Mark Madden holds a plaque from the National Forensics League (now the National Speech & Debate Association) honoring his mother, Peggy Ann Madden, who was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1993.
The North Hills School District is excited to announce a new scholarship opportunity for North Hills High School seniors in honor of longtime North Hills teacher and nationally recognized forensics coach Peggy Ann Madden.
Students graduating this year with intent to pursue a career in speech and debate, communications, journalism and/or English education can apply now for one of two $2,000 scholarships in Ms. Madden’s name. Applicants must also be active participants in speech and debate, journalism, The Arrowhead, Norhian, NHTV or similar club, program or activity at North Hills High School.
Ms. Madden was the mother of well-known Pittsburgh sports talk radio host Mark Madden and this scholarship, to be awarded annually, is one he has long wanted to create for students at the school his mother loved so much.
Ms. Madden was a pioneer in speech and debate, leading several North North Hills forensics teams and speakers to multiple championships through the years. The program she developed at North Hills was highly regarded and became a model for other school districts in the state and across the country.
Even after she retired from teaching in 1992, Ms. Madden continued as the high school’s speech and debate coach for several years and remained active in the program until her death in 2006.
This scholarship is fittingly being announced today, March 1, 2023, on what would’ve been Ms. Madden’s 88th birthday. Earlier this week, her son visited the high school where he spoke to current journalism and broadcast students, toured the school’s TV studio and viewed recent student work including past editions of The Arrowhead and NHTV's The Tribe Daily.
Those interested in applying for the Peggy Ann Madden Scholarship can pick up a scholarship application in the North Hills High School Counseling Resource Center (CRC) at the high school or download it at this link.
The application, required essay and proof of acceptance into the student’s chosen post-secondary institution must be submitted to the CRC by the end of the school day on Friday, April 14. No late applications will be accepted. Scholarship awardees will be announced in May and recognized at North Hills High School Senior Awards Night on May 22.
About the Peggy Ann Madden Scholarship
The Peggy Ann Madden Scholarship is endowed by Mark Madden, sports talk radio host on 105.9 The X, through the North Hills Foundation.
To make a donation, please make checks payable to the "North Hills Foundation" and indicate the monies should be applied to the Peggy Ann Madden Scholarship Fund. Checks can be mailed to the following address:
North Hills School District
c/o North Hills Foundation
135 Sixth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15229