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Robert A. & Geneva K. Deveney Engineering Scholarship

This scholarship was established to provide funds for graduating seniors from Armstrong County high schools planning to study engineering.

Robert Alexander Deveney, 1908-1995, was born in Johnstown and grew up in Pittsburgh. He received his degree in electrical engineering in 1938 from the University of Pittsburgh, by attending night school for nine years while working during the day. He worked as a route foreman for the Philadelphia Company (Duquesne Light) and as a track foreman for the Pittsburgh Railways Company. He invented a machine to remove the dirty snow and ice that collected in the tracks. During World War II, he served in both Europe and the Philippines. After the war, he returned to work for Pittsburgh Railways, which became part of the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT), as a track supervisor until his retirement, and then briefly as a consultant. He was respected for his careful supervision and attention to detail so that projects would be completed properly.

Robert and Geneva Deveney enjoyed 35 years of marriage. They were members of the Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal) in Avalon. Robert served on the vestry during several remodeling projects at the church. He later served as church treasurer.

Geneva Kimball Deveney was born in Iowa. She had just started college when the stock market crashed in 1929, but her grandfather made sure that she was able to complete her education. She worked as a teacher in a one-room school for two years. During World War II, she operated a machine that made armor-piercing bullets at an assembly plant in Milwaukee. She also worked for many years as an automobile insurance underwriter.

Geneva recalls the way that people helped each other during the Depression, and her grandfather’s commitment to providing for her education. Robert’s college tuition was paid by his employer. This scholarship established by Geneva in their names to help others obtain a college education is a significant part of their legacy.

Scholarship Details

  • Available to High School Seniors
  • Nonrenewable
  • Approximately $3,850 available, which may be split into multiple awards
  • Applicant must:
    • Be a graduating senior from a high school located in Armstrong County
    • Enrolled to study engineering at an accredited post-secondary educational institution

All applicants must complete the online scholarship application, including his/her response to the following essay question.

Essay Question

Essay is to be no more than one page.

Aside from the financial benefits of professional success, what motivates you to study engineering? Has a role model, of any profession, influenced your career decision?

Past Recipients

  • 2006-07 Derrick W. Brown & Joel D. Metz
  • 2007-08 Christopher Stewart & Caitlin Schultz
  • 2008-09 Samantha Shiring & Nicholas B. Craven
  • 2012-13 Bradley Edgington
  • 2013-14 Gregory Newman
  • 2014-15 Anna Bauer & Eric Hulings
  • 2015-16 Miranda Lasher & Ashley Worlds
  • 2016-17 Kendra Hale & Mya Gladysiewski
  • 2017-18 Alicia Velcko
  • 2018-19 Brodey Cowan & Kenzie Lasher
  • 2019-20 Michael Haugh & Alexander McAuley
  • 2020-21 Madison Ancosky, Nicholas Gavran & Elizabeth Schawl
  • 2021-22 Amber Earnest & Hailey Kilgore
  • 2022-23 Eva Shafer