ACAF Awards Over $380,000 in Scholarships to Local Students

More than 200 students will receive ACAF support for pursuing higher education and career training.

This fall, students from nearly every corner of Allegany County will take the next step toward their educational goals. Some students will attend community colleges; others will enter four-year universities or technical training programs.

Thanks to the generosity of local donors, the Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF) awarded $387,240 in scholarships to support these students during the 2026–2027 academic year.

According to Belfast Central School Counselor Teresa Heaney, ACAF's scholarship program has become an essential resource for local students.

"If there is only one scholarship application I encourage my students to fill out each year, it is always the ACAF application," Heaney said.

This year, scholarship recipients represent communities across Allegany County and beyond. 

Recipients represent graduates from nearly every school district in Allegany County, including Alfred-Almond, Andover, Belfast, Bolivar-Richburg, Cuba-Rushford, Fillmore, Friendship, Genesee Valley, Scio, Wellsville, and Whitesville. 

Additional recipients graduated from Houghton Academy, local homeschool programs, or are Allegany County students that live and study in the Portville Central School District. 

In total, 230 scholarships have been awarded through ACAF's 65 Scholarship Funds. These funds have been created through direct gifts and estate plans by generous donors who believe in investing in the future of Allegany County's students.

This year’s ACAF scholarship recipients are pursuing more than 60 fields of study, including nursing, education, engineering, agriculture, skilled trades, psychology, computer science, architecture, public health, communications, and the arts.

Nursing is the most common field of study among this year's recipients, followed by education. The skilled trades this year’s recipients are pursuing include welding, HVAC, electrical work, building trades, heavy equipment operation, and agricultural equipment technology.

Unlike many scholarship programs, ACAF's support doesn't end after a student's first year. Students are encouraged to reapply throughout their educational journeys — even into graduate school — to help ease the financial burden of earning a degree.

"Being able to apply easily for future years is extremely helpful, as students often get many first-year scholarships and then struggle to [find opportunities] in future years," Heaney said.

For Heaney, the value of ACAF's scholarship program extends beyond the counseling office. As the parent of three ACAF scholarship recipients, she has watched its impact unfold in her own family.

"On a personal note, as a parent, I am extremely grateful to the Foundation for all of their efforts to support Allegany County students in their pursuits of higher education," Heaney said.

To learn more about how you can support local students with scholarships through ACAF, visit our Donate page. You can also contact our Executive Director Bruce Campbell directly at 585-296-5616 or director@acafny.org.

ACAF 2026 Scholarship Recipients: