Jul 6, 2010 By Herald Standard Staff 3 min read

Education briefs Raelynn Forsyth, a student at Washington and Jefferson College, has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Pennsylvania Automotive Association Foundation in honor of her extensive community service projects.

The PAAF Community Service Scholarship Fund supplied a total of $260,000 to 18 high school students across the state with the help of more than 900 franchised new car and truck dealers in Pennsylvania. Recipients are the children of employees who work, but have no ownership interest, in the dealerships. Forsyth’s father is employed by C. Harper Autoplex. Forsyth attended Bethlehem Center High School and lives in Brownsville.

The scholarships benefit students who have demonstrated charitable characteristics that make a positive impact in their communities on a continual basis. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or college students who are involved in activities, projects or charitable events which assist or supporting an organization or task force that addresses community needs.

The scholarships are automatically renewed for $5,000 for the second year if the recipients maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or above and continue to be students in good standing. They may reapply for the third and fourth years of undergraduate studies if they continue to satisfy the Community Service Scholarship criteria.

Dean’s lists released

Local students have been named to the spring dean’s list at several colleges. Those earning the honor were:

n Jessica Hein, Smithfield, Curry College, Milton, Mass.

n Kristie Bruner, Mount Pleasant, York College, York, Pa.

n Jenna Sasanko, Belle Vernon, York College, York, Pa.

n Christopher Scabis, Allison, Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, Pa.

n Jonathan S. Fearer, Markleysburg, Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y.

n Meredith Palko, Leisenring, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University

n Nina Martinelli, Uniontown, McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, Duquesne University

n Jessica Dzara, Smock, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University

n Alyssa A. Welch, Uniontown, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, W.Va.

n Amy N. Zebley, Uniontown, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, W.Va.

n Jonathan L. Zeleny, Waynesburg, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, W.Va.

n Christopher A. Brittain, Scottdale, Lock Haven University

n Nicholas Keefer, Perryopolis, Lock Haven University

n Chelsea L. Shawley, Mount Pleasant, Lock Haven University

n Joshua Matthews, Lemont Furnace, Messiah College

n Mallory Wood, Uniontown, Messiah College

Students earn degrees

Several area college graduates have receive degrees during spring commencement ceremonies. The local college graduates include:

n Serena Simpson, Normalville, office technologies, Allegany College of Maryland

n Nicholas Keefer, Perryopolis, health professions, Lock Haven University

n Chelsea Shawley, Mount Pleasant, education, Lock Haven University

n Angela Iwaniec, Mount Pleasant, Bachelor of Arts, Baldwin-Wallace College, Ohio

n Joseph S. Maron Jr., Fairchance, business administration, Baker College, Michigan

n Nicholas Mains, Scottdale, biology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa.

n Christopher Bell, Belle Vernon, neuroscience and psychology, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa.

n Sarah Sckena, Fredericktown, biochemistry, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa.

Zavage graduates

Erin Zavage graduated on May 15 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

Zavage, the daughter of Mike and Joan Zavage of Car-michaels, is employed as a dentist at Sadler Health Center in Carlisle, Cumberland County.

She received her bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. She graduated from Carmichaels Area High School in 2002.