Category: News || By Submitted Report

More than $45,000 in financial aid for college, vocational school or technical training is available to McKeesport Area High School seniors again this year through the scholarship program administered by the McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association.

In announcing the current opportunities, association officials said letters detailing the scholarship program have gone out to parents of members of the Class of 2011. Fliers listing the scholarships and grants have been distributed to every senior as well.

The McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association, now in its 25th year of operation, is an ongoing initiative of The Consortium for Public Education.

"These scholarships and awards have been underwritten by proud McKeesport alumni, their family members and friends and others who want to support today's McKeesport students as they contemplate the next step in their educational careers," said Linda Croushore, president of the alumni and friends association.

"We want to stress that 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," Croushore said.

The association has been aggressively seeking funds for this program, a spokeswoman said, and has added three new awards for 2011:

• The Kenneth and Evelyn Frew Scholarship Fund provides a maximum of two awards of $5,000 each to be given annually to seniors intent on furthering their education at a college, university, business or technical school. Preference will be given to those pursuing a career in engineering. It was established in 2010 in memory of Kenneth Duane Frew ('43) and his wife, Evelyn Jane Henderson Frew ('44).


• The Rick Keller Memorial Award provides a $1,000 grant for a student interested in pursuing a career in the health care professions. It was established in 2010 by family members in memory of Rick Keller, a 1971 graduate of McKeesport Area High School.


• The All-Alumni Scholarship provides a $250 grant from funds contributed by members and supporters of the McKeesport High School Alumni & Friends Association.

In all, there are 23 scholarships and awards available this year, a spokeswoman says.

Some awards do not require applications but do require students to notify counselors of their interest. Deadline for applications is March 31.

A complete list of the awards as well as applications can be found in the high school guidance office and library and online at the Consortium for Public Education website under the "McKeesport alumni" link.

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