Deadline to Apply for Merit Award Is Friday

The deadline for Saucon Valley High School seniors to apply for the Phyllis M. Schnaible Merit Award is Friday, March 11.

The $1,000 award is presented annually to one graduating Saucon Valley High School student by the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce, which established the award in memory of Phyllis M. Schnaible, a chamber board member who served as executive director of the Saucon Valley Community Center for 11 years.

Applications for the merit award will be judged by a chamber committee, with the winner invited to attend the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce's Annual Banquet Dinner on Friday, April 8, where the award will be formally presented. The school district will be notified of the winner prior to the award's presentation.

Below are the application criteria which students must meet in order to be considered for the Merit Award:

All applicants must be planning to further their education within six months of graduating from high school. The merit award will be paid to the selected recipient after the student verifies attendance at a higher-learning facility to a member of the Merit Award Committee. Verification may be in the form of a paid tuition receipt or a letter of enrollment from the facility. Payment of the merit award will expire nine months from the date of graduation from high school.

The recipient should have:

• A B+ or 85 percent grade point average or better.
• Display leadership skills.
• Be a good communicator.
• Be active in extracurricular or community service activities.
• Must submit an essay of not less than 150 words and not more than 200 words on “Why I should receive this award.” The essay should be typed and mailed to the address below, by the student.
• Essay deadline is March 11, 2011. Please mail the essay to: 

Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce

Attn: Ellie Passman

840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205

Allentown, PA 18101