Couple Establishes Scholarship for Clearfield County Students

Clearfield County students attending Pennsylvania College of Technology soon will be eligible to receive a financial boost to help them achieve their career goals, thanks to the generosity of a Baltimore couple, John G. and Helen H. Kovach.

John Kovach, a former resident of Curwensville, and Helen (Pellerite) Kovach, a former resident of Woodland, have established a scholarship in conjunction with the Baltimore Community Foundation and the Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation, Inc.

Beginning this fall, one student from Clearfield County with a high-school grade-point average of at least 2.5 who is enrolled full-time at Penn College will benefit from the Kovach scholarship. Awards from this new scholarship fund will be made annually. The first recipient will be selected on the basis of academic achievement and demonstrated financial need.

Mr. Kovach, an investment manager with LaSalle Investment Management-DB Alex Brown of Baltimore, learned of Penn College at his recent class reunion. He kept hearing about students graduating from Curwensville Area High School and choosing Penn College for their college education.

Currently, 89 graduates from Clearfield County attend Penn College. Learning that and meeting with some recent high-school graduates who will begin their studies at Penn College this fall convinced Mr. Kovach to take a serious look at what Penn College has to offer.

According to Dennis L. Correll, executive director of the Penn College Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Kovach spent a day touring the campus and were so impressed they immediately set out to establish a scholarship fund for students from Clearfield County.

"The Kovachs were in awe of the extensive hands-on-training component of our education at Penn College and had many questions for our school deans, which only excited them more about the educational opportunities possible here," Correll said.

"This is exactly the kind of skills training and education we need to be offering all across the country," Mr. Kovach said. "Penn College is doing what industry and this country - needs."

Mr. Kovach has spent his life in investment banking in the Baltimore area and has worked with many notable companies in Northcentral Pennsylvania.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Penn College's scholarship funds may do so by sending their donations to the Penn College Foundation, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA, 17701-5799. Please include a note directing the gift to the scholarship fund of your choice.

Gifts may also be made online, using a credit card.