Abington Heights
Andrew Fiegleman says he returned to his roots last summer.
The senior at Abington Heights spent 10 days in Israel, including stops at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and the Masada Mountain, on a trip organized by the Jewish Community Center of Scranton.
"It was incredible," he said. "It's something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Andrew said he plans to study abroad in college, though he hasn't decided on what school he plans to attend.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Blue Ridge
Taylor Decker submitted her acrylic painting of a lake near her home catching the reflection of the setting sun in a Scholastic Art and Writing contest.
The painting earned Taylor the Silver Key in the contest. The painting will move on to Marywood University for display. This is the fourth year Taylor participated in the contest, and she was encouraged by her art teacher, Mark Harvey, to enter the painting.
Taylor has been taking art classes since her freshman year and this year is enrolled in both Art 4 and Art 5 classes.
Taylor wants to study sports medicine in college but is also contemplating a minor in art.
She also plays second base on her softball team and is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Future Business Leaders of America, prom committee and National Honor Society.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Carbondale Area
Selling lilac ribbons in honor of Forensic Nurses Week represented more than a senior project for Rebekah Gigliotti.
"I hope to someday become a nurse and specialize in forensics," the senior said. "I guess you could say this is a cause near and dear to my heart since it's the career I hope to have some day. All of the proceeds will go to the Women's Resource Center in Scranton."
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Delaware Valley
Junior Phil Burns is active in both his school and local communities. A student council officer, he is a member of the varsity soccer team and Teens Against Tobacco Use.
"Being involved in school activities has helped me build leadership skills and helped me to better understand my peers," Phil said.
He also serves as a volunteer firefighter, as well as an EMT trainee.
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Dunmore
After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., students at Dunmore Elementary Center began creating cards and letters of encouragement to send to the student body.
Kaylie Colborn and Amaya Tropeano, two sixth-grade students from the elementary center, helped organize the card- and letter-making at the school. The two also created a T-shirt to wear for a dress-down day that raised money for the school. The shirts had a heart that contained the names of all the victims killed in the tragedy.
The school sent a donation of $1,100 to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.
Kaylie said the tragedy affected her emotionally, and she wanted to find a way to show she cared.
"I wanted to create something using art to show them our support," she said.
rward@timesshamrock.com
Elk Lake
Matt Domasiewicz, a junior, is a two-year member of the Future Business Leaders of America. He will be representing the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center at the state leadership conference April 15-17 in Hershey.
"I'm definitely glad I've gone to the state level twice in the past two years. It's been a fun experience in my high school life," Matt said. The conference included keynote speakers, workshops and events. The conference supplies the students with an introduction to the business world.
Matt is a member of the baseball team, student council and yearbook.
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Forest City
The Community Connections program is helping two eighth-graders develop their passion for the environment.
Sebastian Cimoch and Allison Lipko have both enjoyed the program, particularly the hands-on activities.
"I really like science, and I like the outdoors," Allison said. "I thought it would be a great way for me to do something I enjoy."
The feeling was shared by Sebastian, who said he has learned how to help preserve the world around him by doing things like planting trees and picking up litter.
"It's a great way to know about your community, to know what to do and what not to do," he said.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Holy Cross
Sophomore Riley Orr was selected to represent Holy Cross at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference at Shippensburg University in May.
Students attending the conference were chosen for qualities including strong communication skills, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, strong decision-making, sensitivity for others and a charismatic personality.
After completing an application and an interview, Riley was selected by a board of faculty members.
"I am honored to have been chosen for this great opportunity, and I am very excited to learn more about leadership," she said. "I hope to bring back many lessons that I can share with my classmates in order to be a positive influence in our world."
Riley's other activities include participating in Irish step-dancing, service club, environmental club, yearbook and Spanish club. She was also recently named the winner of the Voice of Democracy contest hosted by the VFW. For this honor, she received a $100 savings bond.
rward@timessharmrock.com
Lackawanna Trail
His love for music started when he was in fifth grade, when a musician played at his elementary school. Since then, Wyatt Cooper has worked to master the saxophone.
Now the senior is playing with the Marywood University Wind Ensemble.
"It's been wonderful," Wyatt said. "It's a really strong program, so it is a privilege to be able to be involved."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Lakeland
As a young girl, Jessie Kozlosky could always be found with colored pencils and a piece of paper.
Her love of drawing has since expanded, and so has her talent.
The ninth-grader received four honorable mentions in drawing in this year's Scholastic Art Competition.
"My art teacher said I should enter some of my drawings, so I did," she said. "I was pretty surprised to hear how well I did."
Her four entries were drawings of her aunt's bulldog, a basset hound, a glass of wine and slippers.
"I love all animals, but especially dogs," Jessie said. "I am most comfortable drawing with graphite pencils. That is when I am at my best."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Mid Valley
For her entire academic career, Lindsey Evans has worked to achieve success in and out of the classroom.
Her efforts paid off when she was named the Mid Valley Scholar of the Year, an honor based on academics, involvement and an interview process.
"It's really nice to know that all the teachers feel that all of my hard work is paying off," she said. "I've always been striving to push myself to do even more."
She follows in her brother's footsteps; he took home the honor two years ago.
"We compete grade-wise, but it's just to push each other," she said. "He's supportive of everything."
After graduation, Lindsey plans to attend Penn State University's Main Campus and study aerospace engineering and political science.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Montrose Area
Kyle Wimmer was instrumental in chronicling the artistic endeavors of Montrose Area High School students.
Helping to fill and bind the school's yearly Graphite, a publication of the students' literary and artistic work, Kyle was able to print 250 copies of the publication.
Kyle, a senior, was recruited by a Montrose alumni and had a great experience composing the Graphite.
"It was a great time because I helped the school community by putting together this magazine for students," Kyle said.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Mountain View
Peter, Hayley and Genavieve Maloney dreamed a dream.
Next weekend, the Mountain View students and siblings will be featured on stage in the Act Out Theater Group's performance of "Les Miserables."
This is the first year Act Out is putting on a winter performance.
For the past two summers, Peter, Hayley and Genavieve have participated in the group's summer program, and plan to hit the stage once again when school lets out for the summer.
The independent musical theater group is made up of local students ages 10 to 18. During the show's run, each student is given the chance to play a lead character and display his or her dramatic abilities.
Theatergoers can check out Act Out's rendition of "Les Miserables" at Riverside Junior/Senior High School, Taylor, on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Performances are also scheduled for Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.; and Feb. 3 at 2 and 6 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 or at the door for $12.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
North Pocono
Shelby Mychayliw balances success inside and outside of the classroom.
The daughter of Mark and Melissa Mychayliw, Shelby is a high honors student and takes both accelerated and AP classes. She is also a member of student council, Friends of Rachel, the National Honor Society and Science Olympiad.
Shelby said her most memorable moment at North Pocono was winning first place for her gravity vehicle at the regional competition for Science Olympiad.
When away from school, she works at Freedom Images Screen Printing and Custom Embroidery and volunteers at St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen and the Highway Cleanup.
Shelby plans on attending college to major in engineering.
rward@timesshamrock.com
Old Forge
With one large-scale presentation to staff and administrators in the books, Old Forge seventh-grader Amanda Katchmar is ready for round two.
Next week, she will be presenting information on the negative effects of technology and social media.
She cites cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking and bad computer posture among items addressed in her 52-slide presentation.
"I wanted to find something that was interesting, something with technology," the 12-year-old said. "Something that could top my previous presentation."
In December, she presented a gender stereotype slide show to administration and staff.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Riverside
After standing out on a worldwide scale, a Riverside High School senior's art will rocket across the country.
Corey Smigiel's piece was selected to become part of the Dream Rocket Project and will travel with two other pieces from Nepal and the Philippines to four locations across the country.
"I can't believe my project was chosen with students from all over the world," he said.
His piece is scheduled to make appearances at events in Texas, Kansas, California and Alabama.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Scranton
Scranton High School students competed at the Future Business Leaders of America leadership conference earlier this month at Keystone College.
Jimmy McNally, Moira Kupinski and Maura Lunney received a first place in entrepreneurship and qualified for the state conference in Hershey.
The following students also won awards: Taylor Stetzar and Lesley Cordero, second place in business ethics; Brigid McNally, Alexis Strelecki and Marina Strelecki, second place in network design; Matt McGuigan and Kraigen Rasalla, third place in emerging business issues; Emily Glogowski, Gabs Grudzinski and Corey Manley, fourth place in global business; Grace Granahan, fifth place in networking concepts; and Maggie Hemphill and Leah Walsh, fifth place in marketing.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Scranton Prep
Senior Eddie Pfaeffle received a nomination from U.S. Rep. Tom Marino to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
"It's a really good education," Eddie said.
The Lake Ariel resident hopes to study marine engineering.
At Prep, Eddie is captain of the swim team, and during the summer, coaches children on the Hideout swim team.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Susquehanna Community
Sal Pelicci helped to coordinate with Montrose Area and Dunmore to ensure State Island families affected by Hurricane Sandy had everything they needed to get through the holiday season.
As part of Sal's senior project, he worked with Schools for Sandy and the Stephen Siller Foundation, a fireman's charity organization on Staten Island, N.Y., to collect and distribute the items to the affected families.
In the future, Sal hopes to attend college and major in military technology and enlist in the Marine Corps. He would like to work on airplanes for Lockheed Martin or Boeing.
Interested in athletics, Sal is a member of the football team, track and field, after-school fitness club, weight lifting and Insanity fitness workouts. He also flexes his dramatic muscles in drama club and put his smarts to the test during Enviorthon.
Sal is also a member of the prom committee.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Valley View
December was a busy month for Diana Simmons.
She was named Physical Education Senior of the month and helped coordinate a Christmas program with her Bible study.
"The program was for children and involved singing, a Nativity and refreshments," Diana said. "It feels wonderful to help people. It touches your heart to impact people's lives."
Diana is also involved in the soccer team.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Wallenpaupack
Fourth- and fifth-grade chorus members used their voices this holiday season to spread cheer.
The first stop on their holiday tour was a performance during the Newfoundland Area Women's Club December holiday luncheon at the French Manor, Sterling. Next, they took the show on the road and performed for the public at the Mall at Steamtown's center court.
The students sang a wide variety of holiday music, even substituting some of their own lyrics for the traditional ones. Dancing on stage with the chorus was the South School's own Rockettes and during "Blitzen's Boogie," audience members were treated to a guest appearance by the famous reindeer himself.
The performance opened up with a two-part harmony, "A Holiday of Music." The student chorus, which includes 14 fourth-grade students and 27 fifth-graders ended the show with a big band swing number, "Hot Chocolate," from the movie "Polar Express."
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Western Wayne
National Honor Society, Advanced Placement courses, marching band, chorus, school musicals, Future Business Leaders of America, as well as other extracurricular activities, and athletics: Jamie Thorpe and Allie Hess have many shared high school experiences.
Both seniors were honored at the January school board meeting for their academic and extracurricular success. Another commonality both girls have? Their fathers both teach at Western Wayne Middle School.
Jamie plans to major in mathematics with a focus on actuarial science at either Lebanon Valley or at Millersville, where she has earned a full scholarship. Allie's goal is to study biochemistry at Temple University.
rward@timesshamrock.com