Scholarship Support Turned Gabby’s Final Semester Into a Launch Pad

Tags: Community Impact, Scholarships, Workforce Scholarships

Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) recently awarded $258,500 to 12 young people who are pursuing vocational and trade certifications, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees. Since 2022, the Workforce Scholarship program has brought together local donors, fundholders, and philanthropic partners to make it easier for our community members to pursue in-demand careers with less financial burden.

The Work Is Already Underway

Gabby Panian’s final semester of college looks a lot like the career she’s training for: 300 hours of case management, resource navigation, and advocacy for local families, all before she’s earned her degree. A Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) Workforce Scholarship is helping her get there.

At Sierra Community House, Gabby supports local families navigating housing instability, food insecurity, and mental health barriers. It’s the senior practicum required for her Bachelor of Social Work at Eastern Kentucky University, and it builds on experience she’s gathered across the community. 

My commitment to social work has been strengthened through my experiences with Sierra Community House, the Navigation Center, and my work in the ski industry. Through these roles, I have seen firsthand how many people in our mountain communities face barriers related to mental health care, housing, food insecurity, and substance use.

~ Gabrielle (Gabby) Panian, 2026 Workforce Scholarship Recipient

Making Room to Focus

Fieldwork is a cornerstone of social work training, and Gabby’s placement is unpaid. To give the practicum her full attention, she reduced her regular work hours while tuition and living expenses kept coming.

“Scholarship support has offset both educational expenses and the financial impact of dedicating this time to my professional training,” Gabby wrote. “It has allowed me to remain focused on successfully completing my education while gaining the practical experience necessary to become an effective social worker.”

A Family’s Belief in Education

Gabby received $15,000 in Workforce Scholarship funding: $12,500 from the Anna Jane Ellis Scholarship and $2,500 from Martis Camp Foundation Workforce Funds.

The Ellis scholarship grew out of a family’s belief in what education can do. Dr. Anna Jane Ellis spent her career in higher education, most of it as a professor at the University of Wisconsin, and has long encouraged her nieces and nephews, from books at every birthday to help with college tuition as they neared adulthood. Inspired to “pay it forward” as she has, her niece, Georgia Smith, and Earl Smith established the scholarship to support students moving from a two-year to a four-year degree. 

Neighbors Investing in Neighbors

Gabby’s award reflects how the Workforce Scholarship program works. Since 2022, TTCF has brought together local donors, fundholders, and philanthropic partners to ease the cost of higher education and build a pipeline of essential local professionals. This year, that collaboration awarded $258,500 to 12 Tahoe Truckee scholars pursuing vocational and trade certifications, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees. In Gabby’s case, the Ellis family’s gift and Martis Camp Foundation’s partnership reached a student at the moment it mattered most.

What Comes Next

After graduation, Gabby plans to pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of the Pacific. Her goal is to return home to Truckee as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and expand behavioral health services for the community that invested in her.

When Gabby applied for the scholarship, Patrick Kratzer, Director of Hunger Relief Operations at Sierra Community House, shared a glowing recommendation.

A career in social services demands people who can hold complexity — systemic awareness alongside human compassion, professional boundaries alongside genuine care. Gabby already does this. This scholarship would be an investment in someone who is not just preparing for this field but is already practicing it.

–Patrick Kratzer, Director of Hunger Relief Operations, Sierra Community House

Help the Next Student Finish

Every year, local students are working toward careers our community depends on. Your support of TTCF Workforce Scholarships helps make the final stretch possible.

Interested in starting a scholarship of your own? Learn how. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the TTCF Workforce Scholarship program?
Since 2022, the Workforce Scholarship program has brought together local donors, fundholders, and philanthropic partners to ease the cost of higher education for Tahoe Truckee residents. This year, TTCF awarded $258,500 to 12 scholars pursuing vocational and trade certifications, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees.

What is the Anna Jane Ellis Scholarship?
The Anna Jane Ellis Scholarship supports students transitioning from a two-year to a four-year college degree. Georgia Smith and Earl Smith established it through TTCF to honor Dr. Anna Jane Ellis, who spent her career in higher education and has long championed education’s ability to improve lives.

Why did a social work student need scholarship support during her practicum?
Gabby Panian’s 300-hour senior practicum with Sierra Community House is required to graduate but unpaid, so she reduced her work hours to complete it. Her $15,000 Workforce Scholarship offset tuition and living expenses during that time.

How can my company or I support Workforce Scholarships or start a scholarship through TTCF?
You can give to the TTCF Workforce Scholarships fund online or reach out to Phyllis McConn, Community Impact Officer, to explore opening your own named scholarship at phyllis@ttcf.net or 530-587-1776.