DutchCrafters Announces Scholarship Winners

SARASOTA, Fla. - July 22, 2015 - PRLog -- (July 21, 2015 - Sarasota, Fla.) — DutchCrafters Amish Furniture, the largest Web-only retailer of Amish furniture at www.DutchCrafters.com, announced that Lauren Chapman, Sofia Cranley and Megan Hosford are the 2015 winners of its Heritage Scholarship (http://www.dutchcrafters.com/heritage-scholarship). The three high school graduates received $500 each to continue their education at the college of their choice. Award selection criteria included grade point average, a statement of financial need, and an outstanding 750-word essay on the important role that their heritage plays in shaping their education and career.

Lauren Chapman, Plainfield, Ill., plans to attend Illinois State University to study music therapy. Chapman has experienced the healing power of music within the African American community. She sees music as an important therapy tool and wants to use her talents as a musician to provide support and healing to those in need.

Sofia Cranley, Madison, Wis., has been influenced by the resilience of her Mexican and Cuban grandparents to have “empathy and understanding of people of different backgrounds.” This has inspired her to study international business at the University of Maryland to build connections between cultures through the field of business.

Megan Hosford, Newport, Vt., plans to study at the University of New Hampshire with the goal to pursue a career in nutrition and health sciences. Hosford plans to pass on the value of a healthy lifestyle to others as did her great grandfather, who would give away the vegetables he grew to local families and began the tradition of gardening in her family.

“We’re honored to invest in young people as they draw from their histories and cultures to build their futures,” said Jim Miller, founder and CEO of DutchCrafters and its parent company JMX Brands, who was able to differentiate his business through looking within his Amish and Mennonite heritage, offering high level customer service that matches the quality of the authentic and long-lasting Amish furniture that DutchCrafters sells.

Established in 2012, the DutchCrafters Heritage Scholarship has now awarded $6,000 to deserving, accomplished students attending colleges across the country, studying in an impressive array of disciplines. The scholarship continues to underline DutchCrafters’ belief that cultural heritage can positively shape vocational experiences and offer creative value to employers.