letterfromthepresident - pittsburgh...

2 · WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

Letter from the presidentThe Trib Total Me-

dia OutstandingYoung Citizen AwardsProgram is a long-standing traditionand one that I lookforward to each andevery year.

This year, we received 630 out-standing nominations representing97 schools across the region. Fromall of our nominees, we selected 100students to receive the OutstandingYoung Citizen Award. Those studentsare featured within these pages andwill be honored at a banquet thisevening.

In addition, 10 students will beselected to receive the OutstandingYoung Citizen gold medal, signifyingthat they are among the very best ofthe best.

Finally, we will also present $5,000scholarships to two students in rec-ognition of their commitment to vol-unteerism and community service.

Our gold-medal winners and schol-arship recipients will be announcedin the Tribune-Review (ValleyNews Dispatch and WestmorelandEditions) on Sunday, April 23.

These students not only excel inthe classroom, but they spend count-less hours participating in extracur-ricular activities and serving theircommunities.

Their dedication and commitmentto excellence is remarkable. They areleaders in not only their schools but

their communities as well, and weare honored to have the opportunityto give them the recognition theydeserve.

As we honor these young adults,we must take a moment to recognizeand thank the many parents,teachers, coaches, advisors andmentors who have supported andencouraged them along the way.You have helped these studentsgrow into the Outstanding YoungCitizens they are.

I must also take this opportunityto extend our sincerest thanks toour generous sponsor — Universityof Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Wetruly value your partnership; pleaseknow how much your support isappreciated.

Finally, thanks must also be ex-tended to you, the reader. Withoutyou, none of this would be possible.

I ask that if you know any of thestudents highlighted in this sectionthat you please take a moment tocongratulate them for setting such anoutstanding example.

I would like to personally con-gratulate the 2017 Trib Total MediaOutstanding Young Citizen nomi-nees and awardees.

I have the utmost confidence thatyou will go on to do amazing things.

Jennifer BertettoPresident & C.E.O.

Trib Total Media

Meet the JudgesPatricia Brady has spent mostof her professional career at PennState New Kensington, hav-ing worked at the campus sinceDecember 1979. She has beenresponsible for a variety of academicand administrative roles, includingadmissions counselor, academicadvisor and marketing director. Shewas an adjunct faculty member atPenn State New Kensington andWestmoreland County CommunityCollege where she taught Englishcomposition, speech and literaturecourses. Since 2000, Ms. Bradyhas been the director of enrollmentmanagement at Penn State NewKensington; she oversees all aspectsof recruitment, enrollment andfinancial aid. She is a graduate ofClarion University, where she earneda bachelor of science degree in com-munications/education and an M.A.in English. She is involved in severalcommunity organizations and is amember of National Association forCollege Admission Counseling. Sheand her husband, Neill Brady, residein Leechburg. They are parents ofthree grown daughters and havethree grandchildren.

Heather Kabala serves as thedirector of admissions and chair ofthe enrollment management teamat the University of Pittsburgh atGreensburg.Heather beganher admissionscareer as anadmissionscounselor atLa RocheCollege andwas promotedto assistantdirector ofadmissions after 21⁄2 years. In 2002,Heather joined the Pitt family asthe assistant director of admissionsand in 2007 was appointed to hercurrent position. She has workedin college admissions for nearly 20years and serves on several commit-tees within the university. Heatheralso serves as secretary to the LaRoche College Alumni Associationand is a member of the steeringcommittee for the Consortium forPublic Education, where she worksto advance college and career readi-ness of students across WesternPennsylvania.

Molly RobbShimko servesas associatevice presidentfor institutionaladvancement andchief communi-cations officer at

Seton Hill University. In her role, sheworks to foster a greater under-standing and appreciation of SetonHill, its history, mission, programsand people, in order to securestrong financial support for annualoperations, capital and endowmentgrowth. In addition, she managesmedia relations and serves as theuniversity’s chief communicationsofficer. Prior to her position at SetonHill, Molly worked as director ofmajor gifts at Chatham Universityin Pittsburgh and director of theannual fund at Saint Vincent Collegein Latrobe. She earned a bachelorof arts degree from Saint Vincentand received the college’s Alumnaof Distinction Award. Molly earnedan MBA from Seton Hill University.She is involved with several commu-nity organizations and is a recipi-ent of the Westmoreland CountyWinners’ Circle Community ServiceAward. Molly is a past president ofthe Saint Vincent Alumni Counciland remains engaged in committeework. She is a member of severalprofessional organizations, includ-ing the Council for the Advance-ment and Support of Education,the Partnership for PhilanthropicPlanning, the Association of FundRaising Professionals, the Collegeand University Public Relations As-sociation of Pennsylvania and thePublic Relations Society of America.She and her husband, Ken Shimko,reside in Latrobe and are membersof Saint Vincent Basilica Parish.

As director of development andcommunications, Karen StrubleMyers oversees multi-year, multi-faceted fundraising and communi-cations plans designed to promoteand supportthe missionand programsof the FredRogers Centerat Saint VincentCollege. She isresponsible forannual giving,major gifts,grant writing,special events, brand strategy,external relations, publications ande-communications. A graduate ofPenn State University, she holds aB.A. in advertising-public relations,and minors in speech communica-tion and business. Karen receivedan M.S. in professional leadership,training and development fromCarlow University. She is a CertifiedFundraising Executive (CFRE), serv-ing as a frequent lecturer on annualfund strategies, and has more than15 years of experience in nonprofitdevelopment and marketing roles.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017 · 3

Congratulations to all of our Outstanding Young Citizen nominees!Aquinas AcademyReagan Roblaski

BaldwinHigh SchoolAbigail BarrLaura BasciottaBrittney ChalmersSara ChesterLauren ColosimoHurley ColtonMegan CostantinoSteven FisherEmily FoleyEmily GasiorowskiBrenna GreenColton HurleyAbigail PuttMadison SgattoniNatalie SommerAlina StahlMichael StarzynskiAmberlyn SucevichSam BarbanoScott BormanBrenna GreenRebecca CaseCharliAnn HooperTaylor DadigJamie DiLeonardoTaylor DonahueAriana DooperKathleen DoyleSean DoyleCorrine DutkiewiczLaun Thar EhSarah FaderJordan FediaczkoErin FerrariSteven FisherMatthew FlaigMegan FlavinEmily FoleyEmily GasiorowskiMadison GitzenZainab GoawalaMichael GogaSara GrebKelsey HeenanMargaret HinesArlen HooksJordan HoydickSara IsaacsEmilee JacksonLogan JonesSamantha JurczykMichael KahwashHanna KalwarskiKushal KharelStephen KistySean KosslowJacob Lombardi

Mia LucarelliRaymond Luffy IIIBethany MadisonAnthony MendezJack MezeivtchRobert MillerJessica MurrayBindhya NeupaneyMorgan OttDante ParenteSarah PavlickDamian PfaffClaire PlunkettNick RegelIsabella RossaLuke ScherzLucas SmithEmilee SpozarskiAllison StinelliMaya StokesAlexandria ThorntonBal TimsinaShishir TimsinaKaylee WahlDavid WilhelmDavid WinschelAmanda WoodNatasha YesoEmelia ZandierZachary Zovko

Belle Vernon AreaHigh SchoolKali Griffith

Bethel ParkHigh SchoolBenjamin CarlsonEmily Cowser

BurrellHigh SchoolAlly KlemsCaitlin LenderJulia McAllisterPamela McAllisterSeth Tatrn

CAPA High SchoolRyan Andrews

Carlynton Junior/Senior High SchoolSage FiguraStorm FiguraMolly KozyRebecca Turske

Central CatholicHigh SchoolBenjamin DeSabatoJohn Helms

Napat KulruchakornMichael PerniceDaniel PistellaJohn RiellyDavid SchabdachJoseph Shulik

Central WestmorelandCareer & TechnologyCenterMazie BradleyRoman CarnesEmmett DionisiJessica DopkowskiEmily EidemillerChelsey GasparovicTerri GhristZachary HenselJulian HixsonZachery JohnsonStone LaufferKaitlyn McFaddenChrissie RodericksJay SlavinMolly SmithKayla SwankTanielle Traud

Chartiers ValleyHigh SchoolClaire ElkoNicholas GilmoreMichael GuidoMorgan HendersonKevin LauHannah LindhLauren LohmanDan McGeoughWilliam PhiferEmily SchneiderEmma TrombettaClaire Wilps

Cheswick ChristianAcademySophia Kirilloff

Michael SkledarThomas Slancauskas

Deer Lakes High SchoolJames CampbellDavid FlemingAlexis Kaszubowski

Derry Area SeniorHigh SchoolAllison BrownleeBrian HarrHannah HildebrandSarah JonesMatthew MarronKara McDonaldKamryn PowellChelsea SysterOwen Whitacre

Eden ChristianAcademyMadelyn AikenChristopher AzurNoah BishopCharis CelichAustin CookGretchen EckertMatthew KnauerColin McLaughlinKayla OstaffeClaire WiestKatie WilkinDavid Williams

Elizabeth ForwardHigh SchoolMadison AmblerSara BankovichMatthew BenedekJulianna JonesColin Pastor

Fox Chapel AreaHigh SchoolLindsay Cupps

Allison GouldElizabeth HeidenreichWilliam MarshOlivia PistellaEmma Rice

Franklin RegionalHigh SchoolShannen ClohertyKayo Tsuchihashi

Freeport SeniorHigh SchoolChase KoedelThomas PascucciHannah Sweeny

GatewayHigh SchoolAlan Kwong

Greater LatrobeSenior High SchoolKara BethkeJacob EtlingJacob GreeneJoseph HaffnerYizhe LiuJuliana MillsIsaac PooleNicolas RauseAnthony Vanden BerkJarred Vasinko

Greensburg SalemHigh SchoolRyan ColletteLauren GoodnightGrace LeonardThomas McChesneyEmily ParkerKatie Wotus

HamptonHigh SchoolAlyssa FortesJackie GoodDaniel GrobJessica MoserEmily ReadyMichaela RuffnerMorgan SeiffReilly SmithEthan Wagner

Hempfield AreaHigh SchoolTaylor BagiatisEdward DiorioAndrew FoxAnnie Iezzi

Highlands High SchoolMegan ArtmanAlexis BengelMitchell DeZortHaduch GabrielleEricka HaydenMarissa HaydenRoya HerrleMadeline HilliardNick HilliardAshlyn JonczakKyla KelleyAntonio LopreiatoDominic MartinkaHannah McGinnisDevin MyersKatherine Wotus

Jeannette SeniorHigh SchoolBailey AccettullaBrendt BilleckMadalyn HarbaughAustin HarshellKara JohnstonHeath RoweLouis ScarlettBlaze TranSamantha Welshons

Keystone OaksHigh SchoolCharles Boone

Kiski Area High SchoolCourtney AndreeAubry ChickerellaCorrine CraigJamilyn DykesTaylor FairmanAbra GoldMia HartmanPaige HorwattMichael KardosHolly LinderSophie McDermottMax MercurioLeta MeyerCameron MikaRebecca MindaNdunge MulwaAdam PoleskiGeorgia SchaferKylie SchaferAlexis ShafferOlivia ShirleyJesse SimendingerThomas StarrJoseph TonechaJeffrey WilkinsonKylie Zaffina

NOMINEES · 15


Maya Bhatnagar

School, grade:Hempfield AreaHigh School, 11Parent: MistyBhatnagarAcademicachievements:Top 5 percent ofclass, out of 460students; Spanish Honor Society;Tri-M Music Honor Society; NationalSociety of High School Scholars;Perfect Attendance.Extracurricular activities: StageRight! Performing Arts Classes;Future Business Leaders of America;Student Council; Junior Class Officer;Hempfield Choir; Hempfield AreaMusical Theatre Company.Community involvement: An-nual Food Drive for Birthday forWestmoreland County Food Bank; As-sistant Pre-School Acting Instructorat Stage Right!; Performer in StageRight!.Goals: I hope to attain the highesteducation degree possible to reachmy future goals. I dream of travelingabroad to explore and learn aboutother cultures and then share thisinformation with others. Openingthe minds of children and adults tobecome united with their world is mylifelong goal.

Colin Aikins

School, grade:Central CatholicHigh School, 11Parent: MariaAikinsAcademicachievements:High Honor Roll;Vocal MusicAward; President’s Education Awardfor Outstanding Academic Excellence;Pennsylvania Junior Academy ofScience awards; Pittsburgh RegionalScience and Engineering Fair award;President’s Environmental YouthAward; National Young Arts Winnerfor Classical Voice; Pittsburgh ConcertSociety Winner; Classical SingerNational Semifinalist and winner ofa scholarship to Eastman School ofMusic and DePauw University.Extracurricular activities: CrewTeam; Swim Team; Masque Club;Classical Music Club.Community involvement: MountSaint Peter Church volunteer; NursingHome volunteer; Local and Commu-nity Organization Volunteer.Goals: I hope to pursue a career inmusic with a focus on Opera studies. Ihave been fortunate to have been of-fered early acceptance into the CurtisInstitute of Music in Philadelphia andthe Juilliard School in New York City.

Ariana Bisel

School, grade:Greensburg SalemHigh School, 12Parents: ElenaCastrellon andCharles BiselAcademicachievements:WestmorelandInterscholastic Reading Competition;Mock Trial, three-year participant;Sixth-level French student; Honors In-ternational Studies; Accelerated Biolo-gy; Accelerated AA/Statistics; HonorsAmerican History; Honors Chemistry;Honors Law and Economics.Extracurricular activities: Cheer-leading; Volleyball; Track & Field;French Club; Student Council Associa-tion; Red Cross Club.Community involvement: Rec-reational Lion’s CheerleadingCoach, volunteer; Excela HealthWestmoreland Hospital volunteer;Metzgar Elementary school tutor; BigBrothers, Big Sisters volunteer; Unit-ed Way’s Shop For A Cause volunteer;Relay For Life volunteer; CommunityDays volunteer; YMCA’S Before andAfter School Program volunteer;Greensburg YMCA lifeguard.Goals: I will be attending DuquesneUniversity in the fall. I hope to some-day become a lawyer.

Saraswati Alagar

School, grade:Pittsburgh Mil-liones (UniveristyPrep), 12Parents: MaryBeth and RaviAlagarAcademicachievements:National Merit Semifinalist; Coca-ColaScholars Foundation Semifinalist; Na-tional AP Scholar Award; AP ScholarWith Distinction; Science Club; Ge-ography Club; Writing Club, NationalGold Key Award; National AmericanVoices Medal.Extracurricular activities: Ten-nis; Swimming; Chamber Orchestra;Violin; Royal Conservatory Program;Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orches-tra; Piano; Latin Club.Community involvement: Volunteeryouth tennis coach; Carnegie Libraryof Pittsburgh volunteer; University ofPittsburgh Biology Outreach.Goals: Being an older sister to qua-druplets who were born prematurehas had a profound impact on mydesire to pursue a career in medicine.I hope to become a pediatric ophthal-mologist and aid children, who neverdeserve to be ridiculed for a lazy eyeor to forego life’s satisfaction andhappiness due to blindness.

Stephanie Bonifield

School, grade:Carlynton Ju-nior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Greg andLisa BonifieldAcademicachievements:Distinguished/HighHonor student; Best SCRATCH Videogame Award; Received an A averagein an accelerated month-long inten-sive course of Pre-Calculus at CCAC.Extracurricular activities: SpaceCamp Hall of Fame Scholarship forOutstanding Leadership; Full schol-arship to attend Advanced SpaceAcademy at the U.S. Space Camp inHuntsville, Ala.; Full scholarship to at-tend Elite Space Academy; CarlyntonJr./Sr. High School Robotics Club.Community involvement: ScottTownship Public Library volunteer;Christ United Methodist Church Youthservice projects; Volunteer dog han-dler and summer camp counselor atAnimal Friends animal shelter.Goals: I plan to earn a doctoratedegree in mechanical engineering aswell as bachelor’s degrees in physicsand/or biology. During college, I hopeto intern at NASA, SpaceX, or TeslaMotors then go on to become anastronaut someday.

Eric Ashby

School, grade:Central CatholicHigh School, 12Parents: Martyand Carol AshbyAcademicachievements:Highest Honors;Baginski Scholars;Award for Excellence in Jazz Band;Certificate of Excellence for Outstand-ing Achievement in Spanish III.Extracurricular activities: CentralCatholic Honors Jazz Combo; NationalHonor Society; Baseball; CarnegieMellon University Jazz Band, the onlyhigh school student in the band; Cen-tral Catholic Masque; Central CatholicJazz Band; Pittsburgh Jazz YouthOrchestra.Community involvement: Appa-lachia Mission Trip; Big Brother Pro-gram; National Honor Society Tutor;School of Swing; Power Packing; StepForward for Parkinson’s Walk; Playinggigs with professional musicians;Volunteer at the Greater PittsburghFood Bank Warehouse.Goals: My plans are to continue topursue my passion for music. I planto go to school majoring in musicbusiness so I can learn how to bringa musical component to communitiesto promote unity.

Carson Blodgett

School, grade:Allderdice HighSchool, 12Parent: AmyScharpfAcademicachievements:Academic HighHonor Roll; CivicsService Summit; AP Honors withDistinction; Scholarship from theMarquis Group for Academic Excel-lence; Dartmouth Book Award forAcademic curiosity inside and outsideof the classroom.Extracurricular activities: ScienceOlympiad; Tennis; Teacher Assistantin an Honors Spanish 3 Class; SwimTeam, captain; Class President,Treasurer.Community involvement: Tutoredfellow students in calculus, statis-tics, Spanish, history, chemistry andphysics; Secretary of National HonorSociety; Fellow for the DemocraticParty; Paid High School ResearchIntern; Youth Ambassador to SouthAmerica; Make a Difference Day.Goals: I want to help people. I likehelping people. These statementsmean nothing without action. Iwant to do something with mylife that will truly help and changepeople’s lives.

Emily Anderson

School, grade:Hampton HighSchool, 12Parents: Lindaand LawrenceAndersonAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety.Extracurricular activities: ExchangeTrip to Germany with German classstudents; Softball; Model UN, ModelAU, Model EU, Team received bestoverall country (in Model UN, 10thgrade) and 2nd place resolution (inModel EU, 11th grade); MarchingBand; Girl Scouts; German Club; LendOur Hands; English Festival.Community involvement: Co-founded food drive called Trick orTreat So Others Can Eat involvinghigh school and community to collectfood for a local food pantry; Volunteerat HEARTH, a home for domesticallyabused women and their children;Volunteer as a tutor at AnchorpointCounseling Ministry; Gone on threemission trips with Northmont UnitedPresbyterian Church; Deacon; churchyouth group.Goals: I plan to attend college nextyear to study either internationalstudies or related social sciences.

Claire Blaha

School, grade:Shaler Area HighSchool, 12Parent: Ann BlahaAcademicachievements:GATE; AlleghenyIntermediate UnitApprenticeshipProgram; Outstanding AcademicAchievement; First-place winner,essay contest — “The True Mean-ing of Memorial Day”; Winner, essaycontest — “Holocaust v. holocaust”;Certificates of Excellence — English,Geometry, French, Art.Extracurricular activities: Swim-ming; National Honor Society; FrenchHonor Society; National Art HonorSociety; Shaler Key Club; ShalerSeadogs summer swimming program.Community involvement: ShalerNorth Hills Library volunteer; Part-time summer lifeguard; Freshmenorientation guide; Lung Force Walkevent volunteer; Rogers ElementarySchool Fall Festival volunteer.Goals: I am going to most likely be ajournalism or communications major.I have always wanted to write, but Ialso took an interest in fashion overthe years, so I am hoping I can bringthose two things together and workfor a magazine such as Vogue.

Matthew Alese

School, grade:Springdale Junior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Mark andDiana AleseAcademicachievements:National MeritSemifinalist; AP Scholar; NationalLatin Exam, Gold Meal and SummaCum Laude Award; Lions Club Stu-dent of the Month; AIU EngineeringApprenticeship Program Certificate;Westinghouse Science HonorsInstitute Lecture Series Certificate;Latin III Outstanding Student Award.Extracurricular activities: AcademicGames League of America; NationalHonor Society; Golf; Mock Trial; Key-stone Boys State Senator.Community involvement: VolunteerFirefighter; Altar Server/CCD Aide/Greeter/Maintenance Man at SaintAlphonsus Church; Camp counselorfor the Fun and Freedom Day Camp.Goals: I intend to pursue both adegree in chemical engineering anda career as either a Naval Officer oran Air Force Officer. Whether I ap-proach these career fields throughan academy or an ROTC unit, I amcertain that I will be doing somethingmeaningful with my life.


Dylan Cleland

School, grade:Penn-Trafford HighSchool, 12Parents: Kelly andMichael ClelandAcademicachievements:High Honor Roll;National Honor So-ciety; Digital Media Arts Consortium/Robert Morris University, Award ofExcellence; Digital Media Arts; NobleWarrior Award.Extracurricular activities: Com-munity Action Program; Chairpersonof Food Drive; Toys for Tots; PennTrafford Video Class and Club; LiveMorning Announcements; MarchingBand; Mock Election Day Coverage;Student Newspaper.Community involvement: AltarServer; Public Address Announcing;Penn Township Field Maintenance;St. Regis Parish Festival; Assistantmanager at Parkside Creamery.Goals: I plan to major in communica-tions with a focus in sports broad-casting or broadcast journalism. I amalso open to studying sports informa-tion. My goal is to graduate from afour-year college and pursue a careerin journalism. Journalism and report-ing has been a passion of mine sincea young age.

Carl Carlson IV

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parents: Carl andCheryl CarlsonAcademicachievements:Highest Honors;Highlander PrideAward; Science Olympiad; Two SilverKey awards from the Alliance forYoung Artists and Writers.Extracurricular activities: ScienceClub/Pre-Med Club; Student Coun-cil; National Honor Society; BWSDSchool Board Student Representa-tive; Westinghouse Science HonorsInstitute; Math League; SWPAScience Bowl; Special Olympics Club;BHS Bridge Builder Mentoring Pro-gram; Junior Achievement CompanyProgram; Bowling; Photography.Community involvement: SpecialOlympics Summer Games volunteer;New Student Orientations; AlumniTours; Tutoring; Teacher’s Helper;DARE Program; KDKA TurkeyFund; Pi(e) Day for Make A WishFoundation.Goals: I plan to major in neuroscienceand pre-medicine. I am enthralledwith the sciences and want to pursuea career that will make my passion areality.

Abbey Collins

School, grade:Chartiers ValleyHigh School, 12Parents: Deborahand Jeffery CollinsAcademicachievements:KDKA Extra EffortAward; AcademicExcellence Award; High HonorRoll; Homecoming Court Nominee;Pittsburgh Positive Athlete AwardNominee.Extracurricular activities: Basket-ball; Track and Field; DECA; InteractClub; Students Against DestructiveDecisions; National Honor Society;Homecoming Carnival Booth Volun-teer; Math Honor Society.Community involvement: Memberof Saint Barbara Parish; Basket-ball Camp Leader; Volunteer at theBridgeville Public Library; Volunteertutor; Philly Pretzel Factory employee.Goals: I plan on double-majoring inmarketing and finance. I also aspireto play basketball at the collegiatelevel where I hope to build on life’svital skills of communication, timemanagement and leadership qualities.My final goal for college is to maintaina 3.8 GPA or better while playingbasketball and continuing to volunteerin the community.

Sofia Carrasco

School, grade:CarlyntonJunior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parent: VickiCarrascoAcademicachievements:KDKA Extra Ef-fort Scholar Athlete Award; NationalHonor Society, president; NationalJunior Honor Society; High HonorRoll; Excellence In Discussion Award.Extracurricular activities: Varsitysoccer; Cross Country; Track; SchoolMusical, lead roles; Freaking Amazingand Hidden Talent award; Homecom-ing Queen; Girls EnsembleCommunity involvement: HondurasMission Trip; Community CleanupDay; Toys for Tots; CommunityGarden for NHS; Wrapped in Love;Salvation Army Wrapping ChristmasPresents; Breakfast with Santa; Grade8 Soccer Referee.Goals: I aspire to pursue a degree inInternational Relations and then workfor a nonprofit organization, such asUNICEF, in the mission’s department,utilizing my educational and languageskills to aid me in helping othersaround the world. I hope to acquire adegree in international or corporatelaw once I have a steady employment.

Claire Crytzer

School, grade:Freeport SeniorHigh School, 11Parents: Matt andJodi CrytzerAcademicachievements:Freeport JuniorHigh SchoolDom Canterna Student of the Year;Distinguished Honor Roll; AP WorldHistory; Honors English, Algebra II,Geometry, Trigonometry/PreCalc, Ad-vanced Biology; Presidential AcademicAward; Student of the Year, socialstudies and computer science; Collegein HS Public Speaking and French III.Extracurricular activities: Vol-leyball; Softball; Freshman ClassSecretary; Junior Class Secretary;Executive Student Council Member;Student School Board Representative;Prom Committee; Teacher’s Assistant.Community involvement: Blessingsin a Backpack Charity; Freeport UnitedMethodist Church Youth Group; Men-tor to Life Skills Students; Key Club;Fed the homeless; Church Lay Reader;Church Nursery Attendant.Goals: I plan on majoring in politicalscience, public policy or law. I alsohope to continue my athletic careerat the next level while receiving asuperior education.

Megan Christner

School, grade:Belle Vernon AreaHigh School, 12Parents: John andTracy ChristnerAcademicachievements:Highest Honors;Advanced Place-ment/College in High School Classes.Extracurricular activities: NationalHonor Society; Medical Interest Club/Students Against Destructive Deci-sions; Spanish National Honor Soci-ety; History National Honor Society;Interact Club; Softball.Community involvement: RonaldMcDonald House; Toys for Tots; Relayfor Life; Salvation Army; Food Bank;BVA Camp for Kids; Samaritan’sPurse; March for Parks; Dairy Queenemployee.Goals: I plan to attend MercyhurstUniversity. I will major in sports medi-cine, with a pre-physician assistantconcentration. I will be continuing mysoftball career in college, as well. Oncemy bachelor’s degree in sports medi-cine is acquired, I will work toward aphysician assistant degree. I am look-ing forward to my bright future, andaccomplishing all the goals I set forth.In the future, I would love to work at achildren’s hospital.

Zachary Coughlin

School, grade:Shady SideAcademy, 12Parent: PatriciaCoughlinAcademicachievements:Raphael M. SotakHonors; WPIALQualifier; PIAA State ChampionshipQualifier; Tribune-Review SpotlightAthlete; Voted Most Dedicated andMost Valuable Swimmer by team-mates and coaches.Extracurricular actvities: FoxChapel Farmers Market; Swim Team;Swim Club; Talent Management andPublicity Coordinator, Electric PublicRelations; Communications Intern,Shady Side Academy; Digital Editor,School Newspaper; Freelance Photog-rapher; Prom Committee.Community involvement: Owner,Zac’s Sweet Shop; Diversity Leader-ship Council; Usher, Hillman Centerfor Performing Arts.Goals: My ambitions are to work inthe marketing side of business, spe-cifically in the entertainment industry.I also plan to continue my sweet shop.I plan to attend a four-year universitymajoring in business/marketing. I alsoplan to attend graduate school forbusiness.

Justin Chovanec

School, grade:Mt Pleasant AreaJunior/Senior HighSchool, 11Parents: Antoi-nette and MichaelChovanecAcademicachievements:Johns Hopkins University Center forTalented Youth; Westinghouse Sci-ence Honors Institute; PennsylvaniaJunior Academy of Science; HonorRoll.Extracurricular activities: GammaOmega (Gifted Program); Quiz Teams;Swimming; Tennis; Marching Band;Librarian; Viking Arts AchievementAward; Outstanding Musician Award;District Band; County Band; FayWestHonors Band; Students AgainstDestructive Decisions; Council onSubstance Abuse in Youth; StudentThat Sparkles Nominee; TechnicalCrew; Student Theater.Community involvement: Ameri-can Red Cross Youth Group; Mealson Wheels; Blood Donor; Diocese ofGreensburg; St. Pius and VisitationParishes; Lion’s Club Food BoothVolunteer; Meals on the Boulevard;Salvation Army Bell Ringer.Goals: Go to an Ivy League school.Major in physics.

Christopher Collins

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parent: KimberlyCollinsAcademicachievements:Highest HonorsAward; ChainReaction Contraption — Most GreenAward; Junior Mock Trial Winner.Extracurricular activites: BoyScout; Swim Team; Golf Team; Vol-leyball Team; Photography Club;DaVincian Society; National HonorSociety; Math League; Spanish Club;Bridge Builders; Sports Leadership;Junior Achievement; Gifted; GBWAABaseball.Community involvement: Troop323 Boy Scout Troop; Employed atCool Springs — Ches Anthony Cafe;Employed at JCC of South Hills —Lifeguard.Goals: I plan to attend Duquesne Uni-versity and obtain a master’s degreein accounting in five years and thenproceed to become a certified fraudinvestigator and a certified forensicaccountant. After schooling, I plan toland a job with the FBI as a forensicaccountant. At Duquesne, I hopeto continue my golf career with theDuquesne Golf Club.

Chelsea Carver

School, grade:Pine-Richland HighSchool, 11Parents: Tom andElaine CarverAcademicachievements:Highest HonorRoll; PittsburghRegional Science and Engineering Fairawards; American Museum of NaturalHistory Young Naturalist Award,national semifinalist; Scholastic Writ-ing Awards; Department Awards —Science, Math, Language.Extracurricular activities: ForensicsClub; National Honor Society; GlobalStudies Club; TEDx Youth KeynoteSpeaker; PJAS; Western PennsylvaniaSTEMM Academy; C-Mites; Piano;Tennis, participated in Challenge Cup;Mercer Invitational Oratory Award.Community involvement: 3 RiversQuest; North Park Educational Gar-dens at Marshall Lake; Forest BathingProject; Asian Jumping Worm; North-ern Area Environmental Council; FieldGuides; Girl Scout Gold Award forplanting five educational gardens.Goals: I plan to go to college andthen dental school to pursue a careerin orthodontics. I enjoy working withchildren, and I want to help them feelbetter about themselves.


Alicia Fenton

School, grade:Mars HighSchool, 11Parents: Kathleenand ChristopherFentonAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; Society of Women EngineersCertificate of Merit; third-place win-ner, The Alliance for Safe and DrugFree Children Essay Contest; Presi-dents Education Awards ProgramWinner; Youngstown State UniversityEnglish Festival, second-place; High-est Honors.Extracurricular activities: Musi-cal; Show Choir; Chamber ChorusEnsemble; PMEA District 5 Chorus;Duquesne University Cadaver Lab;Spanish Club; Book Club; Golf; JeterBackyard Theater; Gymnastics.Community involvement: MarsArea Public Library Volunteer; Me-morial Park Church Summer SurgeProgram Counselor; mission trips.Goals: My plans are to attend col-lege and attain a bachelor’s degreein biology and a doctorate in physi-cal therapy. My goal is to completethat in six to seven years and find ajob where I can share my passion inservice to others.

Mary Cumpston

School, grade:Oakland CatholicHigh School, 12Parents: Teresaand KeithCumpstonAcademicachievements:Joan of Arc Societyof Scholars; National Honor Society;Highest Honor Roll; Le Grand Con-cours Certificat d’Honneur.Extracurricular activities: ModelUnited Nations; CMU Pre-College;Podcast Team; Data Jam Team; Pitts-burgh Cares Youth Advisory Council;Color Guard; ABC Week at CMU; FieldHockey; Track and field.Community involvement: GreaterPittsburgh Area Community FoodBank; Jubilee Soup Kitchen; Hazel-wood Greenway Invasive SpeciesClean-up; St. Bernadette Parish.Goals: Though I still have yet todecide where I want to continuemy education, I am consideringengineering and public policy aspossible fields of study. Studyingengineering, I can gain the problem-solving skills to design practicaldevices that can improve the lives ofothers. A background in public policywill help me better understand theneeds of others.

William Ford

School, grade:CarlyntonJunior/SeniorHigh School, 12Parent: Isabel FordAcademicachievements:No. 1 in class;National Honor So-ciety; Advanced Placement Courses;Taking Calculus BC online; JohnsHopkins Center for Talented Youth;High School Gifted Program.Extracurricular activities: Soc-cer, captain, all-section, all-WPIAL;Student Council Treasurer; SHASDArepresentative; President, CarlyntonSki Club; Football; Fluid Power; Firstplace, Rube Goldberg Challenge atCarnegie Science Center; Homecom-ing Court.Community involvement: Mentorto fifth- and sixth-grade students;Ingram Food Pantry Volunteer; Na-tional Honor Society; Helping ElderlyNeighbor; Custodian at CarlyntonHigh School; Lifeguard at RosslynFarms Pool.Goals: Next year I will be majoring inMechanical Engineering at a four-yearcollege. I would like to use my degreeto become an entrepreneur and tohelp others.

Gabriella DiPietro

School, grade:RiverviewJunior/SeniorHigh School, 12Parent: KelliDiPietroAcademicachievements:The ChallengeAward for Academic Excellence; Na-tional Honor Society; High Honor Roll;Social Studies Student of the Month.Extracurricular activities: SeniorClass President; RVTV; Musical —Student Producer, Dance Captain,Cast, Student Social NetworkingLiaison, Student Costume Mistress;Marching/Concert Band; Soccer; JazzBand; Dance Club; French Club; Stu-dent Council; Prom Committee; GraceNotes; Health and Wellness Commit-tee; History Club; Basketball.Community involvement: SundaySchool Teacher’s Aide; AssistantDance Instructor for elementaryschool; Music and Sound Technicianfor elementary and high school danceprograms; St. Irenaeus Youth Choir;St. Irenaeus Youth Group.Goals: I plan to attend Duquesne Uni-versity in the fall. My intended majoris multi-platform journalism, and mygoal is to become a successful newsreporter, preferably in a local setting.

Luke Giannetta

School, grade:Central CatholicHigh School, 12Parents: Anthonyand Lisa GiannettaAcademicachievements: DeLa Salle Scholar-ship; NationalHonors Society; Baginski Scholar;PSAT/NMSQT Commended Student;AP Biology Award; High Honor Roll;Carson Scholarship.Extracurricular activities: CrossCountry; Track and Field; PennsylvaniaJunior Academy of Science; Masque;Environmental Club; Piano Lessons.Community involvement: MissionTrips; LaSallian Ministry ExecutiveBoard; Church Head Volunteer; YouthGroup and Youth Choir; Cross Countryand Track Service Projects.Goals: I plan to attend a researchuniversity where I will pursue mypassion for the life sciences. My highschool career has allowed me to delveinto biology and chemistry, and Ihope to build upon this love with acareer in the medical field. I plan totake courses that will prepare me formedical school, where I can gain theknowledge necessary for an effica-cious career that I hope to devote toboth research and patient care.

Benjamin Edwards

School, grade:Burrell HighSchool, 12Parents: Andy andLisa EdwardsAcademicachievements:Burrell AcademicAwards Ceremonyawards; National Honor Society.Extracurricular activities: Studentsfor Christ; Relay for Life Club; EdibleGarden Club; Literary Society Club;Student Government; EnvironmentalClub; Interact Club; Spanish Club; Stu-dent Advisory; Soccer; Cross Country;Bowling; Track and Field; Tennis.Community involvement: Volunteerand teacher at Vacation Bible School;Lower Burrell Meals on Wheels;Grace Community PresbyterianChurch Youth Group; Pittsburgh Proj-ect; Volunteer at United PresbyterianChurch food bank; Turkey Trot.Goals: I will be attending WaynesburgUniversity to obtain a degree in earlychildhood education, with a special-education certification. I would liketo have a positive impact on eachstudent and encourage each to dohis or her very best. I would like toeventually have a career as a guidancecounselor to have a more personalimpact on each student.

Deepa Gangadhar

School, grade:Moon Area SeniorHigh School, 12Parent: SumanaGangadharAcademicachievements:Scholar AthleteAward; NationalHonor Society; High honors.Extracurricular activities: Key Club;Speech and Debate Club; Americancultures club; Stage Crew; March-ing Band; Concert Band; Flute Choir;Gifted Program; Cross Country; GirlScouts; Volunteer at Children’s Hos-pital of Pittsburgh of UPMC; Pianolessons; Pittsburgh Piano TeachersAssociation Evaluations for Pianoperformance and theory; LingayathAssociation; Salvation Army; EtsyCommunity Craft Party; Volunteer atOhio Valley Hospital.Community involvement: Coraopo-lis Food Bank Volunteer; Moon ParkSummer Camp Councilor; SweetwaterVolunteer Program; Tutoring; NursingHome Volunteer.Goals: After involving myself indifferent programs and letting mycuriosity wander, I realized that inorder to find your passion, you mustlook within yourself and find out whatyou truly love to do.

Mark Downey

School, grade:Norwin HighSchool, 12Parents: Rose-Ann and MichaelDowneyAcademicachievements:AP Scholar withDistinction; Excellent Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: InteractClub; Future Business Leaders ofAmerica; Student Council; Represen-tative to the School Board; Sopho-more Class Officer; Student News-paper; Distributive Education Clubof America; National Honor Society;French Club; Math Team; Assistantcoach for football, freshman baseball.Community involvement: AltarServer; Substitute Usher at Church;Raised more than $25,000 forChildren’s Hospital Hearing Center;Donated bedside fire alarms to Hear-ing Impaired; Keynote speaker at acharity night; Speaker at an elemen-tary school assembly.Goals: Attend College at SlipperyRock University, majoring in math-ematics and minoring in actuarialscience. Find a job in the PittsburghArea. Become a Fellow in the Societyof Actuaries. Get married and have afamily of my own.

Grace Fowler

School, grade:Kiski Area HighSchool, 11Parent: JodiFowlerAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; HighHonor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Key Club;Student Council; Future BusinessLeaders of America; Chorus/ ShowChoir/Jazz Choir; Bible Club; Musical;Yearbook Staff; Cavalier Closet.Community involvement: ChurchLeadership Team; Church WorshipTeam; Rapha House Fundraiser;Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund.Goals: I plan to attend college andmajor in sociology with minors insocial work as well as business. I planto go to graduate school and earn amaster of social work degree. Thecareer that I have in mind is a socialworker in a children’s hospital, andwith my business minor, I plan tostart my own nonprofit organizationfor either cancer patients or peoplefacing social injustice and poverty. Butother than my career, I hope to bettermyself and work harder to achieve myown goal of finding a way to make adifference, however that may be.

Chloe Ditka

School, grade:VincentianAcademy, 11Parent: LauraDitkaAcademicachievements:High Honor Roll;InternationalBaccalaureate program; A+ Award inHonors Biology, Chemistry, Algebra2, Geometry, English, World History,U.S. History, Introductory Psychol-ogy, Spanish and Religion; Degreeof Honor from National ForensicsLeague; Westinghouse Science Hon-ors Institute; National Society of HighSchool Scholars; Nominated for ChainReaction Contraption Contest.Extracurricular activities: Volley-ball; Track; Mock Trial; Piano; Musical;Forensics; Model UN; Basketball.Community involvement: Volunteeras a Royal Ambassador to give toursand to promote Vincentian Academy;Volunteer at boys and girls basket-ball camps; Volunteer at ProvidenceHeights Alpha School; Christmascaroling at Vincentian Nursing Home.Goals: I plan to attend a four-yearcollege and medical school to becomea surgeon. I am not sure what I wouldlike to specialize in, but I think I wouldlike to work with children.


Jacob Hebda

School, grade:Elizabeth ForwardHigh School, 12Parents: Josephand Amy HebdaAcademicAchievements:High Honor Roll;Elizabeth ForwardAll-Academic Team; University ofPittsburgh Health Career ScholarsAcademy; Advanced PlacementScholars Award with Distinction;Hometown High-Q; Warrior Award.Extracurricular activities: BoyScouts of America; Cross Country;Track and Field; Student GovernmentAssociation; Political Science Club;Academic League; Mock Trial Team;Technology Student Association; Aca-demic WorldQuest; Science Olympiad.Community involvement: EagleScout projects; Pass the TurkeyProject; Book Buddies; TechnologyStudent Association; The Future IsMine service organization.Goals: I plan to attend a four-yearuniversity and major in finance. Iwould like to pursue a professionalcareer in business, law or politics. Mygoals are to continue to be of serviceto others, to be an effective communi-cator and a positive contributor to mycommunity.

Abraham Gibson

School, grade:Leechburg Junior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Josephand Joanne GibsonAcademicachievements:Gifted AcceleratedProgram; Honors Student; NationalSociety for High School Scholars;Quiz Bowl; Math Team; ArmstrongCounty Sports Hall of Fame ScholarAthlete honoree.Extracurricular activities: ConcertChoir; Advanced Show Choir; District3 Band; District 3 Choir; Region 2Choir; All-State Choir; Musical The-ater, treasurer, vice president; ConcertBand Trombone, president, vicepresident; Marching Band; Baseball;Basketball; Golf; Bible Club, treasurer,vice president; BRAVE.Community involvement: Elemen-tary basketball coach; Little Leagueumpire; Youth Group; LeechburgArea Pool; Won by One to Jamaica;Monthly Distribution at LeechburgFood Bank; Dairy Queen employee.Goals: Attend Seton Hill Universityto double major in business admin-istration and music. Hope to one dayopen a local music store and write amusical theater production.

Anna Hu

School, grade:Greater LatrobeSenior HighSchool, 12Parent: Bo HuAcademicachievements:DistinguishedHonor Roll; Na-tional Honor Society; Coca Cola Schol-arship Semifinalist; Rotary Award; APScholar with Distinction; Pa. Gover-nor’s School for the Sciences.Extracurricular activities: Pitts-burgh Japanese School; ScienceOlympiad; Student Council.Community involvement: Vol-unteer Figure Skating Instructor;Westmoreland Hospital Patient CareTeam; Interact Club; Japanese SchoolTeacher’s Aid; Key Club.Goals: Based on my previous ex-periences, I am driven by the purelyscientific desire to thoroughly under-stand fundamental mechanisms, aswell as the desire to see a broaderimpact through practical applications.Consequently, I aspire to pursue acareer in both medical practice andresearch. Regardless of where I endup, my motivation will be to quenchmy continuous curiosity to learn andto discover.

Faith Gongaware

School, grade:Kiski Area HighSchool, 12Parents: Barbaraand CalvinGongawareAcademicachievements:National MeritScholarship Commended Student;Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaHigher Education Certificate of Merit;Class rank 1 of 313; High Honor Roll;Challenge Program, Academic Excel-lence Award; National Honor Society.Extracurricular activities: Key Club;Future Business Leaders of America;Fall Drama and Spring Musical; Golf;Mock Trial; Model UN; French Club.Community involvement: Ex-periment in International Living; BookDrive; Children’s summer campsvolunteer; National College Fair.Goals: I plan to enter a pre-law trackand earn a bachelor’s degree in politi-cal science and a law degree. I wantto volunteer for a two-year serviceassignment in the Peace Corps. Usingthe knowledge I gain in a third-worldcountry, I hope to pursue a career as aforeign ambassador representing theinterests and policies of the UnitedStates federal government while deal-ing with foreign affairs.

Shania Khatri

School, grade:Fox Chapel AreaHigh School, 11Parent: ShellyBambaAcademicachievements:University ofPittsburgh CancerInstitute Academy; Presentation atthe American Medical Informatics As-sociation’s symposium; Presentationat PittScience Undergraduate PosterSymposium; Cumulative HighestHonors award; Duke TiP SummerStudies; State qualifier in Biotechnol-ogy Design.Extracurricular activities: Compu-tational Biology Club; Technology Stu-dent Association; Tapestry; ClassicalPiano; D.E.S.I. Club; Latin Club; ModelUN and Forensics; Bollywood dance;Tennis; Golf.Community involvement: The Edu-cation Initiative, founder; Code Like AGirl; Tutoring and Teaching.Goals: I want to pursue an under-graduate degree in Computer Science,and a graduate degree in Compu-tational Biology. I hope to pursuea Ph.D. in this field as well, with astrong emphasis on modeling andstatistics.

Maya Hackman

School, grade:Derry Area SeniorHigh School, 12Parents: Kennethand MelissaHackmanAcademicachievements:Yale Book Scholar;Aademic Excellence Society; STEMAward; Valedictorian; DistinguishedHonors; Gifted Program.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil; Interact Club; SADD; RotaryClub; Olweus Anti-Bullying Initia-tive; Mock Trial Club; Poetry Outload;WIRC; Soccer; Track and Field.Community involvement: HospitalVolunteer; Food Bank Volunteer; KindCloset volunteer; Soccer Mentor; Soc-cer Coach; Santa’s Workshop; Opera-tion Santa Claus; Library Assistant;Toys for Tots; Salvation Army; Hatand Glove Drive.Goals: I have been accepted to Al-legheny College, where I plan to playsoccer and continue my educationon a pre-med track. I will continueon to medical school in preparationto become a surgeon. After comple-tion of school, testing, and trainingperiods, I will be a surgeon and will beable to help people every day whichhas always been my main goal.

Ally Kaputa

School, grade:Mt Pleasant AreaJunior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parent: LindaKaputaAcademicachievement:Student of theMonth; Excellence Honor Roll;National Honor Society; SpanishHonor Society; Women in ScienceDay Award.Extracurricular activities: Soccer,all-section and all-WPIAL; Track andField, WPIAL finalist; Student Council;SADD; Youth Education Association;Interact Club; Spanish Club; Phys-ics Club; Pollution Patrol; Spirit Club;Astronomy Club; Prom Committee;Homecoming Queen.Community involvement: MountPleasant Food Bank; Toys for Tots;Mount Pleasant Glass and EthnicsFestival; You’ve Got a Friend Day;Special Kick Clinic; Dingers for DomBenefit; YMCA Fall Festival; WCCAJunior High Wrestling Tournament;Bible School.Goals: I plan on attending Seton HillUniversity in the fall, and I will bemajoring in math. I hope to becomean actuarial scientist. Also I will beplaying soccer at Seton Hill.

Anthony Guzzo

School, grade:Valley HighSchool, 12Parents: Thomasand Amy GuzzoAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; AmericanLegion Award; Spanish National Hon-or Society; The Challenge ProgramInc. Award; New Kensington ArnoldSchool District Award for ScholasticAchievement; Lions Club Student ofthe Month Award; Rotary Award; NewKensington Rotary Scholar Award;High Honor Roll; No. 1 class rank.Extracurricular activities: Co-Editor, School Newspaper; Peer Medi-ation Council; Valley Viking Outreach;Baseball; Science Club; YearbookStaff; Basketball; Ping Pong Club.Community involvement: TheChallenge Program Inc. Award forCommunity Service; New KensingtonMayor’s Free Holiday Dinner volun-teer; New Kensington CommunityDays; Salvation Army Toy Drive; Dr.York Christmas Toy Drive; New Kens-ington Clean Up Days.Goals: My plans include attendingcollege in the fall and majoring inbusiness management/ finance. Be-yond that, I plan to attend law school.

Christiana Kandra

School, grade:Greensburg CentralCatholic HighSchool, 12Parent: CynthiaKandraAcademicachievements:Seton Hill Uni-versity Women in Science ChemistryAward; National Honor Society; Ger-man Honor Society; Highest Honors.Extracurricular activities: AcademicQuiz Team; Hometown HiQ; InteractService Club; Columbian Squire Rosesservice group; Violin lessons; Golf;Flying lessons; Student council.Community involvement: AltarServer at St. Agnes; Parish MissionCommittee; St. Vincent de Paul Soci-ety; GCC Eucharistic Minister.Goals: My major will be an adventure,for few women become mechanicalengineers. I will challenge myself andinspire women to be adventurous andmajor in male-dominated fields, andhopefully persevere enough to receivea Ph.D in mechanical engineering. Iwill then be able to do some of themost difficult tasks in the field, someof which will hopefully improve theaircraft I will be designing and makelife easier for people through my in-novations in the field.

Emilee Gruntz

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parent: TheresaGruntzAcademicachievements:Highest honors;National HonorSociety.Extracurricular activities: Lacrosse;Special Olympics Club executive com-mittee; French Club; Gifted Program;Orchestra; Student Council; PowderPuff; EQT Aspire Mentor Program;Purbalite newspaper internet editor;Math League; Red Cross Club; DanceWorkshop by Shari.Community involvement: Volunteerfor many projects and helpful activi-ties through church youth group.Goals: I would like to be a pediatricphysical therapist. There are manydifferent specialized forms of physicaltherapy. Pediatric physical therapysparked my interest from the start.The environment that a physicaltherapist works in is one I could seemyself spending the rest of my lifein. Children have become such a hugepart of my life that I could not imaginespending my career doing anythingelse. I intend to make a real transfor-mation in the lives of others.


Yelim Lee

School, grade:Fox Chapel AreaHigh School, 12Parent: HeejungJangAcademicachievements:USA National BrainBee Champion-ship Top 24; USA Biology OlympiadSemifinalist; First Place in Rocket CityMath League Comprehensive Division;USA Mathematical Talent SearchSilver Prize Winner.Extracurricular activities: FutureBusiness Leaders of America; Hand-painted henna tattoo fundraisers;Asian Cultural Club; Pittsburgh LOHIRProject; International Friends Club.Community involvement: EmmausCommunity of Pittsburgh and CasaSan Jose intern and volunteer;Grant-writing for Casa San Jose;Korean Instructor for elementary stu-dents to adults; Pittsburgh RefugeeMinistry; Elementary tutor.Goals: I plan to explore all of myinterests from neurobiology toanthropology to ethnic studies andincorporate future research into workwith migrant populations. Throughan education integrating such variousdisciplines, I hope to discover a pathwhere these interests intersect.

Marisa Manning

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parent: SusanGrantAcademicachievements:Baldwin HighSchool LeadershipAward; PASC District Conference Win-ner; National Honor Society; HighestHonor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Lacrossecaptain, MVP; Special Olympics;French Club; Red Cross Club; KeyClub; Math League; Powder PuffFootball; Student Council, president;National Honor Society; Ballet; Golf.Community involvement: JubileeSoup Kitchen; Bible School AssistantTeacher; Church Acolyte; Joe’s RideNonprofit Organization.Goals: I plan to earn my Doctor ofMedicine Degree in Neuroscience andwork specifically with pediatrics per-forming life-saving surgeries. I lookto graduate from Loyola Universityof Maryland with a medical degreeand work in Johns Hopkins Hospitalin Baltimore. I plan to go to a third-world country and embark on a mor-ally and physically challenging missionas I start my life working for DoctorsWithout Borders.

Kathleen King

School, grade:Northgate Junior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Andrewand Lori KingAcademicachievements:Salutatorian;Distinguished Honor Roll; NationalSociety of High School Scholars;National Honor Society; Tri-ScholarAthlete.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil; Peer to Peer Empowerment;SADD; French Club; Marching Band;Volleyball; Basketball; Softball; Track.Community involvement: SpecialOlympics volunteer; CommunityYouth Basketball volunteer; StudentAthletic Trainer Volunteer.Goals: My plans are to continue myeducation and study chemistry ormedicine. I am currently decidingbetween attending the University ofPittsburgh, The College of Wooster orAllegheny College to major in chemis-try or to attend Chatham University,Duquesne University or Saint FrancisUniversity to become a physician’sassistant. In 10 years I see myselfwith a Ph.D. in Chemistry researchingcancer or alongside a Physician in anOncology unit.

Molly Marciniak

School, grade:North Hills SeniorHigh School, 12Parents: Stanleyand ColleenMarciniakAcademicachievements:Highest HonorRoll; National Honor Society; NationalSociety of High School Scholars;National Student Leadership Confer-ence on Medicine and Health Care;Certificate of Achievement Awards.Extracurricular activities: SADDClub; Spanish Club; HomecomingCourt Nominee; Best Buddies Club;North Hills Singers; Symphonic Choir;Women’s Choir; Student Council;Hands for Service Club; NationalHonor Society; Tennis; Ross DanceProgram; North Hills Drama ClubStage Crew.Community involvement: FoodDrives; North Hills Backpack Initiative;Shoveling snow for elderly neighbors;Self-led miniature food drive; WestView Community Clean Up Day; Hun-dred Acres Manor Volunteer.Goals: I aspire to attain my PharmDat and have been accepted to the Uni-versity of Pittsburgh’s Early Assur-ance PharmD program or DuquesneUniversity’s PharmD program.

Maria Koedel

School, grade:McKeesport AreaHigh School, 12Parent: NatalieKoedelAcademicachievements:American Legion’sAmericanismAward; Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Soccer;Spring musical; TFIM club; PAWSSclub; Robotics; Y-Achievers Program;e-maps ambassador; National Speechand Debate Association; Semi queen;National Honors Society.Community involvement: SonshineKitchen volunteer; Vacation BibleSchool volunteer; Community festi-vals; Hundred Acres Manor volunteer;School tours; Wrapped presents forveterans; Tiger fest volunteer.Goals: I plan to attend Penn StateUniversity to study geotechnicalengineering and minor in Spanish.After college, I plan to use my abilityto communicate by obtaining a job ina different country where I am ableto use my engineering skills as well.While I am in college, I am going tostart a club for students involved infoster families whether they are afoster child themselves or a biologicalchild of a foster family, like myself.

Christine Mellick

School, grade:Seton-La SalleHigh School, 12Parent: CathyMellickAcademicachievements:Coca-Cola ScholarsProgram Semi-Finalist; Heavenly Cause Scholarship;University of Rochester FrederickDouglas and Susan B. AnthonyAward; National Honor Society; Na-tional English Honor Society; NationalSociety of High School Scholars.Extracurricular activities: Dance;Student Council; Campus Ministry;Spring Musical; Rebels for Life Pro-Life Club; Retreat Leader Program;Trebels A Capella Choir; Cheerleading;Girl Scouts; Dance Team.Community involvement: ProjectIrreplaceable; Catholic Committee onScouting; St. Louise de Marillac Par-ish; Student Tour Guide; Little Sistersof the Poor Saints Peter and PaulRetirement Home.Goals: I plan to attend WheelingJesuit University to double-majorin theology and philosophy. I planto continue on to graduate schooland earn my master’s and Ph.D. Myultimate goal is to become a theologyprofessor at a university.

Abigail Manges

School, grade:Eden ChristianAcademy, 12Parent: SarahMangesAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; High-est Honors; Scored 4 on AdvancedPlacement Biology Exam; Scored 4 onAdvanced Placement Statistics Exam;Scored 4 on Advanced PlacementLanguage and Composition Exam.Extracurricular activities: Presidentof Project PenPal; Student CouncilLeadership Board; Soccer; Futsal,captain, defensive MVP; Leader-ship Board of Spirit Decorating Club;Featured Dancer in Mary Poppins,Seussical, Music Man, Little Mermaid.Community involvement: Tutoringat King Elementary; Special-needs Tu-toring; Soccer Coach at Urban ImpactFoundation; Summer Day Camp Tutorand Counselor at Christ Church.Goals: I would like to teach at anelementary school in the inner city ofPittsburgh. I plan to attend the Com-munity College of Allegheny County toreceive an associates’ degree in earlyeducation and development, continu-ing on in two years to complete a BAeducation program.

Vincent Angelo Meinert

School, grade:Central CatholicHigh School, 12Parents: Vin-cent and AngelaMeinertAcademicachievements:National Societyof High School Scholars; High HonorStatus; Qualified for FBLA StatesCompetition.Extracurricular activities: Golf;Lacrosse; SADD Leadership Club;Snowboarding Club; Spanish Club;Eucharistic Minister; My BrothersKeeper; Basketball; Altar Server.Community involvement: Mis-sion trips to Florida, West Virginiaand Costa Rica; Light of Life Missionvolunteer; Soccer Buddy to disabledchildren; Student tutor at St. Rafael’sSchool; Central Catholic Auctions; St.Maurice Festivals volunteer.Goals: I plan to attend Penn StateUniversity and major in engineer-ing. My goals are to develop into abetter man, receive a good education,get involved, and have fun. I plan oncontinuing to volunteer and becomeinvolved in any way I can. At PennState, I plan to become very involvedin THON which raises money forpediatric cancer.

Caroline Maltese

School, grade:St. Joseph HighSchool, 12Parent: JenniferMalteseAcademicachievements:Seton Hill Univer-sity, Women inScience Biology Award; PennsylvaniaJunior Science and Humanities Sym-posium awards; Pennsylvania JuniorAcademy of Science, Pittsburghawards; PRSEF Pittsburgh.Extracurricular activities: SaintJoseph High School Student Ambas-sador; Student Government;Girl Scouts; Golf; Spring Musical; Ten-nis; Soccer; Track and Field; Piano.Community involvement: ChildCare Provider; Saint Lucy’s Auxiliaryto the Blind, Medallion Recipient;Saint Mary of the Assumption ParishSchool Volunteer; Our Lady of theMost Blessed Sacrament Parish Vol-unteer; Bible School Volunteer.Goals: I plan to attend John CarrollUniversity in Cleveland, where I intendto major in biology and pre-medicine.Service is an integral part of my life,and I plan on finding ways to continuethis commitment. I also hope tobecome a member of the John CarrollUniversity women’s golf team.

Kelly McCulloch-Beatty

School, grade:Mars High School,12Parents: Richardand Mary AnnMcCulloch-BeattyAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; High Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Cross-country; The Art Connection; ArtClub; Planet Peace Club/Allies Club;School newspaper; Traditional balletplus electives; Ski Club; All SchoolMusical; Swimming; Soccer referee.Community involvement: SaintKilian’s Church Youth Group; Ameri-can Red Cross certified in CPR, AED,first aid; Heritage Creek Neighbor-hood Community volunteer; SundaySchool Teacher’s Aide; Trout Unlim-ited volunteer in stream clean-up.Goals: I am enrolled in the Commu-nity College of Beaver County AviationAcademy in addition to high schoolin order to excel toward my careergoal of becoming a commercial pilot.I plan to complete a bachelor’s degreein aviation. I dream of traveling theworld and eventually using what Isave up to adopt struggling teens. Iwill achieve ultimate happiness in myown life, and I will pass that on.


Joey Mullen

School, grade:Pine-Richland HighSchool, 12Parent: KimberlyMullenAcademicachievements:AP Scholar withDistinction; PSATMerit Scholar Honorable Mention;Baeirl Scholar Athlete Award; Stu-dents in Action Award; Math Depart-ment Award; Science DepartmentAward; No. 1 class rank.Extracurricular activities: KeyClub; Cross Country; Track and Field;National Honor Society; Peer Tutor-ing; Cultural Communications AllianceCompetition; Student Government.Community involvement: Pitts-burgh Cares Youth Advisory Council;Parish Volunteer; Magee-WomensResearch Institute summer intern; St.Barnabas Health System food serviceassistant.Goals: I am planning to pursue adegree in biomedical engineering orchemistry with plans to one day at-tend medical school. I hope to focusmy career in researching medicalinnovations for individuals experienc-ing physical limitations due to injury,disease or genetic heritage.

Tanvi Meringenti

School, grade:Franklin RegionalHigh School, 12Parents: Krishnaand UjjwalaMeringentiAcademicachievements:National MeritSemifinalist; AP Scholar with Distinc-tion Award; Award from the AmericanAssociation of University Women forpassion and enthusiasm in science,technology, engineering and math-ematics; Highest Honors; NationalHonor Society; Mu Alpha Theta.Extracurricular activities: FutureBusiness Leaders of America; Am-bassadors for Children’s Hospital ofPittsburgh Club; Tennis; PittsburghRegional Science and Engineering Fair;Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sci-ence; Honors Orchestra.Community involvelment: CarnegieNatural History Museum volunteer;Gave violin lessons to children; Tutormiddle/elementary students.Goals: I have recently committed toCarnegie Mellon University and planto pursue a bachelor’s degree in com-puter science with a minor in robotics.I aim to develop innovative solutionsin medical robotics and contribute toenhancing healthcare.

Jack Murray

School, grade:Greensburg CentralCatholic HighSchool, 12Parents: Jim andSheila MurrayAcademicachievements:Highest HonorRoll; National Honor Society; GermanHonor Society.Extracurricular activities: AmericanMutual Society Scholarship winner;Campus Ministry, chairman; Eucha-ristic Minister; Student AdvisoryProgram, president; Hungry Hearts,board member; Rotary Interact; SkiClub; Lifeguard Certifications; Soccer;Tennis.Community involvement: Life-guard; Altar Server; Magi Ministry;Animal caretaker; Veterinary vol-unteer; Food Bank volunteer; MassAssistant volunteer; Meals on Wheelsvolunteer; Soccer referee; Stablehand.Goals: I plan on majoring in pre-veterinary science at Kansas StateUniversity, Findlay University or PennState University in the fall and thenpursuing my doctorate of veterinaryscience, with a concentration in equinemanagement.

Suvir Mirchandani

School, grade:Fox Chapel AreaHigh School, 12Parents: Prakashand ShabnamMirchandaniAcademicachievements:Taiwan Interna-tional Science Fair, First Award inComputer Science and InformationEngineering; Intel International Sci-ence and Engineering Fair awards;Massachusetts Institute of Technol-ogy THINK Scholars Program.Extracurricular activities: HeadClass Agent, Pennsylvania Governor’sSchool for the Sciences; Musical Out-reach Club; National Honor Society;Math Club; Research Intern, NationalRobotics Engineering Center.Community involvement: Centerfor Health and Care Work; The Elder-Bots Project; Sharpsburg CommunityLibrary; Cooper-Siegel CommunityLibrary; Website Designer.Goals: Following college, my planis to pursue graduate school, and Iaim for a career as either a softwaredeveloper or a computer scienceresearcher. My goal as an aspiringresearcher, therefore, is to developinexpensive communication solutionsthat improve quality of life.

Marina Novotnak

School, grade:Norwin HighSchool, 12Parents: Rosanneand Kurt NovotnakAcademicachievements:Order of the Dae-dalian; AmericanLegion Scholastic Award; OutstandingCadet; National Honor Society; HonorRoll; Kitty Hawk Air Society; LionStudent of the Month.Extracurricular activities: NorwinAir Force Junior Reserve OfficerTraining Corps, Alumni Officer, Com-munity Service Coordinator, GroupExecutive Officer, Outstanding Flight;Outstanding Cadet, Leadership Rib-bon, Achievement Ribbon; DaedalionAward; American Legion ScholasticAward.Community involvement: Babysit-ting; Interact and assisting Rotary;JROTC; Norwin Chamber of Com-merce volunteer; Epistle reading atSaint Stephens Byzantine CatholicChurch; Knights of Faith.Goals: I will be attending Penn StateUniversity in the fall to study electricalengineering.

Kelsie Muha

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parent: KathleenHunzingerAcademicachievements:Highest Honors;American MathCompetition Winner; AP Scholaraward; Certificate of Merit.Extracurricular activities: Lacrosse;Cross Country; Indoor Track; StudentCouncil; ASPIRE Program; MathLeague; French Club.Community involvement: Madeand served food to homeless; Raceand marathon volunteer; Lion’s Club;Volunteer tutor; Volunteer at bookfairs and blood drives.Goals: I hope to attend the Universityof Pennsylvania and pursue a degreein applied mathematics. I then planto attend graduate school to obtaina master’s degree in applied math-ematics and computational science.With these degrees, I plan to becomean applied mathematician in the AirForce, following in the footsteps of myoldest brother. I will work toward mydream of earning a position at NASAas a mathematician. Once I have astable career and a husband, I hope tostart a family of little mathematicians.

Julianna Nichols

School, grade:St. Joseph HighSchool, 12Parent: MarieNicholsAcademicachievements:Saint Lucy’s Aux-iliary to the BlindJoan of Arc Medallion; Ben CarsonScholarship; Seton Hill UniversityWomen in Science MathematicsAward; Pennsylvania Junior Academyof Science Regional and State Meet-ings; Westinghouse Science HonorsInstitute.Extracurricular activities: StudentAmbassador; Outreach Team, seniorleader; Basketball; Volleyball; Softball;Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engi-neering Fair; Hand bell choir; NationalHistory Day participant.Community involvement: AltarServer; ACEing Autism; Leukemia andLymphoma Society Light the NightWalk; Student Council; Student Tutor;church festival volunteer.Goals: I intend to major in forensicscience or bioinformatics at DuquesneUniversity, the University of Pitts-burgh or Seton Hill University. Mylong-term plan is to work with theFBI.

Gabrielle Moran

School, grade:Oakland CatholicHigh School, 12Parents: Robertand KimberlyMoranAcademicachievements:Joan of Arc Societyof Scholars; Highest Honor Roll;National Honor Society; OaklandCatholic High School Leading LadiesScholarship; Maxima Cum Laude.Extracurricular activities: RadiOC,the Oakland Catholic Podcast; FemaleLeadership Initiative; Global Com-petence Initiative; Member and PeerTutor; Model United Nations.Community involvement: Teens forChange Board; JCC Special OlympicsVolunteer.Goals: My intended fields of under-graduate studies include Interna-tional Relations or Political Science.Potential postgraduate plans includecontinuing education with a focus onhuman rights and international law.I foresee a university experience thatwill build upon my understanding ofour world, through immersive experi-ences, rich in cross-cultural diversity.Essential to achieving all of my goal,is the necessity of centering my life onservice to others.

Evan Neff

School, grade:Plum Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Lindaand Chris NeffAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; HonorRoll; 9 Weeks Awards for outstand-ing classroom performance in history,geography, algebra, biology and geo-science; Scholar Athlete Award.Extracurricular activities: CrossCountry; Tennis; Swim; NewspaperClub; TV Production Club.Community involvement: EmmausCommunity; St. John the BaptistChurch CCD; Running for a Reason;Make a Wish; Lifeguard.Goals: I am currently evaluating four-year college offers while also consid-ering and researching the possibilityof a year of service with Americorps.Long term, I would like to become anImmigration Lawyer. I also would liketo start a nonprofit for immigrantsseeking advocacy, legal advice andjobs. Immigrant aid organizationsplay an important role in helpingimmigrants. I feel the best way toaccomplish this is through a four-yeardegree and to attend law school.

Haley Moore

School, grade:Greensburg CentralCatholic HighSchool, 12Parents: Kennethand Terri MooreAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety, vice president; Spanish HonorSociety; National Academy of FuturePhysicians and Medical ScientistsAward of Excellence; Highest Honors.Extracurricular activities: Volley-ball, captain, all-section, all-WPIAL,all-state; Basketball; Track; Interactclub.Community involvement: Altarserver; Lector at school and local par-ish; Animal Friends Shelter volunteer;Eucharistic minister.Goals: I plan on shadowing moreprofessionals in the medical field thissummer and studying in a physicianassistant program in college startingin the fall of 2017. I hope to work inemergency medicine when I graduatefrom the program. My goal is to showcompassion to those I treat so thatthey feel respected and appreciatedas both a patient and an individual.Depending on which college I attend,I also aspire to continue playingvolleyball.


Anthony Patsy

School, grade:Central CatholicHigh School, 12Parent: HollyPatsyAcademicachievements:High Honors;School ScholarsProgram; National Honor Society;University of Alabama PresidentialScholarship; University of AlabamaFellows Program Candidate; Uni-versity of Pittsburgh AcademicScholarship; AP Scholar with Honor.Extracurricular activities: Wres-tling; First Place in Pennsylvania StateScience Fair; Latin Club; Piano; Guitar;Clarinet; Young Guns Wrestling.Community involvement: AutismSupport and Awareness Organiza-tion; National Honor Society Tutoring;Central Catholic tour guide; WrestlingBoosters, volunteer; Youth WrestlingCoach; Youth Basketball Coach.Goals: For as long as I can remember,I have been interested in two things:behavior and politics. I aspire to earna bachelor’s degree in either psychol-ogy or neuroscience in addition to aneconomics degree. I also hope to doundergraduate research, perhaps asa continuation of my study on autismunemployment.

Maggie Nowakowski

School, grade:Deer Lakes HighSchool, 12Parent: ErinNowakowskiAcademicachievements:Finishing HighSchool in threeyears; National Honor Society; Span-ish National Honor Society.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil Representative; HomeroomRepresentative; Saxonburg DistrictSportsmen Association NRA GunSafety Course; Guitar Lessons; IUPSoccer and Goalie Camp; LigonierSoccer Camp.Community involvement: SeniorCitizens Luncheon volunteer; Pennsyl-vania Association of Student Council;3rd-5th Grade Tutor Program; BloodDrive volunteer; Community Days vol-unteer; Veterans Gift Wrap volunteer;Centers for Rehab Surgery volunteer;Hampton Township Fire and RescueEMS volunteer.Goals: My goal is to become a Physi-cian or physician’s assistant. I amworking toward my EMT certificationto help me achieve my goals. Mysister and I plan on traveling to othercountries to use our training to helpothers who are less fortunate.

Colin Phillips

School, grade:Hempfield AreaHigh School, 12Parent: LenoraPhillipsAcademicachievements:STEM Program;Gifted Program;National Honor Society; ScienceNational Honor Society; Distin-guished Honor Roll; Academic AwardsBanquet Honoree; National Societyof High School Scholars; NationalAcademy of Future Scientists andTechnologists Award of Excellence.Extracurricular activities: Order ofthe Arrow; National Eagle Scout As-sociation; High Adventure Coral ReefSailing; Battle Bots/Bots IQ; NationalRobotics League; Ski Club.Community involvement: BoyScouts; National Youth LeadershipTraining; Hempfield Area SchoolDistrict Summer Robotics Program;Our Lady of Grace Church St. Vincentde Paul Food Pantry.Goals: I want to be a technologyeducation teacher. I want to make animpact on kids’ lives, the same waythat STEM has impacted me. Myplans are to go to college to major intechnology education and minor inphysics and/or math education.

Kassandra Opfar

School, grade:Serra Catholic HighSchool, 12Parent: NancyOpfarAcademicachievements:Crossroads Foun-dation Scholar;Bishop David Zubik Scholarship;Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl Scholarship;Spanish National Honor Society; Sci-ence National Honor Society; NationalHonor Society; Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: WorldChampion Baton Twirling Organiza-tion; Cheerleading; Pro-Life Club;Math League; Robotics; HomecomingQueen; Marching Band; TEAMs.Community involvement: WesternPa. School for the Deaf Cheer CampLeader; Best of the Batch Foundation;Junior Achievement; Mary of Naza-reth Catholic School lunch volunteer;Student teacher for baton twirling;Fun Services Inc. volunteer.Goals: I plan to attend the Univer-sity of Kentucky to study chemicalengineering. Science has always beena passion of mine and pursuing it as acareer will be a dream come true. I willalso continue my love for twirling byjoining the Wildcat Marching Band aspart of the Sweetheart Majorettes.

Victoria Potter

School, grade:Greater LatrobeSenior HighSchool, 11Parents: Jean andThomas PotterAcademicachievements:Academic HonorRoll; Accepted into the Notre DameSummer Scholars Program; Break-fast of Champions award; NationalArt Honor Society; National SpanishHonor Society; Youth Delegate to theU.N.; Yearbook cover winner.Extracurricular activities: SpanishClub; Recycling Club; Ski Club; IndoorTrack Club; Key Club; Film Club;Softball; Swimming; Volleyball; Track;Cross Country; Skiing; Water Skiing;Karate; Scuba Diving; Film Crew.Community involvement: Congres-sional Awards Program; PresidentialService Award; Special Olympics; RedCross Volunteer; Adopt-a-HighwayProgram; Children’s Museum SouthCarolina; YMCA Youth Mentors.Goals: My goal is to not onlycomplete course requirements forveterinary science and become a vet-erinarian but also to be an advocatefor animals, volunteer in homelessshelters and assist in educating thepublic on respect for animals.

Nicholas Pantelis II

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parents: Nicho-las and MichelePantelisAcademicachievements:American LegionBoys Nation Attendee and HonorGuard; American Legion-KeystoneBoys State Competition Winner;National Honor Society;Highest Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Stu-dent Council; EQT/ASPIRE MentorProgram; Science Club; Mock TrialCompetition; Math League; Calcu-Solve Bowl; Chain Reaction Competi-tion; Golf; Baseball.Community involvement: SpecialOlympics of Western Pennsylvania;Bridge Builders and Tutoring; GreaterPittsburgh Community Food Bank;Whitehall Police D.A.R.E. Mentor.Goals: Although my college selectionhas not been made, I plan on obtain-ing a degree in chemical engineering.I have always had a love for engineer-ing, but I also enjoy political scienceand business. My goal is to exploredifferent opportunities that will allowme to utilize business and politicswithin the field of engineering.

Christopher Potter

School, grade:Greater LatrobeSenior HighSchool, 11Parents: Jean andThomas PotterAcademicachievements:Notre DameSummer Scholars Program; SpanishNational Honor Society; PhotographyContest Multi-County Gifted Program;Spanish National Honor Society.Extracurricular activities: Span-ish Club; Recycling Club; Ski Club;Gifted Education; Key Club; TrackClub; Track; Cross Country; Volleyball;Snowboarding; Skiing; Karate; ScubaDiving; Turtle Patrol; National MapCorps volunteer.Community involvement: Congres-sional Awards Program; PresidentialService Award; Adopt-a-HighwayProgram; Children’s Museum SouthCarolina; High Acres Preschool;YMCA Youth Mentors; Flight 93Memorial; Certified First Aid Training;Certified CPR.Goals: I am uncertain as to which col-lege I want to attend, but Notre Dameis at the top of my list. I would like tomajor in business or in finance. I amuncertain as to which, but I am suremy future career will involve math.

Brittany Palla

School, grade:Kiski Area HighSchool, 12Parents: Debbieand Mark PallaAcademicachievements:High Honors;Academic Letter ofAchievement; Scholar Athlete Award;Created an app published on theGoogle Play store; Rotary Youth Lead-ership Award, Scholarship Winner.Extracurricular activities: ClassVice President; Senior Class Commit-tee; Soccer; National Honor SocietySecretary; Kiski Area ROOTS Award;President’s Education Awards Pro-gram; Student Mentor for Freshmen;School’s News Broadcast Channel;Key Club; Track; Cavalier Leadership.Community involvement: Soccerreferee; Soccer coach; Soccer trainer;Watson Institute Special Kicks Clinic;Food Bank; St. Vincent’s Bell Ringer;Rotary Club Service Project.Goals: I plan on attending IndianaState University in Terre Haute, Ind.,where I have received athletic andacademic scholarships. I will be onthe women’s soccer team and plan onmajoring in computer science. I wouldlike to become a software developeronce I graduate college.

Alexandria Potter

School, grade:Greater LatrobeSenior HighSchool, 11Parents: Jean andThomas PotterAcademicachievements:Academic HonorRoll; Notre Dame Summer ScholarsProgram; Photography Contest Multi-County Gifted Program; Spanish Na-tional Honor Society; Broadcast andVideo Production awards; NationalArt Honor Society.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil; Carnegie Mellon Pre-CollegeProgram; Youth Delegate to theUnited Nations; GOAL Program; Cer-tified CPR, First Aid; Ukulele; SpanishClub; Recycling Club; Ski Club; KeyClub; Softball; Swimming; Volleyball;Karate; Scuba Diving; Track.Commuinity involvement: TheCongressional Award; PresidentialService Award; Adopt-a-HighwayProgram; Children’s Museum SouthCarolina; YMCA Youth Mentors; Flight93 Memorial; High Acres Child Care.Goals: I am hoping to exhibit mycreativity and artistic talent to helpbusinesses communicate with thepublic, so my career choice is in thefield of advertising.

Jillian Palko

School, grade:Serra Catholic HighSchool, 11Parents: Jamesand Mary BethPalkoAcademicachievements:Seton Hill Uni-versity Women in Science Award forChemistry and Scholarship; NationalHonor Society; National Honor Soci-ety Science; National Honor SocietyFrench; Bishop Zubik Scholarshipthrough Junior Achievement.Extracurricular activities: EagleAmbassador; Math League; JuniorAchievement; French Club; 4-HWestmoreland County Member; 4-HStates Horse Show; All AmericanYouth Horse Show.Community involvement: Brook-dale Dementia/Alzheimer SeniorLiving; Three Rivers Hospice; GreaterPittsburgh Food Bank.Goals: My intention is to attendcollege and graduate with a businessdegree and receive an MBA. At themoment, I am interested in finance.My goal is to pursue a career in busi-ness and also own a farm so I canboard horses and adopt/rescue dogsand cats to give them a home.


Christian Romano

School, grade:Central CatholicHigh School, 12Parent: ReginaRomanoAcademicachievements:American LegionOutstanding Lead-ership and Service Award; Nominatedfor St. Timothy National Outstand-ing Catholic Student Award; HonorRoll; National Society of High SchoolScholars; Nominated for People toPeople International and EnvisionEngineering Programs.Extracurricular activities: FIRSTRobotics Team; KAIROS Retreat;Lasallian Ministry Executive Board; DeLa Salle Ambassador; Central CatholicNews Network; Central Catholic VEXRobotics Team.Community involvement: CentralCatholic Theater Technical Manager;Representative and Tour Guide forSTEM Facility; Mission Trip to CentroLa Salle in Homestead, Fla.; St. Louisede Marillac Mission Week.Goals: I look forward to pursuingan engineering degree. My goal is tocomplete higher education includinggraduate and postgraduate degrees. Iwill strive to establish, own and man-age a business.

Emma Powers

School, grade:Hillcrest ChristianAcademy, 12Parents: Beth andJim PowersAcademicachievements:Highest HonorRoll; StudentCouncil President.Extracurricular activities: Pitts-burgh Dynamo Soccer; Basketball;Volleyball.Community involvement: Children’sHospital of Pittsburgh; Bible Quiz-zing; National Fine Arts Competitions;Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Or-chestra; Pennsylvania Music Educa-tor’s Assoc.; Youth Group-studentleader; Sunday school teacher;Builders for Christ; Prom Committee;Worship Team; Bell Ringing with Sal-vation Army; Fine Arts Coffee HouseFundraiser; Vacation Bible School;Annual Church Harvest Festival.Goals: My goal is to become a bio-medical cancer researcher. AlthoughI am still in the process of choosinga college, I plan to major in biochem-istry. I also will incorporate the manygifts, talents and experiences I havehad into my education and my careerto provide a new and unique outlookinto my major and career path.

Camryn Ruby

School, grade:Thomas JeffersonHigh School, 12Parents: Patriciaand Wayne RubyAcademicachievements:National Societyof High SchoolScholars.Extracurricular activities: FutureBusiness Leaders of America. Big JagLittle Cub club that allows ThomasJefferson High School students towrite letters to West Jefferson SchoolDistrict second-graders; School Advi-sory Board.Community involvement: Mon Val-ley Special Steelers coach; Produce toPeople; Two missions to Haiti; Opera-tion Christmas Child; Vacation Bibleschool volunteer.Goals: My plans are to study busi-ness and hopefully get a degree inmarketing sales. I enjoy the businessfield because it allows me to have abroad spectrum of opportunities asa student and adult. A short-termgoal is to land a job in a professionwhere I can work with people and thatexhibits morally good effects in thecommunity. A long-term goal is tohave a big family that I can teach togive back and take on leadership roles.

Tyler Raub

School, grade:Deer Lakes HighSchool, 12Parents: Tina andJames RaubAcademicachievements:Gifted and Tal-ented Education;AP courses.Extracurricular activities: Foot-ball; Concert Band; Student Council;Class Officer; Track and Field; WPCTEEnglish Festival; Best Buddies PeerMember; Speech and Debate Team.Community involvement: LoveWalk for the Poor; Survivor NightFundraiser; Senior Citizen Luncheon;Presents for Patients.Goals: My goal is to (hopefully)attend the University of California,Berkeley, and double major in Interna-tional Relations and Political Science,with a minor in History or Psychology.From there, things aren’t as clear. Ihave a strong desire to travel andimmerse myself in other cultures andsocieties. I have considered severaldifferent avenues, whether it be inter-national law, joining the Peace Corpsor even getting involved in politics.I do know for sure, however, that Iwant to leave my mark and changethe world.

Emily Sestak

School, grade:Mt. Pleasant AreaJunior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Josephand Lisa SestakAcademicachievements:Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Presi-dent of Unified Club; Unified PhysicalEducation Program; Peer MentoringProgram; National Art Honor Society;Art Club; SAAD Club; Reality TourDrug Prevention Program.Community involvement: ExcelaHealth volunteer; Teacher’s Aide at St.Pius X’s Religious Education classes;Sunday Children’s Liturgy ProgramInstructor; Vacation Bible School; Par-ish Festival Volunteer; Youth Ministry;National Catholic Youth Conference;Special Olympics volunteer.Goals: My plans are to attendWestmoreland County CommunityCollege in the fall and study earlychildhood education. I will then trans-fer to California University of Pennsyl-vania to complete my bachelor’s de-gree. My goal is to be an elementaryschool teacher working with studentswho have special needs. I will continueto volunteer with my church andcommunity.

Alexa Rocco Wilner

School, grade:Serra Catholic HighSchool, 12Parent: AaronWilnerAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; ScienceNational Honor Society; Honor Roll;Dean’s List; Merit Awards; ScholarsAward from Washington and Jef-ferson College.Extracurricular activities: SerraCatholic Eagle Student Ambassador;Law Intern for The Jennifer LynchJackson Law Firm; Junior Achieve-ment Club; Interact Club; YearbookStaff; Hands of Christ Club; SerraInternational Travel Club; Cheerlead-ing; Yoga Club; Violin.Community involvement: GreaterPittsburgh Community Food Bank;Christ the Light of the World ParishFlea Market; Locust Grove NursingHome volunteer.Goals: I have been accepted to Wash-ington and Jefferson College and willbe attending there in the fall. My goalis to be fully immersed in a highlyrespected liberal arts program doublemajoring in political science/Englishwith a minor in conflicts and resolu-tions all with a pre-law focus.

Caleb Schork

School, grade:McKeesport AreaHigh School, 12Parent: StaceySchorkAcademicachievements:Student CouncilPresident; NationalHonor Society; Academic GamesTeam; Hometown High Q; GiftedProgram; AP Ambassador.Extracurricular activities: Speechand Forensics Club; Football, holdstwo school kicking records; Baseball.Community involvement: McKees-port Boys and Girls Club; McKeesportYouth Baseball volunteer umpire;National Honor Society and StudentCouncil volunteer; Christmas presentsfor homeless veterans volunteer;Tiger Fest; Semi-Formal Dance.Goals: After graduation, I antici-pate attending Duquense Universityto study pharmacy. I would like tobecome a pharmacist because of mypassion for chemistry and helpingothers. A career as a pharmacist willallow me to continue to explore myscientific curiosity and to serve mycommunity in a positive fashion. Iam interested in serving the under-privileged through pharmacy outreachprograms at Duquesne.

Eric Ricci

School, grade:North Allegh-eny Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Mark andChristine RicciAcademicachievements:Lincoln-DouglasDebate awards; AP Scholar Award;Distinguished Achievement Award;Pennsylvania Junior Classical LeagueState Convention Awards; DECA Re-gional Competition award; PittsburghRegional Science and Engineering Fair.Extracurricular activities: NorthAllegheny Speech and Debate Team;Junior Classical League; NationalHonor Society; Ukulele Club; UltimateFrisbee; Strolling Strings Orchestra;Cross Country; Mock Trial Team.Community involvement: UPMCPassavant Hospital Volunteer; Grand-view Pen Pal Project; Middle SchoolDebate Coach; Pittsburgh ForensicsInstitute Camp Instructor; After-school Tutor; Key Club.Goals: I hope to go to a universitywhere I can earn a bachelor’s degreeas well as be prepared to apply toa medical or graduate school inmedicine. I want to make a differencein people’s lives, which is why I amdedicated to becoming a physician.

Hannah Runas

School, grade:Deer Lakes HighSchool, 12Parents: Mary andClem RunasAcademicachievements:National HonorsSociety; Gold Keylevel award Scholastic Art andWriting.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil Class Representative; Cheer-leading; Best Buddies Organization;Starlight Dance Academy; Art Club;Drama Department; Marching Band;Yearbook staff.Community involvement: NewWilmington Missionary Conference;East Union Presbyterian Church Elder;Vacation Bible School volunteer;Men’s Shelter; Stop World HungerNow; World Vision; Deer Lakes YouthCheer Coach; West Deer Dog Shelter;Toys for Tots.Goals: I am interested in attendinga four-year university and studyingearly childhood development andspecial education. I plan to dual majorwith an arts-based program of study.This would allow me to help othersfacing the same challenges I havewith my reading disability and sharemy passion for art.

Maiah Repovz

School, grade:Yough Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Terri andRay RepovzAcademicachievements:Comcast Lead-ers and AchieversScholarship Recipient; Seton Hill’sWomen in Science Award; YoughRocks Recipient; High Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: CheerSquad; Student Council; Class Officer;Community Action Program/ SADD;National Honor Society; NationalFrench Honor Society; French Club;Prom Committee; Musical; PeerMentoring; Fellowship of ChristianAthletes; Robotics; The Future IsMine; Talent Show.Community involvement: DrugSymposium; March for Parks; TrooperIwaniec Walk; Blanket Weaving; MockCrash; Homecoming Preparation;Avenue of the Flags.Goals: I plan to attend college inorder to obtain a bachelor’s degree inbiomedical engineering. After I receivemy undergraduate degree, I will eithergo directly into the workplace in orderto design prosthetics, artificial organsand medical equipment or apply tomedical school to become a doctor.


Samuel Smallwood

School, grade:Deer Lakes HighSchool, 12Parents: Shari andSteve SmallwoodAcademicachievements:G.A.T.E. Program;French NationalHonor Society; National Math andScience Initiative AP Test Award;Huntley and Huntley Challenge Pro-gram Academic Excellence Award.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil; Pennsylvania Associationof Student Councils (PASC) StateConference Registration Committee;Football; Speech and Debate Team;KDKA Hometown High Q; YearbookClub; Math League; Best Buddies.Community involvement: PASCState Conference; East Union ChurchYouth Group; Vacation Bible School;East Union Church Breakfast withSanta and Breakfast with the EasterBunny; Deer Lakes Senior CitizensHoliday Luncheon; Interfaith Hospi-tality Network.Goals: I will attend the University ofPittsburgh on a scholarship and as amember of the honors college witha major in applied mathematics. Iplan to run for the Deer Lakes SchoolBoard in the upcoming year.

Anushka Shah

School, grade:North AlleghenySenior HighSchool, 12Parent: JigneshShahAcademicachievements:National MeritSemifinalist; Multiple ScholasticArt and Writing Gold and Silver KeyAwards in Poetry and Painting; JaneRob Gallagher Award for free verse;Westinghouse Science Honors Insti-tute; AP Scholar with Honor; Poetrypublished in “Variations” and “RalphMunn Creative Writing Anthology.”Extracurricular activities: NorthAllegheny High School Science BowlTeam, Southwestern Pennsylvaniachampions; Assistant Design/LayoutEditor for Large Print; Health Occupa-tions Students of America, served aspresident, vice president and execu-tive officer; Indian classical dance;Violin; North Allegheny HometownHigh Q Team; Ocean Bowl Team.Community involvement: UPMCChildren’s Hospital Teen Summer Vol-unteer Program; Hindu Jain TempleVolunteer; Grandview Pen Pal Project.Goals: I would like pursue a career inneuroscience along with a career increative writing.

Monica Snyder

School, grade:North Hills SeniorHigh School, 12Parents:Marlise and JosephSnyderAcademicachievements:High Honors;NHEA AWARDS; North Hills ExcellentAchievement Award for academic andcommunity engagement.Extracurricular activities: AmericanField Service Club; Capstone Projectfor The World Affairs Council of Pitts-burgh’s Junior Leadership Program;Student Representative for the Bor-ough of West View Council; Cuban/U.S Relations Conference; Choir;Church Council; Worship Assistant forSunday Services.Community involvement: VacationBible School volunteer; BHLC Theateracting member; Candidate for “Stu-dent of the Year” for The Leukemiaand Lymphoma Society’s Western Pa.and W.Va. chapter.Goals: I wish to study internationaland policy studies. I would like towork on issues of fair trade, culturalawareness and immigrant integration.I also intend to be an advocate forappropriate health care and educationthroughout the world.

Ashani Shah

School, grade:North AlleghenySenior HighSchool, 12Parent:Apurvabhai ShahAcademicachievements:4.50/4.00 GPA;2370/2400 SAT.Extracurricular activities: AppThink Tank; Book Club; Henna Club;Model UN; Multicultural Club; StudentCouncil Interact; National MeritSemifinalist; AP Scholar with Distinc-tion; President’s Education Award forOutstanding Academic Excellence;Aikido; Violin; Harmonium; Bollywooddance; Traveling; Cooking.Community involvement: UPMCPassavant Hospital volunteer;Carnegie Museum of Natural Historyteen docent; Music Tutor; ScienceNight; University of Pittsburgh CancerInstitute — Research Scholar.Goals: Due to my interest in learningmore about cancer, I spent a summerdoing research in a cancer biology labat the University of Pittsburgh CancerInstitute. I greatly enjoyed the experi-ence, and I want to continue research-ing and improving my innovation skillsin fields like cancer biology or diseaseand drug discovery.

Claire Staresinic

School, grade:Mars High School,12Parents: Mariaand Ken StaresinicAcademicachievements:National MeritScholarship Semi-Finalist; AP Merit Scholar with Honor;Mensa Honor Society; National HonorSociety; German Honor Society;Semifinalist for Coca-Cola ScholarFoundation Scholarship.Extracurricular activities: Archery;Honors Band; PA Federation of MusicClubs, Gold Cup for PIANO; Wind En-semble; Student Council; Class Play;Art; Science Bowl Team; ChemistryOlympics; Amazing Math Race.Community involvement: MarsHome for Youth volunteer; HughO’Brian Youth Leadership’s 100 HourVolunteer Challenge; Animal Friends;Geography Bee Workshops.Goals: My plans include furtheringmy education and attending medicalschool. I am hoping to explore areas inbiology, neuroscience and psychologyand, ultimately, see myself becominga child and adolescent psychiatrist. Iwill continue my love of the Germanlanguage and look forward to timestudying abroad.

Hannah Shernisky

School, grade:VincentianAcademy, 12Parents: Davidand Donna Sherni-skyAcademicachievements:International Bac-calaureate Diploma Program; Stan-ford High School Summer CollegeProgram; National Student Leader-ship Conference at California Berke-ley; Westinghouse Science HonorsInstitute; Seton Hill Women in ScienceAward; National Honor Society; HighHonor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Track andField; Field Hockey; Cross Country;Newspaper Club, founder, editor,writer, recruiter; Yearbook Club; Musi-cal, stage crew and make-up; RoyalAmbassador; Painting; Charity 5kRuns; Triathlons; Downhhill Skiing.Community involvement: Sisters ofCharity of Nazareth receptionist.Goals: I plan to go to college andmajor in chemical engineeringresearching bioplastics and biodieselto lessen detrimental impacts to theenvironment. At the same time, I willcontinue to improve and refine myartistic skills.

Benjamin Staniszewski

School, grade:St. Joseph HighSchool, 12Parent: MargaretStaniszewskiAcademicachievements:Will graduate with25 college credits;National History Day Participant.Extracurricular activities: Pro-lifeclub; Altar server for school Masses;Dead Theologian Society; Francis-can LEAD leadership training week;Franciscan University Summer YouthConference Participant; Diversity Club;Tennis; Golf; Track; Lab assistant.Community involvement: ParkviewLawn and Landscapes; Mount SaintPeter Parish Sunday office assistant;Mary Queen of Apostles School main-tenance/janitorial team; Mount SaintPeter Parish maintenance/janitorialteam; Food Bank volunteer.Goals: After high school, I plan toto attend Penn State University orFranciscan University. I plan to receivea bachelor’s degree in businessmanagement. After college, I hope toacquire a job in an upwardly mobileconstruction company, ultimatelyworking as a construction manager.Finally, I plan to continue developingmy talents and growing as a leader.

Michael Shannon

School, grade:Vincentian Acad-emy, 12Parent: KellyShannonAcademicachievements:Full InternationalBaccalaureate (IB)Diploma Candidate; High Honor Roll;National Honor Society; PSAT/Na-tional Merit Scholarship QualificationTest Commended Student; Certificateof Honor to the National Speech andDebate Association.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil; Assistant Stage Manager andStage Crew; Campus Ministry; CrossCountry; Track and Field; ForensicsTeam; Club Basketball.Community involvement: 5K walk/race to benefit Special Olympicsorganizer; Altar Service; Senior Con-nection; Magee Women’s HospitalVolunteer; Rachel Carson Trail Chal-lenge Volunteer.Goals: I plan to attend a four-yearuniversity and major in neuroscience,possibly alongside a film study minor.After this, I aim to study at medicalschool to fulfill my lifelong dream ofbecoming either an orthopedic sur-geon or an anesthesiologist.

Scott Soccio

School, grade:Greater LatrobeSenior HighSchool, 12Parents: Mark andCindy SoccioAcademicachievements:Samsung Ameri-can Legion Scholarship; AFROTCScholarship; Washington FellowsHonors Program; Calvert Ellis Scholar-ship; National Honor Society; FrenchHonor Society; President’s Award forOutstanding Excellence in Academics.Extracurricular activities: BoyScouts; Order of the Arrow; Football;Tennis; Lacrosse; Tae Kwon Do; Stu-dent Council; Ski Club; Snowboarding.Community involvement: Ap-palachian Service Project; OutdoorOdyssey Leadership Camp; SpecialOlympics; Red Cross Blood Drive;Challenger League.Goals: I am waiting to hear from theNaval Academy, Air Force Academyand NROTC. After I find out where Ihave been accepted, I’ll decide whereI will go to study material scienceengineering. If I do not get into anacademy, I will go to Virginia Tech orPenn State to study material scienceengineering and participate in theNROTC or AFROTC.

Kacie Shannon

School, grade:VincentianAcademy, 11Parent: MarciaShannonAcademicachievements:High Honors;Women in ScienceDay Award presented by Seton HillUniversity; President’s Merit Scholar-ship; National Speech and Debate As-sociation membership; WestinghouseScience Honors Institute Certificate.Extracurricular activities: StudentCouncil; Tennis; Musical; Forensics;Student Ambassador; Cheerlead-ing; Environmental Club; SADD Club;Campus Ministry; Softball.Community involvement: MedallionBall Candidate; Volunteer at AnimalFriends; Leaders Now International;master alter server at Saints Johnand Paul Parish; Catholic Heart WorkCamp Volunteer; Western PA Conser-vancy Volunteer; Special Olympics.Goals: I plan to graduate high schooland study neuroscience or biology ata yet to be determined college, withthe intent of entering medical schoolfollowing graduation. It is my ultimategoal to become a doctor so that I mayprovide essential care to the sick anddebilitated.


Taylor Wambold

School, grade:Derry Area SeniorHigh School, 12Parent: KristenWamboldAcademicachievements:Bauch + LombAward from theUniversity of Rochester; SpanishHonor Society; Academic Achieve-ment Award.Extracurricular activities: Soccer,captain; Basketball; Softball, defen-sive MVP and leadership award.Community involvement: Denny’s;Chaek’s Ice Cream Window; The Na-tional Trust for Historic Preservationmember; Westmoreland County FoodBank volunteer; Derry Area BasketballTournament volunteer.Goals: I will be attending Kent Stateto receive my bachelor’s degree inarchitecture and minor in historicpreservation. Upon finishing college,I plan to move to the New York Cityarea. Initially, I will most likely live inthe city, but my ultimate goal is towork from home and commute to thecity only when needed. My dream isto design buildings that emulate thebeauty of the past or specialize in pre-serving our former landmark buildingsto keep them around longer.

Hunter Stecko

School, grade:Norwin HighSchool, 12Parents: Eric andDanielle SteckoAcademicachievements:VFW Voice ofDemocracy EssayContest awards; HOBY Delegate;National Merit Scholarship Semifinal-ist; Westinghouse Science HonorsInstitute Participant; AP Scholar withDistinction; Coca-Cola Scholar Semfi-nalist; Presidential Scholars ProgramNominee (2017); Valedictorian.Extracurricular activities: NorwinSpeech and Debate Club; ClassPresident; Student Council; SelectOrchestra; Saint Agnes Parish Choir;Model UN; Spanish Club; Football.Community involvement: SeniorYouth Ministry; Travel Baseball Coach;Saint Agnes Parish Volunteer.Goals: From a young age, I have, un-fortunately, been confronted with thereality of Alzheimer’s Disease in myfamily. My plan is to study biomedicalengineering with an intent to pursue amedical profession in either neurologyor neurosurgery, bringing togetherthe technology of the future with themedical dilemmas of (hopefully) thepast.

Natalie Weida

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parent: VirginiaWeidaAcademicachievements:Highest Hon-ors; AP Scholarwith Distinction; Society of WomenEngineers Certificate of Merit; EuroChallenge team.Extracurricular activities: NationalHonor Society; Dance Team; ColorGuard; Calcu-Solve Bowl; JA TitanBusiness Challenge; Model EuropeanUnion; Model Africa; Math League;Drama Club; Musical; Dance Classes.Community involvement: Satch-els of Caring; Relay for Life; GreaterPittsburgh Community Food Bankvolunteer.Goals: I plan to attend a four-yearuniversity and receive my bachelor’sdegree in engineering. While in col-lege, I will join Greek life as a meansto spearhead more philanthropic op-portunities and volunteer regularly. Ialso plan on participating in the danceteam and receiving my yoga teachingcertifications. Combining my personalstrengths with academics and volun-teering will provide the foundation forthe goals that I aspire to achieve.

Nichole Szafranski

School, grade:Pine-Richland HighSchool, 12Parents: Stan andLisa SzafranskiAcademicachievements:The Enlisted As-sociation Award ofMerit; AFJROTC departmentaward for outstanding achievementand excellence; Daughters of theAmerican Revolution Youth Citizen-ship Award; Rotary Club Student ofDistinction.Extracurricular activities: AFJROTCdrill and color guard competitionteams; Mountaineer Cadet OfficerLeadership School; Traveled withJROTC to Europe.Community involvement: HogHeaven Rescue Farm volunteer; Na-tional Society of Sons of the Ameri-can Revolution; Vet Tech InstitutePaws for the Cure volunteer; Twin-brook Animal Clinic employee.Goals: My plan is to attend WestVirginia University to major in crimi-nology and intelligence to continuemy Air Force JROTC after completingmy fourth year at the high schoollevel. After college, I hope to go intothe Air Force as an officer and work inHomeland Security with a K-9.

Melissa Zentz

School, grade:Pine-Richland HighSchool, 12Parent: CindyZentzAcademicachievements:Honor Roll; Na-tional Academyof Future Physicians and MedicalScientist Award.Extracurricular activities: Gym-nastics; Student Government, spiritofficer; Mini-Thon Dance Captain;Future Business Leaders of America;Peer Buddies.Community involvement: Babysit-ting; Trinity Gymnastics volunteercoach; Faith Formation Teacher; SaintRichards Youth Group participant.Goals: Throughout high school, Idiscovered that I was interested inlaw and wanted to go to college tobecome a lawyer. Through socialstudies class, I learned that I likedto debate, and talk about pressingissues. This led me to finding the op-portunity to shadow at the PittsburghCourt House. It was an experience ofa lifetime, one that truly allowed meto see what a lawyer did and whathappened behind the scenes. Fromthat point, I knew that being a lawyerwas the profession for me.

Elizabeth Vogt

School, grade:Serra Catholic HighSchool, 12Parents: MaryLou Madigan andEdgar VogtAcademicachievements:Induction intoThespian Troupe 5118; Certificateof Achievement for Junior Achieve-ment Student teaching; Certificateof Completion for Pennsylvania FreeEnterprise Week; First place in FBLABusiness Law; Third Place in FBLAImpromptu Speaking; Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Highschool choir; Serra Newspaper writer;Yearbook member; Color Guard; PromCommittee; Powder Puff football;Big Brother, Big Sister; Interact Club;Dance; Musical; Eucharistic Minister;Pro-Life club.Community involvement: Penn-sylvania Free Enterprise Week; SaintJohn’s Youth group; Big Brother, BigSister; Red Cross Volunteer.Goals: I have been accepted into theCook Honors College at IUP whichonly takes 100 students. I plan onearning my major in criminology,pre-law and double-major in politicalscience. After undergraduate, I hopeto go to law school.

Emily Yosi

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 11Parent: JoanneFarrellAcademicachievements:National HonorSociety; HighestHonors.Extracurricular activities: KeyClub; French Club; Indoor and OutdoorTrack; Cross Country; Soccer; MathLeague; School Orchestra.Community involvement: Key Clubcanned food drive; Carnation sale;Haunted house volunteer; Book fairvolunteer; Clothing drive; Card-making for the troops and senior citi-zens; EQT 10-miler volunteer; LibertyMile volunteer; Steeler race volunteer.Goals: I plan to go to college, but I’mnot sure which college yet. I plan tomajor in a type of science, engineer-ing or medicine. Also, I would like torun cross country and track in college.I would like to graduate with a bach-elor’s degree and possibly go backto school to earn a master’s degree.After graduating, I would like to finda well-paying job and settle downwith a family and travel the world toexperience the different cultures eachplace has to offer.

Kelsie Urbanek

School, grade:Deer Lakes HighSchool, 12Parents:Jennifer andMichael UrbanekAcademicachievements:Will be inductedinto the National Technical HonorSociety.Extracurricular activities: FCCLA,president; SKILLS Regional com-petition; A.W. Beattie Career CenterAmbassador; Prostart member; IrishDancing; Best Buddies; Volleyball;Track and Field; Lancer Vision; Year-book Committee.Community involvement: 180Dresses; The Irish Centre; The ArtistWithin; Juniper Village; Zoo-Teenat The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPGAquarium.Goals: I received early acceptance toNiagara College Canada for their ChefManagement program. I will gradu-ate in April 2019. I then plan to entera double internship (Culinary andPastry) at The Biltmore Estate for 6-9months. Following that internship, Iplan to go to Penn College for Bakingand Pastry arts. When I graduatefrom Penn College I plan to studyabroad in Ireland.

Michaela Woods

School, grade:Baldwin HighSchool, 12Parents:Colleen andDouglas WoodsAcademicachievements:National Art HonorSociety; Gifted Program; AP/Honors;Highest Honor Roll.Extracurricular activities: Vol-leyball; Math League; French Club;Senior Class Activities Guild; DaVin-cian Society, president; National ArtHonor Society; Student Council; St.Louise de Marillac Youth Group andBible Study.Community involvement: First-grade CCD class teacher’s assistantat St. Valentine’s Parish; Volunteerat church events; National Art HonorSociety.Goals: I have been accepted intoDuquesne University’s Pre-MedicineProgram for the upcoming fall semes-ter. I will be majoring in biology andfocusing on a medical career. I plan toattend medical school after my fouryears at Duquesne. I am currentlyinterested in dermatology and familymedicine. I plan on playing intramu-ral volleyball and studying abroad inRome in my years at Duquesne.

Nicholas Ungarino

School, grade:Northgate Junior/Senior HighSchool, 12Parents: Karenand MarioUngarinoAcademicachievements:Scholar-athlete awards for main-taining distinguished honors whileparticipating in cross country andtrack; Academic achievement awardsfor maintaining distinguished honorswhile participating in marching band;National Honor Society.Extracurricular activities: Alex’sLemonade Stand Foundation; MajorLeague Hacking; Cross Country;Biking; 3D Modeling and Animation.Community involvement: BellevueChristian Church; Three Rivers ArtsFestival; National Interscholastic Cy-cling Association; Nursing home vol-unteer; Borough of Avalon employee.Goals: I plan to continue developingmy knowledge and working towardcreating a new and clean future oftravel in the aerospace field. Afterreceiving a degree in aerospace en-gineering at Penn State, Ohio State,Purdue or Georgia Institute of Tech-nology, I hope to become an employeeof Boeing, NASA or SpaceX.


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Leechburg Junior/Senior High SchoolMadison BigleyNicollae CrawfordSara DudekMiranda GardCarlee GeorgeRandee McGeeLexie Young

Ligonier ValleyHigh SchoolTyler Stoner

Mars AreaHigh SchoolHunter CooperCarli SciherMikayla Tiller

McKeesport AreaHigh SchoolJenna BlairDior CampbellJoseph DiamondThomas FiloteiKeevon FlohrAvery GoldingerTalona JonesNicole LakovicLuke MedichMary MoningerRebekah ReistMaia RhodesRebecca RossLeibrynn RussellJordan SlaterKeirston SpiewakKylie ThieletAmani Zyhier

MontourHigh SchoolGrant Wolfe

Mt. Pleasant AreaJunior/SeniorHigh SchoolEric DeSabatoCaitlynn HirakMichael Sarnelli

North AlleghenySenior High SchoolCiara Bucci GottronElizabeth DuroskoAnam JafriZehra Khan

Ethan MaenzaJustin RollmanAnastasia ShabalovVivian ShaoKatre SoranJustin Weidinger

North CatholicHigh SchoolNicholas Milas

North Hills SeniorHigh SchoolGianna BalsamicoMadeline EvansSamantha Welsh

Northgate Junior/Senior High SchoolGillian ElliottAaron MeyerNorwin High SchoolMitchell DolneyBrandon GrayCarmen MelocchiHayley SchehrLeah Vorce

Oakland CatholicHigh SchoolMeredith Flanagan

Penn-TraffordHigh SchoolSean Mervosh

Pine-RichlandHigh SchoolNoah AdamsArushi BandiNicholas MontanariKiera ReganRhys RocherCamden SarverNichole SzafranskiBlake TodorowskiLance Todorowski

Plum SeniorHigh SchoolClaire KlippelNicci Schoedel

Riverview Junior/Senior High SchoolErin Joyce

Serra CatholicHigh SchoolClara Almeter

Joseph CocciaOlivia D’AndreaJoseph EdmundsonNicholas FerchakSophie GolombNeil HartnettReese HawkVictoria PickfordAbigail ReithLouisa StegmanMichael Ulishney

Seton-La SalleHigh SchoolLarkin Gillespie

Shady SideAcademyBrian FosterWilliam LuEmily Winterhalter

Shaler AreaHigh SchoolAllie EvansCameron LiebJared O’Connor

St. JosephHigh SchoolElizabeth CelkoJack FarrellThomas KlawinskiCaroline LindeySophia MalteseSamantha MorettiIsabelle Schroeder

Thomas JeffersonHigh SchoolMaria DiThomasBobby KelleyPatrick ReaganAlexis Zovko

ValleyHigh SchoolJanaya CarlisleWyatt CarterBrooke DoranHope MatyasAlexa SorchAnna WalkowiakAbigail Yurga

Vincentian AcademyMarianne AbdalahMark AukermanBrinna BabichChristopher BaileyKatelyn BartlettIsabel BejjaniJimmy BlaszkiewiczLuke CalderaroVivian ChenCaroline ElliottElizabeth GoodrichMadison HammillAudrey JenAdam JohnsonEileen KanieckiIk-Hyun (Thomas) KimKailee KoryakElla KozelJonathon LutzAnne MaleyMia ManganaroTroy McChesneyNicholas MetroJamie Muth

Olivia O’BrienSamantha PotterFenglan (Cymbidium) QiuAndrew ReedCiara RobinsonTiffany ShickElizabeth SnellElizabeth SollerAlexandra SturgisHannah SturgisMaggie VerardiMadison VeryAngela ViducichGracie Walters

West Mifflin AreaHigh SchoolAutumn AdamsJordan ScottCheyenne Walker

Yough SeniorHigh SchoolDominic CharlettaOlivia Cook

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