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Students Receive Awards at
Masonic Children's Home's Youth Appreciation Day
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Residents of the Masonic Children's Home/seniors from the
Elizabethtown Area High School (from left) Kisha Fields, Yadira Diaz,
Kenneth Henry and Dana Balmer (second from right) plant a tree at the
Masonic Children's Home with Virginia Migrala, director, children's
services; Gilson "Buz" Cash, former director, children's services; and
Grand Master of PA Masons Ronald A. Aungst, Sr.
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Residents of the Masonic Children's Home were honored at the 83rd
annual Youth Appreciation Day on May 26 at the Masonic Village in
Elizabethtown.
Following a luncheon, Virginia Migrala, director, children's services,
presented each of the 40 youth from the Masonic Children's Home with
medallions for their participation
in various academic and extracurricular activities and plaques and
certificates of achievement. All children attend the Elizabethtown Area
School District.
Gilson "Buz" Cash, former director, children's services, honored the
four graduating seniors, Dana Balmer, Yadira Diaz, Kisha Fields and
Kenneth Henry, with special words
of encouragement and graduation certificates.
The Rev. A. Preston Van Deursen of the Masonic Village, an alumnus of
the Masonic Children's Home, presented each graduate with a Bible.
During his presentation, R.W. Grand Master Ronald A. Aungst, Sr.,
recognized the seniors' strong work ethic, responsibility and
perseverance that will take them where
they want to go in life.
"That is what our Masonic Children's Home is all about," Aungst said,
"giving our young people the tools and opportunities to discover their potential and make the most of their talents and skills."
Migrala and Aungst presented the following trust fund awards to
individuals who exemplify the characteristics and qualities taught at
the Masonic Children's Home.
Sorden McClure Memorial Fund Award Scholarship -- Recipients must have a
grade point average (GPA) consistent with or better than their ability
and must display good study habits. Each recipient receives a $50 U.S. savings bond: Antonio
Arroyo-Diaz, Shawna Bratina, Yadira Diaz, Joseph Emlet, Tyler Emlet,
Charity Hess, Kenneth Henry, Colin Knowles Koltun, Cameron Maurer, Michael Moyer, Annemarie
Peterson-Sams, Chelin Peterson-Sams and Aries Rodriguez
Sorden McClure Memorial Fund Award - Athletics - Recipients must have
completed two sports, exemplify the spirit of sportsmanship in their
daily lives and show a
commitment to sports. Each winner receives a $50 savings bond: Cynthia
Balmer, Dana Balmer, Danielle Balmer, Stephen Cross, Kisha Fields,
Charity Hess, Kristen Malasky-Norman, Michael Moyer, Chelin Peterson-Sams and Clemmeth Varence
Sorden McClure Memorial Fund Award - Creativity - Recipients must make a
creative contribution to home, school or community. Each recipient
receives a $50 savings bond: Dana Balmer, Michelle Diaz, Thomas McQuait and Cole Tamarri
Sorden McClure Memorial Fund Award - Citizenship - Recipients must
demonstrate a high quality of response to membership in the community
and show leadership. Each recipient receives a $50 savings bond: Dana Balmer, Kenneth Henry,
Kristen Malasky-Norman, Michael Moyer and Annemarie Peterson-Sams
Sorden McClure Memorial Fund Award - Vocation - Recipients must have
held a job at the Masonic Village or in the community and conducted
themselves honorably. Each
recipient receives a $50 savings bond: Antonio Arroyo-Diaz, Dana Balmer,
Danielle Balmer, Steve Cross, Michelle Diaz, Yadira Diaz, Kisha Fields,
Thomas McQuait and
Richard Miller
Elementary Scholastic Achievement Award - This award goes to the
elementary school student who has achieved the highest GPA. The winner
receives a $100 savings
bond: Cole Tamarri
Middle School Scholastic Achievement Award - This award goes to the
middle school student who has achieved the highest GPA. Recipient is
awarded a $100 savings bond:
Cynthia Balmer
High School Scholastic Achievement Award - This award goes to the high
school student who has achieved the highest GPA. The winner receives a
$100 savings bond:
Kristen Malasky-Norman
Elizabeth Gatchel Smith Award - A $100 savings bond is awarded to the
boy and girl attaining the highest combined average for both school and
home deportment with an
emphasis on citizenship: Michael Moyer
John T. Gay Memorial Fund Award - A $1,000 cash award is presented to
the high school student who best exemplifies Mr. Gay's characteristics
of service above self,
honesty, integrity, caring for others and compassion for his fellow man.
This award is to be used upon graduation to further the pursuit of
educational and career goals:
Dana Balmer
Harry Keebler Memorial Scholarship Award - A $1,000 cash award is
presented to the student who strives to further his or her education and
has demonstrated this ability
to the fullest. This award is to be used upon graduation to further
their education: Kristen Malasky-Norman
Daniel Rosston Award - A $200 cash award to a boy and girl
for higher education expenses: Dana Balmer, Kisha Fields and Yadira Diaz
Jerry Migrala Memorial Award - This award is presented in memory of
Gerry Migrala, former child care worker and assistant director of the
Masonic Children's Home. This
$100 savings bond is awarded to an individual who has displayed a strong
work ethic and is a genuine concern for others, a good will ambassador
for the Masonic Children's
Home, highly motivated, outgoing, focused and has a unique sense of
humor: Antonio Arroyo-Diaz
Donna Kruel Memorial Award - This award is given in memory of Donna
Kruel, former secretary of the Masonic Children's Home. This $100
savings bond is awarded to the
individual who best exemplifies Donna's characteristics of determination
and positive attitude. This individual demonstrates an appreciation for
the opportunities provided
by the Masonic Children's Home and strives to take full advantage of
those opportunities: Yadira Diaz
Reverend Preston Van Deursen Award - A $250 cash award is given to the
boy or girl who best exemplifies Pastor Van Deursen's compassion,
service to others and sense
of humor: Dana Balmer
The day's events concluded with the annual Tree Planting Ceremony,
during which the four graduates, Migrala, Aungst and former director
Gilson "Buz" Cash planted a tree
to commemorate the occasion and to leave a living symbol of the
graduating seniors' ties to the
Masonic Children's Home. The ceremony was followed by the dedication of
the new Memorial Garden. The garden recognizes close to $2 million in
gifts to the Masonic
Children's Home from generous contributors.
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