AHSS Endowed Scholarships

History

Charles G. and Anita L. Manoli Scholarship Fund

The late Charles G. Manoli Sr., Emeritus Professor of History, was a much beloved professor and colleague throughout his 43 years of teaching at Saint Vincent College. He was a graduate of the Saint Vincent Preparatory School (1945) and Saint Vincent College (1951) and his work was recognized by the college with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree in 2005. Mrs. Anita L. Manoli was a treasured Spanish language educator at area high schools and both Charles (Chuck) and Anita were dedicated supporters of higher education in Westmoreland County. They and their family established the Charles G. and Anita L. Manoli Scholarship Fund to continue their support of Saint Vincent College students.

Professor Chuck Manoli’s legacy is carried on through the work of the students who had the privilege of studying with him, many of whom serve on the Manoli Scholarship Committee, which raises funds for this scholarship and works with the College to organizes an annual Manoli dinner and lecture.

The Manoli scholarship is awarded each year to a history major identified by History Department faculty. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years contingent on the awardees’ continued merit and satisfactory progress in their history major. Awardees are recognized at the annual Manoli Scholarship Event.

Music

Gabriel Burda Memorial Music Scholarship  

Any incoming freshman Music major may apply and audition for this scholarship at the same time he/she auditions for the Department of Music. The scholarship award is $4000 per year for up to four years as long as the student makes progress in their Music major and stays in good academic standing each semester.  Students applying for the music major should indicate their interest in this scholarship when registering for an audition to receive additional application materials. Notification of acceptance into the Department is made separately from the announcement of the scholarship recipient.

Marching Band and Chorus Scholarships

The Saint Vincent Marching Band and Saint Vincent Singers enrich our community and enhance campus culture by performing at sporting and academic events. We are pleased to offer renewable scholarships of $250-$500 to incoming freshmen who commit to participating in the Saint Vincent Marching Band or Saint Vincent Singers (chorus). A deadline for expressing interest in these scholarships is April 1. Interested students should contact Dr. Sean Durkin (marching band) or Dr. Caryn Greco (chorus) for more information. 

Languages & Physics

Vera and Jaroslav Slezak Scholarships

These scholarships honor the memory of Vera Slezak who served for decades as a professor of German and Jaroslav Slezak, a long-serving professor of physics.  One scholarship is awarded annually to a sophomore or junior physics major or physics-related minor and another is awarded to a sophomore or junior language major or minor, with preference given to students minoring in German. Language students can request an application packet from Dr. Doreen Blandino.

The Slezak Scholarship was made possible by the generous bequest of Professors Jaroslav and Vera Slezak, who joined the faculty of Saint Vincent College in 1960. Professor Jaroslav Slezak taught Physics and his wife, Vera, taught German and Russian. Vera Slezak’s appointment to the faculty was historic, making her the first female faculty member in the history of Saint Vincent College.

Refusing to join the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia, the Slezaks courageously left everything behind their family, friends, careers, and possessions as they fled to the hills of Austria where they lived “underground,” exhibiting remarkable strength, determination and an unwavering Catholic faith that would culminate in their safe arrival at Saint Vincent College in 1960.

Professors Jaroslav and Vera Slezak were held in high regard by their students and colleagues. They were outstanding professors who had set high standards for academic excellence and character in and outside of the classroom. Generations of students praised the couple because they were compassionate leaders who readily and faithfully served their community and had instilled the development of these traits in their students for several decades.

Psychology

Fr. Vernon Holtz, O.S.B. Endowed Scholarship   

The Fr. Vernon Holtz, O.S.B. Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to a junior or senior psychology major. Fr. Vernon was a longtime faculty member in the Psychological Science Department, and he served the College, Monastery, and the Preparatory School for 66 years in countless roles, including assistant headmaster, department chair, and academic dean. His interests in psychology focused on existential phenomenology and its understanding of the relationship between the psyche and the spirit, or mental health and spirituality. He was active in counseling and integral to founding and implementing an aging and spirituality program for the local community. In addition to being dedicated to mental health and spirituality, Fr. Vernon was a lover of sports. He founded and served as head coach for the Saint Vincent soccer team and coached several other sports as well. Fr. Vernon was a dynamic and challenging teacher and a beloved mentor to both students and faculty. This scholarship honors the life and work of Fr. Vernon Holtz, O.S.B.

Theology

Reverend Nathan Munsch, O.S.B. Scholarship

The Rev. Nathan Munsch O.S.B. Scholarship was established in 2020. Awarded annually, the scholarship recognizes academic excellence, pastoral wisdom, and spiritual maturity in a theology major. A member of the Saint Vincent Benedictine monastic community since 1993, Father Nathan retired in 2020 after being diagnosed with ALS. He taught theology and Latin at both Saint Vincent College and Seminary for more than 20 years, while he served as pastor of the parishes of Saint Benedict, Saint Mary, and Saint Michael. From 2015-20, he was also director of pastoral formation for Saint Vincent Seminary. Fr. Nathan helped to shape the lives of thousands during his career as a priest and educator modeling how to integrate theological study, pastoral care, and spirituality to do good for others and to glorify God. The scholarship ($1500/year) applies to a student’s junior and senior year.