Weatherly Area High School senior Samantha Knepper has been motivated by family members’ illness to pursue a career as a medical researcher.

She didn’t know that her drive and willpower would help her gain a sizable award to help her reach that goal.

Last week, the Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association selected Knepper from eight finalists to win a $15,000 academic scholarship.

The annual scholarship is the grand prize in a rigorous process that’s open to all of the school’s seniors.

Knepper wants to pursue a graduate degree in pharmacology so she can develop new drugs. She was inspired by her father’s ongoing battle with cystic fibrosis, as well as her grandfather, who lost a battle with lymphoma.

“He and my grandfather are the reason I want to study Pharmacology,” she said.

Finalists had to impress a board of Weatherly Area High School alumni in order to take home the scholarship. Knepper said the process was just as stressful as preparing for the SATs, or waiting on a college acceptance letter.

“It was one of my more stressful things, I would definitely say,” she said.

Alumni asked tough questions. Alumna and retired Weatherly Area High School teacher Carol Hill asked students what they considered to be the most urgent problem in the world today, and was impressed with the answers. Some talked about school shootings, or world hunger.

“It’s great to be a part of it, and come back and see the students, and hear their opinions,” Hill said.

While it’s a competitive process, giving out the large scholarship is its own reward for members of the Alumni Association. Association President Todd Gimbi said that this group of finalists represented the most competitive he had seen in the years he’s been involved.

“I would say this is the toughest group we’ve had. The numbers were certainly close,” he said, referring to the scores that the students were given based on their applications and interviews.

The alumni association gave out a total of $20,500 in scholarships, with smaller prizes for four other finalists, as well as scholarships for a student attending a two-year college and one for a prospective nursing student.

And with Weatherly High School alumni continuing to make endowments to the Alumni Association to support the scholarship, they plan on offering them for years to come.

“It’s very rewarding to offer this to the students who do such a good job here at the school and work hard for where they are today,” alumni association board president Sue Ann Gerhard said.

Knepper said that her fellow finalists for the scholarship were all worthy candidates. She recalled looking up to her peers who had won the scholarship in recent years. She said future students applying for the award should have faith in themselves.

“I would just say be true to yourself, the best you have is the best you can do,” she said.