Community Awareness Committee Member Keith Silfee, Joseph Davidson, Natalie Savaiko and David Alonzo.
Fourteen college-bound high school seniors from four area high schools were awarded scholarships from the Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania’s Community Awareness Committee (CAC), the group announced today. Thirteen received the Sara Manning Scholarship ($1,000) and one received the Rob Ferranto Scholarship ($2,500).
Left to right: Jillian Boyer, Madeline Distenfeld, Jailene Vega, Community Awareness Committee Chairman Pete Alonzo, Maria Mondragon-Bustos, Javier Garcia Hernandez.
CAC was created to help provide funds for education, training and outreach to the community. The Committee raises proceeds each year through a golf tournament. Since its inception in 1986, CAC has raised over $800,000 in scholarships for students seeking higher education in agricultural fields and other industries. Students considered for a scholarship should have a 2.5 minimum GPA, economic need and at least 10 hours of community service performed in the past year. Additionally, candidates were required to submit a 500-word essay on the health benefits of mushrooms.
Left to right: Abigail Hohn, Madeline Williams, Carson Beans, Yesica Pedroza, Community Awareness Committee Member Brian Angelucci, , Community Awareness Committee Member Steve Regester, Community Awareness Committee member Denny Myers.
“Agriculture has deep roots here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, specifically for mushroom farmers. We are thrilled to be able to help young people explore careers in the agriculture industry through our longstanding scholarship program,” said Pete Alonzo, Pietro Industries.
Recipients of the scholarships include:
- Yesica Bernal Pedroza of Avon Grove High School attending Cazenovia College
- Leticia Cruz Flores of Avon Grove High School attending Millersville University
- Jillian Beyer of Avon Grove High School attending La Salle University
- Maria F. Mondragon-Bustos of Kennett High School attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Joseph Davidson of Kennett High School attending Bloomsburg University
- David Alonzo of Kennett High School attending West Chester University
- Jailene Vega of Kennett High School attending Penn State Brandywine
- Natalie Savaiko of Unionville High School attending University of Delaware
- Abigail Hohn of Unionville High School attending West Chester University
- Javier Garcia Hernandez of Unionville High School attending Immaculata University
- Carson Beans of Oxford Area High School attending West Virginia University
- Madeline Distenfeld of Oxford Area High School attending Elon University
- Ellen Stroud of Oxford Area High School attending Delaware Valley University
- Madeline Williams of Oxford Area High School
