HERSHEY, Pa., July 2, 2003 -- Pennsylvania American Water recently announced the winners of its annual Aqua Achievement Awards, a scholarship program for high school seniors within its service territory.
Ten winners were selected to receive $1,000 each, to be credited toward their Fall 2003 expenses at one of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities.
The 2003 winners are:
Amy Andrews
April Halligan
Melissa Hrinko
Sheila Hunnell
Lisa McKinsey
Paul Osbeck
Kimberly Palubinsky
Erika Petro
Cassandra Rondinelli
Meagan Shay
Scholarships are being awarded through the Fund for the Advancement of the State System of Higher Education, Inc., a non-profit organization participating in the Commonwealth's Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), which is designed to assist low-income families.
Recipients were chosen based on the following criteria:
-- Financial Need: Applicants' families must meet the income criteria as required by the Neighborhood Assistance Program.
-- Academic Achievement: Candidates must have maintained a B average or better during their junior year.
-- Commitment to the Community: Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to their community through volunteerism.
As part of the application process, students were required to submit a 500-word essay describing how they have contributed to their community through volunteerism.
Students must also be enrolled in the Fall 2003 semester at one of the 14 state-owned universities. These are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania American has always placed a strong emphasis on education," said Robert M. Ross, president and CEO. "It is my firm belief that we strengthen our communities through education; therefore, it is important that higher education be made more accessible to our youth - our future leaders. By assisting those with financial need, Pennsylvania American enables some promising young people to take advantage of continuing education opportunities that can be springboards for bright futures."
About Pennsylvania American: Pennsylvania American, a subsidiary of American Water, provides reliable, quality water and wastewater service to over 2 million people in the Commonwealth. The Company owns and operates 38 water treatment facilities, three wastewater facilities and approximately 8,700 miles of pipeline to serve customers in 363 communities in 35 counties.
About American Water: American Water, a part of RWE's water division, serves 20 million customers in 27 states, four Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico and South America. More than 8,000 employees provide water, wastewater and other related services. RWE's water division is the third largest water and wastewater services company in the world.
