Clarion County students get scholarships

From staff reports

Clarion Hospital Foundation awarded seven scholarships to area students who will pursue education in the medical field.

Gena Caldwell, Nicholas Cherico, Kera Cussins, MacKenzie DiTullio, Emily Gourley, Haley Minich, and Becca Smith were selected by committee members to be the 2018 recipients.

To be eligible for scholarship consideration, students must be a graduate or future graduate of a Clarion County high school, be accepted to a school of post-secondary health care education, have a grade point average of 3.0 or equivalent in the final three years of high school, and they plan to pursue higher education in a medical related field.

Each scholarship is worth $1,000.

Gena Caldwell was awarded the James Alexander Memorial Scholarship. Caldwell is a 2018 graduate of North Clarion High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, band and Junior Historians. She participated in track and field, basketball and was a varsity starter in volleyball. Community service has been a big part of her activities over the last six years. Caldwell will attend Gannon University, where she plans to study biomedical engineering.

Nicholas Cherico was awarded the Dr. John Brooks Memorial Scholarship. A 2018 graduate of Clarion Area High School, Cherico served as president of the senior class. He was a member of the National Honor Society and the Science Olympiad team. He served as treasurer of the senior choir and band, was president of the senior high student council and earned a lead role in the all-school musical. Cherico also is a member of the Clarion Scout Troop 51, where he achieved the rank of Eagle School and has been involved with several community service projects. He will pursue a career as a physician at Duquesne or Gannon University and LECOM.

Kera Cussins was awarded the Dr. John Johnston Memorial Scholarship. She is a 2018 graduate of North Clarion High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, student council, Clarion County Youth Council, Junior Historians and prom committee. She also served as a library assistant. Cussins played junior varsity and varsity volleyball and participated as a Junior Olympian in volleyball. Cussins also participated in the Academic Decathlon and Scrimmage, the Clarion University Math Competition and the Science Olympiadl. She plans to attend Lock Haven University, where she will begin her journey to become a physician assistant.

MacKenzie DiTullio was awarded the Fran Shope Memorial Scholarship. She is a 2018 graduate of Clarion Area High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and served as student council treasurer and senior class secretary. She also played varsity softball. In addition, DiTullio was a member of concert band, prep band, jazz band, marching band and Twirling Angels competitive baton corp. She will attend Saint Francis University to study occupational therapy.

Emily Gourley was awarded the Fran Shope Memorial Scholarship. A 2018 graduate of Redbank Valley High School, Gourley was a member of the National Honor Society and served as its secretary. She was the public relations officer for the SPARK Club and served as secretary and president of the 4-H club. Gourley also was captain of the volleyball and track and field teams. She will study biomedical engineering at Messiah College.

Haley Minich was awarded the Joseph and Helen Miller Memorial Scholarship. She graduated this year from Redbank Valley High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Bible Club and served as captain of varsity soccer team. She also competed in varsity track and field. Minich volunteers as a tutor and vacation Bible school leader as well. She plans to pursue a career in pharmacy at Duquesne or Gannon University and LECOM.

Becca Smith was awarded the Joseph and Helen Miller Memorial Scholarship. The 2018 Keystone High School graduate also attended the Clarion County Career Center, studying in the Allied Health Science program. At Keystone, Smith was a member of the National Honor Society. She served as treasurer of the senior class and senior high student government club, and was captain of the cheerleading squad. She also was also a member of the Clarion County Career Honor Society and served as treasurer/secretary of the Allied Health Science class. She will attend Clarion University to pursue a degree in nursing.