HARRISBURG, Pa. (EYT) — Julia Serbati, of Oil City High School, was recently selected as a recipient of a scholarship from Comcast NBCUniversal.

On Wednesday, Comcast announced it had awarded $188,000.00 in scholarships to 178 students across the state as part of its annual Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program awards.

The program, funded by the Comcast Foundation recognizes the best and brightest high school seniors for their community service, academic performance and leadership skills.

“Our Leaders and Achievers Scholarship winners exemplify leadership and are committed to academic excellence and community service,” said Christine Whitaker, regional senior vice president for Comcast. “We are honored to recognize their achievements, and excited to support them as they continue their educational journeys.”

Julia has been very active at school and in the community.

“Julia is a great all-around athlete and superb student!” said Vera Campbell, guidance counselor at Oil City High School.

“She is ranked number three in her class, achieves Principal’s List every quarter and is a member of National Honor Society.”

“She has been involved with volleyball, softball, tennis, basketball and track and field. She was selected as Team MVP- Shop N Save Player of the Game, Second Team All-Region tennis, and was a Wendy’s Heisman State Finalist. Julia is active in Student Council, Math Club, Spanish Club, and Junior/Senior Executive Council.”

“In addition, she was recently selected as OCHS’s Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete. She is an amazing young lady!”

Serbati was on the homecoming court, and she was also on the Oil Heritage Festival court.

She is the daughter of Frank and Amy Serbati.

Larissa Lauer, of Clarion Areas High School, also received a scholarship.

Comcast, joined by Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera, and City of Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, recognized the students at a special event held Tuesday at the State Museum of Pennsylvania.

All of the 2017 Pennsylvania Leaders and Achievers recipients received $1,000 scholarships, except for one student, Adrianna Mowrer of Perkiomen, who was awarded a $10,000 Comcast Founder’s Scholarship – instituted in honor of Ralph J. Roberts, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Comcast Corporation.

After a prize drawing, 10 students also received Samsung Chromebooks for use at college.

“Governor Tom Wolf joins me in congratulating these gifted students for their outstanding achievements,” said Pedro Rivera, the governor’s Secretary of Education. “Ensuring a first-rate education is Gov. Wolf’s top priority for Pennsylvania, and these young people exemplify what excellence in teaching and learning can mean for every student.  We also commend the Comcast Foundation for its ongoing charitable support of programs like this scholarship.”

The Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students who strive to achieve their full potential, who are catalysts for positive change in their communities, who are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.

The philosophy behind the program is to give young people every opportunity to prepare for the future and to engage them in their communities. The program also demonstrates the importance of civic involvement, and the value placed on civic involvement by the business community.

This year, the program will award more than $2 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 students across the country to help them pursue higher education. Visit here to learn more.

About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations.

The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities.

The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated nearly $200 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves.

More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

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