WEST MIDDLESEX

West Middlesex Education Association awarded $5,500 in scholarships and student achievement awards this year.

Three students earned Wolfinger education scholarships. Kris Wingard, daughter of Martha and Scott Wingard; and Katie Creveling, daughter of Sue and Jeff Creveling, each won $1,000 awards. Rachel Donner, daughter of Susan and Dennis Donner, earned a $500 award.

Kris and Katie will attend Lock Haven (Pa.) University, where they will work on secondary education degrees as biology and history majors, respectively. Rachel will work on a secondary math education degree at Westminster College in New Wilmington.

Katie also earned a $1,700 award from the Shenango Valley Chapter of the American Business Womens Association.

The scholarship, initiated by Richard Wolfinger's family and maintained by WMEA, is awarded to students working on education degrees. He was a math teacher at West Middlesex prior to his death.

Two students earned Babos-McCann-Walker scholarships. Kyli Foltz, daughter of Tammi and Dalton Foltz, received a $1,000 award. Jeremy Baker, son of Carol and Joseph Baker; and Darlie Palumbo, daughter of Debbie and Keith Palumbo, each earned $500 awards.

Kyli, who also received a $1,000 award from the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund, will attend Hiram College to work on a biochemistry and medical research degree. Jeremy will enter the physical therapy program at Slippery Rock University.

Darlie plans to major in pre-medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Mary Ann Babos, Marilyn McCann and Retta Walker were nurses in the school district before their deaths from cancer. The scholarships, started by family members and maintained by WMEA, is awarded to students who intend to study in the medical field.

Alicia Stefanak, daughter of Kellee and Gerald Stefanak, earned the $1,000 WMEA Student Achievement Award. The district's education association established the award in 2001 for graduates who have maintained a grade point average of 3.55 or higher and have been active in the school and community. Recipients, who haven't received other WMEA awards, are chosen by a faculty committee.

Alicia has been accepted at Grove City College and plans to work on a career in math.