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Juniata receives $500,000 grant

HUNTINGDON — The Mellon Foundation has awarded Juniata College a $500,000, three-year grant focused on building connections between faculty, students and residents of Central Pennsylvania to understand and enrich learning about regional environmental challenges.

Residents will be encouraged to share their stories, experiences and relationships with natural resources to identify future outcomes that will positively benefit their community, the environment and economy. This is the fourth Mellon Foundation grant that Juniata has received since 2014.

The grant work will begin with outreach to communities, which will focus on experiences of residents, artists, advocates and scholars who have faced economic, social and health challenges because of mining, drilling or quarrying industries in their communities.

The Huntingdon County Conservation District will serve as one of Juniata College’s partners in facilitating community connections. Students studying literature, history, religion and philosophy will partner with students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses to document and archive these stories and perspectives for future research.

Humanities faculty members will work to infuse the created archival materials into non-humanities courses.

In addition, community members and regional environmental professionals could participate in course revision by observing instruction or sharing their reflections to ensure local voices are included in the environmental studies work.

This collaborative approach will enhance the academic experience for students and equip them with the knowledge and tools to address real-world environmental challenges.

As the grant advances, activities will include short-term study experiences and internships and/or summer research opportunities. A final symposium highlighting the results of the multi-year project — new courses, partnerships, and knowledge — will bring the grant to a conclusion.

Juniata College has received three previous grants from the Mellon Foundation in 2018, 2017, and 2014.

Funds from these grants facilitated the assessment, planning, and implementation of the Juniata College Curriculum, a general education curriculum designed to focus students’ curiosity to connect ideas, develop skills to engage with people and issues and learn to discern meaning, relevance and value.

Pa. Highlands plans open house Feb. 17

JOHNSTOWN — Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will hostits Spring Admissions & Athletics Open House on Monday, Feb. 17, at the college’s Richland Campus, as well as its locations in Blair County, Centre County, Ebensburg and Somerset.

The open house will have two sessions, the first at 2:30 p.m.. and the second at 5:30 p.m. Those who wish to attend can RSVP by visiting www.pennhighlands.edu/openhouse/.

Attendees will go through the admissions and financial aid processes, learn about activities, academics and athletics, take a tour and have one-on-one conversations with an admissions counselor to discuss their futures.

Those who attend will also get the chance to connect with a knowledgeable faculty member who specializes in teaching courses in their specific area of study. The Richland Campus is scheduled to have three-to-four faculty members, while others will have one or two. 

Those who fill out a survey upon attending will be entered in a drawing to win a $250 scholarship.

Culinary student completes externship

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Cameron Havens of Altoona has completed requirements for graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Academy of Culinary Arts, including a four-month paid externship.

Havens completed his externship at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. He is the son of Jaclyn Flick, Rob Boyes and Mike Havens and a 2020 graduate of Altoona Area High School.

He completed the culinary arts program, where he was the recipient of the Linda Debenderfer Scholarship and won first place in the hot food competition.

The academy is fully accredited by the American Culinary Federation, the maximum accreditation possible for culinary programs in the U.S.

Starting at $2.99/week.

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