Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning

09/02/2026

: "I began working as a Career Ambassador for the Center for Career and Development in the Fall of 2025. I am one of five Career Ambassadors and am one of the three new members of the team. I took the role because I found it to be interesting, and I thought I could leverage this opportunity to grow. Despite being new, whenever my boss asked for suggestions on what she thought we could do to make the Career Center a better resource for students, I was always very vocal about my ideas. Beyond just presenting my ideas, I gave her plans on how we could execute them. No matter the task she gave me, I put 110% in. In November, the Executive Director of the Career Center approached me and asked me if I would be interested in becoming the Sophomore Summit Intern. She said that they immediately thought of me for the position and that they were building out the job description to match my interests. Thanks to the effort I put in as a Career Ambassador, I'm getting to grow into a new position that will allow me to hire, lead, and facilitate a team of 9 students. Together, we will help to create Dickinson's first Sophomore Summit. I believe I was offered this opportunity due to my communication and teamwork skills, as well as my ability to problem-solve when asked. I tell everyone this all the time, but I've found that opportunities pop up in the strangest places! Always putting your best foot forward can truly lead to incredible opportunities! ~Alyssa D. (Dickinson College)

08/31/2026

: "Never just go through the motions. Always try to understand the reason why you are studying a certain topic and how it can be implemented in your field. I also strongly advise college students to become financially literate, particularly for personal finances, as the "adult world" hits hard once you live on your own!" ~Justin S. (Penn State University)

08/28/2026

Kaylee LoVerso is the recipient of the Bergman Cronin Legacy Loan. Kaylee graduated from Hempfield High School in 2025. She is attending Delaware Valley University, majoring in animal science and pre-professional program. In high school, Kaylee played softball. She also served as Vice President of Future Farmers of America (FFA). One of Kaylee’s greatest achievements was finishing at the top of her class in animal production science & technology at Lancaster County Career and Technology Center. Her life goals are to study animal science and continue her education at veterinary school.

08/27/2026

: "These loans gave me the peace of mind that I wasn't racking up tons of interest. I was able to focus on school and finding a good job." ~Kelly D. (Susquehanna University)

08/26/2026

To celebrate LDHL’s 65th anniversary, we’re sharing something truly special—65 stories from current students, alumni, and past loan recipients whose lives have been shaped by interest-free student loans. Each story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in education and opportunity. 💙

Follow along as we highlight these inspiring journeys—and see the lasting impact of 65 years in action.

#10: Bhim Thapaliya, graduated from Elizabethtown College, President/Founder of Act For Humanity (AFH) Foundation. AFH was founded in 2011. As an immigrant with illiterate parents, Bhim found it extremely challenging for him and his family to start a new life in the United States. Despite the challenge of learning a new language and culture, Bhim was able to help refugees struggling with the same problems through education, mentorship, and leadership. His passion is to improve the lives of immigrants in the United States as well as supporting individuals who are suffering from poverty in Nepal and rural parts of Kenya. Over the past fifteen years, AFH has impacted hundreds of individuals in Lancaster County and in Nepal, and the organization continues to grow and has expanded its work in Kenya. AFH strives to achieve its goals by creating programs and fostering partnerships that benefit and help build opportunities for refugees/immigrants and high-achieving students who are in desperate need of support at home and abroad.

08/25/2026

: "Flexibility is key. My roommate and I sometimes share food but always ask beforehand if it’s okay, and we put it at a place where we can both access it. We respect each other by keeping our music/audio at a low level and try to be as quiet as we can if the other person is sleeping. We met our freshman year and grew closer on a study abroad trip and other trips during this past summer! One thing I’ve learned is that while I do enjoy alone time, I also enjoy having someone who can keep you company after long days." Maggie C. (Lancaster Bible College)

08/21/2026

Logan Groff is the recipient of the William S. Rothermel Foundation Legacy Loan in Memory of Robert G. Starr II. Logan graduated from Manheim Central High School in 2024. He is attending Liberty University, majoring in video editing. In high school, Logan was involved in volleyball and golf and volunteered at a local family center by serving food and spending time with the kids. He took a mission trip to Guatemala to paint and spend time with children in an orphanage. Logan is a responsible and hard-working person. He is independent and enjoys cooking all his own food. Logan makes YouTube videos about Legos and went to a Lego convention in VA. This summer, he was an intern at his father’s work, Frey Lutz, which focused on accounting and marketing. Logan’s life goal is to graduate with a bachelor's in digital media and make visual masterpieces witnessed by millions on social media.

08/20/2026

To celebrate LDHL’s 65th anniversary, we’re sharing something truly special—65 stories from current students, alumni, and past loan recipients whose lives have been shaped by interest-free student loans. Each story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in education and opportunity. 💙

Follow along as we highlight these inspiring journeys—and see the lasting impact of 65 years in action.

#9: "I graduated in 2019 with a degree in Spanish Education. I spent the year after college working at a local Amish farm museum where I worked the front desk and gave tours (sometimes in Spanish or Portuguese), and then substitute teaching at various local schools. In the fall of 2020, I got my first full-time teaching position at Manheim Township High School. This school year has been an enormous learning curve for me, which is both the biggest challenge and also what I enjoy the most about it. I'm most excited to be able to reflect on this time later and realize how many skills I've gained and how much I've learned! I'm also really enjoying the connections I've been able to make with my students despite juggling remote teaching and all the other crazy twists and turns of this year.

I was fortunate enough that your loan was the only one that I had to repay after college, however, not having to pay interest on it made such a difference in my ability to pay it back as quickly as I have." ~Sarah B. (Millersville University)

08/19/2026

Our mission is to provide financial resources to Lancaster County residents in support of their post-secondary educational goals. Since 1961, we have provided more than $22 million in interest-free loans!

Lancaster Dollars for Higher Learning helps students pay for college with interest-free LIFT and Legacy loans that offer easy repayment plans.

08/19/2026

Thank you Pequea Valley Secondary School for inviting us to share information about our interest-free student loans during your Back-to-School Night!