Commonwealth University-Clearfield Holds Founders’ Day Convocation Awards Celebration

Commonwealth University held its 36th annual Founders’ Day convocation awards celebration, with CU Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Heather Feldhaus in attendance on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. The event, hosted by the Clearfield Educational Foundation and CU-Clearfield honored 23 Clearfield students with awards and scholarships. 

"These scholarship recipients are a testament to the commitment and drive that our students possess. Clearfield and CU are proud of their accomplishments," said Clearfield Director Valerie Dixon.

Student award recipients and their presenters were:

• Brianna Bodine, Valerie Brady, Tiffany Nichols, and Courtney Ryder, the Judith Peale-Strattan Memorial Scholarship, presented by Mr. Ryan Sayer, Clearfield County District Attorney and Member of the Clearfield Educational Foundation.
• Mackenzie Pierce, Woodward Pharmacy and City Drugs Educational Scholarship, presented by Mr. Ryan Sayers, Clearfield County District Attorney and Member of Clearfield Educational Foundation.
• Christopher Daniel and Brooklynne Skiver, CNB Bank Scholarship, presented by Mr. Michael Peduzzi, President and CEO of CNB Bank.
• Khendyl Sharrer, Julie Riley Hale Memorial Scholarship, presented by Dr. Darlene Ardary, RN, CPN, CSN, Associate Professor and Assistant Chair (Lock Haven and Clearfield Campus)
• Tabitha Gallaher, Madison Lumadue, and Hayley Wooster, Penn Highlands Clearfield Scholarship, presented by Mrs. Laura Adams, Vice President of Operations and Penn Highlands Imaging Service Line Director.
• Eliza Ardary, Clearfield Hospital Nurses’ Alumnae Scholarship, presented by Mrs. Lois Eiseman, President of Clearfield Hospital Nurses Alumnae Association.
• Mackenzie Brunelli, Lt. Col. Cameron Adamson Scholarship, given in honor of Joan Myers.
• Chloe Eamigh, Dora Lawhead Memorial Award, donated by her son, Gary Lawhead.
• Ella Berg, Clearfield Campus Founders Scholarship, presented by Mr. David Bailey, Lock Haven Clearfield Founder.
• Trenton Guiher and Gabrielle Henry, The Belin Scholarship, dedicated to Mr. Carl Belin, Founder and Member of the Clearfield Educational Foundation, presented by Dr. Amy Way.
• Madison Nelson, Allivia Pierce, and Kendra Smith, Mid Penn Bank Scholarship, presented by Dr. Amy Way, Interim Associate Dean of Health Professions Professor.
• Courtney Berg, Chloe Eamigh, and Kaija Ramkawsky, Kurtz Bros Scholarship, presented by Dr. Amy Way, Interim Associate Dean of Health Professions Professor.

C. Alan Walker, a Clearfield native and longtime Pennsylvania business and civic leader, served as convocation speaker. From 2011 to 2015, Walker served as Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he championed policies to drive economic growth and energy development across the state. In 2022, he was honored as a Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.