Annual Merit Scholarship Award, Southmoreland High School

The Samuel S. Hicks Memorial Fund was created to remember and honor the memory of Special Agent Samuel Hicks. Samuel was an FBI agent killed in the line of duty on November 19, 2008. He graduated from Southmoreland High School with the class of 1993 and grew up in the Scottdale area. Samuel lettered in soccer, track, tennis and also wrestled while at Southmoreland. He was in the National Honor Society, the Academic Quiz Team, Students of World Affairs, French Honor Society, Student Council Treasurer, and, as a junior, enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was actively involved in the following areas: Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD); Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout); president of the youth group at his church; coaching an under-five soccer league; and, many youth organizations in the region.

The Samuel S. Hicks Memorial Fund continues to offer a $1,000.00 merit scholarship in May of each year to a Southmoreland High School Senior who possesses the following qualifications: ranking in the top 20% of the graduating class; participating in community service through the school, the church, and/or civic organizations; and attending college after graduation.

An applicant must submit the following items for consideration: a completed application; a one page letter of reference; a copy of the acceptance letter from the college or university that the applicant will be attending; the current school transcript; the senior report card; and, a one page essay explaining why the applicant should be awarded the scholarship. Completed applications must be given to the Guidance Office at Southmoreland High School by the due date established each year. The Scholarship Committee of The Samuel S. Hicks Memorial Fund determines the successful applicant to be awarded the scholarship using a rubric to analyze all application packets based solely on merit with identifying names redacted.

Annual Award at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Criminology Department

A $1,000 award is given annually each year to a successful awardee that is a resident of Pennsylvania who is majoring in the Justice Administration and Criminology Program at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown while maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average. Decisions regarding the Award are made by the Division Chair and the Justice Administration and Criminology Faculty of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Applications are made available through that department to students who fit the criteria for consideration. The University determines the recipient each year and then informs The Samuel S. Hicks Memorial Fund and Mrs. Charlotte Carrabotta and her family of the name of the award recipient. A certificate is presented to the awardee at the Academic Honors and Convocation Ceremony. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown also maintains a plaque with the names of all the annual recipients of the Award.

www.upj.pitt.edu