Comcast Awards $187,000 in Scholarships to PA students

HARRISBURG – The Comcast Foundation, founded in 1999 to provide charitable support to its local communities and to empower and enrich lives, is awarding $187,000 in scholarships to 178 Pennsylvania high school seniors through its annual Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program. One of the Comcast Foundation’s signature community investment initiatives, the program recognizes students’ leadership skills, academic achievement and commitment to community service.

Comcast, joined by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and other government officials, recognized the students at a special event held this week at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. All of the 2014 Pennsylvania Leaders and Achievers recipients received $1,000 scholarships, except for Lexus Allen of Scitech High School in Harrisburg, who was awarded a $10,000 Comcast Founder’s Scholarship – instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation. After a prize drawing, 10 students also received netbooks for use at college.

“Each of these students has demonstrated they are among the best and brightest that Pennsylvania has to offer,” said Governor Corbett. “They are not only leaders academically, but have shown a commitment to their communities through their service and dedication. Susan and I commend them for their achievements, as well as the Comcast Foundation for offering this scholarship program to deserving students statewide.”

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, are catalysts for positive change in their communities, are involved in their schools, and serve as models for their fellow students. The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

This year, 52 percent of the Leaders & Achievers winners nationally come from diverse backgrounds, including 18 percent African American, 14 percent Hispanic, 12 percent Asian and 4.5 percent multiracial.  Since the inception of the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Program in 2000, more than $21.6 million in scholarships has been awarded to approximately 21,000 deserving students to use toward their pursuit of a higher education.

“Comcast recognizes the importance of fostering leadership and excellence in the next generation,” said Jim Samaha, regional senior vice president for Comcast.  “These students are role models in their communities and at their schools. We commend them for their exceptional achievements, and wish them the very best in their future endeavors.”

2014 Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Winners from Western Pennsylvania (by County where the high school is located):

Allegheny

Paige Baierl of Northgate High School

Jessica Clegg of North Hills High School

Anthony Donatelli of South Park High School

Nicholas Fisher of Woodland Hills High School

Stephanie Franciscus of Oakland Catholic High School

Melissa Gess of Penn Hills High School

Ilana Kisilinsky of Hillel Academy Pittsburgh

Nathan Lawyer of Cornell Senior High School

Margaret Ledrick of Chartiers Valley High School

Elizabeth Leonar of North Catholic High School

Shea Metzgar of Plum High School

Chance Pendley of Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School

Kirstyn Smith of City Charter High School

Emily Strohm of McKeesport High School

Armstrong

Douglas Hough of West Shamokin High School

Beaver

Ian Kilpatrick of Beaver Area High School

Brianna Lubic of Ambridge Area High School

Justin Meinert of Quigley Catholic High School

Kashmir Sainiak of Western Beaver High School

Lia Vinciguerra of Blackhawk High School

Dalashay Whitehead of Beaver County Christian School

Alexa Yanyanin of Freedom Area High School

Fayette

Jacob Sweitzer of Belle Vernon Area High School

Indiana

Brendan Bertig of Indiana Area High School

Anna Harkleroad of Purchase Line High School

Steven Richards of Saltsburg High School

Lawrence

Holly Marshall of New Castle High School

Leila Zeigler of Laurel High School

Somerset

William Conn of Turkeyfoot High School

Gina Trulick of Berlin High School

Cassandra West of North Star High School

Washington

Olyvia Adkins of Washington High School

Josiah Hritsko of Canon-McMillan High School

Cassandra Lignelli of Ringgold High School

Westmoreland

Nicole Bruzda of Greensburg-Salem High School

Kevin Dudeck of Yough High School

Tyler Shash of Monessen High School

Lindsay Smith of Norwin High School