LEWISTON – Kathryn DeAngelis, a senior at Lewiston High School, was awarded the 2009 Alfred A. Plourde Memorial Scholarship at a City Council meeting.

Scholarship funds were raised by Mayor Plourde’s family and friends following his death in 1990, and Council President Thomas P. Peters II presented DeAngelis a $500 check. Plourde is still remembered for his respect of others and outstanding service as treasurer and mayor of Lewiston.

Peters said, “Each scholarship applicant had to write about the role of the young political leader in the new millennium, and I would like to quote some of Kate’s words, ‘Life comes at you faster than you will ever believe it could. This is why it is important to not just accept life as it is or think about making a difference, but to actually make a motion to put your ideas into action. I believe the youth of America need to become active for our health, families, communities, states and country’.”

Peters said DeAngelis has lived by those statements by being involved in her community throughout high school and is now passionate about becoming a surgeon to serve in a program such as Doctors Without Borders.

He added that she’d also like to be the first person from Lewiston High School’s science health program to become a doctor and go back to class each year to encourage students to work hard and believe they can achieve their goals.

Peters also congratulated parents Charles and Jane DeAngelis for raising such an “exceptional young woman” and welcomed Plourde’s widow, Janice, who shared with the award recipient some of the community accomplishments that occurred during the mayoral tenure of her husband. She also encouraged DeAngelis to remain involved in the community.

DeAngelis plans to study at either Bates College or Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., with a major in biochemistry to help prepare her for the goal of becoming a surgeon.