American Refining Group Inc. (ARG) announced today Amanda Dincher has earned its inaugural ARG Employees’ Scholarship.
Amanda, daughter of Rita Dincher and ARG Technology Director Tim Dincher, studies chemical engineering at Penn State Altoona.
During the past few years ARG’s employee golf outing has grown in popularity, leading organizer and R&D Senior Chemist John Peterson to ponder how the event could drive real results. He collected a small group of co-workers (Roberta Anderson, Jeremy Murphy and Sara Furlong) to both plan the 2018 scramble and discuss using event proceeds to benefit ARG employees and their families.
ARG’s corporate community stewardship is acknowledged in plenty of places throughout the region. Various funds and locations bear ARG’s name and that of owner Harry R. Halloran Jr. in recognition of annual contributions totaling thousands of dollars. And while ARG donates thousands more per year in matching employee gifts, this regional recognition still does not capture the philanthropic spirit and volunteerism shown by so many ARG employees every day.
As a result, in collaboration with the recently founded McKean County Community Foundation, the ARG Employees Scholarship Fund was established. ARG employees’ children, grandchildren or legal dependents pursuing any post-secondary education are eligible to apply.
Peterson and the group plan to build this fund to a level where it can distribute at least one $500 scholarship every year in perpetuity, beginning with Amanda Dincher’s $500 award this year.
Amanda is well on her way toward earning a bachelor’s degree in May 2021. After completing 15 credits on campus her grade point average (GPA) worked out to a 3.65. While at Bradford Area High School through its Bridges Program with the University of Pittsburgh, she completed 29 college credits with a 3.7 GPA.
Amanda served this summer as an intern with ARG’s engineering group. At Penn State, she is a member of the Society of Women Engineering (SWE) as well as Students About Living Truth (S.A.L.T.). Her volunteer and community involvement includes Kiwanis Club, Key Club, Bradford Little Theater and chorus.
A subcommittee of the MCCF Board of Directors reviewed scholarship applications and the full board voted upon the selection before announcing the winner. In 2018, the foundation has awarded 19 students with scholarships totaling nearly $15,500.
For more information about the MCCF, visit https://tinyurl.com/yb7lmcy9, send an e-mail to
mccf@zitomedia.net, call (814) 834-2125 or follow the foundation on Facebook.
For more information about ARG, visit www.amref.com or follow the refinery on Facebook and LinkedIn.