11/11/2002

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

PHYSICAL EDUCATION MAJORS PRESENTED SCHOLARSHIPS AT SRU IN CONTINUING SALUTE TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

          SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Three scholarship recipients in Slippery Rock University’s physical education and sport management department have been announced as the university continues to salute academic excellence and achievement.

            The $1,000 Bob and Betty Smiley Scholarship , created by the Smileys, both SRU physical education graduates, went to Alexander M. Slezak, a four-point health and physical education major from Pittsburgh. Slezak, part of the university’s Honors Program, is a member of the Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the U.S. Tennis Association. He is also a certified member of the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry.

           In addition, Patrick Polcha, a health and physical education, teaching, major from Somerset, and Jason Monjes, also a health and physical education major a from Etobicoke, Canada, had their Smiley scholarships renewed for the current academic year.

          The $1,000 Grace H. “Arky” Vaughan/Ruth Vaughan Coon Scholarship , established by Dr. Nile and Ruth Vaughan Coon, went to Kelly Dreibelbis, a senior health and physical education major from Millersburg and a four-year letter winner on the women’s soccer team. An SRU Scholar-Athlete, Dreibelbis is involved in numerous activities, including the Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and SRU’s Institute for Community, Service-Learning and Nonprofit Leadership. The scholarship honors the sisters for whom it is named. Both are SRU graduates.

            The $500 Carolyn Williams Scholarship for Physical Education Majors went to Jessica Bungo, a junior health and physical education major from Indiana. The Honors Program student has been on the dean’s list every semester at SRU and was named the 2002 Butler County Physical Education Student of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She is a member of the university’s tennis team where she was ranked in the top 20 in singles, Division II, East Region, and held the number 1 rank in Women’s Singes with the United States Tennis Association, Allegheny Mountain District.