Mifflinburg – The Mifflinburg Area Community Scholarship Trust, Inc. recently provided $53,500 in scholarships to Mifflinburg Area High School seniors.  Twenty-four students were awarded scholarships during the Annual Senior Awards program. An additional $22,500 will be awarded in July to Mifflinburg graduates who are currently attending college.

This year the $4,000 Valedictorian Scholarship was awarded to Maria Darrup and the $3,000 Salutatorian Scholarship was presented to Payton Derr.

Two new perpetual scholarships were presented this year. The Tod “Cleever” Steese was presented to Zac Kerstetter by the Mifflinburg Hose Company. This award is in memory of Steese who was active with the Hose Company and a supporter of Mifflinburg sports. The second new scholarship is the Wagner Music Scholarship that was awarded to Cassidy McClintock. The scholarship honors retired band director Matthew Wagner and choral director Patricia Wagner.

M.A.C.S.T. provides specialized perpetual scholarships with criteria designated by the founding sponsors. The winners of these scholarships were:  Katrina Bennage – the Christkindl Market Community Service Scholarship, Natalie Harvey – the Kermit W. & Mary E. Dale & Sons Environmental Conservation Award, Mary Walter – the Mifflinburg FFA Recognition Scholarship, Emmanuel Ulrich – the Robert L. Manotti, Sr. Wrestling Scholarship, Maria Darrup – the H. Richard Ward, MD & Devin Ward Scholarship for medicine and/or preforming arts, and Ella Shuck – the Charles “Skeet” Reidell Scholarship for demonstrating excellence in athletics, academics, and leadership on and off the field.

Evelyn Osborne and Mason W. Smith were the recipients of the Griffith Family Scholarships that are presented to students entering a medical field of study.  Mary Walter earned the Spangler/Turner Family Penn State Scholarship that is presented to a student entering the field of agriculture, engineering or science at PSU.  Two Rhoda K. Reidell-Fasano Scholarships were also presented. Mary Walter received one for a student entering the field of education and Maria Darrup for a student entering the fields of science or medicine.

Five students who are pursuing medical careers and completed a specialized application were awarded the Harold and Helen Evans Memorial Scholarship.  The honorees were Katrina Bennage, Maria Darrup, Mason W. Smith, Owen Snook, and Kiley Wagner.

Fourteen members of the Mifflinburg Area High School Class of 2023 received M.A.C.S.T. scholarships.  Seniors receiving these were Marissa Allen, Taylor Beachy, Katrina Bennage, Matthew Blake, Ethan Bomgardner, Carter Breed, Payton Derr, Natalie Harvey, Delany Kraus, Lucas R. Kurtz, Jarret Miller, Hope Swarey, Brady Wolheiter, and Tanner Zimmerman.