Lehighton Lodge 621 Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 145 N. Seventh St., Lehighton, have announced the recipients of the 2012 scholarships for higher education.

Brett Jennings Snyder of Palmerton and Dylan Frendt of Lehighton each received a $500 scholarship to pursue their educational goals.Snyder, a 2012 graduate of Palmerton High School, is the son of Mike and Justine Snyder. He is attending the main campus of Penn State University in the fall, pursuing a career in speed pathology.Frendt is the son of Erik and Cynthia Frendt and a 2010 graduate of Lehighton Area High School. He has attended Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., for two years and is transferring for the fall to William & Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. He is double majoring in political science and psychology.Lehighton Lodge Scholarship committee, James Walp, chairman; Gordon Ripkey and Keith Billig, had the challenging task of evaluating, ranking and selecting only two recipients from the nine applications received this year."The applications of both Brett and Dylan exemplified excellent educational and lifetime goals, strong family and Christian values; and excellent role models that have contributed to a solid foundation upon which further education can build," said Walp. "As a result, we are proud to honor these fine young men."Members of the Lehighton Lodge 621 Free and Accepted Masons offered congratulations to the scholarship winners and wished them the very best in their quest for knowledge.Masons throughout history have been lovers of the arts and sciences and endeavor to promote learning and advancement of knowledge.Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest men's fraternity. It is a fraternity built on the cardinal virtues of brotherly love, charity and truth. Masons are men of charity and good works. In America, Freemasonry has been called "the world's greatest philanthropy," for contributing more than $2 million every day to charitable causes which they alone have established.In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 120,000 Freemasons in the 450 Masonic Lodges throughout the Commonwealth. There are approximately 370 members of Lehighton Lodge No. 621 F&AM.