For more than two decades, generous donors and community support have enabled the McEldowney Academic Scholarship Foundation, established in memory of Richard L. “Mac” McEldowney, to award nearly $425,000 in scholarships to hundreds of local Blair County students. Funds for the scholarships are raised through Mac’s Irish Bash, an annual fundraising event. A pizza party was held to celebrate the 2025 scholarship recipients and their families; congratulating them and sending best wishes as they pursue future endeavors. This year’s winners include (from left): seated — Andrea Slusser, Altoona Area High School; Hannah Waite, Bellwood-Antis High School; Mara Kirkpatrick, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy; Dessa Boyles, Committee Scholarship recipient; Haydyn Lamborn, Claysburg-Kimmel High School; Olivia Fleck, Great Commission Schools; Shanna Kelly, Committee Scholarship recipient; and Kira Boyles, Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center; standing — Don McDonough, committee vice president; Deb Lambert, committee member; Camden Kuster, Central High School; Sam Kauffman, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy; Joseph Eckenrode, Committee Scholarship recipient; Eileen McEldowney, committee chairperson; Jackson Grassmyer, Committee Scholarship recipient; Kasey Mosser, Claysburg-Kimmel High School; Mike McDonough, committee president; Heather Diehl, committee trustee; and Brittany Hatch, committee financial secretary. Absent from the photo are Blake Riddle, Altoona Area High School; Derek Stivers, Bellwood-Antis High School; Alice Musselman, Central High School; Madyson Wise, Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center; Louis Lohsl, Great Commission Schools; Sophia Zangrilli, Hollidaysburg Area High School; Yvan Chen, Hollidaysburg Area High School; Lenelle Eades, Tyrone High School; Landon Hamer, Tyrone High School; Alexis Feudale, Williamsburg High School; Samuel Parks, Williamsburg High School; Addisen McDonald, Committee Scholarship recipient; Ava Patton, Committee Scholarship recipient; and Rylie Keagy, Committee Scholarship recipient. High school seniors and parents throughout Blair County can obtain information to apply for the McEldowney Academic Scholarship from their school guidance counselors or at macsfund.org.