1/6/2003

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

SRU STUDENT FROM SOMERSET EARNS SECOND SCHOLARSHIP HONOR FROM STATEWIDE HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION ORGANIZATION

          SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University’s Patrick Polcha, a senior physical education major from Somerset has received his second Violet Baumgardner Scholarship from the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in salute of his leadership, campus involvement and strong academic standing.

         The award, presented at the PSAHPERD annual convention, requires the recipient to contribute to the department and college where enrolled as well as exhibit professional service and potential. He was nominated by the SRU physical education and sport management department’s awards committee.

          Polcha earned a 4.0 grade-point average last spring and is active in the Physical Education Teacher Education Club at SRU where he also participates in PSAHPERD, Gold Key National Honor Society and Phi Epsilon Kappa, an honorary fraternity in his major. He also received the Baumgardner award in 2001and holds SRU’s Bob and Betty Smiley Scholarship. He uses his free time in a number of youth-oriented events both on and off campus, including the public schools.

           He has coordinated programs and taught gymnastic concepts to children at the Butler County Children’s Center and was a program coordinator for those with disabilities through an Allegheny Valley School program. He addition, he works as a counselor at Butler’s Summit Academy.

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