LEBANON – Full- and part-time students at HACC-Lebanon Campus will receive help with tuition, books and fees, thanks to a new fund established by Jonestown Bank & Trust Co., Lebanon.
 

The Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. Award Fund was initiated with a $5,000 gift that bank officials say represents their company’s commitment to educating traditional and nontraditional students in the Lebanon Valley.
 

“Quality of life for the individual, family and the entire community is raised through education and as a community bank we can only be as strong as our community,” said Troy A. Peters, executive vice president/chief executive officer at Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. “We hope that students will be able to use our funds to receive a quality education and return our investment into this community through sustainable employment and personal and corporate spending and investing in the Lebanon Valley.”
 

Peters and Dr. Linnie S. Carter, vice president of college advancement at HACC and executive director of the HACC Foundation, signed a memorandum of understanding to begin the fund. All or part of the income and principal from the fund may be used to provide at least one award per academic year.
 

Already a contributor to HACC thanks to efforts by Ken Phelps, community development officer at HACC-Lebanon Campus, the company increased its investment in the college because it recognizes HACC’s impact on the Lebanon community.
 

“HACC in Lebanon educates a large portion of individuals who are, what I would call, nontraditional students, meaning they have work experience after high school and now are pursuing a college degree or training.  Many of these students are the first in their family to attend or graduate from a post-secondary school,” said Peters, a resident of Annville. “These students tend to stay in the Lebanon Valley and become more productive citizens, contributing back to the economy in a number of ways that benefit themselves and the entire community.”
 

“When looking to donate to a nonprofit organization, its ability to improve lives is an important criterion to consider,” said Edward Martel Jr., vice president, sales, marketing and  branch administration and Community Reinvestment Act officer at Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. Martel was born and raised in Lebanon and now lives in Lititz.
 

“The feeling of goodwill in giving back to the community is the part of philanthropy that personally gives me the most joy,” Martel said.
 

To be eligible for aid from the fund, students must live close by and attend HACC-Lebanon Campus, have unmet financial need and low to moderate household income, have completed six credits and attained a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

Applications for the Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. Scholarship will be accepted beginning with the Spring 2013 term.