Scholarship benefactor Patrick Kopnicky, left, talks with scholarship recipient Alexander Stack at Penn State New Kensington's fall scholarship reception. Aubrey Simpson and Jon McCabe will be recognized at next fall's scholarship reception.
Aubrey Simpson of Brackenridge;
Jon McCabe of Lower Burrell
Two local high school seniors earned a Horatio Alger State Scholarship and will begin their collegiate careers in the fall at Penn State New Kensington.
Aubrey Simpson of Highlands High School and Jon McCabe of Burrell High School received an Horatio Alger State Scholarship for overcoming adversity and excelling in the classroom. Both were raised by single mothers. Five students from the Alle-Kiski Valley were among the 51 recipients from across the commonwealth to receive the nationwide scholarships.
The 18-year-old Simpson is considering a career in the health care field. Her mother is a nurse who is earning college credits in the evening. Simpson is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers in the community at Highlands Home Town Heroes. The non-profit organization ships care packages to Highlands graduates deployed overseas.
The Brackenridge resident has numerous health care options at New Kensington. Among the 14 majors at the campus, four are in the health care field. In the Radiological Sciences program students learn to produce quality diagnostic images, provide optimal patient care, and operate advanced imaging technology. The Biomedical Engineering Technology program trains students to operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair medical equipment. The nursing program offers registered nurses the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing at the campus. The Psychology program prepares students for future careers in clinical, cognitive, developmental, health, industrial/organizational or social psychology.
McCabe, 17, is pondering a major in psychology at the campus. He will be a part of Penn State’s 2+2 Plan that allows students to spend their first two years of study at one campus and transition to another for their remaining two years. For a majority of Penn State students, the 2+2 Plan is the most common path to a degree. Armed with a 4.0 grade-point average, McCabe has his sights set on completing his studies at the University Park campus.
The Lower Burrell native’s extracurricular interests include the theatre and photography. His thespian skills can be utilized by the campus’ Drama Club, which presents a public stage production each semester. “Almost, Maine” is the spring play that opens a three-day run at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 10, in the Forum Theatre.
In addition to the Horatio Alger scholarship, Simpson and McCabe earned scholarships from the campus. Simpson received a Provost’s Award and McCabe received a Chancellor’s Award. Both scholarships are for $3,000 and renewable for four years. The scholarships are supported by private donations.
New Kensington offers 40 scholarships and awards to deserving freshmen and upperclassmen. Last year, the campus awarded $187,000 in scholarships to campus students for the fall semester. Nearly 110 students received an average of $1,700 per award.
The Alger scholarships are administered by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. The organization was founded in 1947 and named after the American author who wrote “rags-to-riches’ stories about the American dream.
For more on campus academic programs, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/degrees.htm
For more on campus scholarships, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Giving/endowments.htm