Last year, Devon Koch of Bethlehem had just graduated from Liberty HS and was awarded the $1,500 Irene Todd Scholarship from Rosemont Lutheran Church, which was a wonderful blessing for her plan to attend Kutztown University.

Flip the calendar forward 12 months, and Koch has just wrapped up her successful freshman year at Kutztown, and was awarded the Todd Scholarship for the second time during the June 11 service at Rosemont.

“I feel beyond grateful that I was awarded this scholarship again,” Koch said. “I can’t be thankful enough to the scholarship committee at Rosemont for selecting me, the congregation and Pastor Jack Steltzer for all of their continued support.”

Koch is majoring in Animated Arts - formerly called Applied Digital Arts - and has picked up a minor in cinema.

“What drew me into animation and film is how someone can tell a story through images and dialogue in a way that is memorable and makes an impact on people’s lives who watch it,” Koch said. “I want to be part of those creations.”

“My plan is to try and get into the animation and filmmaking industry and then decide from there if I want to teach - a lot of my professors seemed to take that route, too,” Koch said.

“My first year at Kutztown was amazing! I made so many awesome friendships with students and professors, tried countless new things like goat yoga, live radio, dancing and more, and I learned more about myself and how to become independent,” Koch said.

Koch is without a doubt keeping busy at Kutztown, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. She is employed as a tour guide and is in the marching band (KUMU, Kutztown University Marching Unit) and the Radio Club/Station (KUR, Kutztown University Radio), where she has her own radio show. Koch is also taking a summer class.

Rosemont mailed scholarship packets to six Lutheran churches in Bethlehem as well as Liberty and Freedom High Schools, but the scholarship is open to all students who wish to apply.

Koch originally knew about the scholarship by being a member of the church from a young age. As a member of Rosemont, Koch was an acolyte for years, and now sometimes serves as a lector and plays her trombone with church organist Mark Suter.

Her hobbies include writing, drawing, music, sports, being outside and cooking.

Koch is the daughter of Karen Koch and Daniel Koch.

“I am very grateful to the scholarship committee for selecting Devon and recognizing her continued hard work,” Karen Koch said. “Our entire church family has always shown her so much love and support which has helped her grow into the kind and caring young woman she is today. I am so proud of her.”

“Devon has absolutely thrived at Kutztown this past year. She has excelled in her classes, all while getting involved in numerous groups on campus and taking on a part-time job with the college,” Karen Koch said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what new experiences her sophomore year will bring!”

Art Smith, chair of the scholarship committee, characterized Koch as an “outstanding person” before presenting her with the scholarship during the service. “We had four outstanding candidates, and Devon’s application was exemplary,” Smith said. “She has immersed herself at Kutztown just as she has at Rosemont.”

Smith thanked the scholarship committee, emphasizing that members did a “great job.”

“The mainstay of this is our parish secretary, Jacqueline Quigley, who does a great job putting this all together,” Smith said, including compiling the scholarship packets.

“Gracious Lord, you give your sons and daughters the ability to acquire knowledge and you rejoice when they gain true wisdom,” Pastor Steltzer prayed during the service. “Thank you for the leadership, intelligence and creativity that we see in Devon. Thank you for caring teachers and mentors who nurtured her mind and shaped her character. Thank you for friends and parents, grandparents and all those who supported and encouraged her.

“You helped Devon become who she is; continue to help her grow into the person she will become. Be with her and strengthen her for whatever the future holds. Lead her in the paths that are best for her. Help her to continue to develop the gifts of mind, body and spirit that you have given her. Use them to make the world a better place for everyone. Guide her in the way of truth and life.”

A reception in Koch’s honor followed the service in Laros Hall, where everyone enjoyed a celebratory cake and fellowship.

Dr. Irene Todd, a member of Rosemont since the 1940s, bequeathed funds to the church upon her death in December 2004. As a result of Dr. Todd’s generous bequest, Rosemont established a scholarship fund in her name in 2015 for students seeking an undergraduate bachelor’s, associate’s or trade school degree. Dr. Todd was a podiatrist in Bethlehem.

Rosemont established the scholarship fund for the purpose of forwarding its mission to Christ and in support of education. “Christ has called us together to do God’s work” is the mission statement that guides Rosemont in serving the church family and broader community.

Each year since the scholarship’s formation, a $1,500 scholarship has been awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic competency as well as compassion and caring through service to his or her church and community. Eligibility requirements include applicants submitting an essay of approximately 300-500 words focused on their background, educational goals, reasons for applying and explaining how the scholarship would help them achieve their career goals.

The scholarship may be used for tuition, fees or books, and should be treated as a scholarship of additional funds to the recipient.

The scholarship committee is comprised of Art Smith, chair; Lorraine Goff, also president of the church council, who was unable to attend; Patricia Nelson; Michelle Curry; and Pastor Steltzer, who is not involved in the selection process.

Past scholarship recipients are: Liliana Brockway, 2021; Aaron Matthew Strawn, 2020 and 2019; McKenzie Eisenreich, 2018; GianCarlo Seixas, 2017; Joseph Furner-Starrett, 2016; and Shawn Hartzell, 2015.