Established in 1999, the Civic Partnership Scholarship Program awards one or more $3000 scholarships annually to deserving students pursuing post-secondary educational programs that are technical in nature. The scholarships are renewable for two years since a number of qualified curriculum programs are four semesters in length. Nearby colleges and technical schools offering these programs include: Penn State-Hazleton, Penn College of Technology, Luzerne County Community College, Lehigh-Carbon Community College, Lincoln Technical, Johnson Technical and any number of four year colleges and universities nationwide. Several recipients have pursued four year degrees in Engineering, Computers, Information Technology and Manufacturing Technology.
The two basic requirements are that the recipients maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA and that they sign a binding contract with the Partnership to return to Hazleton and remain employed locally for a minimum of three years upon graduation. This is the Civic Partnership’s contribution toward slowing the exodus of young talent from our area once they graduate from high school.
High paying, interesting jobs do exist in the Greater Hazleton area especially for trained, qualified personnel!
Technical careers were selected due to an expressed, continuous need in our manufacturing community for qualified Industrial Maintenance Technicians by a number of industries. Seven years later, high paying jobs in this and other technical fields still exist and are expected to increase as new, sophisticated, nationally known industries continue to locate in CAN DO’s five industrial parks. Pay rates range between $16.00 and over $40.00 per hour in these careers.
To date, the committee has awarded 18 scholarships and at least eight graduates are gainfully employed in our community in careers such as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Computer Programming, Information Technology, Electronics Technology and Industrial Maintenance Technology.
The most difficult part of sustaining and growing a program such as this is securing ongoing financial support from businesses, foundations and individual contributors.
Thanks to the support of:
Arc Electric, Ash-Tec, Bemis, Cargill, Meat Products, First Federal Foundation, International Paper Company, PPL Utilities, St.Pierre Foundation, Summit Manufacturing, Temple Inland Paperboard, Thoren Caging, UGI Utilities, and individual benefactors,
the program continues to move forward.
Additional support and funding is needed as the target goal is to increase the number of annual scholarships available, assuming that adequate candidates apply and that financial support is in place. The Partnership is a 501c-3 non-profit corporation so contributions are tax deductible.
Contributing companies can also offer internships to recipients which can provide for a trained potential employee with knowledge of the company’s operations within a two year time frame. Companies are asked to pledge one scholarship annually ($3000) for a three to five year period but smaller (and larger!) pledges and contributions are always welcomed.
For more information on the scholarship or on providing financial support, please contact Bob Skulsky, Executive Director at the Civic Partnership offices 455-1509 ext.13. An application is available on-line at this site or though the guidance departments at all Greater Hazleton High Schools.
The 2011 application deadline is May 13, 2011. Awards are presented by mid-June.
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