Press Release – November 2, 2020
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TO NEWS/CITY DESK EDITOR
CONTACT: Debbie Bitting, Pennsylvania Municipal League, 717-236-9469, ext. *223, dbitting@pml.org
Civic Engagement Essay Winners Recognized During Municipal Leadership Virtual Summit
Harrisburg, PA (November 2, 2020) – Spring graduates Megan Gouldy, Trinity High School, Lower Allen Township; Jamie Santiago, Scranton High School; and Jonah Zolnak, Altoona Area High School, are the winners of the Pennsylvania Municipal League’s John A. Garner, Jr. Civic Engagement Essay Scholarship Contest. Gouldy, Santiago and Zolnak were recognized during the Municipal Leadership Virtual Summit on Saturday.
Megan Gouldy is the first place winner and recipient of a $2,000 scholarship. Jamie Santiago is the second place winner and will receive a $1,000 scholarship and Jonah Zolnak is the third place winner and will receive a $500 scholarship. This is the 37th year that the Pennsylvania Municipal League has awarded these scholarships. The award monies are deposited at the Financial Aid Office of each awardee’s selected institution of higher education.
These scholarships are made possible through the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the generous contribution of Yvonne Garner in memory of her husband, John A. Garner, Jr., League Executive Director Emeritus.
“Our 2020 John A. Garner, Jr. Civic Engagement Essay Scholarship Contest winners Megan Gouldy, Jamie Santiago and Jonah Zolnak, are to be commended for their exceptional essays,” said League Executive Director Richard J. Schuettler. “I truly hope these bright young adults will consider futures which include service in local government.”
Contest participants were asked to elaborate on the appropriate theme – Civics and You – by writing about opportunities in their community that allow for civic engagement and encourage citizens to volunteer to help with local challenges. See our Civics and You e-book.
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The mission of the Pennsylvania Municipal League is to strengthen, empower and advocate for effective local government. The League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania’s 3rd class cities. Today, The League represents Pennsylvania cities, boroughs, townships, home rule communities and towns that all share their municipal policy interests. The Board of Directors oversees the administration of a wide array of municipal services including legislative advocacy, publications, education/training, consulting-based programs, and group insurance trusts. For more information, please visit PML.org. Join the conversation at twitter.com/PAMunicipalLeag and facebook.com/PaMunicipalLeague – #MunicipalLeadershipSummit20.
The winning essays can be viewed in the Virtual Municipal Leadership Summit program book, available in the Resources section at www.pml.org/municipal-leadership-summit.