2025 Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation Community Service Scholarship Recipients Announced!

Posted on August 26, 2025

Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Community Service Scholarship. This scholarship was created to honor the memory of Jamie Ellenberger, an individual served by Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) who was an active member in the community. The principle of community is central to PMHFOS’s mission, to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs to live successfully in the community.

Typically, PMHF awards one $10,000 scholarship to a student in the region who brings that same understanding of the value of community service. This year, however, PMHF decided to award $10,000 scholarships to both Ms. Nandana Menon of South Fayette High School in Allegheny County and Mr. William Lemmon of Burgettstown Area Middle/High School in Washington County.

Ms. Menon’s impressive resume includes the development of Spark, an app designed to support children with autism and their families, in collaboration with CGI and the University of Pittsburgh Autism Center of Excellence. Ms. Menon additionally led the design and implementation of a sensory-modified program at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, supporting neurodiversity inclusion for zoo visitors with aspects including sensory maps and a comfort room. She also was an advocate and workshop facilitator for the Blue Envelope Program, which supports safer interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism in Allegheny and Beaver counties by hosting training workshops and providing educational materials.

Ms. Menon is attending the University of Pittsburgh this fall where she will be studying Neuroscience.

Mr. Lemmon’s lengthy list of community service includes work with the local ALS Chapter, the Live Like Lou Foundation, the Reading Under the Stars Literacy Program, and the student Board of Directors for Club H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday), the community service club at his high school. Mr. Lemmon additionally volunteers extensively at his church. He is also a youth basketball and soccer coach and referee and plays basketball, which he will continue in college.

Mr. Lemmon is attending Saint Vincent College this fall where he will be double majoring in Health and Physical Education and Special Education.

This year, PMHF received 98 applications across 16 counties in western Pennsylvania.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 PMHF Community Service Scholarship!

Posted on February 25, 2025

Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) was established to support Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) and its commitment to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs. PMHF creates awareness of and provides additional financial resources for the quality programs of PMHFOS, which care for the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of individuals while promoting choice and independence. PMHF upholds the contention that all people have the right to lead full, productive, and independent lives.

The PMHF Community Service Scholarship was created in memory of Jamie Ellenberger. Jamie was a young man who Passavant Memorial Homes (PMH) was privileged to serve.  He thrived in his community despite adversity.  Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie successfully transitioned from living in a state facility to becoming an active member of his new residential community at PMH.

While part of PMH’s community residential program, Jamie was an enthusiastic and contributing member of society, both in community-based activities and in our vocational training program.  His positivity and perseverance were always paired with kindness and a smile. After his passing, this scholarship was established in his honor, so his legacy can continue to make a lasting impact in the community in which he loved being a part of.

To find out more about the scholarship and download the application, please click here.  Applications must be submitted by 3:00pm on April 25th, 2025, so apply today!

2024 Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation Community Service Scholarship Recipients Announced!

Posted on June 26, 2024

Passavant Memorial Homes Foundation (PMHF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 Community Service Scholarship. This scholarship was created to honor the memory of Jamie Ellenberger, an individual served by Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services (PMHFOS) who was an active member in the community.  The principle of community is central to PMHFOS’s mission, to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs to live successfully in the community.

Typically, PMHF awards one $10,000 scholarship to a student in the region who brings that same understanding of the value of community service. This year, however, PMHF decided to award $10,000 scholarships to both Ms. Gracie Mae Miller of McDowell High School in Erie County and Ms. Madelyn Sheffel of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Beaver County.

Since 2020, Ms. Miller has been directly involved with the Millcreek Township School District’s Life Skills classroom. As a teacher’s aide through this opportunity, she was responsible for creating lesson plans, making worksheets, and teaching the children. Because of this experience, Ms. Miller hopes to become a Life Skills teacher herself.

Her work with those with disabilities doesn’t stop there. Ms. Miller has also been volunteering at Erie’s Adaptive Sailing Experience for the past two years where she assists students with disabilities learn to sail. She was also the President of the Blue Bean Café at her high school. This café sells beverages and food to students and staff, and the workers are all students in the Life Skills and Autistic Support rooms. Monies raised through the café sales allow for special outings for the students to enjoy together. She has also volunteered in the Unified Sports program since middle school.

Ms. Miller has also volunteered for the Mercy Center for Women, the Greater Erie Food Bank, the Special Olympics, the Brevillier Village Retirement Center, Make-A-Wish, and the American Cancer Society.

Ms. Miller is attending Duquesne University where she is studying Special Education/Elementary Education.

After her close family members were diagnosed with cancer, Ms. Sheffel became very involved in cancer initiatives. In 2017, she created a team for the Greater Grove City Area Relay for Life and, in seven years, has successfully raised over $750,000 for the American Cancer Society. She also volunteers at lobbying events at the Pennsylvania Capital, advocating to Congress for better cancer policies and funding.

She has also volunteered for the American Red Cross, Special Olympics of Beaver County, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Community Food Warehouse, Grove City Food Pantry, Best of the Batch Foundation, Grove City Pet Rescue, Wreaths Across America, Operation Gratitude, Light of Light Rescue Mission, Lions Club, and Mario Lemieux Foundation, and she has achieved her Gold Award with her Girl Scouts troop where she collaborated with members of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the American Cancer Society, and WTAE in developing an education program and pop-up education center to educate the public on lifestyle changes to make today to prevent cancer tomorrow.

Ms. Sheffel is attending Slippery Rock University with a desire to be a public school educator and coach. She is double majoring in Middle School Mathematics and Dance, with a minor in Secondary Education Mathematics.

This year, PMHF received 90 applications across 14 counties in western Pennsylvania.