TOWANDA, Pa. — Two Bradford County college students were each awarded Ernest Manchester Memorial scholarships by the Bradford County Conservation District. Megan Sweppenheiser and Monica Brown were each on hand to receive a $1,000 check presented by Deb Manchester (daughter of Ernest Manchester), Richard (Son of Ernest Manchester) and Stephanie Manchester, who represented the Manchester Family.
Megan Sweppenheiser is currently a senior at Penn State University, majoring in Animal Science (Pre-vet) with a minor in Equine Science. Megan is from the Ulster area and graduated from Athens High School.
Monica Brown is a junior at Delaware Valley University, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Zoology. Monica is from the Rome area and graduated from the Northeast Bradford High School.
Both students were selected based on their academic area of study, as well as their records of accomplishments. The Manchester family set up the scholarship fund with the Bradford County Conservation District as a memorial for Ernest Manchester, who was a longtime advocate and supporter of the conservation of Bradford County natural resources. Contributions from a number of sources went into establishing a fund and earnings are utilized to provide scholarships to any Bradford County college students pursuing a course of study related to the environment and/or agriculture. The first scholarship was awarded in 1994. With the addition of these two recipients, 26 students have been awarded and benefited from the Manchester Scholarship Fund.
Applications for the scholarship are always available through the Conservation District and the Bradford County web page and are accepted in the Fall of each year. For more information, contact the Conservation District at 570-265-5539 ext. 6.
— Bradford County Conservation District