MacKenzie Ganoe
MacKenzie Ganoe of Brookville High School

PH Brookville Awards Scholarships

The Development Committee of Penn Highlands Brookville recently awarded $500 scholarships to four area high school students. This announcement marks the fourteenth year that this annual scholarship has been offered. Since 2003, fifty-four local students have benefited from this award. Applicants are awarded the scholarships based on academic excellence and their desire to pursue careers in the healthcare field, as well as high school and community involvement.

This year’s scholarships were awarded to one student from each area high school: MacKenzie Ganoe of Brookville Area High School, Alyssa Kiser of Clarion-Limestone High School, Alexa Smith of Redbank Valley High School and Melanie Shipe of East Forest High School.

MacKenzie Ganoe is a graduate of Brookville Area High School and is the daughter of Brian and Roberta Ganoe of Brookville. Ganoe plans to pursue a degree as a registered nurse and will attend Clarion University. As a high school student, she was very active in school activities. She was Vice President of the Med Club, Treasurer of National Honor Society and Class of 2016 Secretary. She participated in basketball and track and field. She helped with Special Olympics for six years and volunteered in various Red Cross events for nine years.

Alyssa Kiser is a graduate of Clarion Limestone High School and plans to become a physician. She will begin this goal at Case Western Reserve University. She is the daughter of Brad and Jody Kiser of Corsica. While in High School, she participated in Academic Decathlon and was a regional and state medalist and nationally ranked. She was also a semi-finalist at the United States Biology Olympiad. She served as President of National Honor Society and of the Class of 2016, as well as Treasurer of Student Council. She was also a second team all-conference pitcher of the varsity softball team.

Alexa Smith graduated from Redbank Valley High School with a commitment to pursue a career as a physician. Smith will work towards this goal at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is the daughter of Steven Smith and Amy Smith. While at Redbank Valley she was Treasurer of the National Honor Society. She participated in marching band and Envirothon. She was an all-conference member of the varsity soccer and track and field teams.

Melanie Shipe is a graduate of East Forest High School and is the daughter of Thomas and Clare Shipe of Marienville. Shipe will attend the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in pursuit of her plans to become a registered nurse. While at East Forest High School she was Senior Class Treasurer, Vice President of Art Club and Foreign Language Club, Secretary of Student Historians and a Student Council representative and a member of National Honor Society. She was also a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Each of these outstanding students received $500 toward their health care goals from the Penn Highlands Brookville Development Committee.

“We are proud of them and their hard work, and we are pleased to be able to make this annual presentation to the young people of our communities,” said Julie Peer, President of Penn Highlands Brookville. “We look forward to watching their futures unfold.”

“The Development Committee received many qualified applications for these four scholarships, and we would like to thank all students who took the time to apply,” said Donna Haney of the Development Committee. “It is inspiring to see so many talented, hard-working students in our community planning to enter the healthcare field.”

The Development Committee receives funds through private donations, corporate donations, contributing employees and fundraising events. If you or your organization would like to make a contribution to the Penn Highlands Brookville Development Committee, or if you have any questions about this program, please call Donna Haney at (814) 849-1832.

Alyssa Kiser
Alyssa Kiser of Clarion-Limestone High School
Alexa Smith
Alexa Smith of Redbank Valley High School
Melanie Shipe
Melanie Shipe of East Forest High School