UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- More than 120 students and donors were recognized for their outstanding achievements Oct. 2 at Penn State New Kensington’s Fall Scholarship Reception at Hill Crest Country Club in Lower Burrell.
The reception gives students who receive scholarships and benefactors who establish scholarships a chance to meet face to face. Students attending the reception delivered personal thanks to their donors, who, in turn, saw the personification of their philanthropic endeavors. Hira Mian, a sophomore in the biomedical engineering technology (BET) program, and Alexander Stack, a sophomore in the civil engineering program were the featured student scholars.
Mian is the beneficiary of the Dr. Karl and Jennifer Salatka Trustee Scholarship. A native of Pakistan, Mian came to the United States when she was 5 years old and grew up in Bethlehem, in the Lehigh Valley region of the eastern Pennsylvania.
Her talk, “My Motivation,” outlined the struggles of her father in a new country. The source of her pride, he came to the United States to find work before sending for his family. She said the Salatka scholarship is instrumental in her achieving academic success as it gives her some financial security. She noted that her father never received any help on his way to an engineering career, and that is what drives her determination to succeed as an engineer.
“The sacrifices my Dad made for his kids are what motivate me to do well and be successful,” said Mian, who works on-campus as a service desk consultant in the Computer Center.
A member of the campus’ Muticultural Club, Mian traversed the commonwealth to attend college in Upper Burrell because New Kensington is the only Penn State campus that offers the BET program. In addition, the campus’ BET associate degree program is one of only four nationally to be accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET (formerly called the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). The biomedical engineering technology program trains students to operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair medical equipment. Mian expects to graduate in 2015, find a job in the field and continue her education.Stack, a resident of Murrysville, is the recipient of the Hazel. L. Hug Scholarship, a $3,500 Honors award. The Franklin Regional High School graduate is a member of the campus’ Honors program, which is designed for stronger students in all majors. Honor students work closely with advisers and fellow honors students to individually design their first two years of study.
The title of Stack’s remarks was “The Future Happens One Day at a Time.” He described how scholarship donors affect students by helping them strive for a better future and overcome the financial struggles that are a big part of earning a degree.
Stack, who will move on to Penn State University Park in the fall to complete his degree requirements, chose to start at the New Kensington campus because of the small campus atmosphere and the close relationships with faculty.
“To be able to start out at Penn State but have a smaller campus to transition into is an excellent combination,” said Stack, a member of the Lion Ambassadors and THON committee. “New Kensington is small enough as to not be overwhelming, but large enough to really get a lot out of what there is to offer.” The opening speaker was Jennifer Wood, associate professor of communication arts and sciences. Wood, a 2014 Penn State Teaching Fellow, talked about Penn State quality, the cornerstone of Chancellor Kevin Snider’s strategic plan for the campus. She noted that quality at Penn State is not assured or permanent. On the contrary, it “requires constant, daily tending and maintenance.”
“Fortunately, Penn State New Kensington students provide a constant supply of nourishment,” said Wood, who joined the campus faculty in 1999.
Wood teaches courses in conflict resolution, rhetoric and effective speech. Her research focuses on crime victim policy, the prison-industrial complex and restorative justice. She co-edited a book, “Working for Justice: A Handbook of Prison Education and Activism,” that was published last year by University of Illinois Press.
The keynote speaker was Karl Salatka, benefactor of Mian’s scholarship. Salatka and his wife, Jennifer, established the $50,000 endowment in February. Their connection to the New Kensington campus is their support of higher education in the Alle-Kiski Valley. The Salatkas encourage others in the community to invest in the region.
“Penn State New Kensington is an asset in the community,” said Salatka, a retired general surgeon. “It is training the next generation for jobs in the region.”
Knowing the impact that higher education can have on a community, the Salatkas wanted the scholarship to be given to New Kensington students whose ethnic, cultural and national backgrounds contribute to the diversity of the student body. The donor’s gift is the first to support diversity at the campus. The recipients of the inaugural Salatka scholarship are Rafael Rodiguez, Hannah McBean, Meng Huo Tang, Anastasia Carrasco and Mian.
Salatka earned a medical degree and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Pittsburgh. Jennifer received her nursing degree from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. They reside in Lower Burrell.
Campus scholarships are awarded to eligible students based on academic promise, leadership qualities, community service and financial need. This year, new and returning students at the New Kensington campus earned a total of $150,000 in scholarship money from campus donors. The campus has 50 scholarship endowments, annual gifts and program awards that funded 83 students this year with an average award of $1,800 per student.
“Scholarships are the lifeblood of the University’s history and its vibrant future,” said Chancellor Snider. “They provide a source of financial support as well as encourage academic and personal growth.”
Alumni and friends can contribute to the campus by establishing an endowment or by contributing to already established campus endowments or funds. Gifts can be in the form of a one-time gift in cash or securities or a pledged commitment to be paid over a specified number of years. Gifts can also be created through bequests or in the form of a deferred gift designed to provide a life income for the donor or his or her dependents.
For photos of the reception, visit http://psnk.smugmug.com/.
For more on giving to the campus, call Donna Speer, director of development, at 724-334-6057 or visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Giving/giveoptions.htm.For a list of scholarships recipients and donors, visit www.nk.psu.edu.