Students sell bands to create a memorial scholarship

After one of their top students, Jason Ammon Honey, 16, of Kunkletown, was killed in a car wreck in January, the staff and kids quickly created a scholarship in his name. Acting on an idea by Greg Smith, their welding teacher, three of Jason’s fellow students had the new scholarship formed less than a month after his funeral.

Josh Cowell, Chad Connor and Jon Buchman, put down their welding torches long enough to do most of the legwork required for making the scholarship official. “It was these kids, their work, that made this thing,” said Smith. The three graduated from the welding program in May.

Eight months after the fatal wreck, one scholarship has been awarded Josh Custred, from Pocono Mountain East received it and this year’s class of young welders are continuing the fundraising effort. The method of choice is selling yellow and black rubber bracelets, bearing Jason’s name. Three bucks gets you one.

Smith oversees the fundraising effort and says he’ll do it for years to come. “You don’t want somebody so good to be forgotten,” he said.

The $500 award is handed to the top welder of the class. The student is required to use the money to attend advanced training in welding.

“This year’s class is the class that was going to graduate with Jason so he is still a living part of their memory,” Smith said.

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