The Southern Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce (SLCCC) invites high school seniors at Solanco, Lampeter-Strasburg, and Penn Manor, as well as homeschool seniors who live in those districts, to apply for $500 business-related scholarships. In addition, the Chamber will also award two $250 military scholarships.

The business-related scholarships are awarded annually to one student in each district who plans to pursue a business-related major in college or technical school or who plans to operate their own business following high school graduation. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required. Scholarships can be used to help offset educational expenses, fees incurred in starting a business, or participation in an apprenticeship program.

The $250 military scholarships are new this year. The SLCCC will award two scholarships to students who will enlist in a branch of the U.S. military. A GPA of 2.0 or higher is required. Students intending to participate in a Reserve Officer Training Corps program in college are not eligible for the scholarship. Applications should include a brief essay or video explaining why respective applicants are enlisting in their particular branch of service as well as a letter of recommendation from a community leader. Scholarship recipients will receive funds deposited directly into their personal accounts after successful completion of boot camp. Military scholarships can be used to offset the cost of supplies, uniform alterations, and transportation.

The application deadline for both scholarships will be determined by each district's guidance office. Guidance staff members and the SLCCC Scholarship Committee will review applications for accuracy and completeness. Applications will be reviewed anonymously; the Chamber's scholarship committee will not know the identity of the applicants until after the recipients are chosen. The school districts and the SLCCC will announce the scholarship recipients in May or early June.

Applications for the business-related scholarships and the military scholarships are available at http://www.southernlancasterchamber.org. Students may also contact their high school guidance office for applications.

The SLCCC obtains funding for the scholarships through its annual document shredding event, which is typically held in early June in Willow Street. Last year's event was canceled due to the pandemic, but plans are being made to resume the event this year. Once again, local businesses, organizations, and residents will be invited to bring their sensitive and confidential paper-based materials for shredding and subsequent recycling. Donations for the service will be used to fund the annual college scholarships.

For more information about the scholarships and the shredding event, readers may call SLCCC secretary Keith Kaufman at 717-786-5617.