John Bolash was born in Harrisburg in 1924. He was a US Marine Corps veteran, serving in WWII and receiving the Good Conduct medal. In 1946, he graduated from William Penn High School and in 1949, he graduated from the Harrisburg Academy. John continued his studies, receiving a bachelor’s degree in education from Penn State in 1953 and a master's degree from Northern Arizona University in 1966. He taught for 30 years as a Social Studies teacher in the State College Area School District, where he was also a wrestling coach and yearbook co-advisor. John was generous with his time in other areas, volunteering for 20 years at the Hershey Medical Center Children's Hospital with pediatric cancer patients and proctoring the exams for medical students. Following John's retirement, the Social Studies department set up the John Bolash "Triple A" Award Fund. It benefits one male and one female in the 7th grade and one male and one female in the 8th grade at both Park Forest Middle School and Mount Nittany Middle School. The eight students who receive the award exemplify outstanding qualities in Activities, Academics, and Attitude.