To ensure long-term sustainability, the board has implemented a $10,000 annual cap for teacher grants, awarding up to $5,000 per semester. We are thrilled to highlight several major projects currently benefiting our students:

• The Arts: A $4,000 grant was awarded to Tom Kriner for two new pottery wheels, significantly expanding the high school art program.

• STEM & Technology: Misty Gordon received $1,175 to establish a 3D printing program at Mercersburg Elementary.

• Athletics & Physical Education: Trevor Gelsinger was awarded $1,850 to revitalize the archery equipment at James Buchanan Middle School.

• Environment & Aesthetics: Becky Miller received $750 for a high school beautification project, enlivening the campus through horticulture

TEF has awarded nearly $8,000 in annual scholarships to graduating seniors in 2025. We are particularly pleased to announce the newly created Rodney Benedick Scholarship Award. This is a $1,000 award renewable each year for four years to the recipient who goes on to college and maintains a minimum 3.5 GPA throughout college.

Other ongoing awards include:

• TEF/Catherine Stickell Scholarships: three annual awards of $1,000 each.

• Vocational Scholarships: Four $1,000 awards for students pursuing technical trades.

• Arts & Humanities Scholarship: One $1,000 award for excellence in creative fields

• Jack S. Hawbaker Memorial Scholarship: $500 scholarship awarded once every two years to recipient

JBHS Seniors Reagan Melius and Rowan Cousins (pictured left) have collaborated with TEF to develop a new informational brochure and logo for the organization. As a result their creativity and effort, the Tuscarora Educational Foundation will soon have new tools for communicating its mission and vision throughout the greater Tuscarora School District Community. The students applied their creative knowledge as a special project in their Digital Design and Video class led by Mrs. Erin Martin. TEF is grateful to Reagan and Rowan for applying their talents in support of the foundation and future grant and scholarship recipients!  (Feb. 2026) 

If you have spent any time around the Tuscarora School District or the greater Tuscarora Area community over the past two decades, chances are you know Chris Ardinger.

From serving as a Tuscarora School Board member to helping lead the Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tuscarora Educational Foundation, Ardinger has spent much of his time focused on strengthening opportunities for students and the broader community throughout the Tuscarora Area and Franklin County.

After several years serving as President of the Tuscarora Educational Foundation, Ardinger recently announced he will transition out of the role while continuing to support the organization and its mission. Mercersburg has been home for Ardinger, and while his professional responsibilities have expanded throughout Franklin County, he remains closely connected to the Tuscarora community.

Ardinger currently serves as Administrator for Antrim Township and also serves as Chairman of the Franklin County Council of Governments, where he works alongside municipal leaders throughout the county to strengthen collaboration and address shared challenges.

Reflecting on his time with the Foundation, Ardinger noted the most rewarding part has been seeing the impact of the organization’s work firsthand.

“I’ve always enjoyed seeing the direct impact our grants and scholarships have had for students and teachers,” Ardinger said. “From the JBMS Trout Release program and multiple STEM and STEAM initiatives to projects like the wind turbine, the Foundation has helped bring some really meaningful opportunities to the district. It’s also been incredibly rewarding to watch our scholarship recipients go on and do well.”

The Foundation board reorganized at its January meeting, electing longtime educator Rick Burkett to serve as President for the remainder of the term. Burkett retired after 36 years in education and maintains strong ties to the district, where he served for more than three decades.

Recently retired Tuscarora School District Superintendent Rodney Benedick was elected to serve as Vice President. Annalisa Ambrisco continues to serve as Treasurer, and Audrey Harniman remains Secretary.

Ardinger expressed confidence in the future of the organization and the continued strength of the school district.

“We’ve accomplished a lot over the years, and I’m proud of what the Foundation has been able to support for our students and educators,” Ardinger said. “The Foundation and the Tuscarora School District are strong and in very good hands.”

Although transitioning from the leadership role, Ardinger plans to remain supportive of the Foundation’s efforts and its mission of enhancing educational opportunities throughout the Tuscarora Area.

   Members of the Tuscarora Education Foundation Board are proud to announce the resurgence of TEF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the educational experiences of local students by supporting innovative programs for teachers and schools within the school district. After a period of relative quiet since the pandemic, TEF is back with renewed energy, a focused mission, and ambitious goals to make a lasting impact for our students and teachers. The foundation is driven by the vision of a community where every student has access to enriched learning experiences that prepare them for unlimited success in a rapidly evolving world.  The      

   Tuscarora Education Foundation aims to fill gaps in educational funding to provide resources that go beyond traditional classroom budgets that will benefit our students. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, TEF relies on the generosity of donors, grants, and community partnerships. This status ensures that all contributions are tax-deductible and directly benefit educational initiatives within the district. The foundation supports a wide range of projects and grants, including classroom innovation grants, student enrichment programs, scholarship opportunities, initiatives in the arts, and community partnerships. 

Most recently, TEF has provided grants to educators for the following:

• Danza Antiqua, an immersive learning experience bringing the arts and culture of American history to life at James Buchanan Middle School;

• Math24 Competition - a districtwide mathematics competition across grade 5 promoting a fun and engaging opportunity in Mathematics; 

• Supporting an immersive learning experience for K5 students at the Concocheague Institute in support of reading and literacy; 

• The middle school Trout Release program at Cowan’s Gap via JBMS;

• The addition of a kiln at St. Thomas Elementary. 

Additionally, TEF awards nearly $8,000 in student scholarships for graduating seniors.

     Investing in TEF is investing in the future of our community. When local businesses, parents, and residents come together to support education, they help create an environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Those contributing to TEF can make a tangible impact on students in our community, empower teachers to bring their most innovative ideas to life, and strengthen partnerships between the community and schools of Tuscarora School District.

   The Tuscarora Education Foundation Board of Directors approved six grant requests, totaling close to $6,000 for the 2017/18 school year; which will benefit students throughout the Tuscarora School District. The board also granted $7,500 in scholarships for graduating seniors at the James Buchanan High School, including awards for graduates planning to pursue higher education in vocational/technical fields and the arts & humanities.

   At James Buchanan Middle School, TEF approved a grant to purchase supplies for a newly formed club, the Maker Club. The club consists of 7th and 8th graders who choose to expand their understanding of technology through learning activities using 3D design and printing, reverse engineering, and the engineering design process. Activities will stimulate self-directed learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), among other content areas.

   Concerning the arts and humanities, TEF funded an Arts in Education program titled “Danza Antiqua”. The overall objective is to give students a complete immersion into the arts, history, life and culture of the 18th & 19th century using social dance as a basis to enhance their American History curriculum. This grant has been an ongoing partnership between TEF and the Tuscarora School District. The Foundation also funded a SmartMusic grant at James Buchanan High School, with the intention of eventually funding it throughout Tuscarora School District schools. SmartMusic is the award winning software used by music educators around the world to enhance their programs and provides a way to dramatically improve their students’ skills. Student practice is focused because they receive immediate feedback while listening to their performance and seeing the correct and incorrect rhythms and pitches onscreen.

   Other approved grants include: Additional supplies for the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) at the middle school. The Elementary Science Days grant was also funded again, which allows AP Chemistry students from James Buchanan High School the chance to work with 2ndand 3rd grade students in the district’s elementary schools. The high school students perform experiments with the younger children, teach them about relevant science concepts, and also teach them about electric circuits and currents. The James Buchanan High School Chemistry Department received a grant for wet/dry inquiry labs, which will assist students with experimentations in the AP Chemistry course. The Foundation also approved the purchase of owl pellets for the James Buchanan Middle School so that students may better understand owl’s behavior, feeding habits, and the complex nature of the food chain and relationships amongst organisms (predator-prey). Students will also identify and understand the processes of digestion and nutrient extraction.

   “On behalf of TEF’s Board of Directors, we would like to thank our numerous donors and volunteers that help make these grant opportunities possible for the students in the Tuscarora School District. In partnership with TSD, we are able to do some awesome things for kids.” –Chris Ardinger, President