Jeanna Dippel Receives Prestigious Scholarship

LOCK HAVEN, PA (01/11/2011)(readMedia)-- Lock Haven University is pleased to announce that Jeanna Dippel has been awarded the 2010 J. Bernard Schmitt Scholarship for Fall 2010.

Dippel is a student is a student in the LHU Physician Assistant program, taking courses at the Dixon University Center Campus in Harrisburg. Dippel has a cumulative 3.85 GPA after completing the first 33.5 semester hours of the PA program. She is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with degrees in biology and kinesiology.

Upson receiving the scholarship, the Mechanicsburg resident stated, "I am extremely honored to have been awarded the J. Bernard Schmitt Scholarship. It will help me to not only achieve my goal of becoming a PA, but will assist me in meeting the expenses of a trip to Morocco with the LHU PA program in order to provide much-needed medical care to a small town." During this Alternative Spring Break service-learning program, students in the PA program will be conducting health screenings of residents of villages within the Ourika Valley. The students will be housed with families in Tighfist and participate in the everyday life of the village.

Dippel has been interested in a medical career for most of her life. In the 9th grade, she sprained a ligament in her knee. The necessary doctors' appointments, surgery and physical therapy solidified her goal of a medical career. She was attracted to a career as a Physician Assistant by the extensive scope of the position. "You never know what you are going to see each day," she said.

Dippel has had a lifelong interest in hockey. During high school, she left home in Pennsylvania to attend the North American Hockey Academy in Vermont. She continued to play throughout college. She still plays in pick-up games from time to time and also volunteers with a local girls' team running clinics for beginners "in order to give back and help some younger girls." Dippel adds, "I enjoy being active, whether it be wakeboarding, hiking or working out."

She says that the LHU PA Program has been "a wonderful experience." She praises the program's "friendly people with expansive knowledge eager to teach us how to be an effective medical provider." At this time, she is leaning toward working in emergency medicine, but is trying to approach rotations with an open mind to gain experience in various specialties.

She is the daughter of Bob and Jeanne Dippel.

Lock Haven University offers the only Masters Degree entry level, fully accredited, Physician Assistant program in a publicly funded institution in Pennsylvania. With four campus locations (Lock Haven, Clearfield, Harrisburg, and Coudersport) the program has been recognized for its innovative modular curriculum design that couples high tech with high touch. The program has been nationally ranked by U.S, News and World Report and boasts a more than 90 percent first-time pass rate on the national certifying examination. In 2010 the program achieved a 97 percent first-time pass rate. Graduates of the program are highly sought after, with more than 90 percent of graduates having received job offers before graduation. Graduates earn a highly competitive salary with starting salaries of $60,000 to $70,000. Admission to the program is highly competitive with more than 800 applications per year.

The Board of Directors of the University Center at Harrisburg, Inc., funds five scholarships each year to Dixon University Center students. The late J. Bernard Schmidt served as the president of this board and the scholarship was renamed in his honor. The Board announces scholarships after the midpoint of each semester, and awards are made when students successfully complete the semester's coursework.

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.