Local People

Last Updated on Friday, 30 June 2017 23:03

West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid awarded three Walt Kuczma scholarships to students during the West Mifflin Area High School senior recognition day May 24. Earning the top award was Nathaniel Schmude. Miranda Ferguson was named the second place award winner, while Isabella Colaianni took third.

West Mifflin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid awarded its annual Walt Kuczma scholarships to three students at the West Mifflin Area High School senior recognition day May 24.

In addition to each winner receiving a recognition certificate from the post, the scholarships included monetary awards of $500, $300 and $200 respectively. Each of the students competed by writing an essay themed ‘My Vision For America.’

The submitted works were judged by faculty members of West Mifflin Area High School. The compositions will be read at the post’s next monthly meeting held at the Thompson Run Athletic Association on Ball Avenue, West Mifflin, 7 p.m. June 29.

“It makes me proud that we had so many students writing such good essays,” said scholarship organizer and VFW Post 914 Quartermaster, Gary Ruston. “We’ve worked hard to keep the Walt Kuczma scholarship going over the years, and with students like these, I can see the program going forward for many years to come.”

The West Mifflin VFW scholarship program is named after the post’s founder and first commander, Walter R. Kuczma. Raised on Pittsburgh’s South Side during the Great Depression, he enlisted into the United States Navy during World War II at the age of 17, and served aboard the USS Intrepid – the battle-hardened aircraft carrier for which Post 914 is named.

As the post’s first commander, Kuczma assisted with parades, support of local youth athletic teams, the unit’s first Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony and other VFW activities that helped the post earn All American honors. He was also instrumental in establishing post backing for the West Mifflin Area High School Titan Marching Band and the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program.

The Kuczma scholarships are awarded each year to graduating seniors at West Mifflin Area High School, and provide cash awards to three students seeking postsecondary education. All applicants for the scholarships must have had a family member who served honorably in the United States armed forces. Those interested in applying should contact the high school’s guidance office.

Additionally, the post is active in the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy programs, with West Mifflin instructor Melissa Fulmer, the post’s nominee, being recently selected as the state VFW Voice of Democracy Teacher of the Year.

For more information about VFW Post 914 and its activities, visit the group’s website at: http://traa.weebly.com/vfw-post-914.html , or contact Commander Bradich at 412-464-9838.