COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School recently announced the establishment of several scholarships at the high school level for students:
The Albert and Kathryn Shinskie Scholarship Fund - Albert and Kathryn Shinskie were lifelong residents of Shamokin, but had no children of their own. In his will, Albert Shinskie bequeathed one-third of his residuary estate to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School to establish a scholarship fund.
Annually, two high school students will receive an award of $1,000. Albert Shinskie was aware of the rise in tuition from grade school to high school and wanted to help offset the cost, thus enabling children to continue their Catholic education.
The Sam and Jenny Sacus Memorial Scholarship - Established this past year by Blasé and Monsignor Samuel Sacus in memory of their parents, this annual scholarship will be awarded to an incoming sophomore who is deserving, in financial need and of good academic standing. The family understands the financial burden of providing a Catholic education today and wanted to help.
The amount to be awarded each year will be $1,000 and continue through junior and senior year until graduation. The family hopes to add another sophomore scholarship annually, eventually having up to three scholarships funded yearly.
James J. and Patricia C. Rosini Memorial Scholarship - Through gifts from the Rosini family, Lourdes is able to establish the James J. and Patricia C. Rosini Memorial Scholarship Fund. This will be a high school scholarship, and will be funded annually by the family.
The scholarship honors alumni Jim Rosini, class of 1963, who was involved in student council, varsity club, baseball, dramatics, basketball, Latin club, grotto, pep club, prom committee and history club. He performed in the varsity club show, an annual event in the lives of the boys at Lourdes. Also honored is his wife, Patricia, a 1964 graduate. who was involved in student council, Lourdescope, senior play, Latin club, basketball, pep club and prom committee and was the drum major for the band.
The couple were married on Aug. 6, 1966. Jim and Pat had three children, all graduates of Lourdes: Paige, Class of 1985, Marianne, Class of 1989, and Matthew, Class of 1990. They were actively involved their entire life with the local Catholic schools and fervently believed in the value of a solid Catholic education.
The Lourdes family mourns the loss of Jim and Pat, along with Jim's brother Bill, and friend Deborah Korbich who were tragically killed in an automobile accident while vacationing in February 2012.