In a letter of congratulations, Governor Edward Rendell said that Haun's success "proves the value of hard work, personal ambition, inspiring educators, and a supportive academic community. It is an honor to have someone of your ability and intelligence as a representative of our commonwealth and its commitment to quality education."
Through the Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program, the foundation awards a total of 400 scholarships annually to students attending higher-education institutions granting two-year degrees. All recipients have demonstrated academic success and participated in community service within the past 12 months.
"I have been involved with emergency services since I was old enough to join in 2001," Haun said. In 2006 he became certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. He serves as a firefighter and EMT with both the Arendtsville and Biglerville fire companies, and has been a volunteer with the emergency department of Gettysburg Hospital.
Haun, who has dedicated more than 330 hours to emergency services work in the past year, also volunteers as a Eucharistic minister, youth group participant and aid at St. Mary's Church in Fairfield.
At HACC, Haun is completing pre-nursing courses and has applied to become a student in the HACC-Gettysburg registered nursing program. His ultimate career goal is to become a flight nurse on one of the local emergency helicopters. "I am very excited about a career in flight nursing and eagerly await the day I have the privilege to better serve my community," he said.
In addition to his full-time studies at HACC, Haun is employed in two part-time jobs. He is a student worker in the HACC-Gettysburg financial aid office, and he performs maintenance work for an area horse farm. Haun said the scholarship award will allow him "to be able to focus more on my studies, and less on finances."
According to J. Mark Davis, president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, the program "gives support and encouragement to an under-served population of college students.
"This program is an extension of our long-standing commitment to college education throughout the United States. These fine students, who often juggle school, work and family, continue to give back to their communities through volunteer service."
The Coca-Cola Two-Year Colleges Scholarship Program is made possible with funding from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation. The last Joseph B. Whitehead was one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola.