The Grange Foundation has named Shae Smith of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, as the recipient of the 2025 Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship. Smith, a nursing major at Harrisburg Area Community College, is a member of Elizabethtown Grange #2076 and currently serves as a National Grange Youth Ambassador.
“Shae Smith exemplifies the heart, leadership and service that the Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship was established to honor,” said John Benedik, chairman of the Grange Foundation Board of Trustees. “Her work as a youth mentor, her dedication to the Grange, and her aspirations in healthcare make her a remarkable role model for young people in our organization and beyond.”
Smith credits her involvement with the Grange in helping her find her voice and develop leadership skills. In her scholarship essay, Smith reflected on her transformation from a quiet 15-year-old to a confident advocate for youth engagement and inclusion within the Grange.
“I knew that I did not want to feel small for the rest of my life,” she wrote. “I have been able to guide others, provide insight, and be a safe person that others look up to.”
Smith has served in many other leadership roles with the Grange, including 2023–24 Pennsylvania State Grange Youth Ambassador and as an officer at her local, Pomona and the State Grange. She was also named “Counselor of the Week” in 2024 at the Pennsylvania Junior Grange Camp, where her empathy and attentiveness made her a trusted presence among campers and peers.
Beyond the Grange, Smith is actively involved with Club Ophelia, a youth empowerment initiative, and the Masonic Youth Girls Empowerment Camp, where she plans to volunteer this summer. She also served as class representative for her evening nursing cohort and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society.
“Shae is a dedicated and passionate leader,” said Evelyn Zaleski, a fellow member of Elizabethtown Grange, in a letter of recommendation. “Her time management skills, academic excellence, and commitment to youth empowerment and community service are truly impressive.”
Jennifer Danko, Pennsylvania State Grange and National Grange Youth Co-director, praised Smith’s role at state Junior Camp, noting her “positive interactions with Junior [Granger]s” and “reliability and dedication” as a counselor.
“Shae is a compassionate youth that is highly motivated to pursue a career in the nursing field,” Danko wrote.
Anna May Nauss, Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee, noted Smith’s involvement at all levels of the Grange – local, county, state and national – as a major factor in the committee’s positive review of the application.
“Shae is a well-rounded applicant and demonstrated that she excels academically and has a strong commitment to the Grange. She also displays leadership and is highly committed to community service,” Nauss said.
Smith is a first-generation college student and plans to use her nursing education to serve others in both clinical and community settings.
The Ernestine Keiser Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually by the Grange Foundation to a Grange member who demonstrates leadership, academic promise and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission. The award honors the legacy of Ernestine “Ernie” Keiser, a long-serving advocate for youth and education in the Grange.