Newsroom

College Foundation Donates $78,000 To Scholarship Fund

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation presented Penn Highlands President Dr. Steve Nunez with a check for $78,000 prior to a recent Foundation board meeting.

The contribution is designated for the Supporting Scholars Fund, which annually awards more than $35,000 in scholarships to deserving students.

“We are deeply appreciative of the Foundation’s unwavering support to the College,” Dr. Nunez stated. “This donation to the Supporting Scholars program will provide nearly 30 students with a very generous scholarship that will help them on their journey to attain a college degree. We can’t thank the Foundation Board enough for their generous donations of their time, energy, and treasure.”

This donation will be spread amongst three scholarships to be awarded to at least 16 high school seniors. The awards include the Destination Graduation Scholarship ($1,000 per semester to a minimum of one student annually), the Emerging Leader Scholarship ($1,000 per semester to 13 students annually), and the Presidential Scholarship ($3,000 per semester to two students annually).

“The College Foundation’s Board of Directors are proud to present this check to the College,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “Amidst the rising challenges of affordability, this donation becomes even more meaningful. The Supporting Scholars Fund provides these students with the opportunity to receive an affordable education, which can propel them to be successful.”

This marks the second occasion that the College Foundation will have fundraised money to be used in the College’s Supporting Scholars Fund, joining a $54,400 donation in July 2023. Before these donations, Pennsylvania Highlands had provided students with these scholarships out of its annual operating expense budget.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are delighted to continue our support,” stated Jeff Wood, Penn Highlands Foundation Board of Directors President. “These scholarships will assist deserving students in advancing their educational pursuits, enabling them to achieve their ambitions for both personal growth and the broader benefit of our community.”

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation manages over 20 scholarship programs, annually awarding more than $30,000 to deserving students. These scholarships are generously supported by local businesses, regional philanthropists, the College’s own staff and faculty, and funds raised through events organized by the Foundation itself.

Check being given to the College at the Richland Campus. Left to right: Nancy D’Aniello, Director of Education and Training Solutions at Concurrent Technologies Corporation; Traci Naugle, Attorney at Forr, Stokan, Huff, Kormanski & Naugle; Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation; Steve Nunez, Pennsylvania Highlands President; Jeffrey Wood, President of the Pennsylvania Highlands Foundation Board of Directors; Ed Porada, Foundation Board Secretary; John Kubinsky, Somerset Trust Company Vice President/Commercial Credit Officer; David Mordan, Foundation Board Vice President (May 2023).