Two students had a chance Tuesday to tell a crowd of 260 people what getting a scholarship to attend Pennsylvania State University's Shenango Campus means to them.

Karen Kovach of New Castle received the Anna Stewart Scholarship, and Joseph Lenzi of Mercer received the Paul and Eleanor Chadderton Scholarship. Both spoke at the fifth annual William P. McDowell Scholarship Dinner.

A registered nurse of 20 years, Ms. Kovach said she never understood her drive to be a nurse until her young son Mark became terminally ill and she was able to take care of him until he died at age 10. She then went back to bedside nursing.

Ms. Kovach is working on her bachelor of science degree in nursing and plans to pursue a master's degree to follow the path she believes God has made for her.

"Just as I was so proud of my son, he will be proud of his mom," Ms. Kovach said. "I'm so honored and privileged to receive this scholarship."

Ms. Kovach said that when she read the letter informing her of the scholarship, "I got goosebumps from head to toe, my eyes began filling with tears."