Garrett Franck wins $1,500 4-H scholarship in Union County

Garrett Franck of Union County was named one of four recipients of the Allen L. and Richard H. Baker Memorial 4-H Scholarship, a $1,500 award that can help ease the costs of postsecondary plans for a local student.

Pennsylvania 4-H announced the scholarship recipients on July 15, naming Franck alongside Helayna Hollobaugh of Elk County, Catherine Ewing of Huntingdon County and John Bruner of Indiana County. For Union County families, the award is a small but concrete reminder that 4-H participation can lead to direct financial support, not just ribbons, certificates or recognition.

The Baker scholarship is an annual award established to honor Professor Allen L. Baker and Richard H. Baker for their years of dedicated service. Being selected as one of only four recipients statewide makes Franck’s award a limited opportunity rather than a routine honor, which is part of what gives the scholarship its weight in a county where every bit of help can matter once college or technical training bills start arriving.

Penn State Extension says the Union County 4-H Program is open to boys and girls ages 5-18 as of January 1, and that members can join different clubs with varying meeting times, meeting places, frequencies and projects. Those clubs are the path into a system that Pennsylvania 4-H describes as a place to learn real-world skills, become a confident leader and make lifelong friends.

The scholarship also reflects the broader network of awards available through Pennsylvania 4-H, which says members have many recognition and scholarship opportunities. For a Union County student, that matters because the price of moving on after high school is rarely limited to tuition alone. Books, fees, supplies and other basic costs can quickly consume the value of a modest award, making a $1,500 scholarship meaningful even when it does not cover a full year of college.

Franck’s selection puts Union County in that statewide mix this year, and it points to the kind of payoff local families can see from long-term involvement in 4-H. The award connects county youth programs to real educational access, with money attached and a named place in a statewide recognition list.