Albright College has awarded the 2011 Eugene L. Shirk Scholarships to 20 students from Berks County high schools. The awards will total about $1.5 million over four years.  

Recipients receive scholarships worth from $60,000 to $80,000 over four years. Shirk Scholars must complete 25 hours of community service per semester and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Applicants are evaluated on five areas: community service, involvement in high school, leadership potential, communication skills and academic ability.

 Albright established the Eugene L. Shirk Scholarships in 1995 to honor the late Gene Shirk and encourage Berks County students to follow his lead of community service, leadership, strength of character and commitment to excellence.  Gene L. Shirk, who died in 1994 at the age of 92, was a math professor, track and cross-country coach, and manager of the Athletic Department at Albright. He served two terms as mayor of the City of Reading.

Since its inception the program has graduated 206 Shirk Scholars, with scholarship aid totaling more than $6 million.