New MCCF scholarship funds offer more opportunities for students

Several new scholarship funds were established this past year at the McKean County Community Foundation (MCCF). MCCF offers donors the opportunity to create funds to make their own philanthropic impact in the community. Donors can choose from a variety of fund types including scholarship, donor advised, designated, and agency endowment. MCCF administers a total of 56 scholarship funds in McKean County. These seven scholarships funds are among those newly created in 2023-24.

The Staff Sgt. Carl Enis Military Scholarship Fund honors Carl Enis who died at the age of thirty-one in a helicopter incident on the Syrian Iraq border and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. With generational ties to the McKean County area, Enis visited family often and was passionate about the outdoors in Pennsylvania. After college he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Pararescueman, an Elite team of Guardian Angel Airmen. He lived by the Pararescue Creed: “These things we do, that others may live.” This scholarship honoring his memory will be awarded to a high school senior or adult learner involved in the military.

The Kelley Hritz Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Kelley (Musselman) Hritz. Kelley moved to St. Marys with her husband and son after graduating from high school in New Paris, and the Pittsburgh Technical Institute with a degree in Graphic Design. During her years in St. Marys, she worked in many areas of the community. But as an artist at heart, she loved music, theater, poetry, drawing and painting. Kelley’s love for the arts will live on through this scholarship, helping future artists to create amazing and beautiful things.

The Andrew Pingie Memorial Scholarship Fund was started in Andrew’s memory by his two daughters, Faith and Sarah, after his passing from glioblastoma brain cancer. Known for his gift of gab, quick wit, and humor, he was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He was a self-taught fabricator of wrought iron and his creations and designs are admired at many homes and businesses within the area. The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving learner that shares the same passions and values as Andy. The focus is for a post-secondary technical education with preference to the welding field.

The Martin K. Henneman Scholarship Fund was established by the family and friends of Marty Henneman, husband, father, brother, friend, and hero, who passed away in 2022. He had a strong passion for providing service to others, caring deeply about the safety and protection of those around him and all he met. This scholarship honors his lifelong dedication to service. It will be awarded to a student pursuing a post-secondary degree, certificate, or license in the field of criminal justice, paramedic, EMT, police officer training or an emergency public servant.

The Kiwanis Club of Bradford Technical Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving senior who best exemplifies the Kiwanis values of academic, vocational and technical excellence, community involvement, community service and integrity. This scholarship is specifically directed to those students planning to enter a skilled vocational, trade or technical field that requires technical school training, education, or apprenticeship.

The Richard Dana Benton/Bradford Kiwanis Club Scholarship is awarded by the Kiwanis Club in memory of Richard Benton, a history teacher at Bradford Area High School for many years and past president of Kiwanis Club. It will be given to a Bradford Area High School Senior pursuing a post-secondary degree in either Education or Social Studies/History/Political Science.

The Larry and Mary Bradigan Family Scholarship of HOPE was established by two Bradford High School Alumni, Larry Bradigan and Mary (Pierce) Bradigan. Larry and Mary have lived lives focused on giving back, helping our youth, and sharing their personal struggles, sufferings, and hard times to help build character, resilience, and HOPE in their children and all of the young adults they have the privilege of influencing. Their scholarship will be given to a Bradford High School senior who has faced challenges and is pursuing a post-secondary education.

Students can apply for these scholarships and many more by logging onto the Foundation website at www.mckeancountyfoundation.org. The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 844-238-2289.