Congratulations to our three GFA Scholarship winners for the 2026-27 school year! Three $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to the following scholars: John-Paul Griswold, Brendan Kline, and Alexandra Wani. Read on to learn more about each of these amazing students.
John-Paul Griswold
John-Paul will attend Eastern University in Wayne, Pennsylvania starting for the Fall 2026 semester.
John-Paul attended Sun Valley High School in Aston, PA. He was a Varsity Football 4 year starter, a Sun Valley Lacrosse 4 year starter, Sun Valley Student Government representative 4 years, National Honor Society Executive committee, Principal Lead for Sun Valley MiniThon fundraiser for childhood cancer research, National English Honor Society, RhoKappa Honor Society, Unified Bocce Ball League for the developmentally challenged 3 years, and Peer Buddies for 3 years.
John-Paul was recruited to play D3 collegiate lacrosse at Eastern University. His intended major is Data Science and Analytics. John-Paul will also be in the cohort of the Templeton Honors College at Eastern where he’ll be immersed in studying the Great Books of Western Civilization over four years in a seminar style, Socratic learning atmosphere. He would like to graduate with his Bachelor’s degree and then pursue a career in business analytics especially in the use of data in driving the marketing efforts of a business.
John-Paul is the son of Mark and Loretto Griswold of Aston, PA.
Brendan Kline
Brendan attends Frostburg State University in Maryland. He is majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries with a minor in Geography. Brendan is a member of the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at Frostburg State University. He is a Team Leader for Cross Country and distance runners during Track and Field.
Brendan is currently on track to graduate in May 2027. Following his undergraduate studies, Brendan plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. His long-term goal is to become a middle or high school science teacher, where he can inspire students to explore nature and think critically about environmental issues. Brendan is particularly interested in creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom concepts to real-life applications. By combining his passion for science with effective teaching strategies, Brendan hopes to inspire curiosity, promote scientific literacy, and encourage the next generation to appreciate and care for the environment.
Brendan is the son of Matthew and Kathleen Kline of Frostburg, Maryland.
Alexandra Wani
Alexandra will be attending Arizona State University this fall.
Alexandra’s studies at Horizon High School are highlighted as a Music Production & Vocal Performance Intern (March 2025-current), contributor to songwriting, song structure development, and creative arrangement. She assisted with sound design, including creation and layering of audio elements, supported mixing processes by adjusting levels, EQ, and effects to enhance overall sound quality techniques. Alexandra also collaborated in a professional studio environment, including providing toplining vocals and lyrical composition to support local artists.
Alexandra’s social activities included Figure Skating, and a background in competitive/recreational skating at Ice Den in Scottsdale, AZ. She is a member of Horizon High School Choir and Noteworthy Choir. She is Vice President of advanced choir group Noteworthy where she represented and advocated for her peers, helped plan and run events. She participates in Horizon High School Public Service Clubs: Tri-M, Just Serve, and Legacy Love: As a singer/songwriter she performs at various restaurants, fundraisers for non-profits and other local events.
Alexandra is the daughter of Daniel and Jessica Wani of Phoenix, Arizona.
We also wish to recognize the members of the scholarship committee this year: Carolyne Garman, Barbara Griswold, Ray Crumbley, Daniel Griswold, Bergetta Monroe, and Jack Hooten (chair).
If you applied this year, but were not selected we encourage you to apply again next year. The application instructions will be announced in the January 2027 GFA Bulletin.