MVEC 2006 Scholarship Awards

The McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association announced the winners of more than $35,000 in scholarships and grants available to McKeesport Area High School seniors through the generosity of McKeesport High alumni, their family members, and friends and/or members of the McKeesport community.

The awards either have been established through or are administered by the McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association, in partnership with the underwriters and/or the high school. They are open to all seniors intent on pursuing post-secondary education, whether they are college-bound or headed to career or technical schools, business schools, art schools, or culinary institutes.

This year marked the first award from the Neenie Campbell Memorial Fund, established to honor long-time McKeesport High School basketball coach C. P. "Neenie" Campbell. Winner of the $500 grant was Robert Doiley, who plans to attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

The other 2006 recipients are:

The Walter C. Shaw Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of one of the founders of the G. C. Murphy Company who played a major role in the business and civic life of McKeesport for decades. It has been endowed by Mr. Shaw's daughter, Elizabeth Shaw Gamble, who graduated from McKeesport High School in 1937, to aid students who plan to pursue a career in the medical field. Winners of the Shaw Scholarship are Daniel Kopolovich who is heading to Princeton University and Jessica Jones, who is heading to California University of Pennsylvania. Each will receive $2,500.

Kevin McCormley, winner of the Marlene Keller Farkas Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000; established in 2001 by family members to honor the memory of Marlene Keller Farkas, a 1941 graduate of McKeesport High School. Kevin will attend Duquesne University.

Noemi Borsay, Matthew Boyko, and Daniel Kopolovich, winners of the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation Scholarships, in the amount of $2,000 each; established in 2001 by Arthur N. Rupe, a member of the McKeesport High School Class of 1935. Noemi will continue her education at New York University. Matthew is headed to Penn State McKeesport and Daniel to Princeton.

Noemi Borsay is the winner of the Mary V. Tomko Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 1999 by Chris Casciato, a 1976 MHS graduate and member of the McKeesport High School Hall of Fame, in his grandmother's honor. Edward, who will receive $6,000, will attend New York University.

Joseph Dugan and Anthony Dugan were winners of the Nick Bakalis Memorial Award; established in 2002 in memory of Nick Bakalis by his daughter, Melissa Bakalis Milbank, MHS Class of 1975, and his wife, Eleanor Frum, MHS Class of 1951. The Dugan brothers will attend Pennsylvania College of Technology and each will receive $1,000.

Blase Ward, Steven Pambacas, Shane Smith, James Miller, and Dean Holtzman are the winners of the Albert (Abby) T. Fallquist Memorial Scholarship Fund, in the amount of $1,000 each; established in 2002 in memory of Albert (Abby) T. Fallquist, longtime chemistry teacher and varsity baseball coach at McKeesport High School. Blase will attend Kent State University; Steven, LaRoche College; Shane, Concord University; James, Duquesne; and Dean, Ohio State University.

Scott Knoche is the winner of the Sam Liberatore Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $300. Established in 2002 in memory of Sam Liberatore, a member of the MHS Class of 1963. The award is made annually to a senior member of the Tiger baseball team. Scott is headed to Thiel College.

Maryann Murray is the winner of the Robert and Richard Fetters Memorial Gift, in the amount of $400; established in 1997 by Beryle Fetters Nathan in memory of her brother, Robert Fetters, a member of the MHS Class of 1935, and expanded this year to include her second brother, Richard, a member of the MHS Class of 1941, who passed away in 2004. This award is given annually to a senior selected by the high school administration on the basis of merit and need. Maryann plans to pursue a nursing assistant's certificate.

Kerri Burns and Mary Chemsak, winners of the Yecies Family Awards, in the amount of $750 each; established by Richard Yecies, a member of the McKeesport High School Class of 1965, in memory, respectively, of his brother, Robert S. Yecies, a member of the MHS Class of 1961, and his father, William H. Yecies. Kerri will attend the Community College of Allegheny County and Mary is going to Penn State McKeesport.

Earlier this year, the Kathy McCall Sportsmanship Award, in the amount of $500, went to David Kopolovich. This award was established by family members and friends of the late Kathy McCall, a member of the McKeesport Area High School Class of 1972, to recognize the accomplishments, on the field and off, of outstanding McKeesport students. David was a member of the varsity football team and will attend West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Emily Murphy was the winner of the Justin R. Misura Memorial Fund, established in memory of the 2001 McKeesport graduate who passed away in 2004 by his parents, Ed and Lisa Misura, and other family members and friends. It is earmarked for students pursuing a career in the culinary arts, which was Justin's chosen field. Emily will attend the Community College of Allegheny County.

Andrew Krut, Danielle Stroz, and Kyle Crane are winners of the Antoncic Family Scholarships, in the amount of $250 each. This award was established by McKeesport physician Dr. Rudolph A. Antoncic, Jr., a member of the MHS Class of 1961, in memory of former McKeesport Area School District teachers and coaches Richard J. Gergely, William "Billy" Isbir and Glenn "Dutch" Shample, and of longtime athletic trainer Raymond Souders. Andrew is headed to Duquesne University, Danielle to Penn State University, and Kyle to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

Amy Willis, Michael Faix, and Matthew Boyko were the winners of William P. Isbir Scholarship Foundation awards in the amount of $1,000 each. This award was established in 1999 to carry on Isbir's work. He taught and coached at the high school for many years and was known for his commitment to students and for encouraging them to achieve in school and in life. Since 1999, the foundation has awarded $18,600. Initially, it was sponsored by a 24-hour scholarship walk at the high school track, but now relies on annual letter solicitation.

"The Alumni Association has been aggressively seeking funds for the scholarship program for the past eight years. It has become an exciting and ever-expanding effort," Dr. Linda L. Croushore, founder and president of the alumni association said, adding, "Our Tiger alumni are eager to give back to the place that grew them...Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger."