Full STEW Ahead Scholarship makes college more affordable for McKean County residents

BRADFORD, Pa. — Fran Stewart grew up in Bradford and spent years working at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Now she’s giving back — with the Full STEW Ahead scholarship, a new award designed to make college more affordable for McKean County and Pennsylvania residents.

“College was a transformative experience for both my sister and I and something that was extremely important to our parents because they wanted us to have the opportunities they did not have,” Stewart says. “I am very proud to be able to honor them by providing that opportunity, and all it entails, to other deserving individuals.”

Stewart attended Mercyhurst University and later served as an administrative assistant in Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement at Pitt-Bradford where she saw firsthand how transformative individual giving could be to an institution and its students. Following the deaths of her parents and her sister, she decided to create a scholarship that saluted their memories while also supporting a university they all loved.

“My parents watched Pitt-Bradford grow and evolve into an incredibly important community anchor, and my mother, in particular, had always wanted to come to this school and earn a degree,” Stewart adds. “As they say, life happens, and she was not able to accomplish that goal, but I know she would be very happy that I am helping others achieve that dream.”

The first recipient of the scholarship is Jaden Freeland, a junior sport and recreation management major and lacrosse player from York.

To learn more about creating a scholarship at Pitt-Bradford, contact the university’s Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement at 814-362-5091 or visit the giving page.