Selected for her award-winning essay, Matuszak was presented the award at the recent IFDA (Indiana Funeral Directors Association) conference in Indianapolis. Matuszak has been an Ivy Tech mortuary student since August of 2004 and plans to use her five-hundred dollar scholarship to attend further seminars and trainings in the funeral service industry.

Matuszak says “I am very honored to receive this award for many reasons, but I’m most grateful to the instructors who have invested their time in me: Rick Soria, Elden LaHayne, Tom Farley & Dr. David Merrill”. When asked what advice she’d give to other students, she encouraged students to take full advantage of the expertise of their instructors. “Each instructor has something very valuable to offer and are extremely willing to share it” She said.

Upon graduation from Ivy Tech, Matuszak, the only Frank W. Moore scholarship recipient in the state, plans to begin a career as a trade embalmer.

She says, “I take this field very seriously. I feel it’s a calling, because I realize what I do in this field touches many people.”