Gerstbrein/McCanna Scholarship for the Arts

After a long and rewarding career in Landscape Design and Art Education, Lisa Gerstbrein/McCanna wanted to promote the Arts and Industrial Arts in the community where she made her home and her livelihood. Her career brought her tremendous joy in pursuits that she loved as well as the satisfying reward of helping students find inspiration in the worlds of Art and Industrial Art. She is a true believer in the concept of STEAM based education. Accordingly, she established a fund to provide scholarships for the advanced education of advancing Senior High School Students in these areas who are residents of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and are pursuing higher education in an approved program within 300 miles of their respective school - Armstrong High School, West Shamokin High School or Lenape Technical School. 

All applicants must complete the online scholarship application, including his/her response to the following essay question.

Scholarship Details

• Available to High School Seniors
• Nonrenewable
• Applicant must:
  • Be a senior at a school in the Armstrong High School, West Shamokin High School or Lenape Vo-Tech
  • Be accepted at a 2 year or 4 year accredited college, university, or technical school within a 300 mile radius of their respective high school. *Certificate Programs may be approved for Industrial Art studies
  • Be accepted into a Drawing, Painting, Fiber, Ceramics, Sculpture, Structural, Design, Architecture, or Industrial Arts program. *Industrial Arts is defined as Carpentry, Cabinetry, Millwork, Furniture, etc.

All applicants must complete the online scholarship application, including his/her response to the following essay question.

Essay Question

A cover page essay that discusses their intended course of study in the field of Arts/Industrials Art must be submitted.The essay should answer the following questions:

• What is your intended college, university or technical school?
• What are your future career plans? 
• In the future, how do you plan to apply your knowledge of experience in your artistic/industrial endeavors?
• Why are you applying for this scholarship?
• How would you use these scholarship funds?
• What is your specific area of interest within Art/Industrial Arts?
• When/how did you first become interest in the Art/Industrial Arts?

The essay should be typed, include their name at the top of the page, and demonstrate an understanding of proper grammar and spelling.

Past Recipients

• 2022-23 Deanna Potocnak
• 2022-23 Joelle Smeltzer
• 2022-23 Morgan Wise