2 Lewisburg graduates receive Community Foundation awards
LEWISBURG - With costs for higher education outpacing inflation at many colleges and universities, the future may be daunting for many promising young people.
The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania works to create scholarship funds that will benefit graduating seniors and non-traditional students.
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Horizon Federal Credit Union announced its 2012 annual scholarship recipients. The scholarship rewards the writing talent and academic endeavors of credit union members who are graduating from high school and entering four-year or two-year undergraduate degrees or vocational studies. The scholarship program is one of the many ways the credit union supports its members with financial education programs and resources aimed at helping them achieve a successful financial future. Above, from left, are Leah R. Winner, a graduate of Montoursville Area High School who will be attending the University of Pittsburgh; Traci Donahue, CEO of Horizon; and Daniel R. Hamm, a graduate of Loyalsock Township High School who will be attending Penn State University.
Endowed scholarship funds at the community foundation are created by gifts made by individuals, families and organizations. These gifts are invested to provide income to award scholarships every year to different students. In many instances, scholarships are awarded based on pre-determined criteria that are reflective of the personal values and interests of those who establish the funds.
In Union County, FCFP awarded $1,400 in scholarships to two graduating seniors from the Lewisburg Area School District for the 2012-13 academic year.
Laura Sprunt received a $400 Bronze Scholarship for being ranked third in her graduating class based on a cumulative four-year grade point average. She will attend Case Western Reserve University.
Timothy Vasey was awarded a $1,000 Jennie Stackhouse Erdley Memorial Scholarship for his high academic standing in the area of English and involvement in drama, library science as well as school and community activities. He plans to attend Lycoming College in the fall.
Lycoming chemistry professor gets grant
Dr. Chriss McDonald, professor of chemistry at Lycoming College, has been approved for a $65,000 grant from the Petroleum Research Fund, administered by the American Chemical Society.
McDonald's grant proposal was titled "The Characterization and Synthetic Utility of Complexes Made From Samarium Diiodide and Anionic Phosphoramide Ligands." The submission took about three months to write and was based on initial results from studies conducted during a six-month period by McDonald and 2012 Lycoming graduate David Sampsell.
The $65,000 will be used to provide stipends for Lycoming students conducting research during the next three summers. Additional funds will be used to buy consumables and equipment for the department of chemistry, which has maintained an active student-faculty summer research program since 1988.
School dean named to national board
The dean of Pennsylvania College of Technology's School of Construction and Design Technologies has been appointed to a national organization dedicated to the professionalism of technicians in the HVAC-refrigeration industry.
Marc E. Bridgens recently attended his first meeting of the board of trustees of North American Technician Excellence Inc., which establishes and regularly reviews certification criteria for HVAC-R technicians. He accompanied Tom Gregory, associate vice president for instruction (and his immediate predecessor both as dean and as a NATE trustee).
The nonprofit group serves a similar function for the heating-ventilation-air conditioning-refrigeration work force as the Automotive Service Excellence program does for that industry's personnel.
"We'll continue to look at the certification exams," Bridgens said of the board's ongoing commitment. "We want to make sure that quality is maintained; that, when technicians receive their certification, they're at the top of their game with what the industry should expect."
Bridgens, dean of construction and design technologies since 2009, began his Penn College career in 1990 as a faculty member in HVAC and plumbing. He served as department head from 1998-2008 and became assistant dean in 2001.
He holds a master's degree in education from Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, and earned a bachelor's degree in biology and general science from Lock Haven University.
Jersey Shore student appointed to academy
Madalyn Thompson, of Jersey Shore, was one of 127 students who graduated from Mercersburg Academy at the school's 119th commencement ceremony at the close of the 201112 academic year.
Thompson received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Montoursville graduate on athletic honor roll
Jason Marshalek has been named to the Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll at Lafayette College, Easton, for the spring 2012 semester. Each fall and spring semester, the Department of Athletics recognizes student-athletes who excel in the classroom.
Marshalek is the starting nose tackle for the Leopard football team and is majoring in civil engineering. He is a graduate of Montoursville Area High School.
