The Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association recently announced the 2021 WAHSAA Scholarship recipient. Lilli Kunkle, daughter of Judy and Brian Kunkle of Weatherly, has been awarded the $15,000 scholarship from her graduating class.

Kunkle serves as treasurer for the Class of 2021, as well as treasurer of the Interact Club and Student Government Association along with secretary of the Kindness Club. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.

Kunkle is a member of the Varsity Cheerleading Team and serves as manager of the boys’ soccer team.

Volunteering comes as a second nature to Kunkle while helping at Heritage Hill Senior Living Center, St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, Family Promise of Carbon County, Carbon County Animal Shelter, and the Little Wreckers Winter Cheer Clinic. She has been awarded the All-American Cheerleader and Pin It Forward by UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association).

In the community, Kunkle volunteers at the Vacation Bible School, PTA Book Fair, Weatherly Festival, Summer Meal Program, Weatherly Hillclimb, Read Across America Day, and Tweedle Park cleanup. She is currently employed at the Weatherly Country Inn.

Graduating ninth in her class, she has achieved principal’s honors every marking period through high school.

Kunkle will be attending West Chester University in the fall, where she will be studying psychology and criminal justice.

The scholarship fund has been established in the name of the Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association. The Scholarship Committee of that association devised the guidelines and plan of operation contained herein.

The wealth of the fund has been built over the years by contributions and donations made by people and organizations interested in education. This money has been invested in various instruments, which make up the principal of the fund.

The association desires that the investment interest from the fund be used only to provide scholarships to Weatherly Area School District students and who graduate from Weatherly Area High School or the Carbon Career & Technical Institute.

The scholarship is to be used for extended education at an institution of higher education or a more specialized institution of learning, which shall be approved by the Scholarship Program Committee.

Members are Sue Ann Gerhard, Brian O’Donnell, Carol Hill, Barbara Sandt, Theresa D’Andrea, Betty Henry, Chris Henritzy, Barbara Sipler and Sarah Minnick, guidance counselor.

The scholarship was established in 1998, and the following have received this award: 1998, Sarah Hamm; 1999, Raymond Marcero; 2000, Erin Lesko; 2001, Angela Petrone; 2002, Courtney Hadzick; 2003, Lindsey Hinkle; 2004, Kerri Romig; 2005, Jeremy Leach; 2006, James Somers; 2007, Joshua Titus; 2008, Jennifer Miller; 2009, Amanda Bartosevich; 2010, Melanie Clabia; 2011, Mia Cavello; 2012, Matthew Caccese; 2013, Heather Cichowic; 2014, Rachel Moon; 2015, Catherine Strizak; 2016, Muskan Khatiwala; 2017, Breena Coxe; 2018, Samantha Knepper; 2019, Nikki Polivka; 2020, Alianna Hernandez; Lilli Kunkle, 2021.

Other scholarships given by the association and alumni are: $4,000 Wilbur (Tim) Frable Memorial Scholarship, Ashley James; $2,500 Harry & Loretta Allison Award, Amanda Colecio; $1,000 Hugo Paul Family Memorial Award, Madilyn Hinkle; $1,000 Anna Raynock Memorial Scholarship, Kelly Royer; $500, Luke Derr; $500, Ethan Broskoskie; $250, Antonio Colecio; $250, Grace Miller; $125, Olivia Hirko; $125, Shayla Heintczman.