Jessica Worobey

Hancock Central School Class of 2000
Today : Dr. Jessica Worobey Arrigan 

Jessica graduated salutatorian Hancock Central Class of 2000 and was a member of the National Honor Society and class president.

  She attended 4 years at Penn State University, University Park PA and majored in Animal Science and was actively involved in the Dairy Science club and related activities. While at Penn State she was a sister at the Alpha Zeta co-ed agricultural fraternity and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science May 2004.

She then attended Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine 2004 to May of 2008 with a major interest in bovine medicine.  Jessica graduated in May 2008 and is currently an associate large animal veterinarian at the Delhi Animal Hospital, Delhi, NY. 

 Jessica lives in Preston Park, PA with her husband Bill.

 Quote From Jessica:
I am very thankful for all the help with educational debt the Hancock Community Education Foundation and organizations like them has provided me over the last 8 years.  Educational indebtedness is something that students need to plan into their futures, especially for those who decide to go to graduate school.  It is important students understand their options for student loans, options for payment, deferment, and the concept of compounding interest and amortization schedules prior to going to college!

Kelly Gardner

Hancock Central School Class of 2002
Today : Associate Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Capital Repertory Theatre

Kelly graduated from Hancock Central in 2002. While at HCS, she was involved with chorus and the yearbook as well as becoming President of both The National Honor Society and The Student Council in her Senior Year. She was also a member of both the girls’ tennis and volleyball teams. 

She then attended Morrisville State College where she graduated with her Associates of Applied Science in 2004. She then continued on to Oswego State University where she completed her Bachelors Degree in Public Relations in 2006. While at Oswego she became a member of the national communications honor society, Lambda Pi Eta and the Public Relations Student Society of America.

Kelly is currently the Associate Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Capital Repertory Theatre, a professional theatre located in downtown Albany. Capital Repertory is a union-sanctioned, producing theatre company; the only theatre of its kind within fourteen counties. Her major duties include print project management, special events, and media relations. Her most notable media experience thus far has been collaborating with CNN International over a special series about Grey’s Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington. She also is a member of the Alumni Board of Directors at Morrisville State College and Secretary of GOLDs, a young alumni initiative through Oswego State.

Benefit: Being a recipient of the scholarship was one of the greatest things that could have happened to me during the college planning process. It enabled me to keep my college debt in check while resting easy in the knowledge that expenses like books and supplies wouldn’t be such a strain on what I was able to contribute.

Benefit to my parents: Being the oldest of four, I didn’t want to put a financial burden on my parents and siblings. I know that this award was able to take care of the part of the collegiate expense they would have had to pay for. I’m very thankful for the foundation and for the fact that my parents weren’t caused unnecessary worry. These days I think people take for granted the fact that college is ‘a given’ and I’m sure for most of the scholarship recipients, that wasn’t always true. Every little bit helped and every little bit from a small, compassionate, struggling community means even more. 

Kelly DaBrescia

Hancock Central School Class of 2000
Today: Ms. DaBrescia HCS Global Studies Teacher

I was very fortunate to be part of the Class of 2000. We were the first class to benefit from the Hancock Community Education Foundation's scholarships for seniors. At the time nobody was sure what to expect from them, and nobody would have imagined that they would grant hundreds of thousands of dollars to seniors over the years. I was also fortunate to receive the scholarship each year until I graduated college which was a great help. The money enabled me to pay for college without having to take out excessive loans that I would now have to be paying back.

After graduating from Hancock I went to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and graduated in May 2004 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Secondary Education. While in my sophomore year at Bloomsburg I decided on teaching Social Studies as my focus. I student taught at Northwest Area in Shickshinny, PA, one of the greatest 16 weeks ever. That school district helped me to realize that I truly loved teaching. After graduation, I started to sub at Hancock and continued doing so for a year. At the same time I began my Master's program at the University of Scranton.

I am now currently employed at Hancock School as the 9th and 10th grade Global Studies teacher. I spent three years as the Dean of Students. My Master's Degree was completed in in 2006. Due to the Foundation's help during my first four years, I was able to pursue my Master's with little monetary worry.

I am extremely appreciative to the Foundation and their help, not only for myself but for the many other students who have benefited from their generosity.