Morgan Najewicz, a junior at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc.
The scholarship is awarded to students for outstanding scholastic and leadership abilities, character, potential service to the HVAC&R profession, and financial need. According to David Meredith, associate professor of engineering at Penn State Fayette, this is only the second time a female engineering student has received this scholarship. “Anytime I can encourage a female student to pursue goals, like Morgan’s, I do,” Meredith said.
Najewicz is working to complete two associate degrees at one time, building environmental systems technology and architectural engineering technology. She serves as president of the student branch of ASHRAE, vice president of Women in Science Engineering Technology, and secretary of the Green Club at Penn State Fayette.
Currently, Najewicz is engaged in a second-year internship with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, conducting bridge and roadway inspection on the Memorial Bridge in Connellsville. “Working with PennDOT, doing what I am doing now, would be something I would like to pursue after college,” she said.
Najewicz said the scholarship is a special honor.
“It is a great honor to receive this scholarship because I have worked really hard to keep up my GPA, and I feel like I have always tried to help others in my class succeed as well,” she said.