North Allegheny senior nets inaugural scholarship for success on field, in classroom

Tony LaRussa
Thursday, May 27, 2021 3:27 p.m. | Thursday, May 27, 2021 3:27 p.m.

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Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

North Allegheny goalkeeper Julianna Werner makes a save between Norwin’s Evelyn Moore (21) and Katelyn Kauffman, as Lacey Bernick looks on during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, at Norwin. Werner recently recieved a $3,000 scholarship for her achievements on the field and in the classroom.

A new scholarship in honor of a 1983 North Allegheny graduate who died last year has made its first award to a senior who demonstrated significant achievements on the soccer field and in the classroom.

Julianna Werner is the recipient of the first Richard J. Collins Memorial Scholarship.

“Julianna was truly very deserving with her 4.01 GPA, numerous significant community service hours and her participation as the starting goalie for the girls soccer team that won the WPIAL’s and came in second in the state,” scholarship officials wrote in a news release.

Warner will receive $3,000, which is the largest award given.

To be eligible, scholarship candidates must be members of the NA boys or girls soccer teams, demonstrate athletic and academic success, and have a commitment to community service.

Collins was a 1983 North Allegheny graduate and earned a degree in business from the University of Pittsburgh in 1987.

He worked for Pfizer for 29 years, last serving as a manager for Florida and Puerto Rico. He was living in Florida when he died on Dec. 26, 2020, from pancreatic cancer. He was 55.

Many of Collins relatives still live in the North Allegheny School District. The family has made a 10-year commitment to offer the annual scholarship.