Leaders of the Hometown Bank of PA, the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation, and Allegany College of Maryland gathered at the ACM Bedford County Campus to celebrate the Bank’s $125,000 donation to the Foundation.
EVERETT, Pa. – December 13, 2024 – The Hometown Bank of PA presented a $125,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) donation to the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation on November 13. The donation dramatically increases the Foundation’s early college funding support for Allegany College of Maryland’s Spring 2025 semester when combined with EITC contributions from ECM Insurance Group and other local businesses,
Donation increases credit hours for students
Residents are no longer limited to taking six credits during ACM's spring semester.
The Bedford County Regional Education Foundation will now fully cover tuition, fees, and books for credits taken this spring by early college students who live in any of the Bedford County and Fulton County school districts
as well as the Claysburg-Kimmel, Spring Cove, Williamsburg and Fannett-Metal School
Districts. These residents may take any number of early college courses offered by
Allegany College of Maryland at the ACM Bedford County Campus, in their high schools, or online this spring semester.
The early college program offered through Allegany College of Maryland in the counties
and school districts surrounding the ACM Bedford County Campus grew a whopping 128%
in four years. This fall, 392 residents enrolled in early college classes. As more
residents enroll, the number of credits attempted by students has increased from 747
credits in fall 2020 to 1,710 credits in fall 2024.
“Hometown Bank is pleased to support educational programs through the Bedford County
Regional Education Foundation that can directly impact the education and futures of
students,” said Beth Manges, president and CEO of Hometown Bank of PA. “I and several
of our employees attended ACM and received an excellent education. We hope our donation
will enrich the lives of individuals as they pursue their career goals through education.”
Manges is also the vice chair of the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation.
“I am grateful to Hometown Bank of PA for their financial investment that will open
the doors of education for high school students in our area. It warms my heart to
know that every high school student who is academically ready for college-level coursework
can take advantage of this educational opportunity,” Leah Pepple, director of PA advancement
and community relations. “The generosity of Hometown Bank and other EITC donors has
erased the financial burden, and lives are forever changed due to their amazing support.”
Connect with ACM
For more information about early college offerings, please call Tina Kravets, a college and career coach at the ACM Bedford County Campus, at 814-652-9528 ext. 6202. Those interested in learning more about the Bedford County Regional Education Foundation may reach Pepple by calling 814-652-9528 ext. 6223. Please note that ACM will be closed starting December 19 for Winter Break
and it reopens on January 2 at 8:30 a.m.
Photo Identification: Seated from left to right: Jeb Kegg, Hometown Bank of PA Chief Financial Officer;
Beth Manges, Hometown Bank of PA President/CEO and Bedford County Regional Education
Foundation Vice Chair; Merle Helsel, Hometown Bank of PA Board Member; Leah Pepple,
ACM Director of PA Advancement and Community Relations; Todd Roadman, Hometown Bank
of PA Board Member; and Mark Kelly, Hometown Bank of PA Board Member. Standing from
left to right: Dr. Kurt Hoffman, ACM Senior Vice President of Instructional and Student
Affairs; Tina Imes, ACM Bedford County Campus and Student Services Director; Kirt
Morris, Bedford County Regional Education Foundation Treasurer; Alyssa Foor, ACM Foundation
and Community Relations Assistant; Todd Beatty, Bedford County Regional Education
Foundation Board Member; Larry Williams, Bedford County Regional Education Foundation
Board Member; Ralph Scott, Bedford County Regional Education Foundation Board Member;
Garry Goss, Bedford County Regional Education Foundation Board Member; Cheryl McInroy,
Bedford County Regional Education Foundation Board Member; Commissioner Deb Baughman,
Bedford County Regional Education Foundation Board Member; Lynn Ashe, Bedford County
Regional Education Foundation Secretary; Jim Gonsman, Hometown Bank of PA Chief Lending
Officer; and Bill Bratton, Hometown Bank of PA Board Member.
