Thursday, June 24, 2010

PA State Grange Awards More Than $10,000 in Scholarships




Lemoyne - The PA State Grange has announced their 2010 scholarship winners.

Brett Sattazahn, a member of Marion Grange #1853 in Berks County, is the recipient of this year's $1504 Grange Scholarship Endowment at the Pennsylvania State University and a $500 Leonard Rhone Scholarship. Brett, of Womelsdorf, is the son of Kevin and Sherri Sattazahn. He is a 2009 graduate of Conrad Weiser High School and is entering his sophomore year at Penn State where he is majoring in Environmental Resource Management with a minor in Soils Option in the College of Agriculture.

Jennifer Nauss of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, received the Leonard Rhone Scholarship of $500, the $500 PA State Grange Foundation Scholarship as well as a $1000 Santee Student Loan. She is the daughter of Brad and Anna May Nauss and is a member of Valley Grange #1360 in York County and the Penn State Grange #2105 in Centre County. Jennifer is a 2007 graduate of Mechanicsburg Area High School and is entering her senior year at Penn State where she is majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies Special Education.

Philip Vonada from Spring Mills received a $500 PA State Grange Foundation Scholarship as well as a $500 Santee Student Loan. Philip is the son of Dale and Ruth Vonada of Spring Mills, Centre County and is a member of Penns Valley Grange #158. He is majoring in Speech Communication (Theatre) with a minor in English at Millersville University where he will be a junior in the fall.

Receiving $1000 Santee Student loans were Hannah Pratt and Andrew Nauss.

Hannah, daughter of Michael and Janet Pratt from Polk, Venango County, recently graduated from Franklin Area High School. She will be a freshman at Messiah College where she plans to major in Christian Ministries with a minor in Music. Hannah is a member of Wesley Grange #1675 in Venango County.

Andrew is from Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County and is the son of Brad and Anna May Nauss. He just graduated from Mechanicsburg Area High School and will be majoring in Pre-Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall. Andrew is a member of Valley Grange #1360 in York County.

Receiving $500 Santee Student loans were James Hawn, Tyler Peffer, Carl Rudy, Jennifer Rudy, Heather Smith, Tyler Snyder and Brandi Turner.

James Hawn is the son of William and Lisa Hawn of Petersburg, Huntingdon County. He is a member of Baileyville Grange #1991 in Centre County and is attending Penn State for a 2-year certification program in Agricultural Equipment Technician. He graduated from Juniata Valley High School in 2009.

Tyler Peffer is the son of Barry and Anita Peffer from Volant, Lawrence County. He is a member of Plain Grove Grange #1431 and graduated from Wilmington Area High School in 2009. Tyler is entering his sophomore year at California University of PA where he is majoring in Graphic Design with a minor in Marketing.

Carl Rudy is from Halifax, Dauphin County. His parents are Frederick and Linda Rudy. He graduated from Halifax Area High School in 2007 and is attending Penn State, Harrisburg where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Carl is a member of Community Grange #2048 in Dauphin County.

Jennifer Rudy is also from Halifax, Dauphin County and is the daughter of Frederick and Linda Rudy. She graduated from Halifax Area High School in 2006 and is attending Harrisburg Area Community College where she is majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. Jennifer is a member of Community Grange #2048 in Dauphin County.

Heather Smith is the daughter of Carol Smith and hails from Galeton, Potter County. She is a 2004 graduate of Galeton Area High School and is majoring in History with a minor in Women's Studies at Mansfield University. Heather is a member of Carter Camp Grange #1563 in Potter County.

Tyler Snyder just graduated from Boiling Springs High School. He is the son of James and Sue Snyder of Boiling Springs, Cumberland County. Tyler will be beginning his freshman year in the fall at Temple University where he plans to major in Sports Management with a minor in Business. Tyler is a member of Valley Grange #1360 in York County.

Brandi Turner lives in Morrisdale, Clearfield County, with her parents Darrell and Janet Turner. She recently graduated from West Branch High School and will be attending Lock Haven University, Clearfield Campus in the fall where she plans to major in Healthcare. Brandi is a member of Center Hill Grange #885 in Clearfield County.

The Grange Foundation Scholarship was established by delegate action in 1996. Candidates must be Fourth Degree Grange members who seek higher education in any field at any institution of higher learning.

The Leonard Rhone Scholarship Fund was initiated in memory of Leonard Rhone, third Master of the PA State Grange. It is available to Grange members pursuing a four-year degree in Agriculture or Human Development and Family Services at Penn State University.

The Grange Scholarship Endowment at the Pennsylvania State University provides recognition to outstanding undergraduate students enrolled in at least their sophomore year at any College or campus of the Pennsylvania State University.

The Santee Student Loan fund was established by the late Ellis M. Santee, a country doctor from Shickshinny and an active Grange member. This loan is interest-free and is available to Grange members and their children.

The Grange is the oldest family fraternal, agricultural and rural advocacy organization of its kind in the country. The Grange is dedicated to the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Susquehanna Community Grange #2106 Receives National Charter


Curwensville - The Monday, June 21, 2010 meeting of the newly formed Susquehanna Community Grange #2106 was time for celebration!

PA State Grange President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Grange, Betsy Huber, presented the National Charter to Peggy Redden, President of the Susquehanna Community Grange #2106. Also present for the presentation were Carl Meiss, PA State Grange Membership/Public Relations Director and Lorena Baughman, PA State Grange Deputy from Blair County. Baughman assisted Meiss in the opening of the new Grange on April 13, 2010.

The new Grange already has big plans. This Sunday, June 27, 2010, they are holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the Curwensville Community Center. Funds raised from that dinner will be used to assist a Grange family from Cambria County in financial distress due to medical problems.

On August 28 & 29, Susquehanna Community Grange #2106 is planning to sponsor a Gun and Outdoor show and sale at the Community Center. For additional information or to reserve a vendor space, call 814-236-0886.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

2010 PA Grange Royalty Tour


Tuesday, June 15, 2010 was the annual PA State Grange Royalty Tour. This year's Royalty is: Junior Prince and Princess, Zech Houser (Centre County) and Jennifer Reed (Susquehanna County); Youth Ambassadors Jennifer Nauss (Cumberland County) and Michael Snyder (Cumberland County), and; Young Couple, Dustin and Julie Kunkle (Berks County).

The tour began with a light breakfast at the PA State Grange Headquarters in Lemoyne. They proceeded to the Governor's Mansion for a tour before heading to the capitol in Harrisburg where they were first introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives. They then lunched in the capitol cafeteria and headed to the Senate chambers where they were introduced by their individual Senators. While waiting for a tour of the capitol to begin, Sen. Mike Brubaker, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, took the group onto the floor of the Senate for pictures. After a tour of the capitol, the Royalty spent the rest of the day at HersheyPark.

[Photo of Royalty along with Junior Director, Karen Mohn and Youth Director Martha Ebersole with Sen. Mike Brubaker]

Monday, June 14, 2010

PA State Grange Opens Second New Grange in 2 Months


On April 13, 2010, Susquehanna Community Grange #2106 was organized in Clearfield County, PA. On June 13, 2010, Madison Grange #2107 was organized in Columbia County, PA!

The organizational meeting for the newly formed Madison Grange #2107 was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2010 in the Phillips' barn at 10 Phillips Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. 13 people signed the charter application as Charter Members and were "Welcomed" into the Grange by Carl Meiss, PA State Grange Membership/Public Relations Director, after opening the Bible and saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

The charter members first order of business was to vote on a name for their new Grange and they chose "Madison Grange" because they are located in Madison Township in Columbia County. The "# 2107" is the number assigned to the new Grange by the PA State Grange office (Granges are numbered consecutively as they are chartered), so this is the 2107th Grange to have been chartered in Pennsylvania since Eagle Grange #1 was organized in 1871. Today there are still approximately 260 Community Granges in the Commonwealth.

The following officers were elected: Robert Stair, Master/President; Ruby Crane, Lecturer/Program Director; Diane Crane, Secretary, and; Jewel Sullivan, Treasurer. Madison Grange #2107 will meet the 2nd Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Phillips' barn at 10 Phillips Rd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815. The remaining 9 officers will be elected at their July meeting.

Madison Grange #2107 joins four other Community Granges located in Columbia County: Light Street Grange #31; Valley Grange #52; Briar Creek Grange #146, and; Roaring Creek Valley Grange #2041.

[Photo of 13 Charter Members of Madison Grange #2107]

Thursday, June 3, 2010