BUTLER TWP — Be decisive even when decisions are tough. Be yourself and stay true to your beliefs. Make sure you do something you are passionate about.

That's what the keynote speaker for the 13th Butler County Housing Authority Scholarship luncheon held Wednesday at the Days Inn told winners about the keys to success.

Jeri Stumpf, president of his own community development and governmental affairs consulting firm, said that he comes by his belief in the authority's scholarship program, which helps residents of public housing pay for college and technical programs, naturally.

His business cards read, "Improving the quality of people's lives, one individual, neighborhood and community at a time."

Perry O'Malley, executive director of the county housing and redevelopment authorities, as well as the city of Butler's redevelopment authority, said there were 14 applications for this year's eight scholarships. The winners are:

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Edna Wilcox, who was awarded the Ralph and Margaret Smith scholarship of $1,000. Wilcox is a social work major at Slippery Rock University and plans to pursue a master's degree in social work.•

Marcy Bernstein was awarded the NexTier scholarship of $1,000. Bernstein is transferring to SRU from Butler County Community College, where she received her associate's degree, as well as multiple academic honors such as membership in PhiTheta Kappa.•

Stephanie Steele, who

received the $1,000 Excalibur Insurance Services scholarship. Steele is currently a student at BC3 majoring in pre-nursing and human relations. She will be a nursing student in the fall.•

Loucinda "Lynn" Creel, who is the recipient of the $500 PNC Bank scholarship. Creel is a part-time BC3 general studies student who plans to transfer to Geneva College to study community ministry.•

Kasey Wise, who was awarded the $1,000 Leonard S. Fiore scholarship. She is studying nursing at BC3 and plans to specialize in either transitional care or surgical nursing. Wise is a 2007 Collegiate All-American Scholar award winner.•

Chanel Spohn, who received the $1,000 National City Bank scholarship. Spohn is a SRU sophomore majoring in psychology.•

Tracey Fedokovitz, who was awarded the $500 Jud Sedwick-Armstrong scholarship. She will be a junior at SRU majoring in secondary education in English. Fedokovitz's goal is to become a college professor.•

Hannah Ramsey, who is the recipient of the $500 James A. Green scholarship. Ramsey is a 2007 Butler High School graduate who plans to study nursing at BC3 in the fall. She wants to specialize in either pediatrics or geriatrics.