Courtesy photo First Commonwealth Bank recently provided a $5,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit donation to the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation to help cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for high school students enrolled in college courses through Allegany College of Maryland. Shown are (from left): Leah Pepple, Stephanie Wingard and Amber Middlesworth.

Courtesy photo

First Commonwealth Bank recently provided a $5,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit donation to the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation to help cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for high school students enrolled in college courses through Allegany College of Maryland. Shown are (from left): Leah Pepple, Stephanie Wingard and Amber Middlesworth.

Physics Phun Night returns to Juniata College this week

HUNTINGDON — Juniata College will host Physics Phun Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Academic Center at Juniata College, 1700 Moore St.

Sponsored and presented by Juniata College’s Chapter of the Society of Physics Students, this free event, combining entertainment and education, is filled with “phun” for all ages.

“We want to give everyone the power of observing physical phenomena, show them how much fun science can be, and encourage them to do things that they have not tried before,” said Marta Celebic ’24, president of Juniata’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students. “At Physics Phun Night, Juniata students will show physics experiments and hopefully inspire some of the younger community members to pursue a career in science, specifically physics.”

Celebic added that physics offers an explanation for how the world operates.

“Physics is everywhere,” she said. “I love discovering new ways of applying physics to my daily life.”

This will mark the 24th Physics Phun Night, a favorite for science lovers of all ages.

“This has become a much-anticipated Juniata College and Huntingdon event,” said Jim Borgardt, William W. Woolford Professor of Physics at the College. “This event aims to inspire a sense of wonder in everyone, especially kids, with an evening of visually spectacular and engaging demonstrations.”

Demonstrations will include students igniting flaming balls of methane gas, using liquid nitrogen to show the effects of extreme cold on everyday objects, and the ever-fascinating bed-of-nails experiment.

“We will ‘blow’ things up, show how forces impact our bodies and our surroundings,” said Celebic. “It will involve a series of experiments followed by simplified explanations for anyone to understand.”

First Commonwealth supports ACM Early College Program

EVERETT — First Commonwealth Bank provided a $5,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) donation to the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation in early March.

First Commonwealth Bank’s gift to the foundation helps cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for high school students enrolled in college courses through Allegany College of Maryland.

Leah Pepple, ACM’s director of PA Advancement and Community Relations, arranged for First Commonwealth Bank AVP and Financial Solutions Center Manager Stephanie Wingard to meet Amber Middlesworth, a current psychology student at the ACM Bedford County Campus who took nine college credits as an Everett Area High School student.

Middlesworth, who is a first-generation college student, recently shared what she gained most from taking college credits as a high school student: preparation.

“The ACM [Early College] classes helped me understand college before I became a full-time student. It helped me understand the different expectations of college as compared to high school,” Middlesworth said.

After graduating from ACM in May and leaving what she calls her “second home” at the Bedford County Campus, Middlesworth will transfer to Frostburg State University with plans to become a therapist.

UPJ student inducted into

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

BATON ROUGE, La. — Christopher Perrone Jr. of Northern Cambria was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

Perrone was initiated at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Perrone is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.

Student named to Chi Alpha Sigma Athletics Honor Society

KUTZTOWN — Kutztown University athletics honored 42 student-athletes on March 26, as part of the Pennsylvania Alpha Omega Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma in the National College Athlete Honor Society, including John Horton of James Creek. The luncheon recognized those student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and competition.

In order to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, USCAA or NCCAA.

The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).