Here's how four Pitt-Johnstown students are making a difference this summer

Four University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown students have a unique opportunity this summer, to award $12,500 in grant funding for projects that benefit youth from Johnstown and surrounding communities.

Alex Zakucia, of Davidsville, is among those four John P. Murtha Foundation Public Service Fellows. He is a 21-year-old senior at Pitt-Johnstown, studying political science.

Zakucia and the other Murtha Fellows — Hannah Rising, of Indiana, Mariam Moaz, of Johnstown and Carly Dubetsky, of Hastings — are about halfway through the seven-week, paid summer fellowship that aims to inspire local young adults to become community leaders.

“I’m interested in local government and I wanted to see how (the fellowship) could benefit the community and to meet people from the community along the way,” he said.

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Murtha Fellows helping local youth succeed

Over the last several weeks, the Murtha Fellows have been meeting with community leaders and representatives of various nonprofit organizations, learning how local programs are making a difference in people’s lives.

The Murtha Fellows have also had the opportunity to interact with local youth. For example, the group has helped with activities at Flood City Youth Fitness Academy that inspire area youth to become more physically active, Zakucia said.

“There are a lot of organizations down there, and there’s a lot more to do in downtown Johnstown than people think,” he said. “A lot of people are putting a lot of work into the city, which is nice to see.

“It has been overwhelming, at times, to see what the needs were in the community — and it was up to us to decide where the grant money should go. But in particular, it seemed to be a lack of funding and support for organizations benefiting local youth.”

So the Murtha Fellows have decided to award up to $12,500 in grant money to nonprofit organizations for programs and activities producing positive results among youth in the Johnstown area and in surrounding communities.

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A portion of the online proposal for grant applications reads, “There are many youths that are lacking the support and structure they need.

“Through this grant, we wish to support organizations ... who promote positive role models for our youth in the Johnstown and surrounding areas.”

More information about the John P. Murtha Fellowship grant opportunity and the online application form can be found at johnstownvision.com. The deadline to submit grant applications is Aug. 1.

“I hope the grant money benefits local youth and helps them get a good start in life,” Zakucia said. “I had a good start and good parents to point me in the right direction.

“Our youth are the future and they need to be prioritized. I hope this money will go to a program or programs that help with youth development.”

Role models in public service

Zakucia and his older brother, Nicholas, learned about the concept of public service at an early age.

Their father, Nick Zakucia, is a police officer and serves as chief of police in Geistown Borough, in suburban Johnstown. Their mother was attorney Catherine Primavera-Zakucia, who was an assistant district attorney for Somerset County from 1996 until her death in November of 2020.

“My parents have been a great support throughout my life,” Alex Zakucia said. “My mom was one of my biggest supporters. I like to think she'd be proud of me. My dad has been really good through this process, and my grandparents have been an unbelievable support as well.”

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Future plans

Upon earning his bachelor’s degree next year from Pitt-Johnstown, Zakucia plans to attend law school. He said he hasn’t decided yet if his career interests lie in criminal law, as his mother’s was, or in another direction.

“I was always into law, even before college,” he said. “I want to be an attorney, but my mom said I won’t know what kind of attorney I want to be until after my first year of law school.”

He’s very active in outdoor recreation, especially whitewater rafting, kayaking and running. He also works for Coal Tubin’ in Johnstown and he volunteers with the Conemaugh Township Fire Department.

Zakucia recently completed additional training through the Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Academy to join the state’s Wildland Fire Crew, whose members are sent to help fight wildfires in other parts of the country.

His commitment to the Murtha Fellowship prevents him from tackling any wildfires this summer, but he hopes he can respond next year.

“I like to help people I guess,” Zakucia said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Pitt-Johnstown students join John P. Murtha Public Service Fellowship