubak's donations. The 1969 alum provided his first million-dollar contribution to McCort in January 2022 after getting to know Smith and seeing how successful the school has been, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Receiving the support of Skubak is a 'great motivator,' Smith said. He added that knowing someone such as Skubak, who has been successful in life and business, believes in the mission of McCort is reassuring. After graduating from Catholic school, Skubak earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from St. Vincent College in Latrobe and moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1973. He has been employed in the accounting, oil and natural gas, and real estate fields throughout the past five decades, and enjoys sharing his success. When he made the first $1 million donation to McCort, he said he had been searching for a cause to gift larger amounts to, and during a trip to his hometown at the time, his alma mater became a focus of his attention. In total, there have been 345 gifts from alumni, business leaders, parents and others to McCort's capital campaign throughout the past four years. The centennial drive is dedicated to assisting with developing endowed support for faculty and student retention, capital improvements, student experiences and curricular upgrades.
