Duck Derby raises $3,500 for VC scholarship council

By Gary M. Ayd
Posted 9/18/19

The Valley Central Scholarship Council (VCSC) an organization dedicated to raising scholarship money for graduating Valley Central Seniors, held its first ever Duck Derby along the Wallkill River in …

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Duck Derby raises $3,500 for VC scholarship council

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The Valley Central Scholarship Council (VCSC) an organization dedicated to raising scholarship money for graduating Valley Central Seniors, held its first ever Duck Derby along the Wallkill River in Montgomery Saturday.

A total of 700 yellow rubber ducks were sold at $5 a piece during the months long fundraiser, totaling $3500. Barbara Palmer and Patty Arnott co-chaired the event.

“We came up with the idea for this from one of our committee brainstorming sessions,” Arnott said. “We figured it would be another way for the community to get together and give back.”

The ducks themselves were donated by Montgomery Book Exchange.

The sale of the ducks began in April and was done primarily at area events, such as Montgomery Day, school events and online.

The derby itself was aided by several volunteers who roped the ducks together and dragged them down stream from the starting point of Benedict Park off 17K, to the end point just behind the Montgomery Senior center. The ducks were then released yards from the finish line to ‘race’ the rest of the way.

The purchaser of the winning duck received $100 cash, 2nd place got two adult Jamis Mountain Bikes with third taking home a single child-sized Jamis.

Saturday’s winners were as follows: first - duck# 302 Lori Dzierek, second - duck# 254 Patti Giffen and third duck# 646 Raymond Mock.

VCSC sets a goal of $30,000 annually in funds raised which this year it will attempt to meet through a total of 10-events; including the derby. Individual scholarships handed out are done so anonymously and range in value from $500 to $3000.

“We have a point system with 7-8 reviewers charged with reviewing all our applications,” VCSC President Kim Fragale said. “ Our application process is anonymous and considers many different factors like community service, academics, family responsibilities, economic need and others.”

The largest of VCSC’s annual events is its annual craft fair.

This year’s craft fair will be held on Saturday November 23 at Valley Central High School from 10 a.m. to 3 pm. VCSC says it expects more than 100 vendors to be on hand.

“The craft fair is generally responsible for about half of our annual funds,” Fragale said. “We really have such a great community here, it’s truly incredible.”

Since its inception in 1964, VCSC has awarded over $890,000 in scholarship monies to graduating Valley Central Seniors. For more information on VCSC’s criteria, requirements and history, visit vcsc1964.com/about.