Matt Witman

Matthew Witman, son of Kathy Witman of Integrated Software Solutions and her husband, Chris, has been chosen as the fifth recipient of a $1,000 award under the James R. Smith Scholarship Program. Matthew is an honor student at Great Valley High School in Malvern, PA. His goal is to become an engineer. He was chosen for the award by the independent organization that administers the program and reviews applications.

Matthew has excelled in both academic and sports activities. He has applications pending at Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State and Lehigh universities. In a letter of appreciation addressed to SSA President, Joni Aeschbach, he said he was "both excited and flattered" to have been chosen for the SSA award.

"While I have not yet made a final decision which engineering field I will study," Matthew continued, "my initial tendency is to consider chemical, bio-chemical or energy and environmental engineering because of my deep concern about quality of life issues and environmental sustainability."

Throughout four years of high school Matthew has been on the distinguished honor roll every semester, and in the National Honor Society for two years. He has won awards under the National Merit and Cornell Book Award programs, and distinction in Advanced Placement tests, in a writing competition of the National Council of Teachers of English, and in a number of other academic endeavors. He has been a regular participant in soccer, track and skiing activities. As a volunteer he has taught children in summer camps and raised funds for cancer research.

Matthew, a quiet-spoken and articulate young man, has somehow found time to pursue an interest in music. He plays the piano and saxophone. Movies are a favorite relaxation, and he's an avid reader. Jack London and John Steinbeck are among his favorite authors.

"I'm happy to have been able to help my parents by getting this award," he said.