28/22 NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22's Here's to You, Kid! shines a spotlight each week on young people doing good things, and often big things in the community. This week, two kids we previously profiled are being honored with scholarships because of their achievements in 2024.
"So my purpose of the project was to record every single name, date of birth, date of death," explained Aaron Girvan.
We met Here's to You, Kid! recipient Aaron Girvan of Forty Fort in August 2024. He talked with 28/22 News about his Eagle Scout project, documenting nearly 1,100 graves at Forty Fort Cemetery dating back to the 1700s.
Aaron created a digitized map of the graveyard that helps tell the history of who is buried there.
"There is a couple individuals associated with the founding of the town of Forty Fort, Revolutionary War figures, and many more individuals," said Aaron.
April 2024 Here's to You, Kid! recipient Nolan Wurster impressed with his passion to help his hometown fire department.
"I donate all my, like, birthday money and money I raise from fundraisers to Montoursville Fire Department," said Nolan.
Nolan also held chili cookoffs and basket raffles to support the department's firefighting efforts. Montoursville Fire Department, in turn, made him a junior fire chief.
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"I get to go on parades with them and I get to ride in the trucks, and I get to go to like training and stuff," explained Nolan.
Now, both Nolan and Aaron are recipients of something else: scholarships from the philanthropic non-profit, The Luzerne Foundation.
"I didn't think this was going to happen," said Aaron.
Aaron appeared on 28/22's PA Live! for the public announcement.
"At The Luzerne Foundation, we try to focus on students who work well with their community and directly impacts the community, that also leaves a legacy for the community to follow," said Philanthropic Services Coordinator at the Luzerne Foundation Jessica Baab.
She says Aaron's cemetery project definitely fills that bill.
"It took time and it was tedious, but he was determined and dedicated and he's created a really, really incredible resource," said Baab.
Nolan did the same with his donations to the Montoursville Fire Department.
"Our first responders are often underserved in our community. They're always there for you, but he knew they needed funding and they needed support, and he wanted to highlight the good work they do and how important they are," said Baab.
The Times Leader Book of Dreams Fund of the Luzerne Foundation provides the money for these scholarships. Times Leader publisher Kerry Miscavage says programs like Here's to You, Kid! are important to show young people doing big things in the community.
"I think it inspires other kids to, you know, maybe get off their phones, get off the computer and go out and see where they can contribute," said Miscavage.
Here's to you, Aaron and Nolan.
We want to point out that WBRE 28 and WYOU 22 have no involvement in the selection process or distribution of scholarship funds.
If you have a kid you think should be featured on Here’s to You, Kid!, send in a nomination online.
