Each year the East Penn Press awards the Richard F. Gaal Memorial Scholarship to an Emmaus High School graduating senior who has displayed exemplary community commitment.

Gaal, who spent most of his life in Emmaus, is best remembered for his accomplishments as a photographer. Employed first by the Free Press and from 1959 until his death in 1995 by the East Penn Press, Gaal volunteered for a wide range of community organizations: among them the Emmaus Halloween Committee, Emmaus Fire Company and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mallory Farnand is this year’s recipient of the Richard F. Gaal Memorial Scholarship.

At Emmaus High School, she was a member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. She was consistently on the Principal’s Honor Roll.

While at EHS, she was a member of the Emmaus Science Olympian team, Activism Club, Student Government Association, French Club and Emmaus Ice Hockey team.

She volunteered at the Emmaus Public Library and St. Luke’s Allentown campus.

Farnand will attend the University of Florida to major in biology on the premed track and eventually become a doctor.

She hopes to travel the world and become a better cook.

“Thank you so much for awarding me this amazing award,” Farnand said. “You are helping me achieve my scholastic goal of pursuing medicine.”