Six area students were recently awarded tuition scholarships from the Mary Meier Catholic Education Fund at the Carbon County Community Foundation.

The renewable scholarship supports one year of enrollment at a Catholic education institution for students from Carbon County and surrounding areas.

This year’s scholarship recipients and the schools they will be attending include Ulysses and Achilles Fitzpatrick, St. Jerome Regional School; Jesse, James, and Dylan Rodino, Marian Catholic High School; and Lily Mantz, St. John Neumann School.

The scholarship fund was established by John Meier of New Ringgold in memory of his mother, Mary Meier.

Mary was an extremely healthy woman until her 90s when she was diagnosed with dementia. Despite the diagnosis, she kept her joy and sense of humor to the end.

She was an active member of SS. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church in Lehighton, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and administered communion to many of the parish’s homebound and hospitalized members. She was also a member of the parish’s Altar & Rosary Society and volunteered on the church cleaning crew.

Before retiring, Mary was a home economics teacher for the Lehighton Area School District.

“I think if our loved ones who have passed could give us advice, they would tell us to work and play less and pray and learn about God more,” said John Meier. “That is why the Mary Meier Catholic Education Fund exists. We help people learn about Jesus, and we do it in many ways. Catholic School scholarships is one way. To date we have helped about 12 students study in a Catholic School.”

The scholarship is unlike many others in that it does not require good grades from the student. Instead, to be eligible for the scholarships, students must be enrolled in a Catholic education institution and must commit to attending church regularly. The student should be involved in school activities and should serve as a mentor to others on how to be charitable and nice.

“After going through two Catholic School closures, my husband and I decided to give public school a try. Three years later, thanks to the Mary Meier Catholic Education Scholarship, two of our boys are returning to Catholic school,” said Katya Fitzpatrick, whose sons, Ulysses and Achilles, are two of this year’s scholarship recipients. “At a Catholic school, the values we promote at home are reinforced daily. We’re very appreciative of the kindness by the Meier family for providing our kids the opportunity to return to Catholic education. I hope to one day be able to do the same for someone else.”

“We are so glad to be able to help John honor the memory of his mother through this scholarship,” said Sharon Alexander, president of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “Prior to this, the scholarship funds we have at the Community Foundation support the higher education plans of area students - those who are attending college or another secondary school. I’m thrilled that we now also have an option for those attending K-12 school in the area.”

For more information about the scholarship or donating to the fund, visit www.cccfoundpa.org.