The McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association has announced the winners of 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, totaling $40,686 this year, either have been established through or are administered by the McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association, in partnership with the underwriters and/or high school staff members. 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 school, art school or culinary institute.

The other 2007 recipients are as follows:

Michael Ferraro, Clare Hann and Caitlyn Krzywiecki, winners of the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation Scholarship, in the amount of $2,000 each – Established in 2001 by Arthur N. Rupe, a member of the McKeesport High School Class of 1935. Michael, who is class valedictorian, will continue his education at Washington & Jefferson College; Clare, class salutatorian, is headed to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, and Caitlyn is going to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Ferraro and Lauren Panchak, winners of Walter C. Shaw Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $2,500 each – Established in memory of one of the founders of the G. C. Murphy Co. by his daughter, Elizabeth Shaw Gamble, a 1937 McKeesport graduate. Lauren is going to Gannon University and Michael, as mentioned above, to W&J.

Jessica Franklin, 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. Jessica will be attending Duquesne University.

Daniel McBride and Michael Ferraro, winners of the Mary V. Tomko Scholarship – 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. Daniel received $5,000 and is going to Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Michael received $2,000.

Nick Resnik, Ryan Tedder and David Donahoe, winners of the Nick Bakalis Memorial Award – Established in 2002 in memory of Nick Bakalis, MHS Class of 1949, by his daughter, Melissa Bakalis Milbank, MHS Class of 1975, and his wife, Eleanor Frum, MHS Class of 1951. Nick will attend Washington & Jefferson College, and Ryan will pursue studies at Berklee College of Music. Each received $1,000. David received $500 and will attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

Daniel McBride, Tyler Dillinger, Cory Winters and Michael Lust, winners of the Albert (Abby) T. Fallquist Memorial Scholarship Fund, in the amount of $1,100 each – Established in 2002 in memory of Albert (Abby) T. Fallquist, longtime chemistry teacher and varsity baseball coach at McKeesport High School. Their chosen schools are: Daniel, Slippery Rock; Tyler, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg; Cory, Bethany College; and Michael Lust, the Community College of Allegheny County. In addition to the above, the Fallquist fund, drawn from Mr. Fallquist’s estate, provides continuing support to previous winners throughout their college careers. Presently, eight graduates are receiving renewal grants.

Kevin James Hall, winner of the Dr. Matthew R. Hadley Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of  $1,200 – Established to honor Dr. Matthew R. Hadley, who played a major role in the McKeesport-area medical community and was well-known in the Mon-Yough area for his dedication to his profession and his patients. Kevin plans to attend Mercyhurst College.

Daniel McBride, 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. Daniel is going to Slippery Rock.

Jayde Bennett, Tijana Stevens, Jeremy Kiger and Zachary Krejdovsky, winners of the Antoncic Family Scholarship, in the amount of $250 each – 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. Jayde is headed to Point Park University, Tijana to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Jeremy to Geneva College, and Zachary to St. Vincent College.

This year’s scholarship winners, with the name of the fund granting their awards in parentheses, include, seated front l-r, Ryan Tedder (Bakalis), Lauren Panchak (Shaw), Caitlyn Krzywiecki (Rupe) Jessica Franklin (Farkas), and Tijana Stevens (Antoncic). Standing, l-r, are Zachary Krejdovsky (Yecies,Antoncic), Clare Hann (Rupe, Yecies), Nick Resnik (Bakalis), Jayde Bennett (Antoncic); Jordan Harper (Campbell), Michael Ferraro (Shaw, Rupe), Kevin Hall (Hadley), Michael Lust (Fallquist), Tyler Dillinger (Fallquist), Daniel McBride (Tomko, Fallquist, Liberatore), and Cory Winters (Fallquist). Missing from the photo are David Donahoe (Bakalis), Jeremy Kiger (Antoncic, McCall), and Timothy Indyk (Fetters)

Dr. Linda L. Croushore, president of the MHS Alumni & Friends Association, shares a laugh with some of the scholarship winners.

Timothy Indyk, winner of the Richard and Robert Fetters Memorial Gift, in the amount of $400 – Established in 1997 by Beryle Fetters Nathan in memory of her brothers, Robert Fetters, MHS Class of 1935, and Richard Fetters, MHS Class of 1941. This award is given annually to a senior selected by the high school administration on the basis of merit and need. Timothy plans to continue his career in construction.

Zachary Krejdovsky and Clare Hann, winners of the Yecies Family Awards, in the amount of $750 each, for students who excel in swimming or history – Established by Richard Yecies, a member of the McKeesport High School Class of 1965, in memory, respectively, of his brother, Robert S. Yecies, MHS Class of 1961, and his father, William H. Yecies. Zachary won the award for swimming, and Clare the award for history.

Jordan Harper, winner of the $500 award from the Neenie Campbell Memorial Fund, established to honor the longtime McKeesport High basketball coach, C.P. “Neenie” Campbell. Jordan plans to attend St. Francis University. Another $500 from this fund goes to the varsity basketball program for items not included in the school district budget (summer tournament fees or a special piece of equipment, for example).

Earlier this year, the Kathy McCall Sportsmanship Award, in the amount of $500, went to Jeremy Kiger. 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 student athletes. Jeremy was a member of the varsity football team and will be attending Geneva College.

“The alumni association continues to aggressively seek funds for the scholarship program. 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.”