A Tamaqua Area High School senior recently learned that she will receive free tuition to Misericordia University.

Ella Gimbel, 17, was one of six students who earned the highly competitive, merit-based Sister Mary Glennon Scholarship to the Luzerne County university.

“When the Misericordia guidance counselor called me and told me that I won I felt completely euphoric,” said Gimbel of Tamaqua. “I was fully shaking and immediately called my parents who were equally as excited. I am so excited for these next four years.”

Gimbel noted that she received an invitation from Misericordia to participate in the scholarship competition.

The invitations aren’t sent to just anyone. They are reserved for those who have a 3.7 or higher grade-point average, or who are in the top 5% of their graduating class.

Gimbel was interested in the scholarship.

“For the scholarship, 200 candidates were invited to attend a contest in which they would be taken into a computer lab on campus and given one hour to write a response to a prompt,” Gimbel said. “The prompt was revealed as the countdown started - before that, no one knew what it was.”

Once the essays were received, they were read and judged by a committee of faculty members and administrators.

Gimbel learned that she was one of 12 finalists.

Next came an in-person interview at the Misericordia campus.

“Out of the 12 finalists interviewed, only six winners were chosen,” she explained.

Misericordia President Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D., said the scholarship winners have demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication to their studies.

“We are confident that they will excel in our supportive campus community, significantly contribute to their respective fields and become future industry leaders,” he said.

When she begins classes at Misericordia in the fall, Gimbel will major in biology.

“After I graduate with a bachelors in biology I plan to get my masters in Physician Assistant Studies and work as a physician assistant,” she said.

The four-year paid scholarship is named in honor of Misericordia University’s longest-serving academic dean, Sister Mary Glennon, Ph.D., RSM.

According to information from the university, Glennon had more than 45 years of service to the Misericordia community as a student and administrator. Under her leadership, Misericordia introduced the popular academic programs of occupational therapy and physical therapy and reintroduced majors in psychology and chemistry while adding programs in biochemistry and a graduate-level nurse practitioner program.

At Tamaqua Area High School, Gimbel is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Tri M Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. She is also an officer for the Tamaqua Environmental Club, and a member of the Biology Club, World Language club, and Tamaqua Jazz Chorale and Concert Choir.

She is the daughter of Aaron and Megan Gimbel.

Other scholarship winners include Dylan Ramirez, Easton; Hunter Stuart, Warwick, New York; Anna Pittarelli, Ocean, New Jersey; Regina Messenger, Toms River, New Jersey, and Arun Gopinath, Harrisburg.