The Career Center is proud to spotlight one of our outstanding alumni, Leanna Sciabbarrasi, who has been honored with a 2025 PERC Educator Excellence Award; a prestigious recognition presented annually by the Pittsburgh Education Recruitment Consortium (PERC) to celebrate exceptional promise and dedication in the field of education.
Leanna, a recent graduate of PennWest California, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and distinguished herself as a member of the Honors Program, a Rutledge Scholar, and a leader of a campus worship team. Her commitment to both academic excellence and community engagement exemplifies the values we strive to instill in all our students.
Beyond the classroom, Leanna nurtured her lifelong passion for horseback riding, a pursuit that has kept her grounded and joyful throughout her educational journey. This summer, she returns to her roots in Shenandoah County, Virginia, where she has begun her career as a First Grade Teacher at Shenandoah County Public Schools, the very district that helped shape her.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that raised me,” Leanna shared. “I’m looking forward to helping young learners grow, explore, and thrive.”
This marks the second year in a row that a PennWest University student has been named one of the winners of the PERC Educator Excellence Award, with Faith Smith, a May 2024 PennWest Clarion graduate winning last year, showcasing PennWest’s teacher preparation programs and the caliber of its graduates.
We congratulate Leanna on this well-deserved honor and wish her continued success as she begins this exciting new chapter.