Graduating seniors Patrick Miskell, of Livonia, and Christina West, of Attica, will receive scholarships of up to $2,000 each from the Livingston-Wyoming Arc Foundation to assist as they pursue careers relating to people with disabilities. Patrick and Christina will be honored at The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming Annual Dinner on Friday, June 5 at the Valley Oak Event Center in Geneseo.

Arc Foundation scholarships are awarded annually to one college-bound student each from Livingston and Wyoming Counties. Eligible students must pursue a career choice leading directly to working with people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Patrick is a graduating senior at Livonia Central School (Livingston County), where he maintains a Grade Point Average of 92 percent, and Christina is a graduating senior at Attica Senior High School (Wyoming County), where her GPA is 95 percent. Both students plan to enter the Speech Pathology field.

“I have learned how hard it is for individuals with developmental disabilities to overcome the challenges that they face each day,” Christina says. “I have seen what it takes by observing other therapists. Through their help, those with developmental disabilities have strengthened the self confidence within themselves.” She has applied to SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Brockport.

Christina has been active in National Honor Society, Leadership Academy, Principal’s Advisory Committee, Girls Varsity Soccer, Basketball, and Track. She has served as a math tutor, church volunteer, and county-wide food drive volunteer.

“I picked Speech Pathology because you can work with practically any age group,” Patrick says. “There is just something appealing about helping someone live a better life by aiding them in their ability to communicate.” He will attend Genesee Community College.

Patrick’s activities include National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Mars Exploration Student Data Team, Varsity Cross Country, and operating the sound board for various high school musicals. He has worked with students who have disabilities via the TIES program (Together Including Every Student), and he has been active with the American Legion.

The amount of each scholarship will be a maximum of $2,000, payable in $500 amounts annually.

Scholarships are made possible by the Livingston-Wyoming Arc Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming. The foundation has granted scholarships annually since 1994. In addition to awarding student scholarships, the foundation funds such purchases as adaptive equipment and camp scholarships for people with disabilities.