WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's ChoiceCommunity-Driven Scholarship Opportunity

Community-Driven Scholarship Opportunity

FRUITLAND, Md. - The town of Fruitland's economy is growing, and one organization is hoping their youth can keep that momentum going. A tight-knit community, with only 4,000 people, is offering an incentive to make sure residents are here to stay. A scholarship is up for grabs, to any student living in Fruitland, with dreams of going to college.

"We're really looking for someone in the public service type career, like a nurse or police officer, but really anyone who is looking to stay local and stay in the Fruitland area and be a business member of the community," said Amanda Pollack, Vice President of the Fruitland Chamber of Commerce.

They have been giving away $500, to be used towards tuition or books, at Wor-Wic Community College. However, this time they're doing things a little differently.

"We expanded it this year to include Salisbury University and UMES so that we could get more applicants," said Pollack.

Last year's winner is Judy Jessa, a student pursuing advance studies in business and accounting. Come March, she will also ride in Fruitland's Easter Parade, one of the many perks of winning this scholarship.

"Each year we invite our winners to our chamber's annual banquet. We present them with a certificate and they're able to meet all the chamber members because this is all paid for by Fruitland businesses in the chamber of commerce," she said.

With less than half of the population under the age of 35, it makes the odds of winning that much greater. Students can apply at any time, but to use the funding for the Fall, applications must be in by September. For more information about the scholarship, contact the Delmarva Education Foundation at 410-219-3336, or click on the DEF logo.