Hattie M. Strong Foundation

The Hattie M. Strong Foundation was established in 1928 to honor the legacy of the woman by the same name, who support hospitals, schools, and social service agencies in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa and started a retreat for face-wounded veterans in France during WWI. This spring, the Foundation awarded generous scholarships through their Strong Scholars program to Emily Imgrund, Katlyn Middleton, Kaitlyn Peterson, Jalon Summers, and Casey Swartz.

Emily Imgrund knew at an early age she wanted to be an educator. After many years of remission (six) her severe Crohn's Disease reared its ugly head during the Fall 2022 semester, creating numerous challenges during her Internship I at South Penn Elementary School in Cumberland. Her mentor teacher described her as having a determined spirit and a sense of perseverance, especially on the difficult days when she was truly sick.

Katlyn Middleton suffered a terrible family tragedy in 2019 leaving her future uncertain. After much thought and
many tears she managed to push through the pain and heartache and picked up the pieces of her life. She was determined to finish college and be the best teacher she could be. After three days in a first-grade classroom during her internship, she found herself as the full-time teacher because her mentor teacher had a medical emergency. It didn't take long for her to realize she was capable of handling 25 first graders and she was exactly where she needed to be. Katlyn enjoys building relationships with her students and continues to share her love of education and enthusiasm in now her 2nd grade classroom.

Kaitlyn Peterson knows that her experience as a mother of two young daughters along with her field experience thus far have contributed to her abilities as an educator. She contributes her developing skills, planning and teaching to her outstanding field experiences. She was well thought of in Mrs. Paz's class at John Humbird
Elementary School, where she had a kind and gentle way with her students while maintaining a positive learning environment.

Jalon Sommers is a first-generation college student, one of ten children in his family. His goal as a future educator is to provide a safe place for his students while inspiring them to be successful. He strives to build positive relationships with his students, taking the time to meet their individual needs. He often attended teachers' meetings and attended after-school events. He is well on his way to being an awesome teacher.

Casey Swartz's mentor teacher at Beall and Frost Elementary School believes he has a special ability for fostering a lifelong love of music to young students. His enthusiasm in the classroom seems contagious and his ability to inspire and educate young people in music is boundless. He found that showing his students how to be flexible with a smile on his face every day was very effective, providing them with a desire to learn more!