The Clendenin Consulting Group names essay contest winners

Evan Osenbaugh and Shannon Hartley

The Clendenin Consulting Group announced the winners of its “What’s Bugging You?” essay contest for 2023.

First place for the essay contest goes to Evan Osenbaugh. Osenbaugh is a graduate of Lapel High School in Lapel, Ind. His father, Dave, is the owner of Creepy Crawlers Perimeter Pest Control in Anderson, Ind. He is attending his freshman year at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

“I would like to thank The Clendenin Consulting Group for this wonderful opportunity,” Osenbaugh said in the news release. “It is a great honor. It means a lot to have this award. The scholarship will be an immense help as I begin my college career. I am sincerely grateful.”

The winner of the $3,000 scholarship is Shannon Hartley. Hartley is a graduate of Johnston High School in Johnston, R.I. Her parents, Thomas and Roseanna, are the owners of Alan’s Pest Control in Johnston. She is attending her freshman year at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, Mass.

“I am incredibly honored that I was chosen as a recipient of this scholarship,” Hartley said. “With this help, I can further my education in my passions and what I love doing most: creating art. I cannot wait for what my future will bring and I am thankful for all who have helped me along the way.”

“To have the privilege of honoring these young people is an honor in itself. They are so deserving. We are excited for these two as they begin their college careers. We are already looking forward to next year’s contest to be announced before the end of 2023,” said Greg Clendenin, CEO of The Clendenin Consulting Group.

The essay contest was open to all eligible high school seniors whose parent or guardian is employed in the lawn spray or pest control industry. Other eligibility requirements included 10 hours of community service during their senior year of high school, recommendation from two teachers, graduation before end of June 2023 and graduated with at least a 2.5 GPA. The student must also have been accepted to a college, university or trade or technical school by the end of their senior year and submit an essay of 750 to 1500 words on a subject that is “bugging” them.  They must also satisfactorily complete the courses toward which the scholarship is credited with a GPA of at least 2.5 or a passing grade of at least 75 percent.