by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 3, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Hajek-Bates as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2025. She will succeed Renee M. Couser, who will retire at the end of 2025 after years of dedicated service to the foundation and the Fayette County community.
Hajek-Bates was selected following a comprehensive search process, conducted in partnership with The Hill Group. With more than twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, and community development, she brings a deep understanding of the region and a strong commitment to public service.
Her career includes leadership roles at Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. and Blueprints in Washington and Greene Counties. She also worked closely with the late Joe Hardy, managing his nonprofit initiatives, supporting his work as a county commissioner, and coordinating economic revitalization efforts in Uniontown.
“I am honored to join the Community Foundation of Fayette County and build on the strong foundation established under Renee Couser’s leadership,” said Hajek-Bates. “Fayette County is a place I care deeply about, and I look forward to working with the board, staff, and community partners to expand our impact and support meaningful change.”
“Jessica brings a rare combination of strategic vision, operational expertise, and a deep-rooted commitment to Fayette County,” said Ron Gabriel, Chair of the CFFC Board of Directors. “Her track record of building partnerships, securing resources, and driving measurable outcomes makes her an ideal leader for this next chapter of the foundation. The board is excited to work alongside her as we continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact across the region.”
Under Hajek-Bates’ leadership, CFFC will continue implementing its strategic plan focused on growth, collaboration, and increasing philanthropic impact across Fayette County. For more information, visit www.cffayettepa.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | 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.
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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.
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
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 14, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
photo courtesy of Albert Gallatin Area School District
“The Drone Coding Curriculum is tailored for students in grades six through eight and gives students hands-on experiences building, programming, and flying real drones,” explained Jacob Magerko, STEM Teacher at Albert Gallatin South Middle School.
Students work together and use block coding to program a drone to take off, navigate through the air, and land safely at a desired destination. Magerko noted that this drone project gives students “a jolt of excitement” since there is immediate feedback when they complete their code and run it through the drone. Students get results or error messages instantly after executing code, which provides a unique hands-on and real-time learning experience.
photo courtesy of Albert Gallatin Area School District
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s Idea Fund awarded a grant for this project in 2023. “The Idea Fund was created by a donor who wanted to help teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
In addition to enhancing classroom learning, Magerko said that the drone coding project has also “exposed students to a variety of careers that are associated with drones, that they did not previously know existed.”
Because of generous donors, Fayette County school districts and local students are able to receive support through various grant opportunities. You can help strengthen education and career readiness too! Call our office at 724-437-8600 x1 to learn more.
