The Bearcat B.E.S.T. program was created in response to parents of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who expressed a need for specialized transition programming. It focuses on supporting young adults who may not be suited for post‑secondary education but, with appropriate transition services, can achieve greater independence than a sheltered workshop would provide.
The goals of the program are to develop the students’ capabilities in each of the four pillar areas: academics, vocational training, independent living, and social skills.
The Bearcat B.E.S.T. (Building Excellence Through Skills Training) program provides 18-21 year old students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a college experience with same-age peers. Learn more about Bearcat B.E.S.T. (Building Excellence Through Skills Training).
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This is 1846: The Podcast of Saint Vincent College.
Episode 9: SVC's Bearcat B.E.S.T. program
Listen as program founder Father Philip Kanfush, O.S.B., and executive director Amy Hildebrand discuss the program and its founding.
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The Bearcat B.E.S.T. experience is individualized based upon each student’s specific assessed needs, but rests on the sure foundation of four pillars: Academics; Social Skills, Independent Living Skills, and Vocational Skills.
Our curriculum enables students to grow the academic skills necessary to live with maximized independence through instruction tied to the Pennsylvania Core standards in reading and mathematics.
We teach students the skills necessary to live in, and to make a meaningful contribution to, settings in which they live, be that with family or in group home or other residential arrangements.
Our instructors and support staff train students in skills necessary to initiate and maintain healthy relationships, with particular emphasis on the development of self-advocacy skills and preparation for community involvement.
Our partnerships with outside organizations and companies enable students to explore and prepare for competitive employment upon completion of the Bearcat B.E.S.T. Program.
Our curriculum enables students to grow the academic skills necessary to live with maximized independence through instruction tied to the Pennsylvania Core standards in reading and mathematics.
We teach students the skills necessary to live in, and to make a meaningful contribution to, settings in which they live, be that with family or in group home or other residential arrangements.
Our instructors and support staff train students in skills necessary to initiate and maintain healthy relationships, with particular emphasis on the development of self-advocacy skills and preparation for community involvement.
Our partnerships with outside organizations and companies enable students to explore and prepare for competitive employment upon completion of the Bearcat B.E.S.T. Program.
Based upon the intake assessment, a program of studies will be developed to support the student’s strength areas and to remediate, using evidence-based strategies, identified needs related to each pillar. Courses will be offered according to a schedule patterned after the type of class schedule that a typical college student would enjoy.
BB101LA: Language Arts Skills I
Focused on the 5 essential skills of reading, this course provides students with opportunities to increase their skill levels in decoding, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
BB102LA: Personal Writing I
Creating ideas through the means of writing at the sentence level and building competence in writing at the paragraph level, students will focus their writing on personal experiences, attributes and goals. With an emphasis on using the writing process, including pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing to produce organized and coherent writing, students will begin a personal writing portfolio that they will develop and expand through their time in the Bearcat B.E.S.T. program.
BB103LA: Survey of Literature through Reading & Language Arts
This course provides a survey of the different genres of literature, with a focus on fiction, expository texts, poetry and drama as a means of further developing the essential skills of reading including decoding skills, oral reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
BB104LA: Language Arts Skills II
This course provides students with the opportunity to increase essential reading skills including decoding skills, oral reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Students do this through an exploration of fiction and non-fiction literature.
BB105LA: Survey of Literature II
Focusing on increasing the development of the essential skills of reading including decoding skills, oral reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, this course continues to explore the different genres of literature including fiction, non-fiction, comedy, drama and tragedy.
BB106LA: Genre Studies I: Mystery and Suspense
Continuing the development of the essential skills of reading including decoding skills, oral reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, this course extends exploration to include consideration of the five elements of mystery stories: character, setting, plot, problem, and solution.
BB107LA: Expository Writing through Professional Documents
This course demonstrates and offers practice in both the writing and organization of various documents in the professional setting. Students master the writing of professional documents, including the following: cover letters, resumes, professional emails, and letters of resignation.
BB108LA: Research and Public Speaking
This course provides information on and practice with various forms of public speaking, including informative, persuasive, motivational, influential, and entertaining speech. Students research the topics on which they present, utilizing various references for information.
BB101MA: Basic Computation I
During this course, students receive direct instruction and practice in mathematical operations. Extending and firming their knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, the course prepares students for practical applications of computational principles.
BB102MA: Introduction to Real World Measurement
This course provides students with extended opportunities to apply the concepts learned in BB101MA: Basic Computation I through application to independent living and work situations involving time, various forms of measurement, and money skills.
BB103MA: Advanced Computation I
While extending their knowledge of the basic computational principles of addition and subtraction, including fractions and decimals, this course builds students' skills in the areas of multiplication and division.
BB104MA: Basic Computation II
Throughout this course, students receive direct instruction and practice in mathematical operations. Extending and firming their knowledge of addition and subtraction, students focus on multiplication and division operations. Additionally, this course prepares students to solve multi-step problems, while utilizing a calculator to check their work.
BB105MA: Advanced Computation II
This course provides students with direct instruction and practice in mathematical operations. Students extend their knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using whole numbers to decimals and fractions. Through the introduction of basic algebraic skills, students increase their ability to solve multi-step problems, while utilizing a calculator to check their work.
BB106MA: Personal Finance and Banking Basics
This course is designed to increase students’ banking skills, in regard to their personal lives. The course will begin with a focus on counting mixed coins and bills and transition into daily, weekly, and monthly budgeting. Students will also gain an understanding of writing checks, making deposits and withdrawals, and recording transactions in order to reconcile account balances, and utilizing credit and debit cards. Students will explore online banking and apps used in their daily lives such as peer-to-peer mobile payment apps.
BB101IL: Introduction to Independent Living
The focus of this course is on the skills related to living independently, as well as in group or family settings. Exploration of topics, including etiquette, personal hygiene, conflict resolution, personal safety and healthy decision-making, provide opportunities for students to develop and practice skills needed to transition from living at home to living in other settings.
BB102IL: Introduction to the Contemporary Kitchen
This course will familiarize students with the contemporary kitchen. Students will develop their food and kitchen vocabulary, as well as learn the cooking process, including ingredient preparation, cooking, and clean-up procedures. Students begin with no-cook meal preparation and simple meals, progressing to more complex entrées, nutrition and safety procedures.
BB103IL: Personal Health & Hygiene
This course directs students in the development of a healthy lifestyle, including but not limited to proper nutritional choices, exercise, grooming and hygiene, as well as maintaining healthy living conditions.
BB104IL: Kitchen II: Range top Recipes
Building on principles mastered in BB102IL, this course teaches students to independently utilize a stovetop for cooking basic meals. Throughout the course, students work independently and in small groups to prepare course-selected recipes, while also focusing on kitchen safety, proper measurement techniques, and cooking vocabulary. Students compile these recipes into a book for future reference and use in their adult lives.
BB101SS: Building Healthy Relationships
This course deepens students’ awareness of social distance, relationships, authority figures in person and through social media and boundaries to facilitate inclusion in campus and community environments. Students will develop skills for positive and healthy interactions with peers, strangers, and authority figures, as well as for relating positively to the natural environment and animals.
BB102SS: Social Skills Practicum I Fitness Activities
This course assists students to develop healthy physical well-being through the participation in Yoga with a Twist or other integrated fitness activities while establishing an appropriate understanding of the college social environment with their like-aged peers.
BB103SS: Current Events & Problem-Solving
Students will investigate current events that are relevant to their lives and develop their self-advocacy skills. Increasing their oral presentation and public speaking skills, students will present current news items, identify problems posed by the news stories and discuss alternative solutions to resolve scenarios described.
BB104SS: Emotional Regulation
This course is designed to increase students’ self-determination. Students will develop skills for self-regulation, to assist in coping both independently and interdependently with new and challenging life situations.
BB105SS: Social Skills Practicum II: Continuing Fitness
This course assists students in maintaining healthy physical well-being through the completion of Yoga with a Twist, while establishing an appropriate understanding of the college social environment with their like-aged peers.
BB106SS: Project-Based Community Service
Students in this course work with local organizations to promote positive change in the community.
BB101VT: Employment Skills
This course is designed to prepare Bearcat BEST students for vocational training field placements. This course will equip students with the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment as well as to solve and troubleshoot common workplace situations they may encounter in their professional lives. Students will explore areas of vocational interest.
BB103VT: Vocational Skills II
This course prepares students for common workplace scenarios, including but not limited to workplace safety, social etiquette, professionalism, and time management skills. Students are encouraged to vocalize their strengths, weaknesses, and concerns associated with their on-campus work placements, through BB104VT.
BB104VT: Employment Skills Practicum
This course places Bearcat B.E.S.T. students in on-campus work placements several days throughout the academic week. They are expected to report and perform as any professional in a typical workplace environment would. Throughout this experience, students have the support of job coaches who will provide assistance and mentoring as needed. Additionally, students begin to compile a professional portfolio, documenting key learning skills to assist them in obtaining future permanent employment.
BB100ID: Orientation Seminar
In this course students will explore the Saint Vincent College campus and familiarize themselves with the different buildings, offices, services, and resources available to them as students. Students will also learn about the various Saint Vincent traditions. In groups, students are required to complete a "Student Handbook" detailing various Saint Vincent locations, rules, and services.
BB101ID: Study Skills & Organization I
This course will enable students to maintain organization while meeting academic, professional, and personal deadlines. Students will become better equipped to independently manage time in order to effectively function in the home, school, and work environments
BB102ID: Study Skills & Organization II
This course encourages students to maintain organization while meeting academic, professional, and personal deadlines. Students become better equipped to independently manage time in order to effectively function in home, school, and work environments. Opportunities for 1:1 and small group tutoring promote academic success.
BB201LA: Integrated Genre Studies II: American Humor
This course will focus on the conventions and elements that tie together and characterize humor within the United States. Through the reading of various forms of literature, students will continue to strengthen their skills in reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development, and writing.
BB202LA: Integrated Genre Studies III: Historical Fiction
While focusing on stories that are written to portray a specific time period, or specific historical event, students will be expected to analyze these works for accurate and authentic information in regard to setting. Students will strive to increase their skills in the following areas: reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development, and writing.
BB201MA: Integrated Math Applications I
This course is the first in a two-part series of integrated mathematics classes designed to combine the foundations of mathematic skills and everyday applications. This course will focus on building core math skills such as computation, money, measurement, and time and how these relate to our everyday lives.
BB202MA: Integrated Math Applications II
As the second in a two-part series of integrated mathematics courses, this course continues to combine the foundations of mathematic skills and everyday applications built in BB201MA. This course will continue to enhance core math skills while teaching advanced mathematical skills such as decimals, fractions geometry and how it relates to our everyday lives.
BB201IL: First Aid and Community Safety
The purpose of this course is to help students identify and eliminate potentially hazardous conditions in their environment, recognize emergencies and make appropriate decisions for first aid care. The course will teach skills that participants need to know in order to provide immediate care to themselves or someone close to them until more advanced care arrives. This course will also address safety and first aid in the community as it relates to the students and their specific needs.
BB202IL: Appliance-Based Cooking
This course assists students in learning and familiarizing themselves with new cooking skills, while using concepts developed from BB102IL and BB104IL. Students continue building their food and kitchen vocabulary, as well as the correct preparation, cooking, and cleanup procedures. Students develop correct and safe use of different appliances in the kitchen, including (but not limited to): microwave, toaster, toaster oven, blender, mixer, crockpot, and air fryer.
BB204IL: Household Management
In this course, the students focus on skills needed to maintain a healthy and clean residential living space. Building from their skills learned in BB101IL, students strengthen their cleaning and sanitation skills, while also developing household organization skills. Students also discuss concepts of living with others in regard to privacy/personal property, as well as other concepts needed for successful independent living.
BB205IL: Oven-based Cooking
Building on topics previously discussed in BB202IL, students take a deeper look in safe and proper use of oven-based cooking. Students use their skills gained in BB102IL and BB104IL and strengthen them by implementing these concepts into recipes centered on oven cooking. Students continue to build their recipe portfolios that began in BB102IL, as they develop skills needed to safely live on their own, while gaining the ability to cook for themselves.
BB201SS: Introduction to Self-Advocacy
This course assists students in the development of self-awareness regarding their skills and needs to make a successful transition from school to adulthood. Students gain understanding of their exceptionalities, rights, and how to present themselves responsibly, as well as learn how to assertively advocate their needs.
BB202SS: Social Skills Practicum III: Participating in Fitness Activities
The purpose of this course is to educate students about concepts, techniques, safety precautions, and equipment needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
BB203SS: Community Relations
This course assists students in developing relationships and life-skills needed to navigate safely and properly through the community with working professionals on an everyday basis. Strengthening concepts developed in BB101SS, students learn how to communicate properly with professionals (i.e. interacting with a medical professional), as well as being a responsible member of society.
BB204SS: Social Skills Practicum III: Participating in Fitness Activities
The purpose of this course is to continue to educate students about concepts, techniques, safety precautions, and equipment needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Building from what students learned in BB202SS, students select from yoga, weightlifting, or swimming, with all three courses having them participate with their non-disabled undergraduate peers.
BB201VT: Vocational Skills III
This course extends students’ exploration of workplace scenarios, including but not limited to workplace safety, social etiquette, professionalism, and time management skills. Students are encouraged to vocalize their strengths, needs, and concerns associated with their on-campus work placements, through BB203VT.
BB202VT: Basic Technological Applications
This course introduces word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation skills instruction using Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint to create, edit, format and store documents, worksheets, databases and presentations.
BB203VT: Employment Skills Internship I
This course expands the Bearcat B.E.S.T. students’ on-campus competitive employment placements to 3 mornings per week for a total of 9 hours per week. Throughout this experience, students have the support of peer job coaches who provide assistance and mentoring as needed, applying the skills developed in BB101VT, BB102 VT and BB201VT to troubleshoot common situations and issues arising in the workplace. Additionally, students continue to compile the professional portfolio they began in BB104VT, documenting key learning skills to assist them in obtaining future permanent employment.
BB204VT: Vocational Skills IV
This course extends students’ exploration of workplace scenarios, including but not limited to workplace safety, social etiquette, professionalism, and time management skills. Students are encouraged to vocalize their strengths, weaknesses, and concerns associated with their on-campus work placements through BB206VT.
BB205VT: Technological Applications in the Workplace
This course builds on concepts and skills gained in BB202VT to provide additional word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation skills instruction using Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint to create, edit, format and store documents, worksheets, databases and presentations. Additionally, students create a web-based template for presenting their professional portfolios.
BB206VT: Employment Skills Internship II
This course continues the Bearcat B.E.S.T. students’ on-campus competitive employment placements 3 mornings per week for a total of 9 hours per week. Throughout this experience, students have the support of peer job coaches who provide assistance and mentoring as needed, applying the skills developed in BB101VT, BB102 VT and BB201VT to troubleshoot common situations and issues arising in the workplace. Additionally, students continue to compile the professional portfolio they began in BB104VT and BB203VT, documenting key learning skills to assist them in obtaining future permanent employment.
BB201ID: Study Skills & Organization III
This course promotes students’ success as they continue to maintain organization while meeting academic, professional, and personal deadlines. Students become better equipped to independently manage time to effectively function in home, school, and work environments. Opportunities for 1:1 and small group tutoring promote academic success.
BB202ID: Study Skills & Organization IV
This course continues to promote students’ success as they continue to maintain organization while meeting academic, professional, and personal deadlines. Students become better equipped to independently manage time to effectively function in home, school, and work environments. Opportunities for 1:1 and small group tutoring promote academic success.
BB301LA: Integrated Genre Studies IV: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
This course will focus on literary works that are believable, set in the modern world, and contain characters that could potentially be real. While exploring various types of literature within this genre, students will continue to strengthen their skills in reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development, and writing.
BB302LA: Genre Studies V: Expository Texts
Utilizing various forms of expository texts, students will be encouraged to delve into the exploration of the difference in tone, style, structure, and features, as opposed to narrative texts. Through the use of graphic organizers and note-taking strategies, students will increase their understanding in the following areas: identifying and analyzing problem and solution, cause and effect relationships, and comparison and contrast of two or more given variables.
BB301MA: Applied Practical Math I
This course is the first in a two-part series of applied mathematics classes emphasizing the use of core mathematical skills to problem-solve. The problem situations, models and technology used foster connections to various mathematic skills such as managing money, calculating area, and balancing checking and saving accounts, which will then be used to solve daily living problems.
BB302MA: Applied Practical Math II
As the second in a two-part series of applied math classes, this course continues to use core mathematical skills to problem-solve. The problem situations, models and technology used foster connections to various mathematic skills such as ratios, proportions and conversions, which will then be used to solve daily living problems.
BB301IL: Consumer Nutrition
This course aids students in their attempt to become healthy independent individuals. Students not only examine the importance of nutrition, but also of routine grocery shopping that is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students develop concepts needed to shop in a grocery store on a budget, while maintaining healthy choices.
BB302IL: Transportation & Safety
The purpose of this course is to introduce the importance of public transportation and how to use it in the proper and safest way possible. Students learn concepts to include the safe way to use a public bus, taxi, metro, subway, ride sharing apps, etc. Students strengthen safety concepts to use in public areas to keep themselves and others safe.
BB303IL: Balanced Meal Preparation
Students will demonstrate their knowledge and ability of safety awareness in the kitchen, preparation of no-cook, range top, microwave, and oven-based recipes and meals, while increasing awareness of the effects on healthy eating habits across the lifespan. After exhibiting the ability to plan daily and weekly well-balanced meals, students will independently be responsible for preparing simple, yet delicious home-cooked meals.
BB301SS: Advanced Self-Advocacy
BB302SS: Human Sexuality
In this course, students will learn how to address one’s sexuality in a healthy and safe way. Students use concepts developed in BB101SS to strengthen skills in relationship building. Students advance their skills learned in BB103SS to develop strategies and skills that will help them learn self-management skills. The goal of this course is for students to use the accumulation of skills to build healthy, intimate relationships.
BB301VT: Employment Externship I: In this course, students are placed in integrated, off-campus employment placements 3 full days per week for a total of 15-18 hours total. Throughout this experience, students have the support of peer job coaches who provide assistance and mentoring as needed, applying the skills developed in BB101VT, BB102 VT, BB201VT and BB204 VT to troubleshoot common situations and issues arising in the workplace. Additionally, students continue to compile the professional portfolio they began in BB104VT and BB203VT and 204VT, documenting key learning skills to assist them in obtaining future permanent employment.
BB302VT: Vocational Seminar I
In Vocational Seminar I, students explore the issues that arise in their experiences in their Employment Externship I placements. Application of problem-solving skills is emphasized as students develop a digital version of their employment portfolio.
BB303VT: Employment Externship II
Students continue integrated, off-campus employment placements 3 full days per week for a total of 15-18 hours total. Throughout this experience, students have the support of peer job coaches who provide assistance and mentoring as needed, applying the skills developed in BB101VT, BB102 VT, BB201VT and BB204 VT to troubleshoot common situations and issues arising in the workplace. Additionally, students continue to compile the professional portfolio they began in BB104VT and BB203VT, 204VT and BB301VT, documenting key learning skills to assist them in obtaining future permanent employment.
BB304VT: Vocational Seminar II
In Vocational Seminar II, students continue to explore the issues that arise in their experiences in their Employment Externship I placements. Application of problem-solving skills is emphasized as students develop a web-based version of their employment portfolio and apply for jobs as they exit the Bearcat B.E.S.T. program.
Interdisciplinary Skills
BB301ID: Transition Seminar
In their final semester, students explore, develop, and cement relationships with adult service providers as they prepare to enter the world of adulthood. They explore post-secondary living and employment opportunities.
BB302ID: Study Skill & Organization V
This course continues to promote students’ success as they continue to maintain organization while meeting academic, professional, and personal deadlines. Students become better equipped to independently manage time in order to effectively function in home school, and work environments. Opportunities for 1:1 and small group tutoring promote academic success.
Our students learn about customer service, food prep, dishwashing, and teamwork at these local partner organizations:
Applebee’s • Eat’n Park • Fox’s Pizza, Ligonier • The Olive Garden • Pizza Sienna • Hampton Inn, Latrobe • SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Stocking, organizing shelves, bagging, customer assistance, and inventory are some of the skills our students practice at partner organizations such as:
Giant Eagle • Saint Vincent De Paul • Salvation Army • Main Bowling Center • My Fitness Kitchen • Lincoln Highway Experience • Smart Style
Our students assist activity staff, deliver materials, and greet visitors at these organizations:
Bethlen Communities • Brookdale • Independence Health: Latrobe & Greensburg • Barnes Home
Our students intern at these organizations by assisting teachers, preparing materials, reading, and helping with activities:
The Kinder Schull • T & K Childcare • Ligonier Valley Learning Center • Christ the Divine Teacher
Students learn about assembly, packaging, quality checking, sorting materials, and simple machine support with these organizations:
Dormont Manufacturing Co. • Keystone Foam
Filing, shredding, data entry support, reception, organization, and copying are some of the skills our students learn through these partnerships:
Greater Latrobe–Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce • Greensburg Hempfield Area Library • Latrobe Area Historical Society • Latrobe Art Center • Laurel Valley Graphics • West Media Group • Derry Area School • District Unity Township Building
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for admission, applicants must be:
Application
Applications must be submitted by the student’s sponsoring school district, unless the student’s family is privately paying the tuition.
Pre-Admission Application List
Applications may be submitted before the student’s 18th birthday; however, the student must be at least 16 at the time of application submission. The application will need to be updated during February of the calendar year in which the student hopes to enroll.
In order to ensure an optimal, personalized experience, program enrollment is limited to 24 students.
How long will the enrollment process take?
Depending on the district’s procedures, policies, and timeframes, the application process may take several weeks. Information about student eligibility requirements can be found on your local high school’s admission page.
What are the hours for the school day?
The instructional day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.
Will my child follow the College’s academic calendar or his home school district’s calendar?
The Bearcat B.E.S.T. program uses its own hybrid calendar, combining elements of both the college and local high school calendars.
Will my child's IEP follow him, or will another be created?
Each student’s Individual Education Plan is developed collaboratively between Bearcat B.E.S.T. staff, the student and family, and the sponsoring school district. In most cases, a new IEP reflecting participation in the Bearcat B.E.S.T. program will be developed.
Where will my child eat lunch, and what are the costs?
Students may eat in the College’s main cafeteria, the Community Center, or the Shack snack bar.
The current cafeteria lunch rate is $9–$10 per day, depending on meal choices.
How often will I receive a report on my child's progress?
Progress reports follow the sponsoring school district’s schedule, which is typically every 9 weeks.
You can contact Bearcat B.E.S.T. Transition Program through any of the following platforms:
Email: bearcatbest@stvincent.edu
Phone: 724-805-2765
Facebook: facebook.com/bearcatbest/
Instagram: bearcat_best
