by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 20, 2023 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) congratulates 87 students who were selected for 2023-2024 scholarship awards. $192,604 in awards will be made from 47 scholarship funds, created to support students who are pursuing higher education. Watch the 2023-2024 slideshow.
“These scholarship funds help us invest in the future of Fayette County, by supporting a variety of students in their education and career path. Our committee carefully reviews hundreds of applications to select the best candidates, aiming to meet the goals of the generous donors who created the funds,” said Angela Braun DC, CFFC Board Chair and Scholarship Committee Chair.
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.
“Our scholarship program is a team effort between staff, board members, community volunteers, donors, and guidance offices. We thank everyone who makes it possible to support students in this way,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Through CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students may have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
To learn more about ways to support the community through philanthropy, visit www.cffayettepa.org and follow @cffayettepa on social media.

Watch the slideshow!
2023-2024 CFFC Scholarship List
Alfred E. and Anna B. Jones Scholarship
Nina D’Andrea
Benjamin Diamond
Haley Filcheck
Alyssa Grimm
Payton Hostetler
Lilianna Hug
Allen Craft Memorial Scholarship
Erica Rishel
Benjamin Wilson
Juliet Wontroba
Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Scholarship
Valentina Gulino
Malcolm Patton
Kylee Kurnot
Brooklyn Williams
Kaitlyn Adams
Jordan O’Brien
Bridget White
Betty Bayne Barnes Scholarship for Women
Brandy Sickles
Burchinal Family Endowment Education Awards
Bethany DuBois
Carly Grimm
Tyler Hawk
Heather Kisner
Elyse Knopsnider
Frank Kula
Jodi Lowery
Gabriel Ranker
Brandy Sickles
Alden Voss
Career and Technical Education Scholarship
Skye Tucker
Carl S. Micarelli Memorial Scholarship
Emmy Wingrove
CFFC Board of Directors Scholarship
Gabriel Kemp
Chris G. and Alice Omiros Scholars Fund
Tyler Hawk
Cupelli Family Scholarship
Carly Grimm
Darrell L. and Norma R. Uphold Family Scholarship
Abigail Wystepek
Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship
Elizabeth Eddy
Dr. Dennis F. Brestensky Scholarship
Riley Rankin
Dr. Paul Pipik Scholarship for Study in the Health Sciences
Alysse Teeter
Dr. William C. Thomas, Jr. Perseverance Scholarship
Karsyn Lucy
Edward T. Yezioro Memorial Scholarship
Nicholas Pecsko
George M. and Anna w. Hochheimer Scholarship
Alden Voss
Helen Hulvey Scheggia Nursing Scholarship
Mitchel Anderson
Sarah Maldovan
Henry J. Oppermann Scholarship
Dylan Brooks
Austin Molinaro
Hughes Family Scholarship
Chloe Deguia
Johnson Matthey Scholarship
Abigail Barnes
Jerry Jiang
Kathleen DiMarco Gulino Memorial Scholarship
Mia Pierce
Laurel Highlands Mustang Academic Scholarship
Sienna Dean
Mackenzie Nicklow
Legacy Scholarship Fund of Ernst Gottlieb Braun
Keegan Fonder
Lillian’s Legacy Scholarship
Emi Curcio
Paige Miller
Alysse Teeter
Lulu A. Dudley Scholarship
Valen Lilley
Jacqueline Maendel
Gianna Valenti
M. Frances and George J. Plava Educational Award
Jerry Jiang
Sydney Larew
Mary Jane Dailey Wood Scholarship
Parker Kern
Tanner Uphold
Jenna Voyten
Maurice M. Bortz and Bessie D. Rinehart Memorial Scholarship
Frank Kula
Melvin J. and Beatrice Vance Keller Memorial Scholarship
Josie Bittner
Michael S. Carbonara Memorial Scholarship
Bailey Lemansky
My Mother’s Legacy Scholarship
Nina D’Andrea
Nancy Flanegan McManus Nursing Scholarship
Abigail Wystepek
Nancy Vance Jones Scholarship
Trudy Diamond
Alysse Teeter
Jenna Voyten
Palmer F. Sabatine Scholarship
Livia Mehalovich
Parker A. Hess Memorial Scholarship
Charlotte Crouse
Zoey Thomas
Rita P. Peters Scholarship
Maximus Nassar
Robert and Marjorie Rager Scholarship
Audrey Morrison
Robert E. and Elouise R. Eberly Scholarship
Gracie Dally
Sam’s Symphony of Love Scholarship
Elizabeth Eddy
Sergeant Eric Hull Memorial Scholarship
Alyssa Grimm
Suzanne J. McMonagle Nursing Scholarship
Alysha Lessman
Tylar Andaloro Memorial Scholarship
Valentina Gulino
Mia Pierce
Uniontown College Club CFFC Scholarship
Claire White
Virginia Eberharter Scholarship
Autumn Ansell
Arley Wilson
Virginia Springer Memorial Scholarship
Julie Cooper
Benjamin Diamond
Bailey Edenfield
Haley Filcheck
Rebecca Mihalko
Grace Taylor
Kaleb Walls
Wolford Swimmer Memorial Scholarship
Grant Barcheck
Josie Bittner
James Brown
Jocelyn Gratchic
Olivia Hellen
Matthew Kaminsky
Claire Konieczny
Sydney Larew
Brandon Paroda
Brittney Roberts
Braylin Salisbury
Jenna Schnatterly
Laila Suarez
Serenity Swihart-Fullem
Lily Taylor
Zackery R. Nelson Memorial Scholarship
Allison Lowery
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by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 28, 2023 | Building a Stronger Fayette
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awarded a grant to Hatfield Elementary School for a book vending machine. CFFC was happy to join students, faculty, and PTO members at the ribbon cutting on March 10, 2023. Students used tokens to select the first books from the vending machine.

“Students will have the opportunity to earn vending tokens based on the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program. Now, all Hatfield students will have the opportunity to grow their own personal libraries, foster a love of reading, and improve test scores.” – Heidi Mears, Principal
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awards grants for the puchase of reusable items to enhance classrooms, both for Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 6, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants
CFFC has awarded $35,302 in fall grants. Awards range from $500 to over $7,000. “These funding opportunities were created by generous donors who want to give back to the community, and we’re happy to support such diverse projects,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
To support health and medical care for Fayette County residents, CFFC awarded two grants from the Burchinal Family Endowment Fund. Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center received a grant for their conversion to a medical model pregnancy center – specifically for a medical exam room and staff training materials. New Haven Hose Company also received a grant, which they will use to purchase two new AEDs. These devices will be utilized for medical service on the bike trail, at the fire department, and at the social hall which serves as Connellsville’s emergency shelter.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund supports the purchase of reusable items to enhance classrooms. Laurel Highlands School District was awarded three grants for autistic support educational and sensory room items, a book vending machine at an elementary school, and STEM activities for elementary media centers. Uniontown Area School District was awarded two grants for cooking supplies in middle and high school family & consumer science classes and graphing calculators for high school algebra classes.
Albert Gallatin Area School District was awarded a grant from the Idea Fund to enhance traditional classroom learning with the purchase of an audio booth for the high school’s AGTV studio. It will be used for all media classes and for the speech and presentation course.
To learn more about grant opportunities and how you can make an impact in our community through philanthropy, contact our office at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 26, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants
EQT Foundation awarded the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) a $15,000 grant for the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund. This fund is an endowment to support CFFC’s general grantmaking program in perpetuity. CFFC accepts applications for this fund in the spring grant cycle, evaluating requests from local nonprofits and strategically selecting grant awards.
The Building a Stronger Fayette Fund supports arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services; and other areas of interest. In CFFC’s spring 2022 cycle, grants were awarded for a library program, household and hygiene items, musical productions, a junior firefighter boot camp, a program to provide beds to families, a free community lunch program, software, and a program to support grandparents as caretakers.

Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation President; Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Kaitlyn Magyar, EQT Corporation Public Relations Intern
EQT Foundation’s $15,000 grant will be added to the fund and will help strengthen CFFC’s general grantmaking program. “Working with local community foundations has been an essential part of our strategy to be engaged corporate citizens in the areas where EQT operates,” said Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation President. “We are thankful for the partnership we have created through the CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Fund to help nonprofits in the community thrive,” said Rossi.
“CFFC thanks EQT Foundation for their support. This fund has been a focus for our fundraising, since supporting local nonprofits is such a big part of what we do,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director. To raise additional money for the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, CFFC is participating in Fayette Gives on November 10 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 16, 2022 | CFFC News, Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is awarding over $195,000 in post-secondary scholarships to local students. “On behalf of the CFFC Board of Directors, congratulations to the scholarship recipients! We wish you well as you continue your education and contribute to the future of Fayette County,” said Angela Braun, CFFC Scholarship Committee Chair.
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.
CFFC extends thanks to the generous donors who support students through these funds, the guidance counselors who help promote these opportunities to students, and the volunteer CFFC Scholarship Committee members who review hundreds of applications to recommend selections.
Through the CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students may have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
Visit www.cffayettepa.org and follow @cffayettepa on social media for more information.
Scroll down for a full list of awards, sorted by scholarship fund.

CFFC visited Albert Gallatin, Uniontown, Connellsville, and Laurel Highlands High Schools to congratulate the senior scholarship recipients. Students from Geibel Catholic, Frazier, Charleroi, and Brownsville High Schools also received scholarships, in addition to current post-secondary students from various institutions.
