The Crawford Central Community Foundation recently awarded its 2020 “Pay It Forward” Scholarships to seniors, Cathryn Miller, Cochranton Jr.- Sr. High School and Hannah Parks from Meadville Area Senior High School. The “Pay-It-Forward” Scholarships (each in the amount of $250.00) recognize a graduating senior from Meadville and Cochranton in the Crawford Central School District who best exemplify the spirit of giving back to his or her school and community and are nominated by their High School Guidance Counselors.

  Cathryn Miller, 2020 graduate of Cochranton Jr.- Sr. High School is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Casey Miller. Cathryn is active in her church, Our Lady of Lourdes where she is a Sunday School teacher. Cathryn is active in various fund raising activities in the fight against cancer and was a member of  the CHS Girls Volleyball Team.  Cathryn has been the key factor and leader in organizing all the Cochranton High School blood drives and charitable events. Cathryn’s future plans include joining the U.S Army and majoring in Nursing.

  Hannah M. Parks, 2020 graduate of Meadville Area Senior High School is the daughter of Shelly and Doug Parks. Hannah has been involved with numerous school activities throughout high school including the National Honors Society, Peer Mentor, Yearbook Staff, Climate Club and the MASH Girls Volleyball Team serving as Captain in her Senior year. Community activities include working with Special Olympics, coaching an Elementary School Volleyball Team and was a member of Key Club. Hannah plans to major in biomedical engineering at Pitt University. 

The Crawford Central Community Foundation has awarded the 2020 Marilyn Kinter, RN Memorial Scholarship Grant Award to Madeline Plyler, daughter of Wendy and Tim Plyler. This is the first year of awarding the scholarship and is in memory of Marilyn Kinter. Mrs. Kinter grew up in Cochranton and was a graduate of Cochranton Area High School and the Meadville City Hospital School of Nursing. Mrs. Kinter was 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 Grant Award includes 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).

   Madeline (Maddie) Plyler, 2020 graduate of Meadville Area Senior High School plans to attend Carlow College in Pittsburgh majoring in Nursing. At MASH, Maddie participated in the MASH Jazz Band playing trumpet, Student Government Association (SGA) and also was a member of Key Club.

Unfortunately, SeptemberFest is cancelled for this year. The CCCF is still committed to provide funding for Emergency and Fall Grant requests. Look soon in your mailbox for our Annual Letter Campaign to help continue our funding efforts.

The Crawford Central Community Foundation has recently awarded grants totaling over $6,000 to classrooms and programs in our district schools.  We’re pleased to announce the following grant recipients:

• Soft Side Acoustic Guitar Cases / Molly Moyer / MASH Music Department
• Music Instruments Repair / Traci Balsamo / Second District
• Early Reading Books for our Early Learners / Elizabeth Heuchert / First District
• MASH Fine Arts Trip to Disneyworld / Sharon Barnes / MASH Music Department
• Giving Back for a Weight Rack / Matthew Shreve / Neason Hill
• Wiggle While We Work Flexible Seating / Kari Unice / First District
• Mrs. Merchbaker’s Flexible Seating Grant / Jon Colinear / First District

All CCCF grant recipients participate in a “Pay it Forward” project to spread the spirit of giving into our communities.  This group’s “Pay It Forward” Projects include Sing Along with Guitars – Y Preschool, Concert at Active Aging, Pairing up reading 5th grade with K, 1 and 2, also adopt a Grandparent letters in Holiday baskets,  donations to benefit Humane Society and local Animal Shelters, Food Drive for CFS Meadville Food Pantry, 6th grade students thank you posters for first responders.

With the addition of these grants, the Crawford Central Community Foundation has awarded over $50,000 since it was established in 2012.

Because of Covid-19, many of our Grant recipients were unable to complete their “Pay it Forward” projects. It is hoped that the projects will be continued in the Fall of 2020.