After years of searching in vain for someone whose act of kindness helped her realize her dream of becoming a nurse, Doris Manning Otto found a way to say thank you.

And in doing so, a Penn Manor High School senior ready to begin her road to becoming a nurse doesn't have to worry about how she'll pay for her education.

On Thursday night, Penn Manor senior Justy L. Bleacher learned she will receive a $29,000 one-time scholarship to attend Lancaster General Hospital's College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

Otto donated the $29,000.

"In the last 54 years, I have not been able to find out who gave me (my) scholarship," Otto, 71, said. "It was a gift that changed my life. Nursing was my dream.

"Anonymous was difficult for me because I couldn't thank anyone," Otto said. "I decided this was a way to say thank you after all these years."

Fifty-four years ago Otto, a graduate of Penn Manor High School, received a windfall from an anonymous donor that let her realize her dream of becoming a nurse.

On Thursday, Otto, unable to thank the person who changed her life, expressed her gratitude by presenting her own gift to Bleacher.

"It will be easier for me. I'll still work, but my studies will come first," Bleacher told Otto. "I was very surprised. I know several (classmates) that are going to that college."

Although Bleacher will live at home on the family farm in Conestoga, she will still have to use her own money to pay for uniforms, books, transportation and miscellaneous costs.

Otto, who lived in Lancaster County until 14 years ago when she moved to Connecticut, earned her nursing degree in 1957 and worked until she had children.

After raising her children, she returned to her dream job. She also took additional courses at Millersville University and earned a bachelor's degree in public school nursing.

"I went to school in Millersville from kindergarten to college," said Otto, who also earned her nurse practitioner certification from Hershey Medical Center.

But now she's ready to retire, and she figured it was time to do something to say thank you.

"I am very excited to give this scholarship. The Penn Manor Education Foundation made it possible to do this. They are the vehicle through which I am giving the money," Otto said.

Several young women applied for the scholarship.

"It was really hard to choose. The applications were wonderful to read," Otto said.

Otto said she was taken by Bleacher's will to help others.

"I love helping people," Bleacher said. "I feel that God is calling me to be a nurse and use my love and compassion to help others," she added.

Otto said she would be following Bleacher's career.

"I bet I'll hear from her again," she said.