Sunday, August 11, 2024

Knoebels Announces 2024 Scholarship Recipients



Ten Knoebels Amusement Resort team members are starting off the 2024-25 school year with an extra $750 in their pockets from the park’s scholarship program.

The scholarship is in recognition of their scholastic achievements and aspirations, as well as their contributions as team members. Knoebels has awarded approximately $145,500 to 276 team members since the start of the program in 1997.

Knoebels has announced the 2024 Knoebels Scholarship recipients. This year’s recipients include 10 team members who are on the path to becoming educators, an engineer, a nurse and more.

This year’s recipients include:

  • Emily Allen (Gift Shops), daughter of Paul Allen, Catawissa, 2022 graduate of Southern Columbia High School, attending Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, majoring in Media and Journalism-Emergent Media.
  • Cameron Annis (Games), son of Thomas and Wendy Annis, Coal Township, 2023 graduate of Shamokin Area High School, attending Misericordia University, majoring in History and Secondary Education.
  • Samantha Hess (First Aid), daughter of Joe Renner, Williamsport, 2015 graduate of Loyalsock Township High School, attending Barton County Community College and Pennsylvania College of Technology, majoring in Nursing.
  • Landon Koch (JBK), son of Gene and Andrea Koch, Elysburg, 2024 graduate of Southern Columbia High School, attending Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, majoring in Computer Science.
  • Caden McBride (Alamo), son of Paul McBride, Paxinos, 2022 graduate of Southern Columbia High School, attending Penn State University, majoring in Computer Science.
  • Anne Metrocavage (Rides), daughter of Kate Zimmerman and Paul Metrocavage, 2021 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, attending Kutztown University, majoring in Elementary Education.
  • Liv Reese (JBK), daughter of Gregory and Susan Reese, Sunbury, 2023 graduate of Shamokin Area High School, attending the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Economics.
  • Kelsey Shrawder (Guest Services), daughter of Brian and Jamie Shrawder, Turbotville, 2022 graduate of Warrior Run High School, attending Penn State University, majoring in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management.
  • Alton Smargiassi (Crystal Pool), son of Tara and Charlie Smargiassi, Bloomsburg, 2024 graduate of Central Columbia High School, attending Wilkes University, majoring in Civil Engineering.
  • Sheridan Smink (Food Court), daughter of Lisa Hornberger, Shamokin, and the late Kenneth Smink, 2021 graduate of Line Mountain High School, attending Elizabethtown College, majoring in Social Work.
Scholarships were awarded based on the students’ written applications, a work performance evaluation, and two external judges.

Six Knoebels team members have also been nominated for a 2024 Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Association (PAPA) scholarship. Those students include: Ian Anderson (Alamo), Cailee Davis (Crystal Pool), Jacob Davis (Playland Arcade), Carter Kerstetter (JBK), Liz Reece (JBK), and Adriann Rodriguez (Old Mill).

Submitted Photo: Pictured here (left to right), are 2024 Knoebels Scholarship recipients and members of the third generation of the Knoebel family: Dick Knoebel, Kelsey Shrawder (Guest Services), Alton Smargiassi (Crystal Pool), Liv Reese (JBK), Cameron Annis (Games), Landon Koch (JBK), Caden McBride (Alamo), Emily Allen (Gift Shops), Sheridan Smink (Food Court), Anne Metrocavage (Rides), Leanna Muscato, and Buddy Knoebel. Not pictured but also a recipient is Samantha Hess (First Aid)