The Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that inspires
innovation and excellence in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.
innovation and excellence in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.
Thank you for Supporting Spring Cleaning at Definitely You!
Thank you to everyone who shopped at Definitely You during our annual spring cleaning event this weekend. The fundraiser generated $4,500 for the new Entering the Workforce Scholarship, which will be awarded to a graduating senior of Baldwin High School that has secured full-time employment or intends to pursue entrepreneurial interests. This scholarship is the first of its kind in that it will be awarded to a student graduating from high school and immediately entering the workforce instead of pursuing a post-secondary education. Sincere thanks to Bruce Bobak and the staff of Definitely You for your continued support of BWEF. |
Whitehall Green Thumbers Fund New Scholarship
The Whitehall Green Thumbers Garden Club has funded a $2,000 scholarship that will be awarded to a graduating senior of Baldwin High School pursuing a degree in horticulture or environmental sciences. Now in its 49th year, the garden club provides educational programs to stimulate interest in horticulture and the dissemination of garden knowledge. They are active with local organizations like the Whitehall Borough Public Library, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and other environmental and horticultural endeavors. |
"Our membership discussed ways to utilize funds that were raised during a recent event, and BWEF seemed to be a perfect solution," said Lois Erdman, the club's president. "This would be a way to have our funds benefit someone in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, thus helping a student financially in pursuit of a career path that we embrace."
BWEF would like to thank the members of the Whitehall Green Thumbers Garden Club for their generosity and for creating this opportunity.
BWEF would like to thank the members of the Whitehall Green Thumbers Garden Club for their generosity and for creating this opportunity.
TasteBuds Jr.: May 16, 2024
In partnership with Best Buddies Baldwin and the ACLD Tillotson School, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District is hosting the first annual Tastebuds Jr. event at R.A. Lutz Elementary School on May 16, 2024. Tastebuds Jr. is a spinoff of the the annual Tastebuds event hosted by Best Buddies Pittsburgh, and our version will be the first of its kind in that it offers Baldwin High School students participating in the Best Buddies program an opportunity to further develop networking skills over delicious local food. |
Learn more about sponsorships and buying tickets on our Events page.
Donations in Memory of Mary Lepiane
On Sunday, February 18, 2024, Mary (Imbrogno) Lepiane, of Baldwin Borough, passed away six days shy of her 100th birthday. BWEF would like to send our deepest condolences to Mary's family and friends. At her family's request, BWEF will award a scholarship presented in her memory to a graduating senior of Baldwin High School this year. If you would like to make a contribution to this scholarship, you can send gifts two ways:
Thank you for your support of Mary Lepiane and family. |
Mary (Imbrogno) Lepiane (1924 - 2024)
Mary was the office manager at a vascular surgeon's practice for many years. She enjoyed cooking, especially homemade bread and her famous pizzelles, and was a loving mother and doting "Nana" to her grandchildren.
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2024 Scholarship Application Period is Now Open
We are now accepting applications for all 2024 scholarships. Please read all criteria carefully, as requirements differ for each scholarship. Incomplete applications will not be considered. A committee reviews all applications and scores each submission based on an established set of criteria, and scholarship recipients are presented with certificates of scholarship at senior recognition night.
Deadline to apply: Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Thanks to our community partners, BWEF will award 17 scholarships for a value of more than $30,000 this year.
Three New Scholarships Introduced in 2024
Beginning in 2024, BWEF will add the Brady Family Merit Scholarship, the Dorothy Hutchins Forman Visual Arts Scholarships, and the Entering the Workforce Scholarship to its portfolio of scholarships awarded annually to graduating seniors of Baldwin High School.
The merit scholarship will be awarded annually in the value of $5,000, and was established through the generosity of the Brady family. Having raised their son in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, they feel blessed that he received a very strong educational foundation, which set him up for success in college and beyond. The intent of this scholarship is to pass some of this blessing onto others who are committed to their education and in need of financial assistance. Visit the Brady Family Merit Scholarship page to learn more.
The visual arts scholarship will be awarded to two students annually: one who has demonstrated an ability to draw, paint, and/or sculpt while communicating the unconscious in a concrete format, and one who intends to pursue a career as an art teacher and has demonstrated an ability to work with children while displaying their artistic ability. The Forman family established this scholarship to pay forward the gift of art and encourage continued expressions through drawing, painting, sculpting, and art instruction. Visit the Forman Visual Arts Scholarship page to learn more.
Approximately 10% of the graduating class of Baldwin High School is entering the workforce instead of pursuing a post-secondary education. To support this population, BWEF will award the Entering the Workforce Scholarship beginning in 2024. The scholarship will be funded through an annual fundraiser held at Definitely You in Brentwood Towne Square. BWEF would like to thank owner Bruce Bobak and the staff of Definitely You for their generosity and support of this scholarship. Visit the Entering the Workforce Scholarship page to learn more.
2024 Innovation Seed Grants Announced
As a result of the 2023 mini golf outing and through the generosity of community partners HHSDR Architects & Engineers, Novum Designs, GBU Financial Life, and the Pennsylvania Public Education Foundation, BWEF will fund five innovation seed grants for a total value of $8,500 in 2024. The projects are:
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- Freshman Frenzy at Baldwin High School. Faculty sponsors: Denise Wells, Julie Sumper, Brandon Whitfield.
- Sensory Garden at Whitehall Elementary School. Faculty sponsor: Sarah Wray.
- Learning Garden at Harrison Education Center. Faculty sponsors: Allison Shreve, Emily Palma, Amber Snyder.
- Purple Pantry at Baldwin High School. Faculty sponsors: Liz Allemang, Francesca Cappetta, Becka Mackin, Katie Streets.
NAHS: Going Where They've Never Gone Before
Our donation to the National Art Honor Society created an opportunity for our art students to go where they've never gone before: The Andy Warhol Museum in downtown Pittsburgh!
Read about their exciting educational adventure and view a photo gallery in our latest edition of Headlines.
BWEF Receives $2K Donation from PA Public Education Foundation
At this year's Pennsylvania Public Education Foundation Awards and Student Showcase, the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board of Directors received the Innovative School Board Award, and Dr. Randal A. Lutz, superintendent of schools, received the Innovative School Leader Award. Each honor comes with a financial award of $1,000, which will be given to BWEF to fund scholarships and grants in the District. We'd like to congratulate Dr. Lutz and the BW School Board for this esteemed recognition. |
BWEF Invests in District's Esports Initiative
BWEF has awarded a $10,000 innovation grant to support the District's nascent esports initiative. The funds will be used to:
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Congratulations to Dr. Janeen Peretin, the District's director of communication, innovation, and advancement, and esports Coach Nathan Elias on receiving this grant.
Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship: Campaign Underway
In partnership with local law enforcement authorities, we are honored to present the Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship, beginning in the 2022-23 school year.
Officer Sluganski (BHS '09) of the McKeesport Police Department was killed in the line of duty on February 6, 2023. To honor his legacy, BWEF will present an annual scholarship to a graduating senior of Baldwin High School who intends to pursue a career in law enforcement or crime prevention. To support this cause, we have launched a $75,000 fundraising campaign to support the memorial scholarship |
and have raised nearly $43,000 as of October 30, 2023. The campaign aspires to raise a significant principal so that we can award a meaningful scholarship in Sean's name in perpetuity.
We invite you to consider supporting this campaign and there are multiple ways to donate (check, credit card, Venmo, GoFundMe). Thank you in advance for your generosity.
The scholarship is co-sponsored by the Sluganski Family, the Baldwin Borough Police Department, Baldwin Township, the Whitehall Police Department, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91, the McKeesport Police Department, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District and the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation.
We invite you to consider supporting this campaign and there are multiple ways to donate (check, credit card, Venmo, GoFundMe). Thank you in advance for your generosity.
The scholarship is co-sponsored by the Sluganski Family, the Baldwin Borough Police Department, Baldwin Township, the Whitehall Police Department, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91, the McKeesport Police Department, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District and the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation.
Pathways to Support BWEF
There are a variety of ways to support the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation. Whether you want to become a community partner, establish an endowment fund, attend/host a fundraiser, or join the foundation as a member, we are always looking for ways to expand our network and our impact. Contact us at [email protected] to start a conversation.