Tag Archives: scholarship

Local scholarship established for students pursuing online degree

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Kelly Brugger, a Penn State World Campus student, and her husband Tom, a Penn State alumnus, wanted to establish a legacy that would support other students earning their degree online. The couple created the Thomas and Kelly Brugger Scholarship, a $50,000 endowment to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate World Campus students.

“Penn State World Campus has provided me with the opportunity to have a formal education, which is something I have always dreamed of having,” said Kelly Brugger. “So for me it is a privilege to be able to help someone else pursue his or her dreams.”

After high school, Andrew Nardella of Dunmore—fellow World Campus student and a recipient of the Thomas and Kelly Brugger Scholarship—had been working in group homes with children who had emotional and behavioral challenges. The experience led him to similar work in public schools.

“Teaching others how to create safe and inclusive environments for people with disabilities is my passion,” Nardella said.

He decided to begin taking classes online through Penn State World Campus to become a board certified behavior analyst, but he was struggling financially to reach his goals.

“The Brugger scholarship has helped me to get closer to obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology,” Nardella said. “I was able to afford some of the credits I would not have been able to afford without it, which would have added another semester and another year until I could apply to a graduate program.”

Kelly Brugger said that she and Tom set-up the endowment to continue to help students for years to come and she encourages others to do the same.

“If you wait until the timing is perfect to give back to others that time may never come,” Brugger said. “So you should give back at your first opportunity.”

For more information about the Thomas and Kelly Brugger Scholarship or other scholarships available for Penn State World Campus students, visit the paying for your education page on the Penn State World Campus Student Resources website.

 

Lanterns for the Lost Princess

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Lantern Release to be Held in Memory of Kelcey Hallinan and Carissa Dartt
By Emily Fedor

Kelcey Hallinan
Carissa Dartt

On August 20, 2014, Alicia Hallinan sent out a simple tweet: “Sky lanterns for @kelceyhal tonight 8:30 at DHS.  If you have any bring them! This is gonna be beautiful!”

Alicia’s daughter Kelcey was 18 years old when she passed away on November 16, 2013 after fighting a brave battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But throughout the course of her battle, Kelcey became an inspiration to all who knew her—as well as many people who never had the pleasure.

Alicia went to the school with about 20 lanterns, expecting to meet, at most, a dozen of Kelcey’s closest friends. But to her surprise, far more than 12 people came out that night to honor her daughter.

“Like 75 people showed up,” said Alicia. “I wished I had more lanterns, but it was nice to have everyone together.”

The idea for the lantern release came from Kelcey’s favorite movie, Tangled. The animated film, which tells the tale of Rapunzel, features a moment that shows Rapunzel gazing at hundreds of paper lanterns floating up in sky from her window. The lanterns were released every year by Rapunzel’s family. The gesture was meant to let the lost princess know that wherever she was, she was remembered and loved.

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lantern

The lantern release is inspired by Kelcey’s favorite movie, Tangled. Kelcey painted this picture as part of an art therapy session during her time at CHOP. (Photo Credit: Alicia Hallinan)

This past month, Alicia paid a visit to the home of Jim and Karen Dartt to get together with some friends who also lost loved ones. The Dartt family lost their daughter Carissa in 2002. Carissa was a 22-year-old pre-med student attending Temple University when she tragically passed.

During the gathering, Jim brought out two paper lanterns of his own to set off.

“Over the years, we’ve seen these lanterns going up occasionally around Dunmore. I ordered them and started sending them up,” said Jim. “We brought some down to Puerto Rico…to visit my son…and we try to do them on the beach for our daughter.

Alicia told Jim about last year’s lantern release for Kelcey and how her family waned to hold the event again this year, but on a larger scale. Together they decided to turn the release into a fundraiser that would support both the KelceyStrong Scholarship and the Carissa Dartt Foundation.

Between the Hallinans, the Dartts and other donors, over one thousand lanterns have been made available for purchase to be a part of a massive lantern release on Friday, August 7. Gathering places currently include Dunmore High School and Sherwood Park, but all are invited to participate from any location. Lanterns will be promptly set off at 9 p.m.

Additionally, participation is not closed off to only those in the Dunmore area. According to Facebook, many people will be setting off lanterns from all over the country. It has also been confirmed that a rather famous friend of Kelcey’s has been contacted and informed of the event plans.

The idea is to light up the sky as a sign to all of our lost loved ones—especially Kelcey and Carissa—letting them know they have not been forgotten and are still very much loved.

If all goes well, as it is expected to, the fundraiser will most likely become an annual occurrence.

“We’ve never had a fundraiser for the scholarship for Kelcey, so I said this would be a really good idea,” said Alicia. “And I just can’t believe how many people are responding. It’s amazing.”

“I think no matter what direction you look that evening, you’re going to see these lanterns,” said Jim Dartt.

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The lanterns can currently be bought for $5 each at various locations in Dunmore including but not limited to Cara Mia’s on East Drinker Street, DePietro’s Pharmacy at intersection of 3rd Street and Wheeler Avenue, and Lox Unlimited on the corner of Apple and Harper Streets. They will also be on sale on the day of the release at the Dunmore High School student parking lot.

All participants are encouraged to share photographs on social media using the following hashtags: #LanternsForTheLostPrincess, #LightingUpDunmore and #KelceyStrong.

Note: The rain date for the event is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at 9 p.m.

Holy Cross Pitcher Takes Talents to St. Bonaventure

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By Steve Svetovich

James Wetter had a knack of coming through as a pitcher in big games during his four year varsity baseball career at Holy Cross High School. And now Big Game James will be taking his talents to St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY. He will attend on a four-year academic and baseball scholarship.

Son of Atty. James and Janine Wetter, Dunmore, James finished his Holy Cross academic career with a 3.85 GPA. His best subject is math. James will major in Finance at St. Bonaventure. He has aspirations to become a lawyer like his dad.

The scholar-athlete was the voice of boys’ basketball and football at Holy Cross. He was Vice President of Crusaders for Compassion, an Animals Rights club. He was a member of the Latin Club.

James pitched for the Crusaders during his entire four year varsity baseball career. He fashioned an impressive 1.75 ERA  last season and 2.50 ERA in his junior year as the staff ace.

He was asked about the highlight of his varsity baseball career. “That would have to be in my freshman season,” he said. “We started out the season 1-4. Then we won nine games in a row and went all the way to the district championship game. It was quite a thrill as a team.”

James said he learned a lot from Holy Cross baseball coach Sandy Menichetti. “Besides the on the field work, coach Menichetti taught us how to act off the field. On the field he taught us to keep our composure at all times. He taught us we could always come back and get going in games we were behind. He set us up to come back.”

The stalwart pitcher, humble and polite in nature, said he learned a lot from his parents. “My parents taught me how to treat people. They taught me that everyone is equal and to treat everyone fair.”

James said he likes listening to music in his spare time. He would like to see Taylor Swift in concert.

He talked about what it takes to succeed as a pitcher. “You need to keep your composure. Don’t get too high and don’t get too low. Always try to hit your spots.”

James, who struck out 44 batters in 38 innings in his senior year, is keeping busy this summer pitching for the Northeast Pride in the Hudson Valley Collegiate Summer Baseball League.

He was thrilled to receive the scholarship to St. Bonaventure and can’t wait to get started in August. “I was extremely excited when I got the scholarship and decided to attend. I will get to play at a high level of Division I baseball and get a great education. They have a great business program for finance. And it will be a very good preparation for law school. I can’t wait to play baseball there.”

Right now James is enjoying his summer, working and playing baseball. “I loved going to Holy Cross,” he said. “I made many friends. I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot in school and really enjoyed my four years playing baseball there. It was just a great experience all around.”

And he’s not done yet. The future is bright athletically and academically for Big Game James.