Emma Proctor: A Future in Radiologic Sciences Fueled by Freedom and Purpose
Emma Proctor, a Bellefonte native and current student at Penn State Schuylkill, is charting her path in the healthcare field with the help of the 1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship. With a passion for service and a vision of a more inclusive future, Emma’s story is one of determination, gratitude, and deep-rooted purpose.
Established with an initial endowment of $10,000, the 1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship was created to honor the academic excellence and community service of racially underrepresented and Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education. Just one year after its launch, Emma was named one of three outstanding recipients, a testament to both her academic achievement and her commitment to uplifting her community.
Emma is pursuing a degree in Radiological Sciences with the ultimate goal of becoming a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologist. “With this career, I hope to help people,” she shared. “And with this award, it brings me closer to that dream.”
The financial relief provided by the 1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship allows Emma to focus more on her studies and clinical training. “Thank you so much for the donation,” she wrote in her message to donors. “This scholarship will ease the financial burden and allow me to focus more on my studies. I am truly grateful for your support in my future.”
Emma’s commitment to serving others extends beyond her chosen profession. If given the opportunity to create her own charity, Emma said she would focus on helping marginalized students from middle- to lower-income backgrounds. Her mission: to empower young people, especially those who feel overlooked or underserved, to pursue their dreams, whether through college, trade school, or vocational training. “There would be scholarships and school necessities,” she explained, “so that they can go to their dream college or get their dream certificate or degree.”
In her scholarship essays, Emma reflected on what freedom means to her and her generation. Growing up in a small, less diverse town, she often felt the challenges of representation. Now, as an Asian woman entering a predominantly white, male-dominated field, she’s determined to serve as a role model for others who may not see themselves reflected in their dream careers. “Freedom is about achieving your own goals while you help others,” she wrote. “I want to show everybody that they can do what they have their mind and heart set on, no matter what ethnicity, sex, or area they come from.”
Emma’s story embodies the mission of the 1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship, supporting students who carry forward the spirit of justice, service, and aspiration. Her vision for a more equitable and empowered future shines through in every goal she sets and every patient she hopes to serve.
Thanks to this scholarship, Emma is one step closer to making her dream a reality, and to making the world a healthier, more compassionate place for all.
The 1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship is only open to BIPOC seniors from State College, Delta and Bellefonte high schools who are planning to enroll at any accredited postsecondary institution in the U.S. Most of our high school scholarships accept applications in early spring, with awards announced at the end of the school year. For more details about the scholarship and how to apply, contact Krista Williams at 814.237.6229 or krista@centrefoundation.org. Learn more about our scholarships at centrefoundation.org/granting-programs/scholarships.
If you would like to open a scholarship fund at Centre Foundation, please contact Kerry Tolton, Development and Stewardship Director at 814.237.6229 or kerry@centrefoundation.org.