Gage Haniwalt has been named the first recipient of The Denny Hickman – Get Outside and Do Stuff Memorial Scholarship.
Gage received a $4,000 award to support his studies at Bloomsburg University, where he is pursuing degrees in Business Administration and Environmental Science. His education brings together an understanding of the natural world with the business knowledge needed to turn that understanding into practical opportunities.
The scholarship was established in 2025 by Denny Hickman’s family following his passing. It supports students from Venango and Clarion counties who are pursuing education connected to timber harvesting, forestry, forest management, and the responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Gage has balanced his studies with the responsibilities of being a collegiate soccer athlete, student leader, and employee. Throughout college, he has worked to help cover tuition and other expenses while managing the demands of his academic and athletic schedules.
He has also remained involved in his community through youth soccer camps, church programs, and mentoring fellow students. The scholarship helps ease some of the financial pressure of higher education, allowing him to focus more fully on the goals he has worked hard to pursue.
After graduation, Gage plans to launch a land surveying company that uses drone technology and geographic information system mapping. He hopes the business will create local jobs and provide opportunities for young people and individuals facing hardship.
His plans combine environmental knowledge, technology, entrepreneurship, and service. Land surveying and GIS mapping play an important role in how communities understand and manage land, while drone technology can help gather detailed information more efficiently.
That forward-looking approach makes Gage a fitting first recipient for a scholarship created in Denny’s memory. The fund honors a strong connection to the outdoors and a belief in responsible engagement with the natural environment, while Gage’s goals show how those values can be carried into modern work.The award provides meaningful financial support, but it also recognizes the work he has already put into his education and affirms the direction he hopes to take after graduation.
For Denny’s family, the first award marks an important milestone. The scholarship they created in his memory is now helping a student move closer to a career that reflects the values the fund was established to preserve.
For Bridge Builders Community Foundations, Gage’s selection shows how a memorial scholarship can connect one person’s legacy with another person’s future.
Those who would like to support future recipients of The Denny Hickman – Get Outside and Do Stuff Memorial Scholarship may contribute online or mail a check to Bridge Builders Community Foundations.
