F&M Trust donation provides equipment, supplies for Career and Technology Center students

Students at the Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center (HCCTC) are learning the necessary skills to prepare for a variety of careers, including automotive mechanics, cosmetology, health occupations, and welding. To complete their studies, the students must have the tools of their trade.

As a result of a recent donation from F&M Trust, 18 HCCTC students received grants totaling $5,009 to purchase equipment and supplies required for their secondary programs. Purchases included cosmetology kits, medical scrubs, welding jackets and gloves, work boots, and certification exam fees for students in the Public Health and Safety program.

“F&M Trust takes very seriously its commitment to the communities it serves and the quality of life in those communities,” said F&M Trust President and CEO Tim Henry. “We know that these hard-working students will one day become hard-working adults who will contribute not only to the towns in which they live but to the future of Huntingdon County.”

The bank’s contribution was made as part of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program through which eligible businesses donate to scholarship organizations and educational-improvement organizations to promote expanded educational opportunities for students in Pennsylvania.  

HCCTC offers a dozen secondary programs for about 350 students in grades 10-12 from the county’s four school districts – Huntingdon Area, Juniata Valley, Mount Union Area, and Southern Huntingdon County.

“Working with the students and parents through this process has been rewarding,” said HCCTC Adult Education Coordinator Laura Hicks. “I received feedback from a parent that the uniform stipend has been a great relief for their family.”

As a result of F&M Trust’s participation in the EITC program, students at 19 schools in four counties received $206,000 in scholarships over the last two years.

About F&M Trust: A subsidiary of Franklin Financial Services Corp., F&M Trust is an independent community bank headquartered in Chambersburg. With approximately $1.8 billion in assets, F&M Trust has 21 community-banking locations in Franklin, Cumberland, Fulton, and Huntingdon counties.