Gabler is 'Young Conservative of the Year'

State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) has been named "Young Conservative of the Year" by the Phillips Foundation. The freshman legislator will travel to Washington, D.C. Wednesday night to accept the award.

"A few years ago, one of The Phillips Foundation's trustees suggested there be an award to an outstanding young conservative leader in politics, public affairs, and other fields," said Assistant Secretary Jeff Hollingsworth of the Phillips Foundation. "The idea is to help motivate and inspire our scholarship winners by enabling them to meet and hear from a young leader who is a rising star in his or her field - someone who can be a role model for them.

"That is why Matt Gabler is a perfect choice for this year's award. He had a stellar undergraduate career in both high school and at Bucknell University, where he was a leader-activist and received a merit-based scholarship from our Ronald Reagan College Leaders Scholarship Program. He has served his country in uniform and now serves the people of the 75th Legislative District as their representative in Harrisburg.

"We at The Phillips Foundation see a bright, successful future for Matt, whether in public office or whatever path he chooses. I know our scholarship winners will be impressed by him and look to what he's done thus far as something they, too, can achieve."

"It is with great humility that I accept this prestigious honor," said Gabler. "I believe my conservative values are a mere reflection of the way of life we have all come to treasure here in rural Pennsylvania. As a result, I proudly welcome this acknowledgement as recognition of the time and effort my family and friends invested in instilling in me the principles that so strongly reflect our identity as rural Pennsylvanians, and on which I now base my decisions and way of life."

Past winners include West Virginia state Rep. Jonathan Miller, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, Maryland state Senator Alex X. Mooney and author Colleen Carroll Campbell. The Phillips Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 to advance constitutional principles, a democratic society and a vibrant free enterprise system.