OLEAN — Seven area graduates received scholarships for students pursuing health care- and education-related degrees from funds managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

• Ava West of Olean High School and Isaac Brauer of Allegany-Limestone Central School were awarded the Kothari Family Fund Healthcare Scholarship for $1,000 each. The Kothari Family Fund Healthcare Scholarship is given to graduating seniors, one from Allegany-Limestone Central School and one from any Cattaraugus or McKean (PA) County high school, pursuing a health care-related field of study. Drs. Ashok and Yogini Kothari established the scholarship as part of the Kothari Family Endowed Fund. West plans to study psychology at St. John Fisher University. Brauer plans to study pharmaceuticals at the University at Buffalo.
• Alexis Wojewoda-Ko of Allegany-Limestone Central School received the Drs. Ahmad and Naheed Hilal Health Care Scholarship for $750. Madison Kahm of Allegany-Limestone Central School received the Mohammad & Sakeena Iqbal Health Care Award for $750. These scholarships are for graduating seniors of Allegany-Limestone Central School ranked in the top 25 percent of the class who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health care- or education-related field. Drs. Ahmad and Naheed Hilal established the Iqbal Health Care Award in memory of Dr. Naheed Hilal’s parents as part of the Drs. Ahmad and Naheed Hilal Family Fund and added a second award from the fund in 2025.n Wojewoda-Ko plans to study biochemistry at the University of Rochester. Kahm plans to study physical therapy at Duquesne University.
• Victoria Harris of Olean High School was awarded the Bernadette E. “Bernie” Taylor Memorial Scholarship for $700. The Taylor Scholarship is for a graduating student of any high school in Cattaraugus or Allegany counties, with first preference for a student who plans to major in education, particularly in math or science fields; or a health-care field. Second preference is for a high school student graduating from any high school in Cattaraugus or Allegany counties who will be attending St. Bonaventure University and entering the ROTC program. Students graduating from Allegany-Limestone Central School also will be given preference. Harris also received the Thomas & Robert Smythe Scholarship for $2,500. The Smythe Scholarship is available to Olean High School graduating seniors pursuing a nursing degree. Established as part of the Olean City School District Scholarship Fund through the estate of the Phyllis G. Cridler Family Trust, the scholarship is named in memory of Mrs. Cridler’s sons, Thomas and Robert. Harris plans to study nursing at St. Bonaventure University.
• Hadleigh Krug of Salamanca High School and Megan Fisher of Jamestown Community College were awarded the Pat McGee Nursing Scholarship for $700. This scholarship is given to traditional and non-traditional students from the 57th State Senate District, which includes much of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, who are pursuing nursing degrees. Established through the Pat McGee Endowment Fund, the scholarship memorializes the 57th district’s late state senator. Krug plans to attend the University of Alabama to study nursing. Fisher is currently attending Jamestown Community College for nursing.

Donations can be made to any of these funds at CRCF, 301 North Union St., 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 foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).