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TO NEWS/CITY DESK EDITOR
CONTACT
Susan Schrack Wood, Director of Communications, PA Municipal League, 717.645.9467 | swood@pml.org
Holli Hugendubler, Communications Manager, hhugendubler@pml.org
Britton Kosier, Communications Manager, bkosier@pml.org
High School Students Awarded Scholarships for Civic Engagement Vision During 2025 Municipal Leadership Summit
Erie, PA (October 2, 2025) –High School students from State College, Upper Chichester, and Duryea all won scholarships for their essays on civic engagement from the Pennsylvania Municipal League at this year’s Municipal Leadership Summit in Erie.
The 42nd Annual John A. Garner, Jr. Civic Engagement Scholarship Contest recognizes young people’s commitment to civic engagement. 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. The League received more than a dozen entries this year.
The $2,000 first prize scholarship went to Stephen Fowler of State College Area High School. Fowler wrote about the benefits he received through others’ civic engagement as well as the lessons he learned by attending school board and city council meetings. Helen Flis of Chichester High School in Upper Chichester Township, accepted the $1,000 second prize scholarship. Flis wrote about the importance of civic engagement through community service work. The $500 third prize scholarship went to Brooke Kroptavich of Holy Rosary School in Duryea, near Pittston. Kroptavich described her work on the Student Leadership Council as well as her commitment to volunteer work in the community. The award monies are deposited at the Financial Aid Office of each awardee’s selected institution of higher education.
The scholarships are made possible due to the generous endowment from Yvonne Garner in honor of her late husband John A. Garner, Jr.—the League’s Executive Director Emeritus. Ms. Garner says the essays show the great potential of this younger generation of leaders. “The Scholarship Award Program presented each year at the League Conference was near and dear to Jack’s heart. I look forward each year to being sent the award-winning essays. I am never disappointed and always so impressed by the students who are chosen. Some of these young people are at a young age already showing signs of being our future leaders. Their ideas are bright. They display creativity, courage and tenacity. One past awardee updates me on occasion to let me know that she continues to keep public service in her sights through the years! Jack would be so proud of all these young people, as am I!”
League Executive Director, John Brenner, says the essay contest is a learning experience for the participants, and allows them a chance to reflect on the importance of civic engagement. “Congratulations to this year’s winners of the John A. Garner, Jr. Civic Engagement Essay Scholarships. High school students participating in the essay contest learn about local government and the important role of local leaders in providing core public services like police, fire, EMS, parks & recreation, public works and community & economic development. In addition to offering scholarships, the essay contest offers young people unique insight into potential careers in local government.”
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The mission of the Pennsylvania Municipal League (The League) is to strengthen, empower and advocate for effective local government. The League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides 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 on Twitter @PAMunicipalLeag, facebook.com/PaMunicipalLeague and LinkedIn – #StrengthThroughEngagement, #MunicipalLeadershipSummit25.