Prevention Scholarship Recipient

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) announced today the recipient of the first Maggie Marcopul Prevention Specialist Scholarship. Sherry Clouser, Prevention Program Specialist for Dauphin County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services in Harrisburg, was awarded the three-year scholarship from PCB marking the first scholarship of its kind offered by PCB.

The Maggie Marcopul Prevention Specialist Scholarship was established by PCB in memory of 19-year PCB board member, Maggie Marcopul, who passed away in May of 2008. Maggie’s impact on the credentialing process in Pennsylvania and her dedication and commitment to the field of prevention was worthy and deserving of a lasting honor in her memory. PCB felt that this scholarship opportunity was a fitting tribute to a truly remarkable leader in the prevention field.

Ms. Clouser had been in the drug and alcohol treatment field for 18 years and recently moved into prevention where in a short period of time already feels committed and dedicated to prevention efforts in her community. “I believe that I can demonstrate to the board that I am worthy of the scholarship and will certainly commit myself to achieving the standards that were set by Maggie in the field of prevention,” states Ms. Clouser.

In submitting Ms. Clouser’s nomination, Mavis Nimoh, Administrator for Dauphin County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services states, “What is most valuable is that Sherry is teaching others about the field of prevention and that domino effect is bringing prevention to its rightful prominence as a most valuable and essential tool in the fight against drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and abuse in our county.”

The scholarship includes all fees associated with becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist, membership in the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance, attendance at the annual Commonwealth Prevention Alliance Conference, attendance at the annual PCB Conference, and attendance at the National Prevention Network annual conference. The scholarship also requires each recipient to become a mentor to the next scholarship recipient.

PCB will award the next prevention specialist scholarship in July of 2012 and details can be found on the PCB website.

PCB is a private, non-profit corporation that establishes, safeguards, and monitors certification standards for professionals in the substance abuse and other behavioral health fields. It advocates for quality, comprehensive substance abuse and other behavioral health services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and on an international level.