Ten graduates selected to receive county scholarships
WAYNESBURG – Ten Greene County high school graduates have been selected as the recipients of the 2014 County of Greene/West Penn Power Scholarship.
The scholarship is awarded annually to eligible graduating seniors who plan to attend Waynesburg University and represents a $1,000 award to be used toward each student’s first year of enrollment. All 10 students will enter Waynesburg University this fall.
The scholarship recipients are:
• Hillary Berry, Waynesburg Central High School. Berry, the daughter of Michael and Rachelle Berry of Waynesburg, will study nursing.
• Ian Bish, Waynesburg Central High School. Bish, the son of Matt and Mary Bish of Waynesburg, will study nursing.
• McKenzie Bowser, Carmichaels Area High School. Bowser, the daughter of Denise Bowser of Carmichaels and the late David Bowser, will study nursing.
• Michelle Frye, Carmichaels Area High School. Frye, the daughter of Victor and Susan Frye of Carmichaels, will study advertising.
• Jenna Hellen, Jefferson-Morgan High School. Hellen, the daughter of Troy and Lori Hellen of Jefferson, will study nursing.
• Karley Isiminger, West Greene High School. Isiminger, the daughter of Randall and Tammy Isiminger of Holbrook, will study English-secondary education.
• Vincent Morrow, Waynesburg Central High School. Morrow, the son of Patsy and Cindy Morrow of Waynesburg, will study biology/pre-med.
• Courtney Rush, Waynesburg Central High School. Rush, the daughter of James Jr. and Yvonne Rush of Waynesburg, will study nursing.
• Jacy Shriver, Waynesburg Central High School. Shriver, the daughter of Gregory and Virginia Shriver of Waynesburg, will study nursing.
• Kirsten Stoneking, Jefferson-Morgan High School. Stoneking, the daughter of Olan (Pete) and Stacy Stoneking of Jefferson, will study nursing.
“Congratulations to the recipients for all of their hard work throughout their academic careers,” said Commissioner Chuck Morris, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “We wish them the best in their future at Waynesburg University.”
The 10 recipients met the scholarship’s criteria, which included a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 and acceptance to Waynesburg University entering as a new, nontransfer student for the Fall 2014 semester. Applicants also had to submit a list of honors and activities and responses to two essay questions. Scholarship applications were sent earlier this year to high schools in the county’s five school districts – Carmichaels Area, Central Greene, Jefferson-Morgan, Southeastern Greene and West Greene. No applications from Southeastern Greene were received.
Funding for the scholarship was made available through Allegheny Energy, Inc., as part of an agreement reached with Greene County in 2008 related to the Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line project. In the agreement, Allegheny Energy subsidiary Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co. agreed to contribute $750,000 to the county for educational, environmental, public health and community infrastructure projects.
In June 2009, the Greene County commissioners and officials from Allegheny Energy, Inc. – which subsequently merged with FirstEnergy Corp. – presented Waynesburg University with $100,000 to start the scholarship, and a second $100,000 gift was presented in 2010. In 2011, the commissioners and officials from FirstEnergy made a final donation of $50,000 to the scholarship fund, bringing the total to $250,000 and ensuring the scholarship’s permanent endowment at Waynesburg University. Formerly known as the County of Greene/Allegheny Energy Scholarship, the merger necessitated a slight change in the scholarship’s name to include West Penn Power, FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania subsidiary.
During the scholarship’s inaugural year, five 2010 Greene County high school graduates each received $1,000 awards. The number of recipients increased in 2011, allowing multiple students from each high school to receive $1,000 scholarships. Nine students received scholarships in 2011, and 10 students were awarded in 2012 and 2013.
Applications for the 2015 County of Greene/West Penn Power Scholarship will be available this winter for members of the 2015 graduating classes.
For more information on the County of Greene/West Penn Power Scholarship, contact the Greene County Commissioners’ office at 724-852-5210 or the Waynesburg University Admissions office at 1-800-225-7393, or e-mail admissions@waynesburg.edu.