SENIORSS DOWNLOAD THE CONTINUING ED. AWARDS APPLICATION

The Toast to Our Stars Memorial Award has been newly established by our committee in memory of two beloved residents. The past and continuing efforts of the Pelzer and Nickisher families have been extremely important to the continued success of the TTOS organization. 

Joe, Josie and their son Brent Pelzer alongside Rotolo’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM, have been outstanding supporters of TTOS: contributing to our organization tremendously through donations and event sponsorship.  The TTOS organization’s efforts have been greatly impacted by their giving. In 1996, Brad Pelzer, son and brother, tragically passed away after a courageous battle with Leukemia. The committee would like to honor Brad’s memory by presenting an award in his name. 

The second Memorial Award will be given to a student in memory of Cliff Nickisher. Cliff and his wife Colleen have been passionate advocates for the TTOS organization. Cliff donated generously to our annual golf outing through Texas Roadhouse. The restaurant continues to do so in his name. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a devoted public servant, working with Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity amongst many other charities. Cliff’s diagnosis of stage 4 cancer did not take the smile off of his face, and he always put others before himself. We hope that this award for a deserving student will help make his lifework “legendary” as he wished it would be. 

The Dorothy and Emil Hyk Memorial Award has been established by their family to honor the memory of two longtime North Charleroi residents. Dorothy worked as a secretary for the Charleroi Area School District for over fifty years and Emil was a member of the Toast To Our Stars Committee for over thirty years. They both strongly believed in encouraging and supporting the young people of the community.

The award will be given annually to an eligible student based on need, service to the community and scholastic achievement.

The value of the award is $1,000 and will be awarded during the second semester of the first year of studies provided that the awardee has maintained a “C” average during the first semester of studies.

To be eligible for consideration, the applicant must be a graduating senior who resides within the boundaries of the Borough of North Charleroi, PA and will be enrolling as a full time student to an accredited school of higher education in the upcoming year.

This award is given by the family of the late Richard Pireaux along with the North Charleroi Recreation League. Frenchy was a member of the TTOS committee for over forty years and served as the president of the organization. He was an individual that gave much of his time to the service of the community. He was active as an original member of the North Charleroi Recreation League and as the supervisor of the grounds. For many years he was a member of the Lock Four Fire Company where he served as an officer and president. He was also the president of the North Charleroi Council and subsequently Mayor of our community at the time of his death. 

This award is given to a senior student who demonstrates qualities that strive to better his or her community or to help individuals who need assistance in the community.

Mr. Alfred Agamedi was a very active member of the Lock Four Fire Company for over 50 years. He participated in every aspect of the activities of the fire company, and worked extremely hard in the fund raising activities of the organization. 

This award is being given to a senior male and a female student who demonstrate activities that better the community and exemplify a desire to help others.

This continuing education award is being given by the family of the late John Buberniak Jr. John was an electrical contractor in the Mon Valley for over fifty years. 

The value of the scholarship is $1,000.00 

The funds will be awarded in the first semester provided the winner of the award has maintained a "C" average during the freshman through senior years in high school.

Bill Contz, the 2019 TTOS keynote speaker, has made a donation to an eligible graduate for continuing education. Bill is a graduate of Belle Vernon High School with the Class of 1979. 

In 1983, he graduated from Penn State University where he was a starter on Joe Paterno's first National Championship team. 

He became the first person from Belle Vernon Area High School ever to be selected in the NFL Draft when he was selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns in 1983. Bill was with the Browns from 1983 through September of 1986. He spent the next three years with the New Orleans Saints until the Spring of 1989. 

After leaving the NFL, he spent eleven years at Federated Investors, thirteen years in medical device sales with Smith and Nephew to authoring his first book, "When The Lions Roared" which was published in September 2017.