2019-2020 Scholarship Announcement
Each year, graduating seniors are encouraged to apply for available scholarships using an online application form, which goes live in March. The application process looks at quantitative factors such as the student’s academic standing, activities and clubs, and volunteer activities, as well as qualitative factors including responses to four essay questions, one of which in tailored to the students’ experiences with the local affiliate. The application is supplemented with an academic transcript and at least two letters of recommendation in support of the student’s character.
This year, we received six complete scholarship applications. The scholarship committee, consisting of both ACE Mentors and Board Members, met to evaluate the applications, letters of recommendation, and academic credentials of the scholarship candidates. For the 2019-2020 program year, the ACE Mentor Program will be awarding scholarships to all six candidates with the intention to distribute $11,000 dollars in scholarship funds to hard-working and committed students seeking to further their education in the allied ACE disciplines of Architecture, Construction, and Engineering.
Each of the five reviewers considered the applications and scored them in four categories, with a maximum of four points each, for a total score of 16 points. This year, the jurors also had an option to award up to four bonus points each, in recognition of both exemplary attendance and commitment to the program, for a potential total score of 20 points from each of the five reviewers. After a spirited review discussion, the committee was happy to announce that one applicant received a perfect score of 100 points.
That student is Phoebe Morrill.
Phoebe is a 2020 graduate of Quaker Valley High School and has participated in the ACE Mentor program for four consecutive years. During that time, Phoebe has been one of our standout participants in the program, and the committee was unanimous in their praise for Phoebe’s enthusiasm and her level of commitment. In addition to ACE, Phoebe also participates in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science’s annual statewide competition, is a member of the National Honor Society, and is a recipient of the Girl Scouts’ Gold Award for Leadership.
There was a portion of Phoebe’s essay from her application that we found particularly appropriate in these uncertain times… “In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, safety is the most important thing after survival. While some buildings exist because we need them to survive, many others exist to fulfill the third step of the hierarchy, belonging. I am fascinated with the psychology of buildings because they surround me and can drastically change not only how we go about our day to day tasks, but how we feel at that very moment.
The architecture, engineering, and construction that goes into these places makes a huge impact on how each part of the world functions. Without these professions working hand in hand we would not have that need fulfilled. The very presence of architects and engineers, who build to make people feel like they belong, shows that the industry is first and foremost making sure that our society can endure. It is this industry's job to keep building.”
Phoebe will be attending Cornell University in the Fall to major in Architecture, and will be receiving a $4000 scholarship from the ACE Mentor Program of Western Pennsylvania.
The committee also has also recognized the work of Christoph Bernas. A senior at Bishop Canevin, Christoph is a member of the National Honors Society, the PA Junior Academy of Science, and St. Ignatius Scholars Program, and will be graduating with highest honors. Beyond academics, Christoph was also a member of the varsity tennis team, and has also been active in Student Ambassadors, the Faith Formation Committee, and the Book Club, as well as performing nearly 100 hours of Community Service per year between the Boy Scouts of America and his church youth groups.
In our review, the mentors were very quick to point out the tremendous amount of personal growth that Christoph displayed over the course of his three years in the program. Christoph alluded to that growth in one of his essays: “I have always had a positive experience with my ACE mentors. They are always there to support me, even when others will not. My mentors Chris and Jason have given me the confidence to speak alone in front of a crowd of over one hundred people, which I would not have been able to do otherwise. They have also aided me greatly in my search for higher education, smoothed my college search by giving me helpful information on which programs and schools would allow me to become a licensed architect.
The most valuable lesson I learned in ACE was how to meet and work with people I barely know, as it develops and sharpens people skills, an important talent in ACE fields.”
Christoph has received a $3000 scholarship from the ACE Mentor program, and will be majoring in Architecture at Penn State University.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, Helen Kish will be receiving a $1,500 scholarship.
In addition to her participation in the ACE Mentor Program, Helen is also a member of the Gavel Club and has volunteered with the Marantha Youth Camp and has lent her voice to several area choirs and community theater productions. Helen has also competed in several science fairs hosted by the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
Helen had excellent attendance over the course of the past year and will be attending the University of Pittsburgh.
Finally, the committee also chose to recognize Josh Finamore and Noah Butts.
Josh Finamore, from Quaker Valley High School, is a 3-Year Letter Winner on his Varsity Baseball team and has served as Team Captain for the past two years. Josh has been on the High Honor Roll for four consecutive years and has also participated in a mentorship program called Best Buddies. Josh plans to major in civil engineering at Michigan State University.
A student at Pittsburgh Obama, Noah Butts was a member of his High School Boys Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball teams, acting as Co-Captain of the Varsity Basketball team his Senior year. Noah also volunteers at the Shadyside Boys and Girls Club of Western PA as a youth basketball coach. Noah will be attending the University of Akron to major in mechanical engineering technology.
Josh and Noah are both participating the ACE Mentor program for the first time this year and are each the recipient of a $500 scholarship.
A special thank you to our review committee:
Bethany Yoder
Lainey Phillips
Mike Sweterslich
Tony Ricketts
Anastasia Dubnicay
Alexis McCune Secosky