Brunelli scholarship fund established at Community Foundation
The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Vincent and Mary Ann Brunelli Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is now available to graduating seniors from St. Marys Area High School, with preference to Bennett’s Valley students. The student will be pursuing a post-secondary 4-year degree in education and/or nursing, with preference to an Elementary Education major and/or and Registered Nursing program. This fund will award two $500 scholarships annually. The application deadline is March 7.
Vincent Brunelli was a lifelong resident of Bennett’s Valley and a graduate of Weedville High School Class of 1949. After serving in the Army from 1949 to 1951, he received his Bachelor’s Degree from Clarion University, a Master’s in Education from IUP, and his Doctorate in Education from East Coast University in Florida. He was truly passionate about his 41 years of teaching as a 4th and 5th grade teacher in Bennett’s Valley Elementary School. Vincent was a lifelong learner and loved to share his experiences in education and give advice.
Mary Ann Cummings Brunelli graduated from Cameron County High School Class of 1955. She received her LPN degree in 1956 from Franklin School of Nursing in Pittsburgh. She lived most of her life in Force, working full time at Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital in St. Marys for 40+ years, with over half these years in pediatrics. Later in her career at Elk Regional Hospital in St. Marys she worked in the ER and Med-Surg, helping wherever needed.
Students can apply for the Brunelli scholarship on the Foundation website: www.elkcountyfoundation.org. For detailed information go to the “Scholarships/Information for Students” section and click on the green button for “St. Marys Area High School”. Here they can begin the application process by accessing the Foundation’s online portal. Students will create an account on the online portal and follow the instructions to complete their application.
The Community Foundation is one of 40 statewide partners with PATH (Partners for Access to Higher Education). Students who receive a scholarship award from the Community Foundation may qualify for matching dollars through PHEAA and the PATH program if they attend a PA school. In 2022, 58 students received a total of nearly $75,000 in matching funds.
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 th
e 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 814-834-2125.
