AWARDS

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It is always fun to recognize those among us who put extra effort into this unpaid, volunteer job. This year we honored Rita Powroznik Traeger and Laurel Soffa with a Certificate of Commendation for their outstanding work on our Educational Support committee. The two of them use their prior connections from guidance counselor positions to send out applications to all 42 school districts for our Educational Support Grant one year and for our Scholarship Award the next year. They review the returned applications and select the parties to eceive the monies. They schedule meetings and keep track of how the monies are spent. Kudos to both of them.

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This year, Ron presented the John Dillon Service Award for outstanding service to the chapter to Carolyn Kotts-Hankinson for her tireless efforts on our luncheons, being a past chapter president, serving on PASR’s

Members Benefits and Services committee planning RECREO events and creating our wonderful baskets for raffling off.

Carolyn, Rita and Laurel were appreciative of the recognition.

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John J. Dillon Service Award

Dr. John J. Dillon was a past president of the Association who was a consummate PASR volunteer. He held a record thirty-eight positions in PASR, ranging from the local to the state level. PASR wanted to develop a way to recognize the outstanding service provided to the Association by individual volunteers at the local, region, and/or state level. Since Dr. Dillon was an ideal member, the PASR Board of Directors decided to name this recognition award in his honor.
Ron presented this award to Donna Dado at the October board meeting as she was not able to come to the Fall Luncheon. Donna serves as chapter secretary, chair of the membership committee, webmaster and works with Wendy Erway to put the newsletter together. It was much appreciated and she wore her pin at the House of Delegates.

 

Educational Support Grant

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In June of 2024 our Ed Support team awarded our $750 Educational Grant to Colleen Tortorella, a guidance counselor at Gateway High School.  Colleen applied for the grant to help purchase supplies for her Grief support group. Collen came to our July board meeting to personally thank us and to tell us how the money was spent.  Wow.  We were impressed.  Colleen works with the Highmark Caring Place which gives information and suggestions to individual Care Teams and groups as well as many other services. The Thursday before Thanksgiving is Children’s Grief Awareness Day.  Colleen and her students work from September through November to raise money by selling cookies, manning a food booth at Homecoming, selling butterfly tattoos, running a carnival in October, making blue ribbons and other projects.  Our grant money enabled Colleen to purchase blue t-shirts for her team and supplies and snacks for meetings. There is a white tree in the school that students can put a blue ornament on in memory of a loved one. All money raised goes back into the club.  She said the kids like to be part of something meaningful. Colleen showed a seven-minute video of the year’s work. We all felt it was money well spent.

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The 2025 Educational Scholarship is awarded to Ella Bienier, a graduate of Deer Lakes High School.  Ella is planning to enroll at Slippery Rock University this fall as a dual major, Pre K-4 Early Education and Special Education.  An honor student for her entire high school career, she maintained a rigorous academic schedule at Deer Lakes and A.W. Beattie Career and Technical School.  She also received scores worthy of college credit for the A.P. exams she tested. She has received commendation from the PA House of Representatives, and was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. Ella lettered in track (2 years) and cross country (4 years) during high school while also maintaining a part time job at a local coffee shop. She has participated in a variety of volunteer programs, especially Best Buddies. Upon successful completion of her first semester at Slippery Rock, Ella will receive a check from ACASR to use as she needs for her education.

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Avonworth Elementary School is our 2022 Educational Support Grant Winner

 

Citing the need for mental health services in schools, especially since the pandemic and the transition among various modes of education over the past three years, the Allegheny chapter of PASR decided to concentrate on mental health for this year’s education grant of $800.00.
The education support committee finally chose Emily Hough, school counselor at Avonworth Elementary School. The plan presented in her application provides for a monthly program to support the yearly theme, Every Mind Matters. It will be a voluntary club where students can meet weekly to discuss mental health awareness. All students in the school are eligible to attend as many meetings as they choose. Each month a mental health specialist will offer some information and coping skills for students to incorporate into their wellness plans. Students will have supplies to help them express their skills, and these projects will be displayed throughout the school. The monies our organization provides can be used to purchase supplies, and also to offset the stipends, if needed, for speakers. There will be a planned celebration at the end of the school year for students. The check was presented in late summer of 2022. Emily presented an overview of the program at the July, 2023 board meeting. 

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The Allegheny County chapter of PASR awarded the 2020 Educational Support Grant to the Culinary Arts program at Steel Center for Career and Technical Education in Jefferson Hills, PA. This $750 grant will enable the instructor, Adam Mika, to purchase a series of video games for students that present organization of time management and organization of a kitchen. These games foster teamwork of all players for a common goal.  These award-winning programs are part of the Overcooked! series. The programs will support students in their acquisition of professional workplace skills. The food industry is about performance under pressure and these programs will give students that experience within the comfortable digital space they are familiar with. 

 

​Scholarship Award

After reviewing the returned applications for our 2023 Educational Scholarship Award, the Allegheny Chapter has awarded our $500 Scholarship to Autumn Tavaglione from McKeesport Area School District.  Autumn graduated as valedictorian of her class, and is matriculating at Seton Hill University, majoring in Elementary/Special Education.  Autumn says she hopes to return to teach in McKeesport after completing her degree. After successful completion of her first semester, Autumn will receive our $500 check. Congratulations, Autumn.

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The 2020- 2021 Scholarship Award applications for a student entering the field of education were sent to guidance counselors in all school districts in Allegheny County.  After reviewing the returned applications, Rita and Laurel selected Jennifer Butler to receive the scholarship. Jennifer is from the Deer Lakes School District and entered Slippery Rock University majoring in Early Childhood Education in the fall. She received the check from us following one semester of completed study.  Jennifer sent a very nice thank you note to the chapter.

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