Published Saturday, October 12, 2002
Eastern Software has announced it is committing $100,000 over the next four years to The Herald's Academic Excellence Awards.
Headquartered in downtown Sharon, the company is donating the funds through its Empower! Scholarships, named after Eastern Software's flagship product.
Over the past two years the company has given $50,000 in scholarships to area high school and college students studying computer science. Funds previously given for that program will be earmarked for The Herald's Academic Excellence Awards. In August the company gave a $10,000 scholarship to this year's top honoree, Edward Likovich, the Hickory High School valedictorian.
The Herald Academic Excellence Awards was created to recognize scholarship, leadership, and community achievements among high school seniors in The Herald's circulation area. Every May seniors are honored at an awards ceremony with their parents and a teacher who they believe had a profound influence on their lives.
"We feel The Herald's Academic Excellence Awards need to continue and our best students should be recognized,'' said Joseph Delaney, president of Eastern Software. "Since all of the products and services offered by Eastern Software are intellectual property, it's our duty and responsibility to support academic excellence in the community.''
Under the revamped program, Eastern Software will make an annual $25,000 donation each year for the next four years with the funds being funneled through the non-profit Shenango Valley Foundation.
Unlike past years when there was one major recipient the program will have three major awards with the first- place student getting a $7,500 scholarship, $3,500 for second place and $2,000 for third place. All remaining finalists will get $1,000.
"One area that has been neglected locally is recognizing high school excellence for academics,'' Delaney said. "Eastern Software is committed to the project. Between Eastern Software and The Herald this will help spur on academic excellence.''
Empower!, the company's top-selling product, is software designed for the nation's top 400 financial lending institutions to process loans. Eastern Software has a satellite office in Newport Beach, Calif. Most of the company's nearly 70 employees work at its Sharon headquarters.
Mary Beth LoScalzo, The Herald's Newspaper in Education coordinator, said Eastern Software's donation will assist talented local students.
"I'm thrilled that someone stepped up to offer money towards local academics,'' Mrs. LoScalzo said. "This is one of the most important things we can do.''