School News

Last Updated on Saturday, 30 June 2018 02:03

By Michael P. Mauer

Three Walt Kuczma scholarships totaling $1,000 were presented by West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid to students during the West Mifflin Area High School senior recognition day on May 23, 2018.

VFW Scholarship Awardees

Receiving the top award was Zkkrah (Ziggy) Patterson. Meilin Titus earned second place honors, while Jacob Kosuda won third.

In addition to each winner receiving a recognition certificate from the post, the scholarships included monetary awards of $500, $300 and $200 respectively. Each of the students competed by writing an essay on an assigned patriotic theme. The submitted works were judged by faculty members of West Mifflin Area High School.

For the top awardee, Patterson, this was the second scholarship he has received from VFW Post 914. The West Mifflin student won the unit’s $100 Voice of Democracy prize in 2016.

“The post was very encouraged that studentsare taking advantage of the opportunities offered through the VFW youth activities programs,” said scholarship organizer and VFW Post 914 Quartermaster, Gary Ruston. “When this was set up by our VFW Post 914 founder many years ago, the idea was to provide something that would positively impact our youth and community.”

The West Mifflin VFW scholarship program is named after the post’s founder and first commander, Walter R. Kuczma.

The Kuczma scholarships are awarded each year to graduating seniors at West Mifflin Area High School, and provide cash awards to three students seeking post-secondary education. All applicants for the scholarships must have had a family member who served honorably in the United States armed forces. Those interested in applying should contact the high school’s guidance office.

For more information about VFW Post 914 and its activities, visit the group’s website at: http://traa.weebly.com/vfw-post-914.html, or contact VFW Post 914 Commander Bradich at: 412-464-9838.

In Photo above right: West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid awarded its annual Walt Kuczma scholarships to three students at the West Mifflin Area High School senior recognition day May 23. Pictured are first place winner Zkkrah Patterson, second place, Meilin Titus, and third, Jacob Kosuda, as well as VFW Post 914 Commander, Jake Bradich and Junior Vice Commander David Luikart.