MERCER COUNTY Sharonsteel selects Greenville graduate for its scholarship

The award represents a $30,000 commitment from Sharonsteel over the next four years.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SHARON, Pa. -- Hao Chen is happy to be staying in Mercer County -- at least for the next two to four years.
Chen, 18, of Greenville, was born in China. At the age of 8, he and his family moved to New York City. In 1998, the family moved to Greenville to work at his uncle's business, the King Lee Family Restaurant.
"It's different living in China, then in New York City and now here," he said. "A lot of differences. It's smaller here, fewer people, smaller schools. I don't mind staying here. It depends on where I find a job. It depends on what happens."
But in the meantime, Chen intends to study business at Penn State University's Shenango Campus here. He said he can settle into college life a little easier and rest a little better knowing his college tuition is paid in full.
Accomplishment: On Friday, he learned he is this year's Sharonsteel Foundation Scholar. Lori Darby, the foundation's trust administrator, told him of the accomplishment during an informal gathering at the college.
The award represents a $30,000 commitment from the company to Chen over the next four years. It marks the sixth Sharonsteel Foundation Scholar funding awarded to an area high school student.
"We were very impressed with your application," she told Chen. "We looked at your academic achievements such as your grade point average, class ranking and SAT [Scholastic Aptitude Test] scores. But we were especially impressed with your extracurricular activities."
Volunteering: Chen, who recently graduated from Greenville High School, has spent about 20 hours a week working at the family business when he's in school. When he's not in school, he typically works 40-hour weeks. He also volunteers at the Good Shepherd Center in Greenville.
He said his schedule could likely change soon to allow him to devote the bulk of his time to studying at PSU. Although he intends to spend the next two years here, and he hasn't ruled out staying to earn his four-year degree, he said he is considering finishing the last two years of his studies at the college's main campus in State College.
"We'll see what happens," he said. "I'm just glad I'm here now."