The Hempfield Area Democratic Committee (HADC) has named Maurielle Courtois of Landisville and Matthew DeBord of Lancaster as the recipients of the 10th annual Paul and Jan Wright Senior Scholarship. The award, given to a graduating high school senior residing in Hempfield School District, recognizes students who, according to the committee, best represent the next generation of Democratic leaders.

Courtois, the daughter of Patti and Bob Courtois, will continue her education as a political science major at either American University in Washington, D.C., or the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. She served as the president of the Hempfield Young Democrats Club at Hempfield High School for two years and most recently organized an April field trip with Lt. Gov. Fetterman and representatives of Gov. Wolf's team in Harrisburg. This past fall, she was a co-captain for the Hempfield girls' tennis team. She also completed a two-semester internship with the Lancaster Democrats.

DeBord is the son of James and Anne Louise DeBord. A student at Lancaster Catholic High School, he is a National Honor Society member, a Student Ambassador, a Link Crew leader, the president of the Varsity Club and a co-chair of Mini-THON. He is a four-year varsity tennis player, winning a team state championship his junior year and being named a captain his senior year. He plans to attend either the Pennsylvania State University or Syracuse University to study political science with the goal of attending law school.

Courtois and DeBord will each receive $500 to put toward college expenses. They, along with their parents, were slated to be recognized at a meeting of the HADC.

The HADC scholarship is named for Paul and Jan Wright, two longtime, active HADC members and residents of East Hempfield Township.