For release
Further information: Contact John McAndrew
Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958
April 27, 2018 - Lynn Durling, pictured in center, a first-year student at King’s College, was recently named the recipient of an annual scholarship established at the College in honor of Colleen Shea, a 1995 graduate of King’s who died in a 2001 automobile accident.
Colleen Shea was a native of Pittston and graduated from Pittston Area High School prior to earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from King’s. The daughter of working class parents, she worked her way through King’s from money she earned at supermarket and babysitting jobs.
As a senior at King’s, Shea interned with Prociak & Associates, LLC, and secured a public accounting position with the firm following her graduation. She was killed in an Oct. 2001 automobile crash on her way home from work.
Established through a donation to King’s by the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation, the $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate of Pittston Area High School to be used toward the student’s first-year King’s tuition. The winner is selected based on his or her character, leadership, scholarship, sportsmanship, dedication, commitment, teamwork and perseverance.
The scholarship’s fourth recipient, graduated from Pittston Area in May and is currently completing her first year of studies.
A resident of Pittston, Durling was a member of the National Honor Society and served as vice president of the Leo Club and secretary of the Health and Science Club at Pittston Area. She was manager of the girl’s basketball team and a four-year member of the Zero Conflict Club. She was a two-year member of Young Lawyers, Future Business Leaders, Book and Art clubs. She was very involved with the Youth Ministry of St. John the Evangelist Church as a Sunday school teacher and aide and received both the Bishop’s Youth Award and the Saint Martha Volunteer Award.
Pictured, from left, is Nancy Shea, mother of Colleen; Ginny Everts, Colleen’s aunt; Durling; Father John Ryan, C.S.C., King’s president; and Janet Mercincavage, vice president for student affairs at King’s.