Community Commitment

FIRST COMMONWEALTH® ANNOUNCES "TIME TO BE FIRST" SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Inaugural Awards Benefit Local High School Graduates

INDIANA, PA (July 6, 2009) – First Commonwealth announced today the recipients of the First Commonwealth “Time to be First” scholarships. The purpose of this new initiative is to recognize western and central Pennsylvania student-athletes who demonstrate success in the classroom, the community and in athletics.

There was an overwhelming response to this inaugural scholarship program with a near perfect balance between female and male entries submitted. Recipients will each receive $1,000 from First Commonwealth toward their first semester as an undergraduate at the college of their choice. This year’s winners are Kurt Bonnet (Canon McMillan HS, Canonsburg, PA); Michael Bulebosh (Mount Pleasant Area HS, Mount Pleasant, PA); Megan DePrimio (Greensburg Central Catholic HS, Greensburg, PA); Alisha Farrell (East Allegheny HS, North Versailles, PA); Brighid Kelly (Oakland Catholic HS, Pittsburgh, PA); Adam Kovac (Bellwood-Antis HS, Bellwood, PA); Mikaela Longo (Moon Area HS, Moon Township, PA); Kathryn Maceyko (Richland HS, Johnstown, PA); Benjamin McCombs (Trinity HS, Washington, PA); and Michael Vlah (North Hills HS, Pittsburgh, PA).

“We are proud to honor our local students in this way,” said T. Michael Price, president of First Commonwealth Bank.  “This is one of the many ways that First Commonwealth demonstrates its grassroots commitment to our communities.  Our heritage as a local organization and activities such as the ‘Time to be First’ scholarship make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve every day.”

The First Commonwealth “Time to be First” athletic scholarship, was established in part with the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) as a means of recognizing and rewarding the good work of well-rounded students. In total, First Commonwealth awarded 10 scholarships to area student-athletes.

The contest was open to all area seniors who participated in any athletic program as a member of their local high school. The scholarships were awarded to those student-athletes who best described why it was their time to be first – first at college, first in community involvement and first in athletics. Applications were judged on creativity, originality, and the overall story, as described by the student in a 500-word essay. The inaugural First Commonwealth “Time to be First” scholarship program is an extension of the corporation’s commitment to supporting community high schools and their students, which includes being the Official Financial Institution of the WPIAL and sponsorship of many individual high schools in the region.

A committee of First Commonwealth executives and community members selected the recipients of the “Time to be First” scholarships.

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