Montoursville Senior Awarded Peggy Madigan Memorial Scholarship

Published 05.19.2016

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An imminent Montoursville Area High School graduate has been awarded the 2016-17 Peggy Madigan Memorial Leadership Scholarship as an incoming first-year student at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Alexandra R. Klementovich, of Montoursville, will enroll in the college’s pre-nursing major for the Fall 2016 semester.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that she has selected one of the ‘helping professions’ as her intended vocation,” a teacher wrote in support of her scholarship application. “Empathy is one of Lexi’s strongest attributes. She is by nature generous and compassionate. Some people serve others out of a sense of obligation, and students sometimes join service organizations to build their resumes. Lexi’s commitment to service is ingrained in her character, in how she interacts with people on a daily basis.”



Alexandra R. Klementovich is awarded this year's Peggy Madigan Memorial Leadership Scholarship by state Sen. Gene Yaw (left) and Robb Dietrich, executive director of the Penn College Foundation. Klementovich, a senior at Montoursville Area High School, will be a pre-nursing major at the college starting this fall.The scholarship – which memorializes the wife of former state Sen. Roger A. Madigan – may be used to help defray the costs of tuition, fees, books, tools and other educational supplies. Applicants are required to write an essay describing the community service they have performed and the value it has added to the community.

During her high school years, Klementovich visited and assisted the elderly in day-to-day activities, helped coordinate donations for victims of house fires, collected money to buy necessities for adopted children at her church, assisted in collection and distribution of items with the local food pantry, and volunteered with the American Rescue Workers during its Toys for Tots holiday drive.

“Doing these things for the community has given me a real meaning of happiness,” she said in her essay, “and it is to give others happiness before yourself.”

Klementovich’s selection was announced May 19 during the annual Student Government Seminar at Penn College hosted by Madigan’s successor, state Sen. Gene Yaw, who also chairs the college’s board of directors. The scholarship is open to high school students from the 23rd senatorial district who attend the seminar and later matriculate at the college.

This year’s event brought more than 200 students to main campus, allowing them to participate in mock sessions as “Senators for a Day” – interacting with elected officials; members of Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration; state department heads; news media; lobbyists; and representatives of health care, transportation and many other career sectors.

The intent is for students to obtain a better understanding of the legislative process and develop professional relationships that can open the door to internships and job opportunities.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.