Correspondent photo / Nancilynn Gatta Orange boxes were given to two people at each of the 27 tables at the Howland Community Scholarship Foundation’s 20th annual scholarship breakfast Tuesday morning. At a set time, orange and black balloons, representing the district’s colors, were released. Fifty-six Howland High School seniors received a monetary award.

HOWLAND — With a mission to fill the monetary gaps for Howland High School seniors furthering their education, the Howland Community Scholarship Foundation was created in 2006.

At its 20th anniversary breakfast Tuesday at Leo’s Ristorante, the organization presented its one millionth dollar donation.

“We created this perpetual foundation simply out of an idea: that the youth of our community should be recognized and rewarded for their hard work and accomplishments,” said Andy Bednar, president of the Howland Community Scholarship Foundation.

The six-member, anonymous scholarship review committee, in collaboration with Howland High School faculty, chose 56 seniors to receive $1,000 to $5,000. The total amount of money awarded Tuesday was $104,625.

Funding is provided from school-related organizations such as the Howland Classroom Teachers Association, numerous local businesses, family foundations, Howland Township and its police department.

“We are truly a community-funded organization,” said Stephanie Shaw, chair of the breakfast committee. “One couple instead of receiving gifts for their wedding, they had donations sent to the Howland Community Scholarship Foundation.”

This year, an in-memoriam scholarship was given in honor of Elizabeth (Beth) L. Ward, an originator of the foundation, who died last year. The beneficiary of the $5,000 award was Lily Lussier.

During the breakfast, the foundation gave an award to the family of Ward for her many years of dedication to the organization.

Each scholarship winner sat at an assigned table with their donor. This gave the student a chance to thank their benefactor and the donor to know that their money is being given to a worthy applicant, Bednar said.

Two of the recipients were Madeline Howard and Preston Thigpen. Both students will attend Kent State University in the fall. Although she is already attending classes at Youngstown State University, Howard has not declared a major.

“I am entering the exploratory program. I can take courses in different majors,” said Howard, who will become a third-generation KSU student.

After her first year of exploration, she can decide on her career path.

Howard said the $2,000 that she received from the Five Fellows Scholarship “helps take some of the worry away about how I will finance my education when I do not know what my course of study will be.”

She said that many scholarships are matched with students of specific majors.

Thigpen received $2,000 from the Howland Tiger Booster Club.

“I am going to major in (KSU’s) professional pilot program. Two of my great-uncles were pilots and I became interested in being a pilot. One was a private pilot flying important people all over the world and the other was a commercial pilot.”

He plans on having a minor in music with a concentration in bassoon.

To qualify for a scholarship, students must meet the criteria of academic achievement, leadership skills and athletics, plus write an essay on a specific topic.

Of the 973 scholarship recipients since the charitable organization’s inception, some such as 2009 Howland High School graduate Ryan Glinn is now a member of the Howland Community Scholarship Foundation as it works toward providing scholarships to 1,000 students in the near future.

Bednar summed up the event’s purpose, “We are honored and wonderfully proud to share this day and to award amazing students for their accomplishments and hard work.”