“With costs for higher education continuing to climb at many colleges and universities, the future may be daunting for many promising young people,” a news release from the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania said. The foundation “works to create scholarship funds that will benefit graduating seniors and non-traditional students.”

Endowed scholarship funds at the foundation are created by gifts made by individuals, families, and organizations. These gifts are invested to provide income to award scholarships every year to different students.

“In many instances, scholarships are awarded based on pre-determined criteria that are reflective of the personal values and interests of those who establish the funds,” the news release said.

The foundation recently awarded a total of $460,873 in 118 scholarships to 102 students for the 2025-26 academic year. Eligibility and criteria vary by scholarship. Scholarships were awarded to students graduating from high schools in Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan and Union counties. Six non-traditional students already enrolled in a college or university also received scholarships to continue their education.

2025 recipients in Lycoming and Sullivan counties included:

East Lycoming School District

Alli Anstadt, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, Marywood University;

Jersey Shore Area School District

Sophie Willits, Lindsay M. Entz Memorial Scholarship Fund, $5,048.00, Lock Haven University;

Gabrielle Seals, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, Susquehanna University;

Jaymison Stellfox, Jersey Shore High School Class of 1960 Scholarship Fund, $3,000.00, Bloomsburg University;

Jude Teneyck, Jersey Shore High School Class of 1960 Scholarship Fund, $3,000.00, Penn College of Technology;

Sophie Willits, Shirley Gray Rightmire Scholarship Fund, $7,741.00, Lock Haven University;

Anna Sick, Howard M. & Jane F. Thompson Scholarship Fund, $5,375.00, Penn State University;

Loyalsock Township School District

Merek Goyette, Evelyn (Ault) Gehr and Stanly Gehr Memorial Scholarship Fund, $8,574.00, Messiah University;

Samantha Hauke, Evelyn (Ault) Gehr and Stanly Gehr Memorial Scholarship Fund, $8,574.00, Penn College of Technology;

Luke Severn, Evelyn (Ault) Gehr and Stanly Gehr Memorial Scholarship Fund, $8,574.00, PennWest Edinboro;

Riley Kinsley, Dr. Wayne F. Rose Scholarship Fund, $2,000.00, West Chester University of PA;

Montgomery Area School District

Jacob Dietrich, CAG Supporting Momentum Scholarship Fund, $1,200.00, Penn College of Technology;

Alexis Boyer, Christ Lutheran Church Montgomery Scholarship Fund, $5,137.00, Northampton County Area Community College;

Hailey Will, Carl & Lucille Jarrett Scholarship Fund, $5,000.00, Penn College of Technology;

Xavier Koch, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, To Be Confirmed;

Emily Geiger, Montgomery Area Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, $1,122.00, Marywood University;

Laila Hessler, Robert E. and Judy More Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Mercyhurst University;

Sawyer Kepner, Robert E. and Judy More Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Penn College of Technology;

Emily Murphy, Robert E. and Judy More Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Lock Haven University;

Delilah Preitz, Robert E. and Judy More Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, To Be Confirmed;

Jackson Springman, Robert E. and Judy More Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Bloomsburg University of PA;

Olivia Walk, Robert E. and Judy More Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, To Be Confirmed;

Montoursville Area School District

Sofia Lopez, Ruth D. Adams Fund, $6,064.40, To Be Confirmed;

Karleigh McKenna, Ruth D. Adams Fund, $6,064.40, Penn State University;

Nevaeh Montoya, Ruth D. Adams Fund, $6,064.40, Northampton County Area Community College;

Corey Shay, Ruth D. Adams Fund, $6,064.40, To Be Confirmed;

Laila Shreck, Ruth D. Adams Fund, $6,064.40, Penn State University;

Allyson Witter, Jessica L. Aikey Memorial Fund, $651.00, Penn State University;

Alex Emick, Anne L. “Annie” Alexander & Blaise Robert “B R” Alexander Memorial Scholarship Fund, $3,410.19, Penn College of Technology;

Karleigh McKenna, Anne L. “Annie” Alexander & Blaise Robert “B R” Alexander Memorial Scholarship Fund, $3,410.19, Penn State University;

Liliana Fortin, Area Scholastics Scholarship Fund, $8,265.00, To Be Confirmed;

Alex Emick, James ‘Jimmy’ L. Bender IV Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Penn College of Technology;

Cecelina Sawyer, Michelle E. Bohlin Memorial Fund, $238.00, Lycoming College;

Sean Frey, Jordan M. Bower Memorial Scholarship Fund, $500.00, Penn State University;

Marissa Mahonski, Jordan M. Bower Memorial Scholarship Fund, $500.00, Duquesne University;

Cecelina Sawyer, Monica E. Cox Memorial Fund, $668.00, Lycoming College;

Addison Confer, Deborah Ann Dickey Memorial Scholarship Fund, $638.00, To Be Confirmed;

Andrew Zhu, Douglas Dickey Memorial Scholarship Fund, $633.00, University of Virginia;

Liliana Fortin, Carol A. Fry Memorial Scholarship Fund, $4,500.00, To Be Confirmed;

Lila Phillips, Carol A. Fry Memorial Scholarship Fund, $4,500.00, Penn College of Technology;

Carson Paulhamus, Julia D. Grimm Memorial Fund, $791.00, Susquehanna University;

Gavin Hawley, Ray R. and Kay E. Harmon Scholarship Fund, $1,161.00, Penn College of Technology;

Naomi Zeigler, Christina Casselberry Hayes Music Scholarship Fund, $10,000.00, University of Pittsburgh;

Hunter Hepler, William R. Hyman Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,651.00, Susquehanna University;

Mira DiMassimo, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, Wilkes University;

Bella Rose Orwig, Mildred E. Kelly Scholarship Fund, $14,634.00, To Be Confirmed;

Laila Shreck, Jody Lea Loudenslager Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,135.00, Penn State University;

Sean Frey, Montoursville HS Class of 1967 Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,600.00, Penn State University;

Sydney Coburn, Cheryl L. Nibert Memorial Fund, $765.00, Slippery Rock University;

Lila Phillips, Kimberly Marie Rogers Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,161.00, Penn College of Technology;

Audrey Hess, Judy K. Rupert Memorial Scholarship Fund, $405.00, Penn State University;

Shaw Simpson, Judy K. Rupert Memorial Scholarship Fund, $405.00, Misericordia University;

Nevaeh Montoya, John G. Sharp Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Northampton County Area Community College;

Carson Paulhamus, Alice M. Snyder Scholarship Fund, $7,666.00, Susquehanna University;

Andrew Trueman, Tis A Scholarship Fund, $2,575.00, Villanova University;

Alex Emick, T-Ross Brothers Construction Inc. Scholarship Fund, $2,000.00, Penn College of Technology;

Robert Dietrich, Larissa Michele Uzupis Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,594.00, To Be Confirmed;

Hannah Means, Monica M. Weaver Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Slippery Rock University;

Mira DiMassimo, Eleanor M. Wolfson Memorial Scholarship Fund, $888.00, Wilkes University;

Addison Confer, Wendy Y. Wolfson Memorial Scholarship Fund, $773.00, To Be Confirmed;

Muncy School District

Elizabeth Swart, Daniel C. Berninger Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,300.00, Syracuse University;

Kohen Meyer, Kenneth and Sandra Gardner Leadership Scholarship Fund, $1,194.00, University of Pittsburgh;

Gabrielle Myers, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, DeSales University;

Sarah Allen, Muncy Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, $2,000.00, Dickinson College;

Summer Miller, Muncy Scholars Award Fund, $500.00, Bloomsburg University of PA;

Austin Johnson, Muncy Alumni Wrestling Scholarship Fund, $1,500.00, To Be Confirmed;

Landyn Wommer, Arlene and James Opp and Howard Opp Scholarship Fund, $4,808.00, Misericordia University;

Addison Gresh, H. Porter Rathmell Scholarship Fund, $8,200.00, Indiana University of PA;

Willow Nichols, Ritter Family Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Penn State University;

Cy Dixon, Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Scholarship Fund, $14,000.00, To Be Confirmed;

Taylor Shannon, Margaret E. Waldron Memorial Scholarship Fund, $14,000.00, Lock Haven University;

South Williamsport Area School District

Sage Lorson, Nolan W. Feeser Scholarship Fund, $19,640.24, Penn State University;

Tadd Lusk, Nolan W. Feeser Scholarship Fund, $19,640.24, To Be Confirmed;

Paxton Gephart, Ryan D. Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,111.00, Penn State University;

Carter Sullivan, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, To Be Confirmed;

Kendall Cardone, Jane Salansky-Onzik Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Lycoming College;

Meghan Wroblewski, John A. Savoy Scholarship Fund, $2,000.00, Penn State University;

Abigail Lorson, Arlene and Fred Stahl Scholarship Fund, $960.00, Bloomsburg University of PA;

Olivia Regan, Clarabelle S. and Otis F. Williams Jr. Scholarship Fund, $11,500.00, Penn State University;

St. John Neumann Regional Academy High School

Lucas Bowers, Albert and Alice Nacinovich Music Scholarship Fund, $185.00, Lycoming College;

Lucas Bowers, Williamsport Knights Home Association Fund, $4,598.00, Lycoming College;

Sullivan County School District

Jenna Eberlin, Arey Family Scholarship Fund, $550.00, Lycoming College;

Maria Sandoval, L. L. Baumunk & Son Inc. Scholarship Fund, $1,000.00, Rutgers University;

Makayla Bedford, Corey Richmond Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,150.00, To Be Confirmed;

Williamsport Area School District

Dreeonna Mandville, Arthur and Trina Harrison Scholarship Fund, $3,714.00, To Be Confirmed;

Grant Vilello, Arthur and Trina Harrison Scholarship Fund, $3,714.00, Lycoming College;

Emily Kime, Journey Bank Scholarship Fund, $1,032.25, Duquesne University;

Kellen Jackson, Tom Vargo Scholarship Fund, $500.00, West Chester University of PA;

Emily Kime, Williamsport High School Class of 1970 Scholarship Fund, $538.00, Duquesne University;

Kyreek Bradshaw, H. James Zellers Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,381.50, To Be Confirmed;

Grant Vilello, H. James Zellers Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,381.50, Lycoming College

The foundation’s organizational mission is to improve the quality of life in north central Pennsylvania through community leadership, the promotion of philanthropy, the strengthening of nonprofit impact and the perpetual stewardship of charitable assets. For more information on the programs and services offered by the FCFP, or to learn more about ways to make a difference in your community, visit www.FCFPartnership.org.