MITER Foundation awards $100,000 in high school scholarships

HARRISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 18, 2026--

MITER Foundation, the charitable arm of MITER Brands, a residential window and door manufacturer, is pleased to announce it has awarded 100 graduating high school seniors with $1,000 scholarships, totaling $100,000.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260818396615/en/

The MITER Foundation received scholarship applications from 49 of the 50 states, with 91 percent of applicants coming from outside Pennsylvania. This year’s recipients plan to attend a diverse range of post-secondary institutions, including four-year universities, community colleges, and technical schools.

“Our scholarship program continues to grow as we hear the stories of so many remarkable students working hard to build a bright future for themselves and their communities,” said Shannon Sitlinger, MITER Foundation Executive Committee Secretary. “We are proud to support these graduates as they take the next step in their educational journeys, and we look forward to seeing the impact they make in the years ahead.”

Eligible students were able to apply for $1,000 scholarships earlier this year. The foundation received 1,193 applications, up from 366 applications in 2025. The MITER Foundation selection committee increased from three members to fifteen this year due to the enormous interest in the program. Students from around the world applied, with some coming from Canada, Egypt, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

"I am incredibly appreciative of this generosity and willingness to support my academic journey,” said scholarship recipient Sarah Riland, a Millersburg Area High School graduate who is attending Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA. “I will work hard at school to ensure that this generous contribution doesn’t go to waste. I am honored and thankful to receive this scholarship.”

To be considered for a scholarship, students must demonstrate a passion for learning, a commitment to positively impacting their community, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and be graduating high school seniors.

After proof of enrollment is shown, scholarship funds will be sent in one lump sum to the university, college, technical school, or trade school designated by the recipient.

About MITER Foundation

In 2015, MITER Foundation™ was founded on the belief that we all have an obligation to help our fellow citizens. The foundation has committees at each of our locations that raise and donate funds for their local communities, as well as three noteworthy causes – heroes support, children’s well-being, and cancer support. For more information, visit MITERFoundation.org.

About MITER Brands

Founded in 1947, MITER Brands is a residential window and door manufacturer that produces a portfolio of window and door brands for the new construction and replacement segments with an owner-operated, family-first approach. Through optimized manufacturing, valued relationships, and dedicated team members coast to coast, MITER Brands instills confidence and drives quality customer experiences. The name “MITER” is an acronym reflecting five of the company’s core strengths: Manufacturing, Innovation, Trust, Experiences, and Relationships.

For more information, visit MITERBrands.com.

MITER Foundation Scholarship recipient Sarah Riland will attend Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA this fall

A Venezuelan former baseball player working for the San Diego Padres was detained by U.S. immigration officers after arriving in Texas on a work trip for the club, his family said Tuesday.

Oswaldo Pirela, a catching coach in the Padres' minor league system, was being held in a detention center in El Paso, federal records show. The Padres said in a statement that the team was aware of Pirela's arrest and was trying to gather more details.

Pirela was on a work trip when he was arrested Sunday around 5 a.m. at an airport in El Paso, according to Daniela Pirela, his sister. The Padres have a minor league affiliate team in the city, the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Daniela Pirela said her 34-year-old brother has lived in the U.S. for 12 years and has followed the law. She said he applied for asylum in 2015 and lives in Peoria, Arizona, with his wife and two children, ages 9 and 4, who are both U.S. citizens.

“Since he arrived in this country, the only thing he’s done is follow the rules of this country and do things properly,” Daniela Pirela told The Associated Press.

The Department of Homeland Security said Oswaldo Pirela entered the country legally in 2014 and was granted permission to stay until 2018. He then “overstayed his welcome,” DHS said in a statement, adding that work authorization or pending applications “do not confer” U.S. legal status.

Pirela is in ICE custody pending removal, DHS said.

Oswaldo Pirela had a brief minor-league playing career as a catcher in the Texas Rangers organization.

Turbay is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

FILE - Detailed view of a San Diego Padres logo on a pitching mound during batting practice prior to a baseball game between the Padres and Boston Red Sox, May 20, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Brandon Sloter, File)