Claverack Education Fund

Photo: Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative officials mark the establishment of the Claverack Education Fund with representatives of the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, Northern Tier Career Center and Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center during a ceremony at the co-op’s Wysox headquarters building Sept. 11. On hand for the celebration are, from left, Bobbi Kilmer, Claverack president & CEO; James Luce, Claverack board of directors chairman; Peter Quigg, president of the Community Foundation; Dr. Alice M. Davis, executive director of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center; and Elizabeth Frankhouser, director of the Northern Tier Career Center.

The cooperative established the endowment, the Claverack Education Fund, through the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains as a means of providing annual financial support to the Northern Tier Career Center in Towanda and the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center in Springville.

“Technical education is an important sector of the local labor market, and one that we rely on here at Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative,” said Claverack President and CEO Bobbi Kilmer. “We are very pleased to support technical education efforts in the region through the creation of this permanent endowment.”

Through the endowment, the Northern Tier Career Center and the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center will each receive a $1,000 grant annually to offset costs associated with participation in SkillsUSA programs.

SkillsUSA is a career and technical education organization offering training programs to high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled, service and health occupations. The organization conducts educational programs, events and competitions through which students can develop occupation and leadership skills.

Representatives of the two career centers and the foundation celebrated the establishment of the endowment fund during a visit to Claverack’s Wysox headquarters building Sept. 11. The career centers had each received a check for $1,000 from Claverack earlier in the year.
“Claverack’s generous gift helps school districts at a time when budgets are very tight,” said Dr. Alice Davis, executive director of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center. “This is all about giving back to students, and we really appreciate the cooperative’s support.”

Elizabeth Frankhouser, director of the Northern Tier Career Center, also commended Claverack for its commitment to local high school students who are preparing for careers in technical and skilled fields. She noted the grant money will enable additional students to participate in future SkillsUSA events and competitions.

The Claverack Education Fund is being administered by the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, a non-profit financial organization that manages funds used to provide assistance to local nonprofit organizations.

“We were pleased to be able to facilitate the creation of the Claverack Education Fund,” said Peter Quigg, Foundation president. “It allows us to continue our partnership with industry and education in northeastern Pennsylvania and to have a role in helping students from throughout the Endless Mountains region who are participating in technical training programs.”

As with all Community Foundation endowments, the Claverack Education Fund can receive additional tax-deductible contributions from the general public to help enhance its annual support of local students and their education. Contributions can be sent to the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains at 270 Lake Ave., Montrose, Pa., 18801 or made online at www.community-foundation.org.

A member-owned, non-profit utility, Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative provides electric service to approximately 18,000 meters in Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Tioga, Lycoming, Sullivan, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

The Northern Tier Career Center provides vocational-technical education to students who attend Athens, Sayre, Towanda, Wyalusing, Northeast Bradford, Canton, Troy and Sullivan County high schools.

The Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center’s career and technical education programs are available to students who attend Blue Ridge, Elk Lake, Lackawanna Trail, Montrose Area, Mountain View, Susquehanna Community and Tunkhannock area high schools. The career centers also provide occupational training programs to adult learners.