ANCRAMDALE — For the past nine years, the Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association (ANHNA) has provided higher education grants to help town of Ancram high school graduates who plan to attend an accredited college, community college or vocational school full time.
These grants are based on need, to help students pay for food, clothing, books, transportation and other necessities during the academic year.
Community support helps make the program a continued success. With local help, ANHNA was able to award six students this year’s Higher Education Grant, in the amount of $2,000 per student.
This is an increase of $500 from last year’s grant. The increase is to help offset some of the cost of inflation, especially the cost of gas.
Four students will receive the Adrienne Memorial Higher Education Grant and two students will receive memorial grants, fully funded by their donors. To date, ANHNA has awarded 62 grants.
The Sally Berg Memorial was established by Berg’s family and friends in her memory. Sally Berg was a long-term resident of Ancram, remembered for her quick wit and humor and her tireless work with a number of local charitable causes. She was widely loved and admired by many.
The Joey Broder Memorial was established by Deborah Broder and Bill Walter. Joey Broder, Deborah’s brother, passed away on June 12, 1972, at the young age of 17. He was loved and liked by everyone who knew him, for being sensitive, kind, fun-loving and playful. The caption on his high school yearbook next to his photo said: “I’ll laugh a lot,” because he found joy and humor in things both big and small. He had much love and light to give to the world. The grant is awarded to the student who strives to overcome obstacles, seizes opportunity and finds laughter along the way.
‘22 Higher Education Grant recipients
Amya Anderson graduated from Taconic Hills and Questar III. She will be attending Columbia Greene Community College (CGCC) majoring in English. Her future goal is to become a K-6 teacher.
Mallory Breen will be entering her second year at CGCC. She looks forward to graduating with an associate’s degree in Business Administration and working face to face with the public.
Matt Damon is entering his second year at CGCC and studying Adolescent Education. His future goal is to transfer to a four-year university. He hopes to get a teaching degree and become a high school history teacher.
Katherine Lutz is entering her second year at CGCC where she is majoring in Environmental Science. She loves being outside and is interested in focusing on botany or plant science.
Emily Mason is beginning her third year at CGCC and entering their new bachelor’s degree nursing program. Her immediate goal is to become a pediatric nurse and then go on to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. Emily is this year’s recipient of the Sally Berg Memorial Grant.
Kiah McManus Kiah graduated from Taconic Hills in June and will be attending SUNY Plattsburgh and focusing on neuropsychology. Kiah is this year’s recipient of the Joey Broder Memorial Grant.
As a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation and state-accredited food bank serving Ancram, Ancramdale and Boston Corner, the Neighbors organization relies on community contributions to fund its various activities, including providing area families with food on a weekly basis, holiday baskets, school supplies for students and schools, and help during family emergencies, such as a job loss or health crisis.
To contact ANHNA about a potential community need, call Jack Lindsey at 518-329-7306 or Hila Richardson at 917-414-8270, or email ANHNAinfo@gmail.com.
Contributions may be sent to ANHNA, P.O. Box 97, Ancramdale, NY 12503.
Laura Ponkos and Mike Sturdivant are both board members of the Ancram Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association.
