06/03/2026
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This year, we received 45 essays for the Chester County Karen L. Baker Memorial Scholarship.
Each year, our board members have the privilege of reading and scoring every submission anonymously from graduating Chester County seniors. While it is a lengthy process, it is also one of the most rewarding and emotional things we do. Reading these essays allows us a glimpse into the lives, challenges, accomplishments, and dreams of so many remarkable young people. Their stories are inspiring, humbling, and a reminder of the resilience that exists within our community.
The Karen L. Baker Memorial Scholarship was created to honor Karen's legacy. Karen was a devoted wife, mother, friend, and a courageous fighter who battled liposarcoma, a rare form of soft-tissue cancer, for eight years. Through every challenge, she demonstrated strength, grace, and determination. Although Karen passed away in 2016, her legacy continues through the students we are honored to support each year.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Rise Together Cancer Foundation is proud to award $25,000 annually in scholarship funding to four Chester County seniors pursuing higher education.
It is our honor to introduce the recipients of the 2026 Karen L. Baker Memorial Scholarship:
🎓 R**t Singh (STEM Academy) – University of Pittsburgh
🎓 Carly Strickland (Coatesville Area Senior High School) – North Carolina State University
🎓 Anushka Dixit (STEM Academy) – Drexel University
🎓 Gianna Parada (STEM Academy) – Haverford College
Congratulations to these outstanding students and to all members of the Class of 2026. We wish you success, happiness, and the courage to pursue your dreams wherever the future may lead.