The Rick Zylak Memorial Scholarship, established in July 2020, is in memory of Rick Zylak, former Science Educator (Physics, Astronomy and Geology) at Meadville Area Senior High School, Asst. Athletic Director at MASH and coach of numerous sports including swimming, tennis, golf, and MAMS 8th grade basketball. The Scholarship has been established by Mr. Zylak’s wife, Sherry and his children Jordan and Jennifer Zylak. Criteria for the Rick Zylak Scholarship include graduation from Meadville Area Senior High School with post-secondary plans to attend a trade school, community college or college with a 2- year or 4- year program and intentions to study Science, Technology/Trade, Engineering, Arts, or Math (STEAM).  

Natalia Coppola has been awarded $750 and will attend West Chester University and major in elementary education. Ainsley Oviatt is the recipient of the Zylak Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 and will attend Westminster College in the Fall to major in Biology and Pre- Med.

Natalia (left) and Ainsley (right) pictured with CCCF Board Members, Gabe Panchura and Corey Young.
 

The Crawford Central Community Foundation has awarded the 2026 Marilyn Kinter, R.N. Memorial Scholarships to Lauren Kral- MASH and Kaelyn Smith- Cochranton in the amount of $500 each. The Scholarship is in memory of Marilyn Kinter, a nurse at Meadville City Hospital for many years, working in the Newborn and ICU units. The Scholarship has been established by Mrs. Kinter’s family, including her daughter, Susan R. Sapone.

Criteria for the Marilyn Kinter, RN Memorial Scholarship Award include graduation from the Crawford Central School District (Meadville or Cochranton) with a GPA of 3.0 or better and pursuing a career in the nursing field (BSN, RN or LPN degree or, who is planning to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program).

 Lauren Kral, with Susan Sapone will attend UPMC Jameson School of Nursing/ UPMC Hamot.

     

 Kaelyn Smith with CCCF Board Director Tamara Clark and President, Mary Lynne Peters, will attend Geneva College and major in Nursing.

The CCCF recently presented their 2026 “Pay It Forward” Scholarships in the amount of $500 each to Madeleine Brenot– Cochranton and Natalia Coppola– MASH. The CCCF “Pay It Forward” Scholarships recognize a graduating senior from Meadville and Cochranton in the Crawford Central School District who best exemplifies the spirit of giving back to his or her school and community and is nominated by their High School Guidance Counselors.

The CCCF Board wishes you the best in all your future endeavors and hope you will continue to volunteer and “Pay it Forward”. 

Madeleine Brenot- Cochranton is pictured with CCCF Board Member Tamara Clark and Mary Lynne Peters, CCCF President and Natalia Coppola is photographed with Gabe Panchura and Corey Young, CCCF Board Members.

        The Crawford Central Community Foundation will present its annual Adult Spelling Bee “Fun”draiser on Saturday, February 21 at our new venue, VFW Post 2006,1045 S. Morgan St. in Meadville. Doors open at 6:00 pm with the Spelling Bee starting at 7:00 pm. Free Hors D’Oeuvres served, Cash Bar, Basket Raffles and a 50/50 Drawing. 

This year’s theme is “On Broadway” and will feature teams from local businesses and the Crawford Central School District. All proceeds benefit the CCCF which is committed to providing financial resources to enrich academic, artistic, and athletic experiences for Meadville and Cochranton students in grades K-12 as we continue to grow a “Pay It Forward” Tradition. 

        Join us in the FUN as Teams vie for the coveted CCCF Championship Spelling Bee Trophy.

MASH Drama students, under the direction of Sharon Barnes (1st District), received a Fall Grant from the CCCF to purchase scenery flats for their upcoming Spring Production, The Music Man. In exchange, their Pay It Forward component was an Elementary Theatre Workshop Day that culminated in a performance of a musical selection complete with choreography.
Bravo to ALL who participated. We look forward to the performances of The Music Man April 17 and 18, 2026 and thank you for “Paying It Forward”.

      The Crawford Central Community Foundation recently awarded over $6,000 in funding for their 2025 Fall and Emergency Grants in the Crawford Central School District. Recipients include: Consumer and Family Services Kitchen Equipment and Supplies, Cochranton Jr.- Sr. High School/ Jennifer Pittner, Flexible Seating and Expansion, Cochranton Elementary School/ Shyra Clayton, Intervention Improvement with Flexible Seating, Cochranton Elementary School/ Dustin Castiglione, Puppy Series Books and Flexible Seating, Cochranton Elementary School/ Lacey Hogue, MASH Drama Scenery Flats/Meadville Area Senior High School/ Sharon Barnes, and  PaTTAN Autism Initiative, West End Elementary School/ Emily Achenbach.

      In exchange for funding, the applicants must provide a “Pay It Forward” component that benefits the community or the school community. The CCCF Fall “Pay It Forward”  Projects include providing a meal to St. James Haven, sponsoring an elementary drama workshop, providing residents of Adams Place with cards, flowers, pictures, and reading to them, and creating holiday crafts and cards featuring the students’ own drawings and messages of kindness to a local senior citizen home. 

The Crawford Central Community Foundation continues to provide financial resources to enrich academic, artistic, athletic and wellness experiences for Meadville and Cochranton students in grades K-12 in the Crawford Central School District. Our next fundraiser event is the CCCF Annual Adult Spelling Bee to be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at VFW Post 2006.

Did you know that this academic year, we’ll have three grant funding cycles? Please keep the dates below in mind as you plan for the school year.

Here is the grant application!

For MAC Users: Download this file, use the Auto Fill Form, SAVE. Obtain all signatures needed and follow instructions to send.

For PC Users: Unfortunately, WORD PRESS does NOT support embedding with a fillable form. Please use the LINK in the email that was sent to you through the CCSD and follow the above instructions.

The DEADLINE for FALL GRANT APPLICATIONS has been extended to WEDNESDAY, October 22 by the end of the school day!

We are excited for this year’s SeptemberFest! Make sure to save the date and tell your friends as we seek to help students in the Crawford Central School District through pay it forward grants.

Join us after the Chamber Wine Brew & Spirits Walk…………

      The Crawford Central Community Foundation hosts its annual SeptemberFest “FUN”draiser on Saturday, September 13 from 6:00 pm-10:00 pm at Roff School Tavern – 13388 Leslie Rd. Meadville. The “FUN”draiser with the emphasis on FUN awaits you! Guest Bartending Teams, 2025 Hall Pass Beverage, Gift Basket Raffles and a 50/50 drawing all benefiting students in the Crawford Central School District, grades K-12 as they pursue academic, athletic, artistic and wellness opportunities.               

For more information, please continue to visit us at our website: crawfordccf.org or check us out on Facebook.

Are you looking for a local sponsorship opportunity? Please consider sponsoring this year’s SeptemberFest! Your company’s name will appear on bartending team shirts and on event signage.

Carolyn Brown’s reading classes recently completed their pay it forward project by putting on a movie night.

Check out this article to learn more:

https://meadvilletribune-cnhi.newsmemory.com/?publink=8043936b7_134fa10