Current and Past Recipients
Past Recipients of the Pittsburgh Young Professionals Scholarship
Below are the current and past recipients of the Pittsburgh Young Professionals (PYP) scholarship. The award, given annually to a PYP member, is provided to help offset the costs of undergraduate, or graduate education.
2021 – Jen Miller
Jen grew up in West Middlesex, PA and is a graduate of Hofstra University with a B.E. in Biomedical Engineering. Upon receiving her undergraduate degree, Jen moved to Pittsburgh to work for the UPMC Artificial Heart Program. During her time there, she provided cardiovascular support for heart failure patients with Ventricular Assist Devices. Currently, Jen is a Master of Health Administration student at the University of Pittsburgh and is aspiring to use her background as a clinician to positively impact healthcare delivery.
In her spare time, Jen enjoys her weekly communications with her mentee as a Big Brother Big Sister of Greater Pittsburgh Mentor, traveling, cooking, and practicing yoga.
2020 – Katherine Winter
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and had the privilege of taking courses at various arts organizations growing up, such as the Carnegie Museums and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. This love for Pittsburgh arts organizations guided me to pursue two degrees in Accounting and Art with a specialization in Art History at Carlow University. This combined course work, along with interning at two local public accounting firms, assisting the Carlow University Art Gallery, and volunteering with the Sisters of Mercy inspired my passion in the intersection between financial management, policy and education, technology, and the arts.
I am now attending Carnegie Mellon University where I am pursuing a Master of Arts Management. I aspire to serve on the boards of smaller organizations and eventually teach nonprofit management skills at the college level, educating the next leaders of arts and nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh. Currently, I am an Academic Support Initiative Tutor with Gwen’s Girls and am excited to begin interning in my field.
Thank you to PYP for furthering my education and allowing me to continue following my dreams in serving the Pittsburgh community.
2019 – Paige Kassalen
I am a Pittsburgh native who has always enjoyed using my creativity to solve problems. I followed this passion to Virginia Tech where I obtained a degree in electrical engineering and now Carnegie Mellon where I’m pursuing a Master of Information Systems Management.
In 2016, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to put my electrical engineering skills to use as a member of the ground crew for Solar Impulse 2: the world’s first solar powered airplane to circumnavigate the globe. This experience gave me the opportunity share my story in magazines like Forbes, Glamour, and The Huffington Post along with volunteering over 500 hours speaking to young students interested in STEM.
After Solar Impulse 2, I found my next passion in autonomous vehicles. I believe that there will be dramatic changes to the automotive industry and to ensure that the future of mobility is built to meet the needs of everyone, there must be a diverse group involved in the developmental process. I am hoping to use my degree from Carnegie Mellon to continue to follow my passion for the future of mobility.
Thank you PYP for helping me follow my passions through furthering my education!
2018 – Grace Geisler
I am a born and raised Pittsburgher, currently working on my Masters in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. My concentration is Community Organizing and Social Action (COSA) and I am working on a certificate in Human Services Management. In the future I hope to work in administration to promote holistic health for clients and the staff who serve them.
I graduated from Eastern University Summa Cum Laude with my BSW in May 2015. Previously I worked mostly with children and youth in various settings: homeless crisis shelters, the refugee community, summer camps, schools, and child welfare. Thank you to PYP for their generous scholarship so I can continue serving the Pittsburgh community.
2017 – Catherine Foradori
I grew up on a farm just outside of Pittsburgh. I studied English and Political Science with a minor in Pre-Law at Carlow University. I am currently attending Carlow University’s Fraud and Forensics graduate program. The scholarship from PYP helped me gain the confidence and drive to maintain my current 4.0 and have the bravery to apply for a job in the city. I currently work as a Fraud Analyst and I am happy to finally be working in my field. I would like to thank PYP for their generosity and for helping me see that with hard work and due diligence, I can conquer anything.
2016 – Aster Teclay
Aster Teclay is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Management with a focus in Economic Development and Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Senior Project Manager for the City of Pittsburgh Housing Authority, co-founder and Director of Finance at Invest in Her, an organization that supports female entrepreneurs, and a board member of PUMP’d to Run. Aster is also a recent graduate of the Coro Women in Leadership program, and a member of the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative steering committee. She is dedicated to Pittsburgh’s growth to become a more diverse and inclusive community. After graduating from CMU, Aster aspires to become a community affairs director with a large government entity or possibly a private corporation focusing on bridging the gap between public and private sectors.
2015 – Kathryn Pollick
“I want to extend a sincere thank you to PYP for awarding me with this honor. With the help of PYP, I was able to continue my education as a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education where I will receive my M.Ed and become dual certified in elementary and special education. Upon graduating, my primary goal is to teach in a Pittsburgh area school district. In the classroom, I am surrounded by our future. There is no better place to begin to develop the minds of the generation that will continue to propel this city in its economic success. Through my profession, I hope to produce career-minded individuals who will help take Pittsburgh to new heights.”
2014 – Joseph James Kromka
Joseph graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014 with exceptional academics and started medical school study at University of Pittsburgh this fall. He was the captain of the men’s varsity basketball team at CMU and coached the Youth Basketball team at St. Bernadette school in his spare time. He was also an active volunteer in Austin’s Playroom at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Joseph grew up in Pittsburgh and wants to stay in Pittsburgh after graduation and continues to get involved with local communities by providing clinical care and supporting other aspiring individuals.
2014 – Sean Thomas Smith
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the PYP for enhancing the Pittsburgh community through financial support to young people in pursuit of higher education; I feel extremely fortunate to be a recipient of their generosity. This generosity is allowing me to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s MBA program and focus on Technology Leadership. The MBA program at CMU is fusing my technical passions with a business acumen so that I may effectively guide companies on how to achieve their goals. I am excited for the future of Pittsburgh as it develops into a center for high-tech innovation and I cannot wait to contribute to its success. Thank you PYP for making all this possible!”
2013 – Ashton Armstrong
“I am currently attending the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public/International Affairs with a concentration in International Political Economy. My ultimate goal upon graduation is to start a career in Pittsburgh that supports international affairs, community development, and creativity. I applied for the Pittsburgh Young Professionals Scholarship to help finance my graduate studies. I was extremely honored to receive the Pittsburgh Young Professionals Scholarship and I am excited to be a part of the PYP community. This scholarship is a great opportunity for young professionals to further their education and I encourage others to become members of PYP and make connections with the young professionals of Pittsburgh! Thank you PYP!”
2012 – Channing Broyan
“I am a Physician Assistant (PA) Student at The University of Pittsburgh— originally from northeastern Pennsylvania, earned my Bachelors of Science in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and a Minor in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University, and moved to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2011 to earn my Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. My ultimate goals upon graduation in December 2013 are to begin my career in surgery/emergency medicine and then pursue the latter part of my profession in family medicine. I applied for the Pittsburgh Young Professionals Scholarship to help finance my education. I feel that it is not only an honor to be the chosen 2012 awardee, but I am also grateful because I was introduced to the organization and am now a very active member. I sincerely thank PYP for helping me to develop intellectually, professionally, civically, and socially! I highly encourage others who are furthering their education to apply for the scholarship and get involved in PYP!”
2011 – Steve Zumbrun
“Thanks to PYP and other organizations, Pittsburgh is a great place to be a grad student because of the sense of community among young professionals and students. Becoming active in organizations is the best way to meet people and learn about Pittsburgh. I am currently pursuing a J.D. at The University of Pittsburgh School of Law and have enjoyed meeting people from the region and those who moved to Pittsburgh to pursue graduate school. I’ve had great experiences during law school by volunteering at Neighborhood Legal Services Association, representing Pitt Law at the National Environmental Moot Court Competition, and being involved with a student run nonprofit, PLISF, which is focused on supporting public interest law. I am interested in pursuing environmental law, land use, and municipal law. After law school, I would like to work in a public interest capacity focusing on urban redevelopment, community development, and environmental quality issues. Thanks to the members of PYP for the PYP scholarship award.”