Esmark Inc, a diversified holding company engaged in steel services, oil and gas exploration and production and aviation services, has announced the recipients of the 2011-12 Helen Bouchard Esmark Scholars. Combined, Esmark and its subsidiaries have awarded USD 15,000 in scholarships to children of Esmark subsidiaries in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
This year's Helen Bouchard Esmark Scholars include four children from the Meadville Conneaut Lake area whose parents are employed by Meadville, Pennsylvania based Excalibur Machine Company, a subsidiary of Esmark's Industrial Group division and three children of employees from the company's Esmark Steel Group subsidiary in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The scholarship recipients were selected based on academic achievement, significant community involvement and noteworthy extracurricular activities.
Mr James P. Bouchard founder, chairman & CEO of Esmark Inc said that the Esmark Scholars program named in honor of his mother Ms Helen Bouchard, was created in 2004 to recognize outstanding scholastic performance by family members of Esmark Inc and its subsidiary companies' employees.
Mr Bouchard said that "My mother and late father provided tremendous educational opportunities to me and my brothers and sisters, and instilled in us the value of life long learning. The goal of the Esmark Scholars program is to provide those same educational opportunities for the children of our employees and give them the financial support to follow their career dreams. We congratulate each of them and wish them the best in their continuing education."
The 2011-2012 Helen Bouchard Esmark Scholars from Pennsylvania will receive USD 2,500 to assist in furthering their education and include:
Matt Orr, a Sophomore at The University of Pittsburgh, studying Accounting & Finance. Matt’s father, Dave Orr, is an employee of Excalibur Machine Company in Meadville
Levi Williams, a junior at Mercyhurst College, in Erie, PA, whose father Daniel Williams is an employee of Excalibur Machine Company
Mackenzie Gilson, a Sophomore at Kent State University in East Liverpool, OH, studying fashion Design & Merchandising
Nickalaus Gilson, in his first year at The Fortis Institute studying Welding & Fabrication
The 2011-2012 Helen Bouchard Esmark Scholars from Illinois will receive USD 2,500 to assist in furthering their education and include:
Josefina Estrada, a Freshman at Purdue University (West Lafayette), studying Pre Pharmacy. Josefina's father, Rogelio Estrada, is an employee at Esmark Steel Group in Chicago Heights
Jeffrey Lenz, a Freshman at Indiana University Bloomington, studying Computer Science. Jeffrey's father, Ken Lenz, is an employee at Esmark Steel Group
Jacina Sims, a senior at Saint Xavier University, in Chicago, studying Clinical Counseling Psychology. Jacina's mother, Linda Walker, is an employee at Esmark Steel Group
Since its creation in 2004, The Helen Bouchard Esmark Scholars program has awarded more than USD 100,000 in education scholarships to children of Esmark Inc and subsidiary companies' employees. In addition, since 2004 Esmark has also donated more than USD 5 million to a diverse group of charitable organizations in Illinois and Pennsylvania engaged in education, family wellness, social services and youth recreation and sports programs.
