The Sullivan County REC Craig A. Harting Memorial Scholarship (named in honor of the co-op’s former CEO of 32 years, the late Craig Harting) was offered for the fourth year in a row. It was the privilege of the scholarship committee, Directors Karen Beinlich, Stephan Brady, and Dave Aumen, to award scholarships to ten graduating high school seniors in our service territory.

                To be considered for the scholarship, students had to meet the following criteria:

• Student’s guardian must be an SCREC member;

• Student must be a graduating high school senior;

• Student must attend either a public or private school while living in our service territory, or be homeschooled/cyberschooled in our service territory;

• Student must be obtaining a postsecondary education (e.g., university/college, trade school, electric lineworker school, etc.) or opening a small business; and

• Student cannot be an immediate relation to any employee or director of SCREC.

                In order to apply, students were required to submit an application answering eight questions, submit academic proof (high school transcript, SAT/ACT results, and postsecondary acceptance letter or proof of entrepreneurial business venture), and answer the following essay prompt in at least 500 words: Cooperatives are guided by seven principles. The seventh guiding principle is “Concern for Community.” SCREC is deeply rooted in the communities we serve. Please describe in a paragraph or two at least one thing the cooperative has done in the past to give back to the communities we serve, and why it’s important to give back. In another paragraph or two, describe activities you have participated in to give back to your community, and finish by describing ways in which you plan to give back once your post-secondary education has been completed.

Recipients of the 2026 scholarship are the following, in alphabetical order:

• Theadora Bagley, Sullivan County High School, attending Bloomsburg University for early childhood education;

• Malika Bangoura, Sullivan County High School, attending Denison University for Spanish;

• Madalyn Broschart, Wyalusing Area High School, attending Misericordia University for speech and language pathology;

• Kira Hottenstein, Sullivan County High School, attending Lycoming College for early childhood education;

• Lily McCarty, Sullivan County High School, attending Penn State University for communicative sciences and disorders;

• Laura Ochs, Hughesville High School, attending Bloomsburg University for early childhood education;

• Kiana Peck, Hughesville High School, attending Penn State University for agricultural science;

• Bailey Ulmer, Montoursville Area High School, attending Lycoming College for biochemistry;

• Emilia Viveiros, Commonwealth Charter Academy, attending Susquehanna University for biology; and

• Hailey Whittaker, Sullivan County High School, attending Misericordia University for digital marketing.

Craig Harting believed in education and the power to change lives and strengthen community. He was a passionate advocate for learning and personal growth, and dedicated his life to serving others. Craig gave back to the community through leadership, generosity, and commitment to making our community a better place to live. This scholarship honors his legacy by supporting the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals who will contribute to a bright future for our community. 

Since the scholarship’s inception in 2023, SCREC has awarded a total of $32,000.00 to high school seniors attending Hughesville, Montoursville Area, Sullivan County, and Wyalusing Area high schools, and being homeschooled. The money allocated for these scholarships comes from capital credit retirements that have been donated back to the cooperative or that have gone unclaimed after a three-year period of time.

Everyone at SCREC wishes the students good luck in all their future endeavors!