Over $250,000 in Scholarship Awards

by | Aug 13, 2025 | CFFC News

A group of ninety-seven (97) local students are receiving a total of $252,890 in post-secondary scholarships from the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) for the 2025-2026 school year. These students were selected for awards from forty-five (45) scholarship funds held at the foundation, for the purpose of supporting local students in their pursuit of higher education.

2025-2026 CFFC scholarship recipients

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Scholarship funds are created in honor or memory of a loved one, to support certain career paths, or to simply give back to the community. CFFC works with donors to determine criteria for each scholarship fund, including qualifications related to academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study, or school preference.

The foundation enlists the help of community volunteers to serve on the scholarship committees. “The volunteers carefully consider hundreds of applications and select students based on the criteria for each fund. Our team of reviewers is always so impressed with the bright students, and so we share our congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients and wish them all great success,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.

“I will be attending Penn West California, majoring in biology and I plan to pursue a career in the medical field.  I am beyond grateful for having received this scholarship as this will help me offset some of the tuition costs,” said Ms. Hannah Legarsky.

“I will be majoring in Computer Science and look forward to the opportunities and growth college will bring. These scholarships will make a meaningful impact on my journey, and I appreciate the confidence you’ve shown in my potential and future,” said Mr. Casey Karwatske.

Those interested in supporting higher education can donate to CFFC’s Educate Fayette Scholarship Fund or contact the foundation’s staff at 724-437-8600 to learn more about charitable giving options.

Congratulations

2025-2026 CFFC Scholarship Awards List

Alfred E. Jones, Jr. and Anna B. Jones Scholarship

Bailey Lemansky

 

Allen Craft Memorial Scholarship

Delaney Angel

Cameryn Crouch

Luke Grimm

Jack Jeffries

Elle Mancini

Maddox McAllister

Jacob Shaffer

 

Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Scholarship

Kylee Kurnot

Malcolm Patton

Valentina Gulino

Brooklyn WIlliams

 

Betty Bayne Barnes Scholarship for Women

Ashley Secrest

 

Burchinal Family Endowment

Grace Bosnic

Kirra Davis

Olivia Girasia

Kristy Pan

Riley Rankin

Erica Rishel

Jenna Schnatterly

Ashley Secrest

Mattalynn Schiffbauer

Michael Ulery

Lena Venersky

 

Career and Technical Education Scholarship

Brayden Tankalavage

 

Carl S. Micarelli Memorial Scholarship

Kadance Mickey

 

CFFC Board of Directors Scholarship

Arianna Cooper

Daisy Sanders

 

Chris G. and Alice Omiros Scholars Fund

Delaney Booker

 

Cupelli Family Scholarship

Grace Bosnic

 

Darrell L. and Norma R. Uphold Family Scholarship

Jack Jeffries

 

Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship

McKenna Shields

 

Dr. Dennis F. Brestensky Scholarship

Logan Hoffer

 

Dr. Paul Pipik Scholarship for Study in the Health Sciences

Gracie Mowry

 

Educate Fayette Scholarship

Kirra Davis

 

George M. and Anna W. Hochheimer Scholarship

Riley Rankin

 

Helen Hulvey Scheggia Nursing Scholarship

Benjamin Diamond

 

Henry J. Oppermann Scholarship

Cameron Stern

 

Hughes Family Scholarship

Elle Mancini

 

Johnson Matthey Scholarship

Molly Rhodes

Caeden WIlliams

 

Kathleen DiMarco Gulino Memorial Scholarship

Delaney Angel

 

Laurel Business Institute Scholarship Fund in Memory of Ruth and Milton Decker

Thomas Shaffer

Angelica Baeza

Joshua Curry-Jones

 

Laurel Highlands Mustang Academic Scholarship

Casey Karwatske

Maura Nagle

 

Lillian’s Legacy Scholarship

Autumn Bartos

Whitney Bobish

Savannah Tracy

Lena Venersky

 

Lulu A. Dudley Scholarship

Brandy Sickles

 

Mary Jane Dailey Wood Scholarship

Autumn Bartos

Christopher Cook

Hannah Legarsky

Cadence Marrs

Morgan Matthews

Steven Shearin

Trey Whitehead

Emma Young

 

Maurice M. Bortz and Bessie D. Rinehart Memorial Scholarship

Kelan Milsom

 

Melvin J. and Beatrice Vance Keller Memorial Scholarship

Abigail Humbert

 

Michael S. Carbonara Memorial Scholarship

Jacob Kalich

 

My Mother’s Legacy Scholarship

Faith Bachinski

Anna Sedlak

 

Nancy Vance Jones Scholarship

Delaney Angel

Whitney Bobish

Hannah Legarsky

Brianna Marzano

 

Palmer F. Sabatine Scholarship

Jadeyn Clymer

 

Parker A. Hess Memorial Scholarship

Natalie Meyer

Delaney Reposky

Cameron Stern

 

Rita P. Peters Scholarship

Lauren Klink

 

Robert and Marjorie Rager Scholarship

Kadance Mickey

 

Robert E. and Elouise R. Eberly Scholarship

Haley Filcheck

 

Sergeant Eric Hull Memorial Scholarship

Christopher Cook

 

Suzanne J. McMonagle Nursing Scholarship

Lauren Colgan

 

Tolstoi Family Scholarship

Kendra Firestone

Brianna Guziak

Ryleigh Jose

Dalton Kelley

 

Tylar Andaloro Memorial Scholarship

Casey Karwatske

Matthew Schwertfeger

 

Uniontown College Club CFFC Scholarship

Delaney Booker

Mia Medved

Anna Mitchell

 

Virginia Eberharter Scholarship

Kennedy Orndorff

Lily Show

 

Virginia Springer Memorial Scholarship

Julie Cooper

Ava Crofcheck

Nina D’Andrea

Lauren Klink

Kaleb Walls

 

Wolford Swimmer Memorial Scholarship

Caylee Balabon

William Barton IV

Austin Basinger

James Brown

Emily Burkus

Elli Cook

Yelena Ford

Grayden Gillott

Jocelyn Gratchic

Madison Gratchic

Luke Grimm

Jacqueline Maendel

Brianna Marzano

Paige Miller

Addison Milsom

Anthony Muccioli

Maximus Nassar

Emma Nicholson

Braylin Slaisbury

Steven Shearin

Sophia Solomon

Kaelyn Suba

Alexia Swisshelm

Emily Teeter

 

Zackery R. Nelson Memorial Scholarship

Kristy Pan

Fall Grant Cycle Offers Funding for Schools

by | Aug 1, 2025 | CFFC News

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) helps support education in a variety of ways, including grants from donor advised funds. The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund are currently accepting grant requests to support local schools in the 2025-2026 school year. Applications are due by October 1 through CFFC’s online grant system: https://bit.ly/cffcapplynow

The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests from $750 up to $10,000 to be considered for reusable education items to enhance the classroom. Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply.

The Idea Fund was created by a donor who strives to help teachers to achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows all students to succeed. All school districts in Fayette County are eligible to apply for an Idea Fund grant in the amount of $2,500.

The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is accepting grant requests from Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school to enhance STEM teaching and learning. An award of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials.

“It’s always great to see the variety and creativity in the fall grant requests, and we’re happy to help connect our donors with those projects,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.

Last fall, these donor advised funds at CFFC awarded a total of $25,934 to support the purchase of LEGO® education kits, whiteboard and lab tables, library collections, technology, science equipment, and more.

Further details about the grant applications and previous grant awards can be found at www.cffayettepa.org.

GWP All-Member Spotlight: Renee Couser

by | Jul 16, 2025 | CFFC News

Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director, is spotlighted in the Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania quarterly newsletter!

Read the spotlight here:
🔗 https://gwpa.my.canva.site/q2-2025-all-member-spotlight…

Grantmakers of Western PA supports the philanthropic sector by offering resources, networking opportunities, and information to help improve the effectiveness and impact of charitable giving.

Scholarship for Laurel Technical Institute Students

by | Jul 10, 2025 | CFFC News

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is now accepting applications for the Laurel Business Institute Scholarship Fund in Memory of Ruth and Milton Decker. This scholarship is for current students attending Laurel Technical Institute Uniontown and will be applied to tuition and/or fee expenses for the Fall 2025 Trimester.

 

 

All other CFFC post-secondary scholarships are closed for the 2025-2026 school year. Applicants can view the status of their submissions by logging into their dashboard. If you have any questions, please contact Celena Valentine, Accountant/Scholarship Coordinator, at 724-437-8600 x2.

$75,000 in Catalyst for Change Grants

by | Jul 2, 2025 | CFFC News

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is awarding a total of $75,000 in Catalyst for Change Grants to two collaborative, county-wide projects. The Fayette County My Preparedness Initiative teaches high schoolers FEMA emergency preparedness, CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed, and the program helps them explore public safety careers. The Fayette Integrated Care Team project will provide treatment for individuals with co-occurring disorders of mental health and substance use. CFFC’s board of directors chose these two projects to address important community needs.

Proceeds from CFFC’s annual Gala of Giving fund the Catalyst for Change Grants, which are intended to make significant impact in Fayette County. These recent awards bring the grand total of Catalyst for Change Grants to $175,000.

Jennifer Deichert, 4-H Educator

The Fayette County My Preparedness Initiative is a collaboration among Fayette County 4-H, Penn State Fayette, Outreach and Continuing Education, Fayette County Firefighters Association, Inc., Fayette Business Education Partnership, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, and more. The Catalyst for Change Grant will provide $44,000 towards the launch of this program in Connellsville Area High School and Laurel Highlands High School, with hopes to expand the program to other schools in the future.

“During these programs, youth participate in hands-on learning experiences designed to teach them how to plan and prepare for natural disasters, respond to medical emergencies with basic first aid and CPR, and connect with both professional and volunteer First Responders in their communities, creating pathways to future career and volunteer opportunities,” said Jennifer Deichert, 4-H Educator.

Kelly Harwood, Director of Outpatient and Crisis Services at Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc.

The Fayette Integrated Care Team is a collaboration between Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc. and Fayette County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. to provide new treatment opportunities for individuals with dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders, related to mental health and substance abuse. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 9.2% of Fayette County adults experience co-occurring disorders compared to 8.4% in the United States. The $30,900 Catalyst for Change Grant will enable them to purchase tele-health equipment that is needed to start the program and provide accessible therapy, professional clinical supervision, and monthly consultations.

Last year’s Catalyst for Change Grant supported the Infant and Child Safety Program at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, in collaboration with Head Start of Fayette County, providing convertible car seats and car seat training to patients who give birth at the hospital. The prior year’s award supported the launch of Main Street Theatre Company’s “ENCORE!”, a Fayette County high school musical showcase in collaboration with the State Theatre Center for the Arts and Fayette County Cultural Trust.

The next Gala of Giving event is scheduled for April 25, 2026 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. “Thank you to everyone who has supported the Gala of Giving the past four years. We look forward to raising more money for bigger and bolder grants that will impact the county,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.