I’m excited to announce that McCandless has been awarded a $134,415 grant to enhance school zone safety throughout our community. The funding will be used for replacing faded school crossing signs, installing new rapid flashing beacons, and upgrading all flashing school zone signals.

I continue to advocate for state investments that protect the well-being of students and families in our community.

I enjoyed a bipartisan legislative tour of the A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless this week and met students in the EMT, autobody, and veterinary programs who discussed what a positive impact Beattie has had on their career path. Thank you to Sen. Lindsey Williams for organizing the tour!   

This week, I had the opportunity to meet with two amazing groups of children who are doing great things in our community.

I welcomed our community’s Bots N'at Lego Robotics Team to my office to learn more about their work. It's great to see the next generation enthusiastic about science and engineering at such a young age, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future.

I had the pleasure of joining Cub Scout Pack 329 from McCandless to talk about my role as State Representative and answer questions about elections and state government. Thank you to the Scouts, leaders, and parents for inviting me and for your dedication to Scouting and serving our community.

Our district is rich in student talent! Congratulations to the following Avonworth High School students, who were awarded Scholastic Writing Awards:

• Gold Keys: Julia Aiken, Lillian Duvall, Sally Nalevanko, Lily Stefanik, and Sara Stoeckle.
• Silver Keys: Julia Aiken, Asher Ford, Lyra Klinedinst (2), Lyla Sebeck (2), and Kara Yackoski.
• Honorable Mentions: Maura Dolan, Lyra Klinedinst, Sally Nalevanko, Isabelle Pecosh (2), Karthik Pillai, Ayushi Saxena (2), and Lily Stefanik.

Congratulations to North Allegheny middle school students Juliet Marinelli (Carson Middle School) and Emma Li and Olivia Lee (Marshall Middle School) for earning Scholastic Writing Silver Key awards! Your hard work and creativity are truly inspiring.

Finally, kudos to the following students from Hampton High School’s Art Department, who won Scholastic Art Awards:

• Ellie Alexander
• Elliot “X” Domske
• Elyse Fontana
• Hannah Gaydos
• Madelyn Goode
• Maria Graper
• Olivia Hays-Reagan
• Marin Katona-Bock
• Libby Sheets
• Taylor Whitman

Well done, students, and thank you for sharing your talents!

PennDOT is seeking input on how to improve highway traffic safety in an effort to reduce crashes and fatalities across our Commonwealth. You can submit your responses here by February 28th.

Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) is offering scholarships for the next generation of military leaders. Through the Military College Assistance Program, students can receive a nearly cost-free education at VFMC and within the PASSHE system in exchange for service in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The scholarship requires a recommendation from a member of the state legislature. If you—or a student you know—are interested, please contact my office. Applications are due February 28.

Calling all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders! Share your ideas about how to make a difference in your community by entering the 1st Regional Greater Pittsburgh Civics Bee!

Participants are invited to submit a short essay responding to a prompt. Top essayists will advance to a live quiz competition, testing their knowledge of civics, government, and community engagement. Please note that the deadline for submitting an essay has been extended to the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 4:59 a.m. Visit this page to learn more and this page for essay tips. 

Applications are now open for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship Program! Administered through The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, this program is available to graduating high school seniors who reside in Pennsylvania.

Each year, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) awards two four-year scholarships to high school seniors. Each scholarship covers the cost of one semester of tuition per year at a State System of Higher Education school for four years. Recipients must continue to meet eligibility requirements throughout all four years to maintain the award.

Applications are due April 15. Requirements and the application form can be found here.

The Keystone Contractors Association is now accepting applications for its scholarship program, which supports students pursuing construction-related degrees.

More information, including application paperwork, can be found here. Applications are due March 1.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is hosting an art competition for students to create content raising awareness around ticks and Lyme disease.

More information can be found here, and submissions are due March 13.

Please be aware that our office will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16, in honor of Presidents' Day. We will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Finally, please remember that my talented staff can help you with a variety of state-related matters – from filing an application for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to obtaining a disability placard or senior bus pass, just to name a few. Contact us or stop by to see how we can help!

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s most convenient for you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

District Office

9800B McKnight Road, Suite 130
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

(412) 348-8028

Pennsylvania State Capitol

101 B East Wing

PO Box 202030

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-2363