ASD Grads Awarded United Way Scholarships

by Jonathan Weaver

A pair of Armstrong School District alumni received scholarships through the United Way of Armstrong County earlier this summer.

During the Ford City Summerfest event, Armstrong High graduate Taylor Relich and West Shamokin High graduate Taylor Wilson each were recognized for their $1,000 scholarship awards.

Relich, 18 of Ford City, will use the Live United scholarship funds as she begins pharmaceutical studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh this Fall.

“I was interested in the medical field, but I was not so interested in all of the blood, I don’t really like needles all that much,” Relich said. “My mom’s worked in the healthcare field and I liked the concept of what she was doing, but I couldn’t –picture myself in the complete-hospital setting all the time.

“I like learning about the human body and how it reacts, and I’ve always liked biology and chemistry – which is exactly what chemistry’s about.”

Mother, Melissa, works in the OB unit of ACMH Hospital – where Relich job-shadowed in the hospital pharmacy.

“I really did enjoy that,” Relich said.

A former Armstrong athlete as well as part of many school organizations – including Leo Club President - Relich moves in to Duquesne dorms August 16.

Relich hopes to be able to join an academic sorority in the Spring, as well as other clubs and organizations.

Wilson, will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania for secondary education and social studies this Fall, received the Educators For Tomorrow Scholarship

“My aunt actually went to IUP and she teaches in Louisiana now so she was a big part of it and then we went to IUP to tour the campus and I just kind-of fell in love with it. It’s the only school I applied to,” Wilson said.

Aunt Tammy Davis, a Kittanning Senior High, now teaches elementary students but Wilson hopes to teach seventh through 12th grade students.
Aspiring to be a teacher since preschool, Wilson also thought she would teach elementary-age students – until taking U.S. History in eighth grade. She thought she learned from every West Shamokin social studies teacher, but especially U.S. History Teacher Judd McCullough.

Wilson – the former Student Council President and Yearbook and Newspaper Editor – combined her efforts in Student Council with her love of history during the Veterans’ Day activities last Fall.

“It meant a lot to (veterans) and it meant a lot to me over the past two years,” Wilson said.

Wilson will room with three recent West Shamokin graduates at IUP–Rochelle Schawl, Brianna Faber and Jennifer Bracken.

Both women graduated with a 4.4Grade Point Average. United Way Director Heather Wolfe recalled that both graduates also achieved other academic scholarships, including their chosen universities.

“These are very hard-working, well-educated young ladies here,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe explained the original deadline for submissions was May 16 before it was extended a few weeks. Seniors across Armstrong County could have applied, but none from school districts other than Armstrong nor homeschooled students did apply.

Applicants had to write an essay as well as demonstrate community service and volunteerism.

Board President Jane Hess and Board Member Bill Rush signed the scholarship checks.