Brad Sadler '09/'11, Contract Administrator with BAE Systems and Recipient of a York Container Company Scholarship.
hirty-three local businesses support York College by providing scholarship opportunities to students. York Container Company (YCC), which makes corrugated packaging materials, is one of those businesses. Founded in 1954 by Robert Warren, Ruben Willman, and Charles S. Wolf, the company has been serving the community and working with the College over many years in a variety of ways, ranging from providing scholarships and internships to donating 12,000 square feet of corrugated board for the 2014 Wayne White installation at Marketview Arts. One of several York College alumni currently working for York Container is Nicole (Wampler) Laughman '06/'07, who was also an intern with YCC. She said, "The support that York Container offers to the College — from mentoring programs, to internships, to scholarships — shows York Container's unrelenting support of the next generation of young professionals." Coni Wolf is the daughter of Charles S. Wolf. She works as the Vice President of Business Development, Chair of the York Container Foundation Board, Corporate Officer, and Owner at YCC. When Charles S. Wolf became Chairman, Dennis Willman '63
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(son of Ruben) became President of YCC. (The YCP Willman Business Center was made possible by Dennis and Karen Willman). Both men served as YCP trustees. Steve Tansey, the current President of YCC, and Coni Wolf also serve as YCP trustees. Coni's father suggested to the York Container Board of Directors that the company support YCP by establishing a scholarship in 1983. Coni said, "Education has always been important in our family, and that carries through to York Container and our customers." Jeff Vermeulen, Director of Corporate and Government Relations and Executive Director of the J. D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship at the College, said, "Establishing a scholarship endowment at York College is a simple process. After the level of funding is identified, and the designation for the fund is decided upon, York College will draft a guidelines document for signature by the organization or individual. If the endowment is established by December 31 of a given year, the first distribution will be available by the next fall semester." In the case of the YCC Scholarship, the guidelines include maintaining a specific grade point average and being a full-time student taking at least 12 credits. The scholarship can also be awarded to students of any year, freshman undergraduate through graduate, if the student has satisfactory grades at previous levels of education. Finally, a unique guideline for the YCC Scholarship is that the employees of YCC and their families get preference if they apply for the scholarship by the established deadline. Besides helping students, the YCC Scholarship benefits York College and the York community. The opportunity that a scholarship like this affords students helps with retention at the College. Scholarships also work as another way to expand interaction between York College and the surrounding community. Coni Wolf described the benefits of the YCC Scholarship when she said, "It gives people a start." The Scholarship helps to interest prospective students who could receive the Scholarship for their first college experience. It also helps students manage the cost of attending college. One graduate who received the YCC Scholarship is Brad Sadler '09/'11. He is the son of Tina Sadler, YCC's Senior Project Coordinator. Tina said, “My family was very appreciative to receive the York Container Scholarship. Brad had taken the initiative to pursue his Master's degree from York College. This degree, with the help from the scholarship, has enabled him to achieve better positions in the work world." Brad Sadler received the YCC Scholarship during the 2010-2011 academic year while he was pursuing his MBA at York College. He said, "While I was in grad school, the economic landscape and job market were in flux, so knowing I had some relief from the bills that come with advancing your education was welcomed. It was an honor to receive a scholarship that comes at the behest of a company with a storied tradition and a commitment to the community." Sadler went on to become a contract administrator at GEA Refrigeration North America, Inc., and now works as a contract administrator with BAE Systems. YCC has helped a total of 53 students thus far through creating a scholarship with YCP, earning the gratitude of both the College and the local community.
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