For years, the Paradise Township Lions Club has awarded scholarships to Pequea Valley students planning on attending a four-year postsecondary institution.

Times have changed. More students are looking toward trades and technical programs as they near graduation; nearly 30% of college-going individuals are now going to trade school instead of the traditional, four-year university or local community college.

The Lions are evolving with the times. This year, for the first time, the organization awarded its annual scholarship to a student attending a technical school, as well as one heading off to a four-year institution.

"Maybe eight years ago, we started the discussion," said longtime Lions Club member Mary Alice High. "More kids need to go into trade school; we need those jobs for our community to survive."

Both scholarships are worth $1,500, also an increase from years past. Cassidy Hanna of Gap, who is set to head to Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, was awarded the technical school scholarship. Messiah University-bound Adeline Pacella, also of Gap, was the four-year winner. The latter also served as class secretary in 2026.

The students were recognized at a ceremony on May 19.

To be awarded the scholarships, students had to fill out an application and had to get recommendations from both somebody in the community and one of their teachers. After that, the applicants wrote an essay.

Part of the application was having students say what they knew about the Lions Club.

The scholarship is available to all students who attend Pequea Valley Secondary, not necessarily just students who live in Paradise Township. This year's program had around a dozen applicants.

The Lions would love to see more technical school applicants to the program in the future, fellow longtime Lions Club member Marie Glass said.

"We had to beg for a technology student," she said. "Because they just never knew it was available (for them)."

The number of applicants to the program in future years is bound to expand as Pequea Valley's First Choice career program has grown and evolved. The effort offers internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, job shadowing and classroom-based learning programs for students in fields like electric, health, manufacturing and more.

Some Pequea Valley students also attend Octorara Area's Career and Technical Education Center in programs that Pequea Valley doesn't offer.

The Paradise Township Lions have been active in the Pequea Valley community since 1928 and have around 20 active members, almost all of which are seniors. The organization recently held a school supply drive and will hold a food drive on Saturday, Aug. 15.

The drive will be held at the parking lot between Denlinger Pond and the Paradise Township Municipal Building, 2 Township Drive, Paradise. Nonperishable food items are requested.