Persimmon Awards 2026

This Year’s Honorees

Sandy Musser

Sandy Musser was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia before relocating to central Pennsylvania in 1976. After earning a degree in Individual and Family Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development from Penn State, she began her career in 1980 as a teacher in the YWCA’s Tiny Tot program.

Over the next 35 years, Sandy devoted her work to serving children, women, and families through a range of impactful roles at YWCA Carlisle, including Preschool Teacher, Preschool Director, and Fund Development Director. She concluded her career in 2015 as Associate Executive Director, serving as a senior leader of the organization.

Throughout her career, Sandy remained deeply committed to the YWCA Carlisle’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. She was part of the leadership team that established the organization’s current G Street location and helped develop community outreach initiatives, including an Assertiveness Training program and a Peer Mediation program implemented in several local school districts. She also served as a Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Hotline volunteer. Sandy took particular joy in her roots as a preschool teacher, often reflecting on the many former students she later saw thriving in the Carlisle community.

Sandy and her husband Tim raised four daughters in Carlisle. She was actively involved in her children’s school and extracurricular activities, including PTOs, sports teams, church activities, and other civic organizations. Today, Sandy and Tim can often be found in the stands or audience supporting the activities of their 13 grandchildren.

Whitney Baker

Whitney (Musser) Baker, a Carlisle native and 2000 graduate of Carlisle High School, has dedicated her career to supporting students and strengthening her community. After earning her degree from Penn State University, she returned to Carlisle to begin teaching 5th grade at Crestview Elementary School. Over the next 20 years, she taught at both Crestview and Lamberton Middle School before transitioning into her current role as school counselor at Letort Elementary School, where she continues to support the academic, social, and emotional growth of her students.

Mrs. Baker’s commitment to empowering youth extends beyond the school day. She has served as an assistant coach for the Carlisle High School field hockey team and currently coaches cross-country for the Carlisle Middle School team. In partnership with the Carlisle YWCA, she led the “Go Girls Go” running program for 6th grade girls for 11 years, and she currently volunteers with the Carlisle Diamonds softball program.

Deeply committed to service, Mrs. Baker volunteers with Project Share’s Summer Feeding program and serves on the Carlisle Parks and Recreation Board. After donating a kidney to a childhood friend in 2015, she became a passionate advocate for living donation, raising awareness through participation in endurance events with other kidney donors and recipients.

Whitney and her husband are proud to raise their four children in Carlisle, surrounded by extended family.

Judge Jessica Brewbaker

Jessica Brewbaker is a lifelong resident of the area, having graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 1994, Shippensburg University in 1997 (summa cum laude), and as the 2000 class valedictorian of the Dickinson School of Law.  She served as an attorney in the Cumberland County Public Defender Office from 2000-2005, when she was elected Magisterial District Judge for the Carlisle Borough.  Judge Brewbaker continued to serve as Carlisle’s Magisterial District Judge until the end of 2015.   Additionally, she worked for the law office of Michael L. Bangs as a legal researcher and writer from 2007-2015, and as an associate attorney with Turo Robinson Attorneys at Law from 2011-2015.  Judge Brewbaker served on the Board of Directors of Safe Harbour Homeless Shelter from 2009-2015, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Carlisle Family YMCA.  Judge Brewbaker was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in November, 2015, where she continues to serve.  In addition to her other duties in her role as a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Judge Brewbaker presides over Cumberland County’s mental health court (“TOMS” Court), as well as Drug Treatment Court. She is a past recipient of the Stuart Award, the Frances H. Del Duca President’s Award, and the YMCA Adult Service Award.

Commissioner Jean Foschi

Trooper Kelly Smith

Trooper Kelly Smith has served with the Pennsylvania State Police since 2013, spending her entire career in central Pennsylvania. She currently works in the Office of Community Engagement, where she is dedicated to strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the communities she serves.

Beyond her professional role, Trooper Smith is deeply committed to community involvement. She serves as a board member of Harrisburg Young Professionals, where she previously held the role of vice president, and as a board member for Carlisle Summerfair. She is also a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a volunteer coach with Girls on the Run, and a former chair of the Cumberland County Commission for Women.

In addition, Trooper Smith is the Head Cross Country Coach at Central Penn College, where she enjoys sharing her love of running and mentoring student-athletes.

She resides locally with her husband, Brian, their son, Jimmy, and their two cats, JJ and Tina.