Abington Heights
Kanak Chattopadhyay doesn't have much free time. When she's not studying for her classes, the 11th-grader is practicing her trumpet, pitching new ideas as the vice president of student council, or developing her engineering skills as part of the robotics club.
"It's a busy schedule, but I really enjoy it," Kanak said. "I love being involved in both the school and community."
She said student council is focused on planning the prom.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter
Blue Ridge
Gabby Button spent her summer living artistically.
This was Gabby's, a sophomore, first year at Art's Alive and her first time taking an art class. Gabby participated in the Illustration program, which is fairly new to Arts Alive.
For one month, she created illustrations using charcoal, pastels and ink. Since it was the program's 20th anniversary, the student's work highlighted the program and the teachers. Gabby's illustrations were part of the final exhibit at the Cultural Center on Aug. 3.
Gabby also participates in geocaching, in which participants go on an adventurous hike and use a GPS unit to fund a capsule in the woods left by other geocachers.
Art is something Gabby is passionate about and hopes to pursue. She even was asked back next summer. But this time Gabby wants to create with a different medium, paint.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Carbondale Area
The hidden talents of students and faculty were on display Tuesday.
The Carbondale's Got Talent Show was organized by senior Matt Robison as his senior project.
"I wanted to help the senior class pay for their yearbooks," he said.
Matt and fellow senior Zach Rossetti hosted the evening of entertainment at which teachers judged student participants and seniors judged the staff entries. Prizes were awarded to the winners.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter
Delaware Valley
Zoe Workstel, 12th-grader, is extremely active in the high school's math peer tutoring program, helping other students with math weekly.
"Being a math tutor makes me feel like I have been making a difference with the school," Zoe said.
She is an AP scholar and a member of National Honor Society, orchestra, chorus and chamber orchestra. Zoe is also a dancer. "Being involved has shown me responsibility and has allowed me to feel like I am part of a group," she said.
lzaccagnino@timesshamrock.com
Dunmore
Sixth-graders Abby Errico and Cole Blasko at Dunmore Elementary Center are among the students who organized this year's Christmas raffle.
Sixth-grade classes work on the community project by making theme baskets to be raffled off with proceeds going to purchase supermarket gift certificates for needy families for Christmas.
The annual event usually provides more than 20 families with certificates. Tickets for the raffle are 25 cents or five for $1 and can be purchased at Dunmore Elementary Center until Dec. 18. Abby and Cole are busy getting items for each basket, wrapping the baskets and preparing for the sale of tickets.
rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter
Elk Lake
Courtney Erat, a senior, is vice president of the school's key club. The club is getting ready to do Christmas shopping for Susquehanna County Christmas Bureau. "Basically we get slips for Christmas present requests from girls and boys of specific ages and interests. We use shopping money given to us to go around and grant their wishes," Courtney said.
Courtney plays softball and tennis and is a member of the National Honor Society.
lzaccagnino@timesshamrock.com
Forest City Regional
After surviving a "boring, but nerve-wracking day" of auditions, two students qualified for District Chorus.
Junior Doria Miller and sophomore Sonny Albright agreed that sitting in the waiting rooms to try out was a bit dull, but the wait also made them feel anxious. Now that they have made the cut, both said they are looking forward to showcasing their vocal talents.
"It's enjoyable. It's fun. You don't really have to think about it," Doria said. "It just comes naturally."
"It's really rewarding too," Sonny added, explaining that he comes from a singing family. "They were really, really happy."
rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter
Holy Cross
Senior Elizabeth Polishan recently participated in the NEPA Scholastic Bowl at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel. Selected by the faculty moderator, Elizabeth said she appreciated the competition.
"Overall, I enjoyed the experience," she said. "We made it to the semifinals and had a lot fun."
Elizabeth also participates in dance and Arts Alive.
rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter
Lackawanna Trail
A "huge" fan of the television show "Glee," Alicen Backus found a way to incorporate themes from the show into her own life.
The senior started a glee club, which allows people with all different types of musical gifts to practice together.
"I am a huge music nerd, and I love signing, acting and dancing," Alicen said. "I wanted to bring in kids who may not necessarily want to join a choir, but still have musical talents."
Though nothing is scheduled, Alicen hopes the club can perform toward the end of the year.
"I am having a great time," Alicen said. "As long as everyone is having a good time, that's the most important thing."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter
Mid Valley
For eighth-grader Jesse Doyle, the best part of participating in a recent academic competition was the experience.
"I felt honored that I actually got picked for it," Jesse said.
Though the team from Mid Valley didn't win the competition, the group was pleased with the effort put forth.
"We were just happy and proud that we got so many questions right and it was fun," Jesse added.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter
Montrose Area
Mollie Host's ability to rise above and beyond expectations is why she was selected as the scholar of the year.
Each year the Northeastern Intermediate Unit in the area gathers together all the schools to choose their scholar of the year. Mollie, senior, was selected based on academics, caliber or classes, and contributions to the school such as sports and clubs.
"It's such a blessing and honor that my teachers would recognize me for this award, it really is a blessing," Mollie said .
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Mountain View
Freshman Ali Showalter's enthusiasm as secretary of student government helped her school win Susquehanna County Food Bank competition.
Student Government and Ali held a "Hunger Games" competition between each grade in the district. Each grade was tasked with bringing in 100 cans. The grade with the most cans was the last "tribute" standing. The faculty, or Gamemakers, in this high school Hunger Games situation were crowned victorious. They contributed 600 cans.
The students created a mural with the donations in the shape of a Mocking Jay, the symbolic mutant-bird pin the story's main protagonist Katniss Everdeen wears through the series. A panel from the food drive judged the mural and District Mountain View was the last tribute standing.
The students are planning to hold their own humane, non-violent, Hunger Games featuring the two students from each grade who brought in the most cans.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
North Pocono
Kelli Bray, the daughter of John and Laura Bray, balances volunteering with sports and academics at North Pocono High School.
She volunteers with the Red Cross Club and also enjoys participating on the school volleyball team.
So far in her school experience, Kelli's most memorable moment at North Pocono was when the volleyball team competed with Holy Redeemer for the district conference finals.
Kelli has made the All Star Team for volleyball the past three years and made All Region for Volleyball the past two years. She plans to major in elementary special education in college.
rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter
Old Forge
After collecting 16 cellphones in a recent Cell Phones for Soldiers Program, Sophmore Paul McCool, a top contributor, and the rest of his homeroom got a bit of a treat.
They were treated to a pizza and ice cream party for being the homeroom that collected the most amount of cell phones.
All together the Old Forge High School Leo Club collected a total of 130 cell phones.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter
Riverside
An award winning poster by an eighth grade Riverside student wishes everyone a happy, and sober, New Year.
Lexi Manzo won first place for the month of January in the Lackawanna/Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs' Holiday Poster Contest - her theme was celebrate sober this New Year's Eve. She enjoys painting as a hobby.
"I couldn't believe it when I won," Lexi said. "I thought it was a joke because it had been a long time since a Riverside student had won first place in this competition."
She and her parents will attend an award reception and candlelight vigil on Dec. 11.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter
Scranton
Darren Pitts, an eighth grade student at Northeast Intermediate School, finished second in the Junior Varsity Northern Pennsylvania History Bowl on Nov. 17 at Wyoming Valley West High School.
Unlike his competition, Darren participated as an individual rather than as part of a team. Darren also participated in the National History Bee, where he made it to the semifinals.
He has qualified for the national championships of the National History Bowl and History Bee to be held April 27 and 28 in Washington, D.C.
shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter
Scranton Prep
Junior Mikaela Surace and members of Prep's Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals club volunteered at the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary last month.
While at the sanctuary in Mehoopany, the students met the animals and helped out at the farm, cleaning the chicken coops and feeding the animals.
"It was really fun," Mikaela said. "It was such a good experience."
The students also delivered a check for about $250, the proceeds of a bake sale they held at school.
At Prep, Mikaela is also in the pro-life club and is a cheerleader.
shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter
Susquehanna Community
For junior Richard Delaney's senior project he invited the elementary students from the Susquehanna community to a "Trunk or Treat" event.
Richard distributed flyers to the elementary students inviting their parents to park their cars at the school on Friday before Halloween. Students were encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes and went from car to car "Trunk or Treating."
Richard's project was a great success, about 15 cars stocked with candy parked and approximately 75 trick or treaters went from car door to car door collecting the goodies.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Valley View
One week remains in a Toys for Tots drive that was spearheaded by senior Max Cornell.
As the President of the History Club and the chairperson of the drive, Max explained that he recognized the value the drive would have.
"It was important to me and the members of the Valley View History Club to reach out to the community," he said. "Toy for Tots was a special charity to us and means a lot to help make the holiday special for children."
Toys will be accepted in the high school lobby until Dec. 16.
Max is also involved in the Table Tennis Club, Red Cross Club, Spanish Club, National Honor Society and the golf team.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter
Western Wayne
Senior Sally Jellock, daughter of Marie Jellock of South Canaan, first started serving dinners at the Waymart Methodist Church's "Open Door Cafe" when she was a Girl Scout.
Just like its title, the "café" welcomes all for a delicious meal each Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Because she has an interest in the culinary arts, she made this community activity her senior project. Sally and her team took on the responsibility for four Saturday dinners-planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning up, starting at 11 a.m. and not finishing until early evening.
"Each Saturday we needed to survey what the café had in stock from donations, and then shop to prepare our meals," Sally said. "We served from 100 to 160 per night."
She plans to continue her community service with a team of friends, working at the Open Door Cafe three to four times a year.
rward@timesshamrock, @rwardTT on Twitter
Wyoming Seminary
Juniors Salvadore Diaz, Avoca, and Matthew Obeid, Pittston; were on the Wyoming Seminary Mock Trial team that won seventh place in the sixth annual Empire City Invitational Mock Trial Competition, held at the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Division, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
yesdesk@timesshamrock.com