Touchstone Foundation has awarded scholarships to support students in mental health careers, helping to build the workforce of mental health professionals in Lancaster County. Nine undergraduate students will receive scholarships for the 2023-24 school year, totaling $36,825. Touchstone Foundation invests in student mental health careers to build the talent pipeline to ensure that the workforce is trained and available to provide mental health care for children and families in Lancaster County.

The undergraduate students who received a scholarship include Leiahna Garcia, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in psychology at Millersville University; Sierra Morgan Wilcox, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in social work at Millersville University; Jacqueline Palm, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in human services at Elizabethtown College; and Arzu Dede, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Penn State Harrisburg.

The undergraduate students who received a second-year award as they continue to pursue their degrees are Bhim Thapaliya, pursuing a registered nursing degree at HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College - Lancaster Campus; Yakahiris Vazquez, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in psychology at the University of Pittsburgh; Brieal Frey, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in social work at the University of Pittsburgh; Adriana G. Prieto Grave de Peralta, pursuing a nurse practitioner degree at Millersville University; and Sitawa Warfula, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts/Sciences in psychology at Millersville University.

Additionally, Touchstone Foundation partners with the John Frederick Steinman Fellowship Fund of the Steinman Foundation to support graduate students. The John Frederick Steinman Fellowship Fund awarded graduate fellowships to Tess Feiler, Ashley Howard, Brianne Hurst, Grace Mentzer, Roberto Holder-Orta, and Ashley Ramsay. The fund also provided second-year support to Mahua Bhattacharya, Kristen Blose, Malia Burris and Brittany Foose.

Applications for 2024 will be open at https://touchstonefound.org/scholarships/ on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, with applications due Wednesday, May 15, and decisions announced in July. Scholarships will be awarded based on applicants' needs and the potential impact on services to youths and children in Lancaster County. Touchstone Foundation will host a celebration in September for scholarship recipients and their families.