Scouts to honor United Way CEO and Pennsylvania State House member in Hagerstown

The Mason-Dixon District of Shenandoah Area Council-Scouting America will present its inaugural Distinguished Citizen Awards to Washington County United Way President and CEO Heather Guessford of Hagerstown and Pennsylvania State Representative Paul Schemel of Greencastle, Pa.

The two award recipients will be honored at the Take Flight for Scouting fundraising dinner Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Hagerstown Aviation Museum. Local radio/tv personality Lou Scally will serve as MC.

Guessford has been active in United Way for many years

Before taking the lead at the local United Way in 2020, Heather Guessford served as a 16-year volunteer with the organization having led multiple workplace giving campaigns and Day of Caring Teams.

Guessford was a member of the fundraising committee where she co-chaired the annual community-wide fundraising campaign, was the United Way's Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year and was honored with multiple Day of Caring Spirit Awards.

Active in the business and philanthropy community, Guessford was the 2020 Young Professional of the Year, a 2019 Business Person of the Year finalist and past Board chair of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Foundation.

Schemel retiring from Pa. House after five terms

Paul Schemel was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2014. He is currently serving his fifth term, which will end in November. Schemel chose not to run for re-election and looks forward to returning to his legal practice.

During the current legislative session, Rep. Schemel serves as a member of several House committees. He is chairman of the Health Committee’s Subcommittee on Health Care and the Judiciary Committee’s Committee on Courts.

Prior to his election to the House, Schemel served six years on the Greencastle Borough Council.

In Scouting, Schemel is an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 99 in Greencastle, an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.

Schemel was awarded the Outstanding Eagle Scout award by the Mason-Dixon Council and the St. George adult religious emblem from the Catholic Committee on Scouting. He also is the proud father of several Eagle Scouts.

Event at Hagerstown Aviation Museum a vital fundraiser

The dinner venue, the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, is at 18450 Showalter Road in Building 8, a former Fairchild Aircraft hangar. The event will be set among historic aircraft and museum displays showcasing the history of the Hagerstown area’s aviation industry.

The fundraiser kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, as the museum opens for tours.

Appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be available with local beers and spirits from Upper Stem Brewery and Meinelschmidt Distillery. A three-entrée dinner and dessert will be served at 6 p.m. Award presentations will follow.

Individual tickets are available for $100, or $150 per couple. Proceeds benefit Scouting programs in the local community.

To reserve dinner seats, go to www.sac-bsa.org and click on “Giving,” or go to the Hagerstown Scout Shop at 18022 Maugans Ave.

The Mason-Dixon District serves all of Washington County, Fulton County, Pa., and the Waynesboro, Greencastle and Mercersburg areas of Franklin County, Pa. The district is part of the Shenandoah Area Council of Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America. The council serves more than 2,000 youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and other Scouting programs and operates Sinoquipe Scout Reservation and Camp Rock Enon.

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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Scouts to honor United Way CEO and Pennsylvania State House member in Hagerstown