ECTC student earns Chime Scholars Foundation Award

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College student Ashley Hunt has been named a 2026 Chime Workforce Scholar, joining 200 students nationwide recognized for their academic achievement and pursuit of career-focused education.

The Chime Workforce Scholarship, funded by the Chime Scholars Foundation and administered by the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, provides each scholar with $1,000 to help cover educational expenses while completing a certificate or associate degree that prepares them to enter the workforce in a high-demand field.

“I put my heart into letting my kids see me do well, and I can’t even put into words how it makes me feel to earn this scholarship,” Hunt said. “I will use it to further my education.”

Hunt, a single mother of five kids, is studying human services and plans to work in addiction recovery. As someone who has battled addiction in the past, she feels uniquely equipped to help others.

“I want to give back what I was given – freedom from addiction,” she said. “I want people to know that just because one day looks bad, the next day won’t and we can recover.”

“At the Chime Scholars Foundation, we believe that career and technical education opens doors to financial progress and long-term opportunity. We’re proud to support students who are working hard to gain in-demand skills and build better futures for themselves and their families,” said Jeni Izuel, president of the Chime Scholars Foundation.

"We are thrilled to launch this new program and award hardworking students with Chime Workforce Scholarships,” Amanda Karpinski Gorman, executive director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation said. “These scholarships support students pursuing career and technical education at two-year colleges, and we look forward to see all they go on to accomplish."

The Chime Workforce Scholarship supports students preparing for high-demand careers that strengthen their communities and local economies. By helping students complete their education and earn workforce credentials, the program helps create a stronger pipeline of skilled workers in fields where they are needed most.

“We are incredibly proud of Ashley for earning the Chime Workforce Scholarship. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment our students demonstrate on a regular basis,” said CIT and Business, Physical Sciences Associate Professor and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Advisor Dr. Kae Cooper. “We look forward to seeing all that Ashley will accomplish and know that this is only the beginning of many great things to come.”