Academy creates scholarship to honor instructor

LEWISTOWN -- The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology is honoring one of its instructors with a memorial scholarship.

Born in Lebanon, Tyler Smith moved to Lewistown and eventually graduated from Lewistown Area High School in 2011. Later, he earned an associate degree in welding and fabrication technology from Triangle Technical School.

Eventually, Smith started teaching at The Academy as the adult welding Instructor in September 2022.

"Tyler connected not only with his welding students but students from other programs as well, with his positive personality and engaging demeanor," said Mike McMonigal, The Academy's Supervisor of Adult and Post-secondary Education.

Four months later, the 29-year-old Smith was gone. Those who knew him were shocked and saddened by his sudden passing on Jan. 14, 2023.

Colleagues, family and friends wanted to keep his memory alive, so they worked with The Academy Foundation to establish the Tyler

Smith Memorial Scholarship.

The Lewistown Elks Lodge No. 663 recently donated $200 in support of the memorial fund.

Amy Smith, Tyler's mother, along with Foundation Board Vice President Shane Rupert and Foundation Board members Eric Sherman, Will Campbell and Christina Calkins-Mazur were on hand to accept the donation from Larry Knepp of the Elks.

"All of us on the Foundation Board are honored to facilitate this scholarship," Rupert said. "We know that Tyler had such an impact on so many students in his time at The Academy and we want to help preserve and further his impact."

The scholarship will provide support to high school or adult students in the Certified Welding program to purchase personal protective equipment, such as hoods, jackets, gloves and other items needed in welding. The scholarship will certainly help students as these items can cost hundreds of dollars, McMonigal said.

The Foundation will work closely with The Academy on the application process and selection of recipients.

For more information, call (717) 248-3933 or visit www.theacademy.net/foundation/