UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 23, 2008

                               ESSA BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      Pennsylvania                  001-33384                  20-8023072
- -----------------------------   -----------------------      -------------
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File No.)         (IRS Employer
   of incorporation)                                        Identification No.)



200 Palmer Street, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania                    18360
- --------------------------------------------               ---------------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (570) 421-0531
                                                     --------------


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[  ] Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principals Officers;  Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

     On May 23,  2008,  the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of  Directors
approved  the  granting of stock  options  and  restricted  stock  awards to the
executive officers of the Company listed below:

 Executive Officer     Number of Options   Number of Shares of Restricted Stock
 -----------------     -----------------   ------------------------------------
  Gary S. Olson              360,844                    135,847
  Allan A. Muto              153,275                     63,576
  Robert S. Howes            123,799                     51,350
  V. Gail Warner             117,904                     48,905
  Diane K. Reimer            100,218                     41,569
  Thomas J. Grayuski          94,323                     39,124

     The  grants  were  made in  accordance  with the  terms of the 2007  Equity
Incentive Plan, which was approved by the stockholders at the May 8, 2008 annual
meeting of stockholders.  All of the options vest in equal  installments  over a
five-year period, commencing on May 23, 2009, which is one year from the date of
the grant, and have an exercise price of $12.35 per share, which was the closing
market  price/last sale price of the Company's common stock on May 23, 2008, the
date of the grant. The restricted  stock awards also vest in equal  installments
over a five-year period, commencing one year from the date of the grant (May 23,
2009).  The vesting of the options and restricted  stock awards  accelerate upon
death or disability, retirement, involuntary termination of employment following
a change in control,  and the grants have other terms and conditions  consistent
with the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  Including the options and restricted stock
shares granted with respect to the  above-named  officers,  a total of 1,458,376
options  and  590,321  shares of  restricted  stock were  granted  to  officers,
directors, employees and one service provider of the Company.

     Each  outside  director  of  the  Company  was  granted  20,377  shares  of
restricted  stock and an option to purchase  54,127 shares of common stock.  The
options vest in equal installments over a five-year period,  commencing one year
from the date of the grant (May 23,  2009) and have an exercise  price of $12.35
per share,  which was the closing market  price/last sale price of the Company's
common stock on May 23, 2008, the date of the grant. The restricted stock awards
also vest in equal  installments  over a five-year  period,  commencing one year
from the date of the grant  (May 23,  2009).  The  vesting  of the  options  and
restricted  stock awards  accelerate  upon death or  disability,  retirement and
involuntary termination of service following a change in control, and the grants
have other terms and conditions consistent with the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.

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Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Not Applicable.

(b) Not Applicable.

(c) Not Applicable.

(d) Exhibits.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                  ESSA BANCORP, INC.



DATE:  May 28, 2008               By:  /s/ Gary S. Olson
                                       -------------------------------------
                                        Gary S. Olson
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer








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