Greater Pike awards $44.5K to local students, from preschoolers to new graduates

Local students received a total of $44,500 in funding from the Greater Pike Community Foundation, which enables individuals, families, and local businesses to make the most of their charitable contributions through long-term community philanthropy.

The money will help pay tuition for preschool programs, college, and artistic education.

$9,000 for pre-K students

With funding from Greater Pike Community Foundation, scholarships totaling more than $9,000 will help six families pay tuition for their children enrolled in pre-K programs in Milford.

Five children at the Center for Developmental Disabilities received scholarships, including Lucia Shrag’s son, Robert. Shrag, an employee at Milford’s Key Food Supermarket in Milford, has worked throughout the pandemic.

“I’m very thankful for the scholarship granted to my son,” she said. “Greater Pike Foundation does so much for our community, helping hundreds of families in need.”

Also attending the CDD summer program is AJ Rodriguez, whose mom, Kelly, said, “This summer camp is our son’s chance for a sure footing in kindergarten readiness. I don’t know how to put into words how grateful and blessed we feel. I appreciate and love that Greater Pike supports such a cornerstone in our children’s education.”

Three other families received scholarships for programs at CDD. A sixth scholarship was awarded to a pre-K student for the fall term at Green Trees Early Learning Center.

Contributions from The Dime Bank and Highmark Life Insurance Company through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development made the scholarships possible.

$30,500 for college students

Greater Pike has awarded $30,500 in scholarships to 11 area students entering colleges or universities in the fall.

The students, from Delaware Valley High School and Wallenpaupack High School, received a half-dozen funds administered by Greater Pike.

“We have so many families in this area that continue to struggle with the health and economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said foundation’s scholarship committee chair, Gail Shuttleworth. “I am pleased that the foundation is able to support our students with two new scholarships this year.”

The new scholarship awards this year went to Yoshikatsu (Yoshi) Sumitomo, from The Reggie Cheong-Leen & Peter Spielhagen Scholarship Fund, and to Michelle Andia, from the Amanda Nicole Thoenig Memorial Scholarship Fund. Yoshi will attend Penn State and Michelle will be a student at New York University.

The Ann Intili Morey Art Scholarship Fund awarded a scholarship to Delaware Valley senior Ava Nienstadt. Ava will attend Temple University.

Eight more awards came from three other funds. The annual Pike County Chamber of Commerce Memorial Gouse-Krawitz Scholarships went to two students: Amy Carpenter, a senior at DV, and Rebecca Castimore, a senior at Wallenpaupack High School.

Rebecca plans to attend Marywood University and major in secondary education

“I was surprised and very grateful to get the scholarship,” Rebecca said.

She said she plans to teach math, inspired by some very good teachers who helped her.

“I want to do the same for others,” she said.

Amy Carpenter will attend Susquehanna University and major in environmental science. She said spending a lot of time outdoors sparked her interest and respect for the environment.

“I’m really excited to be going to college,” Amy said. “Thank you to everyone who supported me...I’m honored and happy to have the support for paying my tuition.”

Kaleigh Kuddar of DV received a scholarship from the Sydney Fluck “Syd’s Kids” Fund and will attend Harvard this fall. Kaleigh plans to work in human rights advocacy on a global scale.

She said she was “overjoyed to learn of the scholarship.”

“Mr. Fluck’s goals aligned with mine,” she said. “I want to make an impact and see what good we can make for the future.

“I’m very thankful. The scholarship money will be put to good use in Mr. Fluck’s memory.”

Five DV students received awards from the Kyle Pascoe Memorial Scholarship Fund. For academic excellence, awards went to Madison Kelly, who will attend Clemson University, and Erin Hartey, who will attend the University of Scranton.

For athletic achievement, the recipients are Henry Hamill who will attend Perdue University; Thomas Teehan, who will attend Duquesne University, and Preston Machado, who will attend Lycoming College.

$5,000 for promising artists

Greater Pike has awarded $5,000 in scholarships to two promising artists.

The very first recipient of the Amanda Nicole Thoenig Memorial Scholarship went to Michelle Andia, a student at Delaware Valley. The scholarship fund was established by Regina Thoenig, in memory of her daughter, Amanda, who died at the age of 21.

“We are honored that the scholarship in Amanda’s name will allow Michelle to pursue her education in art studies at New York University,” Regina Thoenig said. “We wish her much success as she pursues her dreams.”

Another award for a budding artist, from the Ann Intili Morey Art Scholarship Fund, went to Ava Nienstadt.

Ava, also a senior at Delaware Valley High, will attend Temple University. Greater Pike board member Ann Morey established the fund to help a student pursue a major in fine or applied art.

“Ava is a promising artist who has applied her art to community activities,” Morey said. They include the Black Bear Film Festival, the Milford Readers and Writers Festival, and the Pike County Historical Society Fashion Show, among other community events.