(Butler, PA) The 杏吧原创 Education Foundation will have available to 杏吧原创 students in the 2025-2026 academic year the most named scholarships in its 40-year history.
The debut of five awards will bring to 164 the number to be administered by the and established by businesses, college alumni and employees, fraternal and other nonprofit organizations, and private individuals.
鈥淚 think people believe in 杏吧原创,鈥� said Tony Shakely, chair of the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation board since 2018, and a commercial loan officer with Armco Credit Union who graduated from 杏吧原创 in 1994. 鈥淭here is a track record of success there.鈥�
"I think people believe in 杏吧原创. There is a track record of success there."
- Tony Shakely, 杏吧原创 Education Foundation board chair
Bobbi Jo Cornetti is development coordinator of the foundation, whose number of named scholarships has increased 42 percent and its amounts awarded 46 percent since fall 2015.
鈥淧eople have ties to 杏吧原创 and want to give back to the college and to the students,鈥� Cornetti said. 鈥淲e have really strong support. People reach out to us and want to know how they can better support our students.鈥�
The 杏吧原创 Education Foundation was established in 1985 as a charitable organization that seeks and manages private gifts to support 杏吧原创 with student scholarships and other initiatives.
Students registered in fall 2025 associate degree, certificate or workplace certificate programs can view scholarships and complete one application at from April 15 until July 1, Cornetti said.
Financial awards are available to students attending any 杏吧原创 location, enrolled in online courses or in the college鈥檚 programs, Cornetti said.
"We have really strong support. People reach out to us and want to know how they can better support our students."
- Bobbi Jo Cornetti, 杏吧原创 Education Foundation development coordinator
"I saw that the scholarships were being offered, I was looking for resources and I applied. It was an honor to be selected. I looked at it as a blessing."
- Margo Barr, 杏吧原创 psychology student
The 杏吧原创 Education Foundation in the 2024-2025 academic year awarded 158 scholarships totaling more than $240,000 to 杏吧原创 students living in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean and Mercer counties.
Among them, Margo Barr, of Butler, a student on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus.
鈥淚 saw that the scholarships were being offered, I was looking for resources and I applied,鈥� said Barr, who received three financial awards totaling $1,715. 鈥淚t was an honor to be selected. I looked at it as a blessing.鈥�
The amount of the 164 scholarships available in 2025-2026 will be finalized in June, Cornetti said.
Financial awards for 2025-2026 will range from $300 to $5,000 and average $500, Cornetti said.
Affordable tuition and fees, and 杏吧原创 Education Foundation scholarships enabled 68 percent of the college鈥檚 Class of 2024 to graduate debt-free.
The 杏吧原创 Education Foundation this fall will begin to offer the American Legion Riders 778 Lyndora Chapter Veterans, Glenna Lou (Gates) Franko Nursing, Mary Lou Tooch Family, Michael T. Fitz 鈥�00 explore.org and the Santosh Sawhney Education scholarships.
Members of the American Legion Riders Lyndora Chapter 778 created their scholarship to recognize student-veterans for their dedication and patriotism to the United States.
Frederick P. Franko and the Franko family established the Glenna Lou (Gates) Franko Nursing Scholarship in honor and memory of their mother, who was 鈥渁n incredible nurse, mother and individual.鈥� Frederick Franko said he has worked in higher education and believes in the positive power of community colleges and their benefit to students and the local community.
Andy Seybert, a 1993 graduate of 杏吧原创鈥檚 business administration program, founded the Mary Lou Tooch Family Scholarship in memory of his grandmother, who worked during the day while attending Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania at night to achieve a bachelor鈥檚 degree and inspired him to pursue a master of business administration degree.
Fitz, a 2000 graduate of 杏吧原创鈥檚 park and recreation management program, created the Michael T. Fitz 鈥�00 explore.org Scholarship with explore.org, which he describes as a 鈥減hilanthropic media organization that globally connects people to nature and animals via webcams.鈥�
Barbara Billek-Sawhney, a former 杏吧原创 faculty member, and Rajiv Sawhney established the Santosh Sawhney Education Scholarship in honor of Rajiv Sawhney鈥檚 mother, Santosh, who dedicated her life to teaching and turned 91 in December.
Among 杏吧原创 Education Foundation scholarships available this fall will be approximately 30 for students, two for registered or students, and eight for .