George Benson Scholarship Award, academic achievements and more for South Hills students

George Benson Scholarship Awards

Connor Woods, a recent graduate of Baldwin High School, and Chloe Spikula, a recent graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School have been honored with George Benson Scholarship awards, given annually by the membership of South Hills Country Club. The total value of the 2021 Scholarships is $16,000 over the next four years.

A graduate of Brentwood High School and Duke University, Benson was a distinguished Captain in the Air Force, a successful South Hills businessman, and an inspiration to those whose lives he touched. But, many will remember him most for his lifelong passion for the game of golf. His many amateur titles included the West Penn Amateur, and more than 20 club championships in the United States and England.

The George Benson Scholarship is open to students who are a senior at a qualified local high school or attending a 4-year college and have demonstrated a connection to the game of golf through their athletic achievement, academic interest or employment. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of character, financial need, academic performance and extracurricular activities.

Woods was a two-year captain of the Baldwin varsity golf team and played on the St. Sylvester CYO basketball team while maintaining a 4.3 QPA. He was a National Honor Society member, participated in the Math League as well as the Spanish and Chess Clubs. A multi-year caddie at South Hills Country Club, Connor will attend Campbell University in North Carolina where he will major in PGA Professional Golf Management.

The annual scholarships will be presented Aug. 6 at South Hills Country Club following the 11th Annual George Benson Classic golf tournament (the 2020 tournament was canceled due to Covid), sponsored by Benson Lincoln. Also honored at the awards will be the 2020 scholarship winners, Andrew Degenhardt and Matthew Fediaczko, both graduates of Baldwin High school.

McKinney-Vento information for families

In compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as reauthorized in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Baldwin Whitehall School District is attempting to identify all children within the district that may be experiencing homelessness.

The term homeless children and youth is defined by McKinney-Vento as individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes individuals:

• Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason

• Living in a hotel, motel, trailer park or campground due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations

• Living in emergency or transitional shelters

•Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar settings

• Living in substandard housing (no running water or working utilities, infestations, etc.).

Children who are experiencing homelessness may qualify for assistance with free school lunches, school supplies/materials, tutoring and transportation so they can remain in their school of origin throughout the duration of their homeless episode.

If you believe your child/children may qualify for this service or if your living situation changes during the school year and your children become homeless, contact Jean Williams via email at jwilliams@bwschools.net. The district will work with you so that your child/children’s education is disrupted as little as possible.

Academic achievements

The following students from the area were recognized for their academic achievement during the spring 2021 semester by being named to the dean’s, president’s or provost’s list at the college or university they attend:

• John Carroll University: Tyler Thimons

• Miami University: Audrey King, Lauren Vuono, Sebastian Pratt

• Rochester Institute of Technology: Kevan Beemsterboer, Rachel Milcic

Graduate

Alicia Chico recently graduated from Kutztown University with a doctor of social work degree.