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Doctor Almo Sebastianelli Drum Corps Scholarship is available to any senior residing in Pennsylvania who meets the following criteria: A child or grandchild of a Pennsylvania legionnaire in good standing or a child or grandchild of a deceased Pennsylvania Legionnaire. To be eligible a student must be a member of a high school band who is going on to higher education majoring in music. The Student needs to include his/her current high school transcript. The higher education school must be in Pennsylvania, letter of college acceptance must be included. Selection will be made by the members of the committee. One winner will be selected to receive a $500.00 scholarship. Anyone wishing to apply is required to submit an application on or before May 1st in order to receive consideration for the following September to The American Legion, Department of Pennsylvania, 800 N Front Street, Wormleysburg, PA 17043.
The Robert J. Trace Scholarship fund was set up by Robert J. Trace and his family. Bob served as a Department Officer for an incredible fifty years, one as Judge Advocate and 49 as Finance Officer from the Central Judicial Section. Bob was also an Honorary Past Department Commander. Legionnaires of his caliber are hard to find, his dedication and contribution to the Pennsylvania American Legionnaire is legendary. Education was very important to Bob and his family.
The Robert J. Trace Scholarship fund was established to assist young patriotic students achieve their academic dreams.
The Robert J. Trace Scholarship Fund is available to every student 15 to 18 years of age residing within the state of Pennsylvania and meeting the following criteria:
To be eligible a student must compose a 300 to 500 word essay on the topic “Patriotism and Citizenship – What America Means to Me”, and complete an application containing the information of the person through which the eligibility for this scholarship is made. Applications have been sent to each American Legion Post and you can also download the application on our website. The essays will be judged by the members of the Department Finance Committee.
Essays and application must be sent to the Pennsylvania American Legion. One winner will be selected and will receive a $500 scholarship.
The Joseph P. Gavenonis is awarded twice a year of $500 each semester after the student sends a copy of their grades to Department Headquarters and has a grade point average of 2.5 or better. A check will be mailed directly to the student for that semester. This scholarship is for seniors who wish to receive a degree in a four year college.
The Robert W. Valimont is awarded once a year of $600 and is mailed directly to the student after a copy of their grades for that semester is sent in to the department and has a grade point average of 2.5 or better. This is a two year community college scholarship.
Applications are requested through Department Headquarters.
Children and Grandchildren of PA Legion members who are deceased, KIA or MIA or has a parent who has been in the military or is in the military and is a member in good standing in the American Legion.
The Scholarship Endowment Committee will study the applications and pick the most eligible ones that our budget permits. An award letter will be sent to the student informing them they have been chosen for the scholarship.
Any applications/forms for this program can be found on the forms page.
Events coming up:
Legion College –
West 10/29 @ Latrobe High School (app due 10/15 to HQ)
East 11/05 @ Eagle View Middle School on CV campus (app due 10/22 to HQ)
*Note – NO WALK INS ALLOWED, NO TICKET = NO LUNCH
Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS) –
02/04 – 12, 2023 @ Farm Show Complex Harrisburg. Dept of PA has a booth for the event to recruit new members. Dept will need volunteers to help at the booth. Contact Troy at HQ for details.
Forms Due to HQ:
12/31/2022 - VA & R Employer Awards applications
01/04/2023 - Firefighter of the Year, EMS Worker of the Year and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year applications
01/04/2023 - Chaplain of the Year and Chaplain Meritorious Service Award applications
01/09/2023 - 9th – 12th grade Essay due to local Post
02/05/2023 - 6th – 8th grade Essay contest must be held by (local Posts only)
Membership:
The November Target date, which is 11/02 for Department and will be here before we know it. While we are just slightly ahead of target, we need to keep processing membership cards. The target % for November is 65% and as of today we need approximately 11,100 cards turned in before 11/02. Together we can accomplish this goal. As a reminder, please do not sit on any membership cards!
Sons Cards (SAL) – Dept still has approx. 50 SAL Squadron membership cards being held for officer cards. The new rule this year has been, in order to receive the SAL cards, an officer card must be turned into Dept. If this is your SAL, please contact Dawn or Troy at HQ to receive your cards.
Canceled Events:
*Holiday Tour is CANCELED again this year*
Other:
If you know of any Veterans in the field of refrigeration or open to learning this field, please send an email to jwoodyhogan@pa-legion.com. We have been contacted by this type of company looking to hire Veterans.
SPECIAL NOTE / REQUEST:
Scholarship Fund -
Did you know the PA American Legion has two scholarships available to children or grandchildren of a PA American Legion member in good standing for 5 years, deceased or KIA or MIA?
Department is proud to offer the Joseph P. Gavenonis Scholarship and the Robert W. Valimont Endowment for descendants of members of PA whose family does not exceed $65k per year.
However, currently Dept is unable to offer these wonderful opportunities to students because of lack of donations. On average, there are 10 – 15 students enrolled in one of these programs. Each student receives either $500 twice a year or $600 a year depending which fund they fall under. This can cost Dept over $10k each year. And in the last several years, donations have been on a major decline, from $23k in 2019 to only $10k in 2021.
Can you help with this great cause for Legionnaires’ children and make a contribution to the scholarship fund? Any and all contributions are much appreciated! Send checks to the Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2324, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
As always, feel free to contact us at 717.730.9100
The American Legion
A donation from American Legion Riders Chapter 117 in Butler, Pa., in 2015 established a scholarship for students attending Butler County Community College (BC3). Continued donations brought the endowment to $10,000 by 2018.
And now, another $10,000 donation this summer by 117’s Riders will expand the reach of the Butler American Legion Riders Veterans Incentive Scholarship Post 117.
Through the donation, a $500 scholarship has been awarded each year to either a student veteran or the child of a veteran attending BC3. The additional donation this summer will double the number of scholarships annually presented. Ten scholarships have been presented since its inception.
For Chapter 117 Director Denny Christie, the scholarship is an opportunity to make a long-term impact on veterans as they transition into college. “We talked a legacy we might leave, meaning the Riders,” he said. “We just wanted to leave a legacy at the community college so the veterans (there) would always have something from us.”
BC’s multiple campuses are home to more than 50 veterans and military personnel, nearly 45 percent of which are enrolled full time in college. “Butler is loaded with veterans. This is a huge veteran town,” said former Chapter 117 Assistant Road Captain Chip Hill, who has since transferred to Post 778 in Butler after helping charter a new ALR chapter there in July. “This was just another means to give back to the community and help the veterans going to school. And it’s 100 percent earmarked for veterans.”
Hill said the recipients typically come to the post for a special gathering after being awarded the scholarship. “It’s heart-warming,” he said. “That’s the next generation coming up.”
Christie said hosting the recipients makes for a rewarding experience. “It’s priceless both ways. We get to see the recipient, and they get to see the group that presented them with it,” he said. “They enjoy seeing us, and we enjoy seeing them and spending a little time together. We ask them what they’re (studying) or what they did in the service. What their plans are for the future. Things like that. It’s a real good feeling.”
It’s been a generous summer for Chapter 117, which earlier presented Robin’s Home in Butler with a $10,000 donation. The home provides a variety of cares and services for homeless, unstably housed or low-income women veterans and their children.
Chapter 117 is able to make donations such as this summer through efforts that include annually auctioning off a motorcycle, gun raffles and a fundraising ride. “A lot goes into it,” Hill said. “They’re all out there doing what they’re doing: raising money for veteran awareness.”
Student & Youth Programs
Community
Essay Program
Any applications for this program can be found on the forms page.
As American Legionnaires, we fully believe that education is the cornerstone upon which the future of America is built. Education becomes the first requisite of good citizenship and the relationship of The American Legion to Pennsylvania citizens is of prime importance as a means of keeping us a free civilization.
Our approach to supporting solid educational principles is direct and positive. We agree with the PA Department of Education’s initiative of “writing across the curriculum” and we reward the efforts of involved students through our annual essay scholarship program beginning at the local Post.
Any student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 in a public, private, parochial, cyber school or who is home schooled in Pennsylvania is eligible to participate in the High School Essay Contest. Students in grades 6, 7, 8 are encouraged to participate in the Middle School Essay Program in preparation for the high school program.
Through the annual Department of Pennsylvania American Legion Essay scholarship contest, students are provided an opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities in English by using originality, accuracy and research as evidence, while learning that the responsibilities and duties of good citizenship can be both rewarding and fun
Since the inception of the Department of Pennsylvania State Essay Contest in 1935, The American Legion has awarded well over $500,000 in scholarships, while local American Legion Posts, Counties, Districts and Sections have also offered suitable awards and prizes for their respective best essay winners.
Prizes to Be Awarded
Any applications for this program can be found on the forms page.
