First Posted: 2/18/2015
WILKES-BARRE — Carmen Lobrutto, a freshman at King’s College and a 2014 Pittston Area graduate, received the first Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation scholarship, established in the memory of 1995 Pittston Area graduate Colleen Shea.
Lobrutto, a Hughestown resident, is a first-year accounting major at King’s. He received a $5,000 award toward his first-year tuition. He is the son of Tina and Carmen Lobrutto.
The scholarship was established in honor of Shea, who died in an automobile accident in 2001.
“I thought it was pretty cool they selected me,” Lobrutto said. “It’s neat how she was an accounting major at King’s and that’s what I plan on doing. I thought it was really nice and I was honored when I got it.”
Through a donation to King’s by the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation, the scholarship will be awarded annually to a Pittston Area graduate to be used toward the student’s first-year King’s tuition. Each year, the foundation will donate $2,500 to King’s and the college will match that amount.
Lobrutto was selected as the first recipient for his character, leadership, scholarship, sportsmanship, dedication, commitment, teamwork and perseverance.
In his first semester at King’s, Lobrutto earned a 3.9 GPA and made the dean’s list. He was a member of the Pittston Area basketball team, National Honor Society, the Pep Squad and the Stand Tall Club.
“He’s a great kid,” Nancy Shea, Colleen Shea’s mother, said. “He couldn’t be more grateful and thankful. He’s very appreciative.”
Colleen Shea, born in October of 1973, is the daughter of Pat and Nancy Shea, Hughestown. She attended Pittston Area High School where she graduated in the top 10 in the class of 1991. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from King’s in 1995.
Colleen Shea interned with Prociak & Associations, LLC while a senior at King’s. She secured a public accounting position with the firm following graduation. She was killed in an October 2001 accident on her way home from work.
“She was valuable to our business and our families and friends,” said Patti Prociak, chairperson of the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation and owner of Prociak & Associates, LLC. “The scholarship gives some meaning to the loss of someone in your life. It’s a good feeling to be able to honor her memory.”
Shea was an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Hughestown, where she was also a religious education instructor.
“She has blessed so many people and would walk into the room and bring sunshine and was so willing to help so many people,” Nancy Shea said. “She was such a joy to know and a joy to be with.”
Currently, the Colleen Shea Children’s Foundation raises funds for the benefit of charitable organizations dedicated to the research, treatment and education of childhood diseases and supporting other charitable organizations dedicated to the general welfare of children.
“Our daughter’s name is being kept alive,” Nancy Shea said. “We’re really happy that the people are still remembering her in so many ways. The foundation has done remarkable things and helped so many children.”
