Since its founding in 1994, the Carl E. Stotz Little League Baseball Scholarship has served as a tribute to the organization’s founder while spotlighting academic promise among high‑school seniors in Lycoming County. The program, though modest in financial scale, carries a weight of recognition that resonates far beyond the dollar amount.
Each year the scholarship distributes $750 to fourteen deserving students, a gesture that underscores the initiative’s focus on encouragement and personal development rather than substantial monetary support. The award is rooted in the same principles that guide Little League — teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship — values that are now being celebrated in the classroom as much as on the diamond.
A Cohort Defined by Leadership and Service
The 2026 recipients embody a blend of scholarly achievement and extracurricular engagement. Ava Gorg of Hughesville High School balances varsity volleyball with National Honor Society participation, while Alison Bilbay from Jersey Shore Area Senior High School contributes to the Penn College Youth Leadership Program. Hazel Zajack of Loyalsock Township High School excels in cross‑country competition and classroom leadership, and Zoe Furman from Montgomery Area Jr./Sr. High School shines across wrestling, softball and soccer.
Other standouts include Alice Ravert of Montoursville Area High School, a jazz band member and concert band treasurer, and Ella Moore from South Williamsport Area Jr/Sr High School, whose proactive campus involvement sets a peer‑role model standard. Calissa Reed of Williamsport Area High School has logged more than 80 volunteer hours for a benefit concert supporting the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation, illustrating a commitment to community service.
The cohort also looks ahead to higher education at a diverse array of institutions. Tyce Shaner will continue his journey at Bloomsburg University, while Ryder Fink heads to PennWest Edinboro. Adam Ghayyada, Parker Bennett, Adam Shearer and Clynt Oden are slated for futures at Cornell University, Princeton University, Youngstown State University and Alvernia University, among others, each carrying forward the scholarship’s legacy of excellence.
Beyond individual accomplishment, the scholarship reinforces the broader mission of Little League International, which partners with educational institutions such as Lycoming College, Colgate University and Pennsylvania College of Technology to nurture well‑rounded leaders. By honoring these students, the program affirms that the virtues of sport — discipline, collaboration and resilience — are equally vital in academic and civic arenas.