Awards - Penns Valley – High School Counseling – Penns Valley Jr./Sr. High School

Penns Valley High School Senior Awards!

Each year, Penns Valley Seniors have the opportunity to apply for approximately 200 scholarships and award offerings funded by community members, local businesses/organizations, Foundations, and academic/athletic departments. These scholarships range in criteria, amount, and application requirements, so seniors need to be aware of what awards they might be eligible for and how/when to apply for those awards.

You may access the 2025-2026 Awards Book here

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2026 Awards Book

Award and Scholarship Applications

2026 General Application for Scholarships and Awards

DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026

To be considered for many of the available Penns Valley Awards, seniors must complete the above scholarship form detailing their post-graduate plans, high school achievement and involvement, and financial need. The information students submit on this form is reviewed by a group of Penns Valley faculty, administrators, and counselors to determine the awarding of many Penns Valley Awards.

Please note that only seniors signed into their Penns Valley Google accounts can access and submit this form.

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2026 Awards - Additional Applications

In addition to the awards that seniors are automatically considered for by completing the above form, there are a number of additional awards that seniors are able to apply for directly. The paper applications for the below awards must be printed, completed, and submitted to the Penns Valley Awards Coordinator, Ms. Snider, in the Counseling Office (there are also printed copies available in the Counseling Office). The links to download the award application PDFs appear below the chart.

*Award Name*	*Award Sponsor*	*Award Amount and Application Deadline*	*Award Criteria*
Andrew Peffer Award Application Below	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$500 (2) APRIL 8, 2026	Awarded to one male and one female senior Demonstrated passion for science Planning a career in either science or education, or attending IUP GPA of 3.25 or higher
Cale Shaffer Memorial Application Below	Cale Shaffer Memorial Trust	$500 APRIL 8, 2026	Senior must have a 3.0 GPA 3 letters of recommendation and a strong interest in outdoor recreation and community service.
Cecelia Bradford Service Above Self Scholarship Essay required	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$500 APRIL 8, 2026	GPA of 3.0 or better Viewed as a team player, leader, and the heart of a servant Based on 50% need, 30% scholarship, and 20% leadership 200-250 word essay
Centre County Pomona Grange #13 Application Below	Centre County Pomona Grange #13	$100 APRIL 8, 2026	Senior should have a minimum of a "C" average and have contributed to their family income through employment during school years.
Ertel Memorial Scholarship Application Below	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$304 APRIL 8, 2026	Member of St. Peters United Church of Christ in Rebersburg or Who resides in Miles Township Financial need Involvement in Community Organizations Essay of 250 words
Gregg Township Alumni Association Awards Application Below	GTVS Alumni Association	$100 APRIL 8, 2026	For a student who is a resident of Gregg Township
Hollier Scholarship Application Below	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$1,000 APRIL 8, 2026	Senior has been accepted to a college and is planning to major in a STEM field of study. Has a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Has participated in extra-curricular activities or work. Preference given to engineering students and those with financial needs.
Jacob F. Wetzel Scholarship & Patrick Smith Memorial Award Application Below	Centre Hall Lions Club	$1,000 (2-3 awards available) APRIL 8, 2026	Senior must be a Potter Township resident. Should demonstrate academic potential and seeking a certificate, 2-year, or 4-year degree.
James A. Bradford Memorial Scholarship for Engineering Application Below	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$500 APRIL 8, 2026	Senior must have a 3.5 GPA Be accepted to a 2-year or 4-year college to study engineering.
Keystone American Legion Post 444 Scholarship Application Below	American Legion Post 444	$1,000 (awarded to one male and one female) APRIL 8, 2026	Financial Need (80%) Scholarship (10%) Leadership (10%) Student must provide proof of college acceptance, and letter from college denying eligibility for financial aid.
Larry Leitch STEM Award Application Below	Mr. Larry Leitch	$500 (2 awards available) APRIL 8, 2026	Senior accepted by a university, who is planning to major in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) field.
Maebelle Malone Shreckengast Memorial Award Application Below	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$1,000 APRIL 8, 2026	Not received more than one other award Demonstrated Financial need (60%) Scholarship skills (GPA and SAT scores) (30%) Interest in a career in Education (20%) Demonstrated Leadership Skills (10%)
Nancy Hartman Memorial Education Scholarship Essay Required	Penns Valley Education Foundation	$5,000 APRIL 8, 2026	GPA of 3.5 or higher Education major 250-500 word essay
Future Nurse Scholarship Link to online application	PA Association of School Nurses & Practitioners	$1,000 MAY 1, 2026	Pursuing a BSN in Nursing
Past Exalted Rulers Association Provide complete record of Community Service activities	Bellefonte Elks Lodge #1094	$750 APRIL 8, 2026	Deserving senior who has performed more than 100 community service hours throughout grades 9-12 Good moral character
Paul & Mary Jane Rishel Memorial Loan Trust Application Below	Mr. & Mrs. Paul and Mary Jane Rishel	$6,000 loan (up to 3 students awarded)	Senior who is a graduating senior of Penns Valley High School with GPA of 3.0 Must provide letter of college acceptance. Must provide FAFSA Student Aid Report.
The Rudy Family Ag & Arts Award Application Below	The Rudy Family	$1,000 APRIL 8, 2026	Given directly to a student who has demonstrated an academic and/or extracurricular interest in both agriculture and the performing arts - chorus, band, theatre, musical, dance, and visual arts. Must complete a 500-word minimum essay. Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
Senior Community Service Award Application Below	Penns Valley Grange #158	$150 APRIL 8, 2026	Senior with an active involvement in community service organizations and activities.
St. John's Lutheran Church Scholarship Application Below	St. John's Lutheran Church Millheim, PA	Up to $1,500 APRIL 30, 2026	Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher (unweighted) Good attendance (90%) Proof of acceptance to an accredited college School Guidance Counselor endorsement Completed application 2 letters of recommendation Transcript Letter of acceptance from college Personal essay of 250-500 words
Boring Court Reporting, Inc. Scholarship Application Below	Boring Court Reporting, Inc.	$200 APRIL 8, 2026	NO academic requirements
William Young Memorial Scholarship Application Below	Mount Nittany Medical Center	$300 APRIL 8, 2026	Awarded to a senior planning to enter the field of health care. Involvement in school activities GPA of 3.0 or higher Community involvement in activities promoting healthcare

2026 Awards - Centre Foundation Online Applications

Application Instructions may be found HERE

For Application, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Please note. For Centre Foundation scholarships, you will need to complete the initial application. This will then match you, based on your eligibility, with the three scholarship opportunities available specifically to Penns Valley students. If you are interested in some of the other scholarships offered, you will need to search on the website specifically for them and complete the application.

Award Name	Award Funder	Award Amount and Application Deadline	Award Criteria
Centre Bar Association Senior Award	Centre County Bar Association & The Centre Foundation	$300 APRIL 8, 2026	This fund supports a senior award for an outstanding high school senior who has demonstrated a commitment to community service through involvement in civic organizations or through projects and activities that benefit the residents of the student’s hometown, region, county, or state. The recipient should also be proficient in English composition and grammar and American history.
Colonel Gerald F. Russell Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$ Varies APRIL 8, 2026	Graduating senior of a Centre County school district, including St. Joseph Catholic Academy Must be a child or grandchild of a military veteran or the brother or sister of a military veteran Applicant must have demonstrated academic achievements and leadership in the community, school, and/or religious activities. Must have a GPA of at least 3.0 Preference will be given to a student exhibiting financial need
Connie Infield Memorial Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$1,435 MAY 15, 2026	Must be accepted into a full-time program at South Hills School of Business & Technology Minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher Must demonstrate financial need
Dr. John L. Brown Jr. Memorial Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$1,000 APRIL 8, 2026	Awarded to a senior student in Bellefonte, Bald Eagle, Penns Valley or State College area school districts who has demonstrated excellence in mathematics. Applicant should be intending to study mathematics at post-secondary level.
Next Step Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$3,721 APRIL 8, 2026	Given to a Penns Valley Area High School senior pursuing a post-secondary technical training education and from a working-class family. May be a 2 or 4 year program.
Arize Federal Credit Union Scholarship Click on link to be taken to award webpage and see the file below for instructions to apply	SPE Federal Credit Union & The Centre Foundation	$3,000 (3 awards available) MAY 15, 2026	Available to high school seniors from Centre County, Huntingdon, or Mount Union areas entering CPI or the Huntingdon County Career and Tech Center Financial hardship may be considered Other considerations: extra-curricular and volunteer activities, grades/GPA, and career goals.
Rudy J. & Annamae Labor Memorial Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$7,000 (10 scholarships available) MAY 15, 2026	Enrolled at South Hills School of Business & Technology Award is distributed evenly over six (6) terms
Virginia Higgins Suhey Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$1,000 APRIL 8, 2026	Available to a graduating senior from a Centre County school district who is pursuing a post-secondary education and has been accepted Must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher Must demonstrate financial need
John and Janice Shearer Scholarship	The Centre Foundation	$ Varies APRIL 8, 2026	Available to a graduating senior from a Centre County school district who is attending the Schreyer Honors College at PSU, University Park, PA. Other considerations: Financial need Female student planning to study a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, math Community service activities Number of AP courses Extracurricular activities

2026 Awards - Additional Online Applications

Award Name (containing link to apply)	Award Funder	Award Amount and Application Deadline	Award Criteria
2026 PVYC Commitment to Community Scholarship	Penns Valley Youth Center	$1,000 / $500 April 30, 2025	Selection determined by responses to short application essays regarding community

Sweat 4 Vets Scholarship Application	Sweat 4 Vets	$ 1,000 April 1, 2026	Scholarships are awarded to veterans or family members of veterans. Scholarship committee considers the service of the veteran (combat service, purple heart, service-related death or disability, etc.) as well as the student's grades, community service, and involvement in school activities and the workforce.

Sweat for Vets Scholarship