FMC Corporation, which operates the Agricultural Sciences plant in Middleport, has honored two Royalton-Hartland High School graduating seniors from Gasport with individual $1,000 FMC Scholarships from the local plant.

The scholarships were awarded to Rebecca Berner and Thomas Ragonese, both of Gasport, based on judging of their 300-word essays where they were charged with “picking an experience from your life and explaining how it has shaped you for the career you have selected.”

“As a company dedicated to our local community, FMC is proud again to honor two outstanding Roy-Hart graduates by providing them with scholarships as well as best wishes as they undertake their career studies in college,” said Brent Sensenich, FMC Middleport plant manager.

Rebecca Berner, an active participant on the varsity girls’ basketball, field hockey and track and field teams, focused on a life experience that inspired her to now pursue a career as a nurse family practitioner when she enters St. John Fisher College in Rochester this fall.

Thomas Ragonese, captain and MVP of the boys’ varsity basketball team at Roy-Hart, plans to pursue a career in agriculture while attending Cairn University in Langhorne Manor, PA. His life experience in working on local farms was supplemented by the agricultural and food science studies he undertook at Roy-Hart.

Brent Sensenich (right), FMC Middleport Agricultural Sciences Plant manager, presents $1,000 scholarship checks each to Royalton-Hartland graduating seniors Rebecca Berner (middle) of Gasport and Thomas Ragonese (far left) also of Gasport. The scholarships were awarded based on their winning essay submissions on the theme: “picking an experience from your life and explaining how it has shaped you for the career you have selected.” Rebecca will be attending St. John Fisher College in Rochester and Thomas has enrolled at Cairn University outside Philadelphia, PA.