PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. (Warren County) — Star Community Health has awarded $1,000 scholarships to five high school seniors from the Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Phillipsburg area school districts to support their continuing education.
“We are so happy to offer these scholarships to five students in the Lehigh Valley who are in the communities we serve,” said Quynh Hicks, interim director for Star Community Health. “Last year was our inaugural year for the scholarship program, and we are thrilled to help these students as they continue their education in their desired field, and hopefully inspire them to give back to their community.”
Students were selected based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement and commitment to higher education. Each applicant submitted a one-page essay and a letter of recommendation from a teacher. Applicants were required to attend a high school within the Star Community Health service area.
This year’s recipients are:
- Martina Ferriolo, Dieruff High School (Allentown), who will attend Cedar Crest College and major in nursing.
- Pantelis Georgalas, Liberty High School (Bethlehem), who will attend St. Joseph’s University in a six-year PharmD program.
- Hannah Heidmann, Freedom High School, who plans to study exercise science and is currently undecided on her college.
- Kimberly Kinara, Easton Area High School, who will attend Rutgers University–New Brunswick and major in nursing.
- Matthew Sherer, Phillipsburg High School, who will also attend Rutgers University–New Brunswick and major in biology and genetics.
Scholarship presentations were made at each student’s respective high school.
Star Community Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC-LA) with 13 practices and four mobile dental units, serving more than 45,000 patients. The scholarship program was launched in celebration of the organization’s five-year anniversary as an FQHC-LA.
The initiative reflects Star Community Health’s commitment to improving health outcomes by supporting education and empowering youth in the communities it serves.
