The Wildcat Foundation awarded $45,000 in scholarship funds to graduating seniors during Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School’s Senior Awards Night on May 21.
Foundation Executive Director Jeff Pratt announced 11 scholarships during a ceremony that honored the MASH Class of 2026.
Scholarship applications were accepted through early April this year. A committee of foundation volunteers then met in the spring to review applicants and select students to receive each award.
New additions this year included the Ronald L. Baker Memorial Scholarship.
Ron Baker, MASH Class of 1970, was a gifted athlete who enjoyed the sport of baseball as early as he could swing a bat. A talented player on the Mechanicsburg High School team, Ron helped create a championship team. He also played baseball at West Chester State College.
Ron was dedicated to playing on the Mechanicsburg Twilight League Team for years. He loved the game and became a beloved coach for Little League, high school and the Twilight League team. In 2015, Ron was inducted into the Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.
Ron loved the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, camping, gardening, playing golf with friends, and will be remembered for his knowledge and passion for the sport of baseball.
His family dedicated a $1,000 scholarship in Baker’s memory to a MASH senior who has been an active member of the Mechanicsburg Area High School baseball or softball team for at least 2 years.
This year’s foundation scholarship winners are:
Charles H. Jr. and Jane Eagle Diller Business Scholarship
Pratt said the foundation was honored to again work with Charles H. Diller Jr. and Jane Eagle Diller to deliver their $20,000 scholarship to a graduating senior student. The Dillers are committed to providing financial assistance to help students who desire to pursue business and entrepreneurial goals and obtain a college education.
This year’s selection was William Coffman. Coffman will receive $20,000 – $5,000 for each of her qualifying four years – studying Finance at Penn State Harrisburg.
Mr. and Mrs. Diller grew up in south central Pennsylvania and are now residents of Silver Spring Township. Mr. Diller spent most of his professional career working for JLG Industries, Inc., where he held the positions of executive vice president, chief financial officer and director before retiring. He also served his country as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a Vietnam veteran.
Mrs. Diller is a MASH alumna. After graduation, she focused on raising a family, and she continues to be actively engaged with her church’s youth programs.
Mechanicsburg Club/Wildcat Foundation Scholarship
The Mechanicsburg Club endowed the Mechanicsburg Club/Wildcat Foundation Scholarship in 2012.
Since then, the foundation has awarded four $4,000 scholarships annually to students performing any field of study at a 2-year college, 4-year college, community college, or a trade school.
Established in 1894, the Mechanicsburg Club prides itself in providing for the area’s youth, school and community programs, senior citizen groups, charities and many of our community’s special projects.
The four students selected for the 2026 scholarships were:
- Elle Fair – attending Messiah University
- Jackson Bowes – attending the University of Pittsburgh
- Leah Deavor – attending Duquesne University
- Isabella Valdez – attending Penn State Harrisburg
Mechanicsburg Club President Mike Wagner helped present the awards during the ceremony.
Ronald L. Baker Memorial Scholarship
The Ronald L. Baker Memorial Scholarship will be an annual $1,000 award to a graduating senior at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School (MASH) who participated on the MASH baseball or softball teams for at least the last 2 years, demonstrates good character and citizenship, and academic achievement with a 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
The 2026 scholarship winner is Gabe Magaro, who will study Computer Science at Villanova University.
Larry F. Carey Memorial Award
This unique scholarship comes from the estate of former Upper Allen Township resident Larry F. Carey.
The Larry F. Carey Memorial Military Award is a $500 award that will be given to one male and one female student each year for the next 8 years who will be enlisting in the armed forces.
Mr. Carey retired from the Navy as a Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer after 20 years of service. As part of his estate planning, Mr. Carey partnered with the Foundation to establish this scholarship to help graduating students transition into their enlistments.
This year’s winners are Kathryn Gooden and Cole Sweitzer, who both have enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Janet B. Wentz English Award
The Janet B. Wentz Award for Outstanding English Student was established to honor Janet B. Wentz, a graduate of Wilson College and Shippensburg University who started her career as a staff writer for the Harrisburg Patriot-News and then taught for 23 years at MASH from 1965 to 1988, where she was coach of the speech team and retired as chairwoman of the English department.
Her son Douglas Wentz, MASH Class 1976, made a $150,000 contribution upon her passing at age 97 in January 2025 to establish the award.
The Janet B. Wentz Award for Outstanding English Student is an annual $5,000 award to a graduating senior at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School (MASH) who excelled in English studies and will pursue a field of study that requires strong English skills.
The 2026 award winner is Aiden Pinsker, who will study History at George Washington University.
Wildcat Foundation Board Scholarships
The 21 members of the Wildcat Foundation Board of Directors initiated last year their first board-funded scholarship for a graduating MASH senior whose story and application left an impact on them in the review process.
For 2026 the foundation board of directors will award two $1,000 scholarships.
The $1,000 award winners for 2026 are Annie Hu, who will attend Temple University and Alexzandrea Heath, who will also attend Temple University.
The Wildcat Foundation
Founded in 1998, the nonprofit Wildcat Foundation is an educational foundation that operates under a stated mission to strengthen the educational, cultural, wellness and athletic programs of the Mechanicsburg Area School District (MASD).
It disperses grant funds annually through a competitive grant-making process to aid and support students throughout MASD. The foundation has funded nearly $2,000,000 in funds for programs and projects since 2001.
To learn more about the Wildcat Foundation and how you can become involved as a volunteer, participate in a special event or make a contribution, contact the foundation office at 717-691-4505, send an email to wildcatfoundation@mbgsd.org, or visit us online at www.wildcatfoundation.org.
