Suzanne C. Funk Scholarship Fund
This fund provides scholarships to students who intend to pursue a degree at a two-year or four-year institution and who attended Tyson-Schoener Elementary School in Reading, PA.
Snyder Family Scholarship Fund (Wilson High School)
This fund was established in 2015 in memory of Mary Jane Snyder and in honor of Roy Snyder.
Roy taught physical education, was athletic director, and coached swimming at Wilson High School for more than 50 years, leading the Bulldogs to many individual and team successes.
A scholarship will be awarded to a senior graduating from Wilson High School who will be furthering his or her education after high school and who has been a member of the Wilson High School swim team or dive team, with a preference to students who will continue to participate in an aqua sport in college. Preference will also be given to seniors who participated on the swim team or dive team for four years and to students who were previously members of Wilson’s Age Group Swimming & Diving for at least two years. This recipient displays qualities of hard work, self-discipline and leadership.
William and Beulah Eshelman Memorial Fund
This fund was established in 2010 through a bequest to Calvary United Methodist Church in memory of William and Beulah Eshelman.
The fund provides educational loans to assist deserving, active members of Calvary United Methodist Church in Mohnton, PA, in pursuing some form of post secondary education. Church membership must have been for at least one year to qualify. Members may be attending a 2-year or 4-year college or a vocational school either full- or part-time or pursuing some type of post-secondary education through a certification program. There is a $5,000 lifetime maximum that will be awarded to any one individual. Individuals may apply more than one time.
Pamela A. Heid Memorial Scholarship Fund
This scholarship was established in 2020 by the estate of Gregory W. Heid. Gregory’s wife, Pamela A. “Pam” (Barrell) Heid, was a 1972 graduate of Kutztown Area High School. She achieved her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1976 from Kutztown State College and her master’s degree in reading. In 1977, Pam began her 20-year career as a first grade teacher in the Greenwich Elementary School in the Kutztown Area School District. She then became an instructional support teacher in the Kutztown Area School District until January 2016, when she became ill. Pamela passed away in 2016 at the age of 61.
This scholarship was established in Pamela’s memory to provide scholarships to graduating seniors from Kutztown Area High School who will be pursuing an undergraduate degree majoring in education.
In order to apply, applicants must have no criminal history other than a summary traffic offense. In addition, applicants must have achieved a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or above in order to apply. This scholarship will be paid over four years.
Educational Improvement Tax Credit/Berks County Scholarship Tax Credit Fund
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program provides scholarships to residents of Berks County who pay tuition to attend kindergarten through 12th grade in public or private schools located in Pennsylvania and demonstrate financial need.
Amin Family Nursing Scholarship Fund
The Amin Family established the Amin Family Nursing Scholarship Fund in 2019 to support scholarships for Reading High School seniors who plan to pursue their education in nursing after graduation. Good grades and attendance and financial need and responses to essay questions play roles in the selection process.
Patty Amin, a 1981 graduate of Reading High School, completed her Associate Degree in nursing at Alvernia University and earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Grand Canyon University. Saint Joseph Penn State Health has employed Patty since 1993. She always considered nursing to be an honorable career and felt blessed to help others in their time of need. The goal of the Amin family is to support the nursing profession and Reading High students pursuing a career in nursing by offering scholarships to help lessen the financial burden of a nursing education.
Reading High School seniors who plan to continue their education after high school in the field of nursing, have achieved a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0 (B average) or above, have a financial need, and have an acceptable high school attendance record, may apply for this scholarship.
Western Berks Ambulance Scholarship Fund
This fund was established by the Western Berks Ambulance Association to provide scholarships to graduating seniors who attend a Berks County high school or graduates of a Berks County high school who live in Berks County who will pursue a certification as an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, or a paramedic. The program must be approved by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Preference will be given to students graduating from Wilson High School, Wyomissing Area Junior-Senior High School, Daniel Boone High School, and Conrad Weiser High School. Preference will also be given to students who have participated in the Western Berks Ambulance internship program.
This fund honors the following individuals: Glen Hostetter, who was an EMT with WBAA and one of the seven original members of WBAA in 1961; H. David Miller, who was a paramedic with WBAA since 1978; and Michael Leiffer, who was an EMT with WBAA since 1977.
John Catalano Scholarship Fund
The John Catalano Scholarship Fund was established in 2019 through the Last Will and Testament of John Catalano. Chief Warrant Officer, 4th Class, U.S. Navy, John Catalano passed away in May 2018 at the age of 91. John graduated from Reading High School and then went on to Albright College, and then to Lehigh University to earn his master’s degree. He also served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and Korea and served in the Naval Reserve for 43 years. John was a history teacher at Northwest Junior High School before becoming a guidance counselor at Reading High School until his retirement.
This fund will provide scholarships to students whose ethnic background originates from Italy and are studying in the field of education at Albright College.
Students who are currently enrolled at Albright College in the field of education as full-time or part-time students, whose ethnic background originates from Italy, and are in their freshman, sophomore or junior year at Albright at the time of application, can apply for this scholarship. This opportunity is not available to high school seniors or graduate students.
Applicants who previously applied for this scholarship and previous recipients of this scholarship may apply again in a subsequent year as long as they continue to meet the application requirements; however, previous recipients will not be given preference.
Amin Family Scholarship Fund
The Amin Family Scholarship Fund was established in 2018 to support scholarships for students who attend Reading High School.
Reading High School seniors who plan to continue their education after high school, have achieved a cumulative *Unweighted* GPA of 3.0 (B average) or above, have a financial need, and have an acceptable high school attendance record may apply for this scholarship. Note: emphasis will be given to the quality of the essays.
Mandan Amin was born in the Northern Province of Iran. Early in her life, she learned the importance of education through her father who taught her that the only way to influence people and make a difference would be to be educated. Throughout school she studied hard and received an award of Excellence reserved only for those from the school district who had finished at the top of the class. Her love of science, medicine and strong ambition led her to follow an unconventional journey. While there was equality for women to get educated, most did not venture far from home. After she graduated from high school, she moved to Tehran to follow her dreams. She taught science, mathematics and drawing in an all-girl high school. She later went abroad to Germany where she got a bigger view of the world.
Upon her return to Tehran, she majored in political science in Tehran University Law School, which was a competitive undergraduate program. That followed with a Master’s degree in hospital administration and an internship in a Tehran hospital. Throughout Mandan’s life, she cared for policy to help streamline hospital protocols, knowing that providing committees to support further medical training as well as advocating for patients’ comforts would help faster healing. Mandan also joined the International Organization for Children, where she taught and prepared young children who had intellectual disabilities for primary school.
In the 1970s, Mandan made the difficult decision to leave everything she had ever known behind. After settling in the United States, Mandan focused her attention on her children and their education. All three children followed their education path and the American Dream.
A common trend in Mandan’s life was to actively help people. Whether it was disadvantaged children who could not advocate for themselves or friends needing support or empathy, Mandan was always there. She was the person who pushed her children and others to be their best selves. She believed everyone had some talent and, through education and hard work, they could realize their own American Dream.
It was her children’s wish to provide others with the same opportunities that were given to her own children. Following in her footsteps, they established this fund in her name.
Stephen J. Faralli Scholarship Fund
*NOTE: This award is available to students every four years, starting in 2019. The next award cycle will be available in 2027.*
The Stephen J. Faralli Scholarship Fund is named in memory of Stephen J. Faralli, who passed away suddenly in 2016 at the age of 58. Stephen was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1958 and attended high school at Malvern Preparatory School. He attended college at Drexel University, graduating with honors in 1980 with a BS in Business Administration. He went on to become a successful businessman who continuously exhibited the highest level of personal and professional integrity. At the time of his death, Stephen was president of The Arthur Jackson Company in Upper Darby, PA, the largest privately-owned building maintenance company in the Delaware Valley. This fund was established in 2018 by Stephen’s family to honor his memory.
This award is intended to provide financial support to high school seniors who are residents of Delaware County or Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and who attend a public school, and who lost a parent. Eligible applicants are biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren. In order to apply, students must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above in high school, have a financial need, and intend to pursue a 4-year degree at a college or university.
