The Bradford Area High School Alumni Association awarded its annual scholarships of $500 each to three 2017 Bradford High graduates during a luncheon with them and their guests on Thursday at the Bradford Club.
One of the awards this year was given in honor of the memory of Lt. Howard Griffin, Class of 1940, a decorated veteran of two wars who was killed in action in 1951 during the Korean War. The other two were presented to honor the Class of 1956, who donated their remaining treasury after deciding to end their cycle of five year reunions.
Dylan Giordano, Tasha Mangel and Megan Myers were named as this year’s recipients.
Giordano will enroll at the University of Pittsburgh, main campus, this fall in pre-medicine, working toward her goal of becoming an anesthesiologist. She has been on the distinguished honor roll for four years and has received the Amelia Earhart Service Award as well as the Horatio Alger National Scholar Award for 2017. Dylan’s activities included managing the volleyball team, studying dance and serving as assistant teacher for several years, serving as Miss Bradford for 2016-17— representing the community at numerous events — and working at Ott & McHenry Pharmacy through her high school years.
Mangel will begin degree work in nursing at Jamestown Community College, Olean, N.Y., campus, in September with a long-term goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist. She is currently a certified nursing assistant and is employed at the Bradford Ecumenical Home, has been a varsity cheerleader for four years and captain for three, served as a youth soccer coach and midget cheer coach, was selected for the Big 30 cheer squad and received the Pride Award.
Myers will start classwork in criminal justice at Mercyhurst University to prepare for a degree in law enforcement. She studied dance for several years, served as a social studies teaching assistant during her high school years, worked summers for the U.S. Forest Service and is currently employed at McDonald’s restaurant.
All three young women carried college level honors courses as seniors while being involved in activities, volunteering in the community and maintaining part-time employment.
The association awards scholarships each year and membership is open to any person who graduated from, attended or was employed by Bradford High, regardless of year. Nominal annual dues, as well as member donations, support the program.
