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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                     May 15, 2026

FAYETTE COUNTY YOUTH NAMED SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Uniontown, PA – If Uniontown Area Senior High School senior Hannah Foster isn’t swimming, she is running and if she isn’t running, she is busy with 4-H, and if she isn’t busy with 4-H, she is busy on the Math Team or the French Club or the Bible Club or…you get the picture. 

Recently, Foster’s hard work and dedication paid off as she was named the 2026 Berger and Green Scholar Athlete of the Year, earning a $5,000 scholarship. 

Foster, who has been swimming competitively since she was nine years old, qualified for the PIAA state championships all four years of high school and holds the school record for 100-yard breaststroke. She also is a four-year varsity runner for the UHS cross-country team, qualifying for the PIAA championships twice – and only missed a third trip due to injury. 

Foster recently committed to attending Duquesne University where she will study civil engineering and said that while her interests are wide-ranging, she has especially enjoyed participating on the cross-country team. 

“Being on the cross-country team has meant the most to me,” Foster said. “Since my parents are coaches, I have been going to meets for as long as I can remember. I have built lifelong relationships with the upper classmen and the head coach, Joe Everhart. The team is not just a team, it's a family.”   

Foster has taken her love of distance running outside of school, too. Earlier this month, more than 52,000 people participated in the Pittsburgh Marathon setting an all-time record. One of the half marathon division runners – Hannah Foster. 

“The race was a lot of fun,” she said. “I ran with my brother and even though I ended with scraped knees, we achieved our goal of breaking two hours with a time of 1:53.59.” 

Foster’s high school experience has not been limited to athletic achievements, as she holds a 4.72 GPA, has served as Student Council class officer and participated in the Academic League.

But it is her love for being outdoors that often guides her pursuits – like recently biking from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. and her many trips hiking, exploring and camping with her family, whom she credits with her success. 

“My parents are my biggest inspiration,” Foster said. “They have supported me through every phase of my life. They encourage me to go outside my comfort zone and are the main reasons for my success.”

Her dad, Joseph Foster, who teaches physics and mathematics at UHS said it is his daughter who deserves all the credit for her accomplishments. 

“Hannah works hard. She studies hard at school, and she trains hard for her sports. Her hard work is paying off,” Joseph Foster said. “I am incredibly proud of her. She is a wonderful kid, and I love to see good things happening for her.” 

Foster was named the 2026 Berger and Green Scholar Athlete of the Year at a reception held in February.

To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.