Mifflinburg Area Community Scholarship Trust to Award $100,000 in 2026

The Mifflinburg Area Community Scholarship Trust has announced plans to award $100,000 in scholarships for 2026, its largest annual total on record in recent years, with $76,000 earmarked for graduating seniors in Mifflinburg High's Class of 2026 and approximately $24,000 set aside for collegiate students who are recent Mifflinburg Area School District alumni.

The figure marks a $10,000 increase over the $90,000 MACST distributed in 2025, when $70,000 went to the Class of 2025 and $20,000 was divided among collegiate students who had graduated from the district within the previous five years. MACST has not publicly stated the reason for the increase.

Founded in 1996 by a group of teachers, administrators, and community members, MACST has built a cumulative record of $736,525 in scholarships awarded to 313 graduates and 75 collegians. Its stated mission is "to provide a perpetual source of funds for deserving Mifflinburg Area High School graduates."

Among the most distinctive awards in MACST's portfolio is a special 4-year scholarship given to the applicant with the best overall submission regardless of GPA. In 2025, that honor went to Elizabeth Bierly, who will receive a $2,000 scholarship for a total of four years. The Beckley Family funded two one-time scholarships in 2025 as well: Calleigh Hoy received the Beckley Family Field Hockey scholarship and Madison Fohringer was awarded the Beckley Family Softball scholarship.

MACST also administers a series of perpetual specialty scholarships, each carrying criteria set by its founding sponsors and approved by the organization's Board of Directors. The 2025 recipients included Kaitlyn Bridge for the George Burman Pennsylvania School of Technology Scholarship, James Donlin for the Christkindl Market Community Service Scholarship, Kathryn Adamo for the Kermit W. & Mary E. Dale & Sons Environmental Conservation Scholarship, Faith Barton for the Joslyn Flickinger Memorial Scholarship awarded to a female athlete, Makenna Walter for the Robert Manotti Sr. Wrestling Scholarship, Benjamin Reitz for the Charles "Skeet" Reidell Scholarship recognizing excellence in athletics, academics, and leadership, and Teeanna Fogle for the Wagner Music Education Scholarship.

Students pursuing 2026 awards should note several key deadlines. Senior applications are due April 15, as is the Wagner Music application. The Evans scholarship application closes April 22, and the collegiate application deadline is June 1. Applications became available in February. MACST is also participating in Raise the Region, the 30-hour regional online giving event scheduled for March.

MACST can be contacted at 432 Rusty Run Lane, Mifflinburg, PA 17844. A complete list of 2026 scholarship recipients has not yet been released.