Penn State New Kensington students Lea Long, left, and Jadyn Perry, were THON co-chairs last year. Long earned a Penn State Achievers scholarship for her service to others.
Lea Long earns John J. Cahir award
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Lea Long, a junior business major at Penn State New Kensington, was awarded recently an Achiever’s scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year.
Long received the John J. Cahir Penn State Achievers Scholarship for her academic potential, service to others, and willingness to work in order to defray the cost of her education. The Apollo resident earned a $1,000 scholarship.
The Kiski Area High School graduate was nominated for the scholarship by Theresa Bonk, director of student affairs at the New Kensington campus.
“Lea has demonstrated loyalty and dedication to Penn State through her leadership as co-chair of the campus THON committee,” Bonk wrote on the nomination form. “She annually volunteers for the American Heart Association Heart Walk, and she has been working since she was 16 years of age at Kochka’s towing company, putting in 20 hours a week and advancing to the title of manager.”
Formally known as the Penn State Interfraternity Council/ Panhellenic Dance Marathon, THON is a 46-hour, no sitting, no sleeping marathon that raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and the fight against pediatric cancer. All of Penn State’s 24 campuses participate in the fundraising effort, which culminates with THON weekend in February at the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.
As co-chair of the campus THON committee, Lea helped raise $28,000 in 2015, the fourth-best total in campus history. With a cadre of 40 volunteers, the THON committee sponsored numerous events during a five-month stretch from October to February. Long organized the basket bingo that raised more than $2,000.
Long participates in numerous extracurricular activities, including starting shortstop for the campus’ intercollegiate softball team, where she led the team in walks and was second in runs scored. Defensively, the slick-fielding Long topped the squad in assists and total chances.
Community service is a part of her genetic make-up. The Heart Walk is AHA's top event for raising funds to save lives from this country's number one and number five killers -- heart disease and stroke. Designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living, the Heart Walk creates an environment that's fun and rewarding for the entire family. Long not only handles the registration table, but sings the National Anthem to kick off the walk.
Long’s scholarship was named for John J. Cahir, professor of meteorology and vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, emeritus. After a 36-year career at Penn State, Cahir retired in 2001.
The one-year Achievers award was the second scholarship that Long has earned. In 2013, she was the recipient of a Provost scholarship, a $4,000 scholarship that is renewable for two years.
Campus scholarships are awarded to eligible students on the basis of academic promise, leadership qualities, community service and financial need. Last year, new and returning students at the New Kensington campus earned a total of $538,000 in scholarship money, $304,000 from private donors and $234,000 from the University. The campus has 54 scholarship endowments, annual gifts and program awards that funded 225 students this year with an average award of $2,400 per student.
For more about campus scholarships, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Giving/endowments.htm