BUTLER TWP - The Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation has announced the establishment of an endowment named in memory of Don Gibson.

The endowment will be used to fund an annual scholarship of $500 to a Butler High School graduating senior.

Gibson's son, Roger, said the scholarship will be awarded to a graduate who performs a string instrument - violin, viola, cello or double bass - because of Gibson's efforts to advance the cause of string music education.

The Don Gibson Scholarship is the fourth named scholarship established through the foundation. The remaining three are the Matthew James Cunningham Scholarship, the Butler Eagle Scholarship and the Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Scholarship Honoring Ed Howard.

A named endowment can be established through the foundation to fund an annual scholarship or creative teaching grant with a minimum contribution of $10,000.

For more information, call 724-214-3240.

HARRISBURG - The KeystoneBEST student loan, the nation's lowest-cost Stafford student loan, is now available to Pennsylvania students for the 2004-05 school year.The program allows Pennsylvania students and their families to save more than $70 million annually.A typical Stafford loan program charges up to 4 percent of the loan amount in upfront fees. Under KeystoneBEST, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and its lending partners pay the upfront fees.This means a student borrowing $5,500 would have an additional $200 that he or she can immediately use for their educational expenses.Eligibility requires that Pennsylvania residents must attend a school approved by the U.S. Department of Education, regardless of the school's location.The free application for the loan is available online at www.aessuccess.org or by calling 800-692-7392.

ADAMS TWP - A newly formed parent support group for those with children with Individualized Educational Programs will meet at 7 p.m. April 1 at the Mars United Methodist Church Education Building.The church is on Arch Street in Mars.The topic of discussion will be the law for gifted/special education students.Guest speaker will be attorney Hilary Kinal.For information or directions, call Karri Rickard at 724-625-9878.