Four area graduating seniors or recent graduates recently received the John J. Murphy Family Scholarship, managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.
Nathan-Michael Gabler and Lauren Kielar, both of Olean High School, Zazeric Bell, of Otto-Eldred High School, and Laura Wilhelm, of Portville Central School, each received the John J. Murphy Family Scholarship.
The $10,000 scholarship is given in four annual increments of $2,500. The John J. Murphy Family Scholarship was established through a grant from the Communities Foundation of Texas and continued through donations from the late John J. “Jack” Murphy, former CEO and Chairman of Dresser Industries.
The annual scholarship is given with preference for a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, engineering or business. The scholarship is available to area students from Allegany, Cattaraugus, McKean (PA) and Potter (PA) counties, but first preference is for students from the greater Olean area schools. Preference is also given to students whose family members are or have been employed by Dresser-Rand.
Gabler will attend West Virginia University to study biomedical engineering and neuroscience. Kielar will study integrative neuroscience at Binghamton University. Bell plans to study aerospace engineering at Purdue University. Wilhelm will study physical therapy at Nazareth College.
Including this year’s awards, the Murphy Scholarship Fund has made possible just short of $600,000 in scholarship support for area students’ continuing education.
Donations can be made to the John J. Murphy Family Scholarship at CRCF, 301 North Union St., Suite 203 or online at cattfoundation.org.
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).
