CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin County Commissioners are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the county’s nursing scholarship program. Six area high school graduates will each receive a one-time $2,500 scholarship to pursue a career in nursing.
Students receiving scholarships this year are:
- Makenzie Brinkman, a graduate of Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School, who will be attending Wilson College;
- Tara Brown, a graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School, who will be attending Messiah University;
- Kinzee Hudson, a graduate of Greencastle-Antrim High School, who will be attending University of North Carolina Wilmington;
- Madelyn Koons, a graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School, who will be attending Wilson College;
- Mariska Neff, a graduate of Chambersburg Area Career Magnet School, who will be attending Duquesne University; and
- Ava Zeigler, a graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School, who will be attending Bloomsburg Campus Commonwealth University
“Nursing is a distinguished and demanding profession, and we’re extremely proud of this year’s recipients for choosing this path,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “Our region continues to experience a strong need for qualified nurses, and we hope these scholarships help students build the skills they need to thrive – and inspire them to return home to serve their communities after completing their training.”
Applicants were required to submit an essay briefly indicating their short- and long-term goals pertaining to nursing school, along with a scholarship application, an official high school transcript and three letters of reference, including one from their high school guidance counselors. Students were also required to meet a minimum GPA, participate in both extracurricular and community service activities, and demonstrate a financial need for the scholarship.
Monica Diehl, Keystone Health chief nursing officer, and Jill Harshman, vice president and chief nursing officer at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, assisted the Franklin County Human Resources department in selecting this year’s recipients. There were 12 applicants for the 2026 scholarship.
The 2026 scholarship awards mark the 10th and final year for the county’s nursing scholarship program. The program began in 2017 and utilized proceeds from the sale of the county nursing home to provide financial assistance to Franklin County high school seniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In total, Franklin County has awarded over $148,000 to 60 aspiring nursing students throughout the lifetime of the program.
“We’re thankful to have had the opportunity and resources to support so many individuals pursuing this noble profession over the last decade,” Horst said. “We truly hope our efforts have had a positive impact on our local students and the patients they are now trained to serve.”
