Community Service Earns Grove City College Junior Nicole Powell of Aston, Pa., Scholarship to Study in Rome

GROVE CITY, PA (11/11/2011)(readMedia)-- Grove City College junior Nicole Powell of Aston, Pa., has been awarded the Michele Iavagnilio Charitable Service Scholarship of $8,000 from Athena Study Abroad to study in Rome, Italy, in spring 2012. Powell received the award for her commitment to giving back to her community through charitable service.

Powell, a biblical and religious studies major, has served others through working with the Special Olympics, building homes for families in need and spearheading fundraising projects. She has served both in the United States and abroad. While in Africa, Powell served orphans and worked to provide clean drinking water in communities in Morocco.

The Michele Iavagnilio Charitable Service Scholarship seeks to reward students that have a history of taking initiative to make the world a better place through charitable service. For consideration, nominees must submit a reference letter attesting their roles and contributions in charity work in the community, a resume or essay outlining experience in charitable service and a minimum 2.8 grade point average.

Iavagnilio, the award's namesake, selflessly dedicated his efforts at the Cireneo Onlus to helping and teaching autistic children. He died at age 25 in the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in Italy. While in Rome, Powell will have the special opportunity of meeting the Iavagnilio family.

Athena Study Abroad was developed in an effort to bring students authentic study abroad experiences involving true cultural immersion designed by knowledgeable and caring professionals. To learn more about the organization, visit www.athenaabroad.com.

Founded in 1876, Grove City College stands on its founding ideals of faith and freedom, made possible by an unwavering commitment to Christian principles and rigorous academics at a price within the reach of families with modest means. The College, located 60 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pa., has an enrollment of 2,500 students and teaches the liberal arts, sciences and engineering. It is an advocate of the free market economic system and accepts no federal funding. Tuition is about half the national average for private colleges. Grove City College has been named the Top Value in Private Liberal-Arts Schools by Consumers Digest Magazine. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has named the College one of 50 All-American Colleges, ranking it high for increasing students' civic literacy. Grove City College has been named a Best Value and one of the best colleges in America by Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. The Young America's Foundation calls Grove City College one of the Top Conservative Schools in the country.