PTA Scholarship Dinner Celebrates Students' Scholarships And Successes

Superintendent Carl Hilling congratulates Valley Forge senior Savanna Birch at the PTA Scholarship Dinner on May 10.

The Parma Council of PTAs Scholarship Dinner is always a special night for Normandy, Parma and Valley Forge seniors. This year, 115 students were celebrated for their achievements and received scholarships to continue their education at the 65th annual event, held at LaVilla Conference and Banquet Center on May 10, 2018. Almost $100,000 was awarded to students through the PCPTA Scholarship Program. “This is the culminating event, and I wish we could do this every week because when you hear about where these students are going to school and what they are doing, you will be amazed,” PCSD Superintendent Carl Hilling said at the event. “These students are the future, and our future is in good hands.”

After dinner, students received an award for their accomplishments, and scholarship sponsors read each student’s name, what scholarship they received, how much they won, where they will be attending school in the fall and what they plan to major in. Valley Forge Senior Amanda Pawlus received the Valley Forge High School Student Council Leadership Grant for $750, along with classmates Maria Bobrowski-Artola, Emily Laudo and Lily Nelson. “It feels honestly awesome to win a scholarship and it’s so cool that the school district and the PCPTA put this together for us,” shared Pawlus, who will be attending the University of Akron to study nursing. “I think all the students really appreciate all the hard work they did for this because every little bit helps when you are going to college.” She added that she’s excited to get out into the world after graduation and use the skills she received in school, as well as met new people and just explore. “I think this event is great,” Pawlus expressed. “Not only do we get a scholarship, but we also get recognized in front of our parents and family. It makes you feel appreciated and that your hard work really does pay off.”

Receiving the Snowden-Smallwood Setting an Example Scholarship for $500 was Parma High Senior Laila Hakki, who will be studying education at Marietta College. “I’m very grateful, and I really appreciate being able to do this and all that my parents did for me to get me here,” she shared. “I think this event is wonderful. I like that we are all here able to celebrate with each other.”

Maddison Thompson received two community scholarships at the dinner: Rotary Club of Parma’s “Service Above Self” Scholarship for $1,200 and the Alpha Delta Kappa – Alpha Nu Chapter Scholarship for $750. “It is really rewarding because all the hours I put into community service people are appreciating and noticing everything I have accomplished so far,” she expressed. “It’s exciting that the Parma City School District is appreciating all the hard work we have done over the years. I’m definitely grateful and maybe one day I will be able to give away one of these scholarships.” The Normandy senior plans to double major in early childhood and middle school education at Miami University of Ohio and is looking forward to all the new experiences college has to offer. “I didn’t realize how many scholarships they are giving out, so it’s really cool to see that and to see people you have grown up with, even if you don’t go to the same school together anymore, where they are going to college,” she added.

Amy Popik

Communications Coordinator, Parma City School District

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Volume 10, Issue 6, Posted 12:36 PM, 06.02.2018