West Shamokin Grad Among AICDAC Scholarship Winners

by Jonathan Weaver

A Class of 2016 West Shamokin student received a $1,000 scholarship last month through the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc. (AICDAC)

June 21, Alivia Peters joined Kelsee Lazor of Purchase Line High School in Indiana County and Madison Weaver of Clarion Area High School in Clarion County during an awards ceremony for presentation of the Bernie Smith Memorial Scholarship

Each students received $1,000 to further their educational endeavors. Peters was accepted at Butler County Community College.

In April, Peters was selected to speak at the National SADD Conference and to present her STEAM project and was this past school year’s SADD president.

Last year, Ford City Junior-Senior High graduate Kaitlyn Satterfield was the Armstrong County scholarship recipient during a dinner at Lenape Heights Golf Course. This past year, Satterfield -of Manor Township - studied Occupational Therapy at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Westmoreland County).

Her degree requires six years, and will require her to transfer to the main University of Pittsburgh campus.

“I’m really glad I got (the scholarship) – it’s a big help,” Satterfield said last year.

Even though she was a National Honor Society member, majorette and part of the Senior Class Cabinet, Satterfield qualified most for the scholarship based on her volunteerism as an actress and tour guide during the Armstrong County Jail “Drugs Kill Dreams – Jail Experience.” Satterfield regularly acts as a student getting apprehended by Pennsylvania State Police troopers for drug addiction.

“I actually went through the tour when I was 10, and obviously my parents told me that drugs are bad and to stay away, but it really didn’t sink in until I went on the tour – that’s when it all first hit me,” Satterfield said at the time. “The tour had such an impact on my life as a kid (that) I wanted to give them that same experience so they can see the harms of drugs.”

Satterfield’s brother, Jacob, also volunteers during “Drugs Kill Dreams – Jail Experience.” Mother, Carrie, worked at the Rayburn Township jail.

The “Bernie Smith Memorial Scholarship” is presented yearly to one student from Armstrong, Indiana, and Clarion Counties. The honorees are chosen from the graduating class. Eligible students are those most exemplifying the mission of the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission by way of their involvement, leadership and accomplishments through their high school career.

Bernie Smith served as an Indiana County Commissioner from 1995 to 2006 before dying in office, and was a member of the Armstrong-Indiana Drug and Alcohol Commission Board.