February 15th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
The Fort Hill Scholarship Fund (FHSF) recently announced the named Board of Directors’ scholarships that will be awarded to three graduating seniors at the 15thAnnual Awards and Recognition Banquet to be held in May.
This year, in addition to honoring Fort Hill’s first principal, Victor Heisey, who has a permanent scholarship in his memory, the FHSF Board of Directors will posthumously honor the outstanding community contributions of Charles “Buck” Jankey and Dr. George E. McKenney.
Mr. Jankeywasa1958graduateofFortHillHighSchoolandservedintheArmy.HeretiredfromKelly-Springfield.Helovedall things Fort Hill,especially theFClub,fans, andathletes.Hewasacoachanda scorekeeperforbasketball,softball,andbaseball, as well as a devotedFClubofficer and footballprogram coordinator. A 2019 recipient of the FortHill“DeedsNotWords”awardforhiscontributionsoverseveraldecades, coaches andathletescouldalwaysdependon Mr. Jankey’sunwaveringsupport.
Dr. McKenney was a 1956 graduate of Fort Hill High School, a 1960 graduate of Frostburg State University, and a 1965 graduate of the University of Maryland, where he earned a Master’s of Education degree in secondary education. In 1973, he graduated from George Washington University earning of Doctorate of Education in educational administration. Dr. McKenney’s doctoral theses researched and helped to write the ESEA Title I Project legislation that provides financial assistance to local school systems with high percentages of underprivileged children in order to encourage and support academic achievement. His contributions to the program are still in effect to this day under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. In addition to being a lifelong educator, Dr. McKenney supported many civic, professional, and charitable organizations, was a member of the Allegany Chamber of Commerce and the Allegany Board of Education.
Since its inception in 2008, the FHSF has provided scholarships to graduating seniors, totaling over $355,000 for college, technical and trade education. All awards are made possible solely through personal contributions and those of corporate and communitysponsors. FHSF strives to increase the number of scholarships and award amounts given each year to graduating seniors.
The FHSF proudly partners with the Community Trust Foundation,a public foundation created with gifts from donors committed to causes in Allegany, Garrett,and Mineral Counties. They administer the scholarship funds by providing accredited independent oversight of each fund, professional investment of the contributions, and tax benefits to all donors who generously support Fort Hill's outstanding graduates.
Anyone interested in donating to the FHSF may do by making checks payable to the FHSF/CTF, 112 Baltimore Street, Suite 201, Cumberland, MD 21502 or through a secure online donation by visiting either forthillscholarshipfund.org or ctfinc.org. Finally, if one would like to create a new memorial or named scholarship, please contact Brenda Friend, Chair, at 301-723-0076 or bafriend66@gmail.com.
