A new scholarship fund at the Carbon County Community Foundation will benefit Panther Valley students in memory of a 1981 graduate and standout athlete.  The Kenneth ‘Cutter’ Weaver Memorial Scholarship, established by Tracy and Chase Weaver in honor of their husband and father, will award two $500 scholarships to qualified students graduating from Panther Valley.  One award will go to a member of the high school football team; the second award will go to a member of the boys’ basketball team.

The scholarship fund was created in memory of Kenneth ‘Cutter’ Weaver, who passed away in 2024.  Cutter attended Panther Valley, where he excelled on the football field his senior year, accumulating more than 1,000 yards of total offense.  He was a Schuylkill League 1st team offense and defense member and received an all-state honorable mention.

Kenneth ‘Cutter’ Weaver

‘Cutter’ Weaver and his son, Chase.

“My dad was not only a great athlete but also my biggest supporter—he never missed one of my basketball games,” said Chase Weaver, Cutter’s son and a stand-out athlete himself, with a career of 1,000+ points during his time at Panther Valley. “This scholarship is our way of honoring his legacy by supporting students who share his passion and commitment.  We hope it helps them pursue their goals, just like he always encouraged me to do.”

“It means so much to help Chase create this scholarship in honor of his father,” said Tracy Weaver. “My husband was always his most dedicated fan, and this fund is a way to carry on that love and encouragement by helping student-athletes pursue their dreams.”

Applications for the inaugural scholarship are available now and may be submitted online.  Students will need to submit a short essay on what it means to them to be a team player and how they balance that with serving as a team leader, especially on the field or court.  The scholarship is based solely on merit; academics are not considered as part of the qualifications.

“We are honored to partner with the Weaver family to establish this meaningful scholarship fund in memory of Cutter Weaver.  This scholarship not only celebrates his legacy but also creates opportunities for local graduates to pursue their dreams,” said Sharon Alexander, President of the Carbon County Community Foundation.  “Scholarship funds like this are a powerful way for families and individuals to give back to the community in a lasting and impactful way.  At the Carbon County Community Foundation, we are here to help donors create scholarships that reflect their values and make a difference for future generations.”

Community members who would like to donate to the Kenneth ‘Cutter’ Weaver Memorial Scholarship may do so online or by contacting the Carbon County Community Foundation.  Donations will be placed in an endowment so the scholarship can be awarded annually to students, forever.

About Scholarship Funds

Scholarship Funds are generally the most popular type held at a Community Foundation.  These funds support the pursuits of students at different levels of education, and can be established to promote a certain career or industry, acknowledging a special school or community, or honor the memory of loved ones.

Setting up a fund is easy and takes less time than opening a bank account. Donors make a contribution of personal assets (cash, stock, real estate and more) to establish the fund and receive an immediate tax deduction.  Once you name your fund and define the guidelines for scholarship recipients, we will administer the scholarship applications each year and will work with you and a committee to pick the recipients.

If you are interested in learning more about setting up a scholarship or other type of fund at Carbon County Community Foundation, please contact us at 610-730-2526 or director@cccfoundpa.org.

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