Local high school students serving on the CAN DO board are helping to make the holidays brighter for military personnel with ties to Greater Hazleton.
The CAN DO Student Action Committee is seeking names of servicemen and servicewomen with local ties to send them care packages as part of the 11th annual “Operation: CAN DO,” a collection drive of food, personal care and entertainment items for members of the military.
The CAN DO Student Action Committee has had a busy year executing its annual signature events. During this time, Sarah Polashenski, a senior from Immanuel Christian School in Hazleton, has lead the students as the committee’s first Student Chair.
While members of the CAN DO Student Action Committee have long been involved in the organization's initiatives, the students expressed an increased desire to play a more substantial role within the organization. At the start of the 2023-24 fiscal year, CAN DO created the new ‘Student Chair’ position in response to their enthusiasm with Polashenski’s official appointment following soon after.
In remembrance of the late W. Kevin O’Donnell, the CAN DO Community Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the ‘W. Kevin O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship Fund’. This fund, created in collaboration with CAN DO, Inc. and The Luzerne Foundation, seeks to honor O’Donnell’s legacy and his years of commitment to community service.
The W. Kevin O’Donnell Memorial Scholarship will support a $2,500 annual scholarship to provide post-secondary tuition assistance for qualifying students residing within the geographic area of the Hazleton Area School District. Qualifying applicants must be admitted to and/or attending an accredited college or university to study Engineering, Architecture, Construction, Economic Development, or a similar field. Scholarships will be awarded based on community involvement and academic achievement, and will be selected by a committee of individuals representing CAN DO, Inc., the O’Donnell Family, and the Luzerne Foundation.