Highmark Bright Blue Futures invests in PASSHE Foundation to expand access to education and strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce

PITTSBURGH (May 28, 2026) — As demand grows for a skilled workforce across Pennsylvania, Highmark today reaffirmed its nearly 30-year investment in higher education — presenting a $250,000 contribution to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Foundation to help students access college and prepare for in-demand careers.

The investment, made through the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Scholarship Program, was announced during a check presentation at Highmark’s corporate headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh, where leaders from Highmark, PASSHE, the PASSHE Foundation and the surrounding community gathered alongside scholarship recipients to celebrate the program’s impact.

Since 1998, Highmark has invested more than $4.68 million in the PASSHE Foundation to support scholarships, internships, operations and student convenings across the Commonwealth.

Through the Highmark Bright Blue Futures Scholarship Program, 100 junior-level students at PASSHE universities receive renewable, two-year scholarships each year. To date, more than 1,600 students have benefited from the program.

“Our partnership with PASSHE is about more than scholarships — it’s about creating opportunity,” said Dan Onorato, executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at Highmark Health. “By investing in students today, we’re helping build a stronger, more skilled workforce and a healthier, more prosperous Pennsylvania.”

The program supports students navigating financial and systemic barriers to higher education: nearly half of recipients are first-generation college students or come from low-income backgrounds. With nearly 1,000 students applying for the scholarship this year, demand continues to grow — and recipients are succeeding in the classroom, maintaining an average GPA of 3.6.

“At its core, Highmark Bright Blue Futures is about opening doors,” said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of community affairs at Highmark Health and president of the Highmark Foundation. “When we support students as they pursue higher education, we’re not just helping them earn a degree — we’re helping them build a future for themselves and their families, while strengthening the communities we serve.”

Highmark Bright Blue Futures focuses on improving community health and economic resilience by supporting initiatives that expand access to care, meet basic needs, and strengthen educational and career pathways. Investments in education are a key part of that strategy.

“For many PASSHE university students, this support can make the difference in whether they’re able to stay in school and complete their degree,” said PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. “Highmark’s long-standing partnership continues to create opportunities for students to succeed and build meaningful careers right here in Pennsylvania.”

Highmark’s support also helps to power an emerging area of focus for the PASSHE Foundation: driving innovation in Pennsylvania’s talent and workforce development strategy. That includes working with PASSHE universities and employer partners to develop work-based learning experiences for students and providing labor market and data that help PASSHE universities align curriculum to workforce needs.

“We partner with employers such as Highmark and the PASSHE universities to help connect students with jobs so that the Pennsylvania economy can thrive – ensuring that a PASSHE degree provides a sizable return on investment for our students and for the commonwealth,” said Shelley Scherer, president and CEO of the PASSHE Foundation.

Through this continued collaboration, Highmark and PASSHE are helping turn access into opportunity — expanding opportunity for students, strengthening communities and building a more prepared workforce across Pennsylvania.