Abington Heights
Six students have received a letter of commendation for their outstanding academic promise.
Evan Eckersley, Kaylee Kline, Madeline McNichols, Amelia Oon, Taylor Ross and Will Swisher were all named commended students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation based on their selection index score.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Carbondale Area
Though she is only in high school, Emily Hilker earned top nursing honors.
She placed first in a Skills USA competition held at the Susquehanna County Career Technology Center for nurse assisting. Skills USA is a national student leadership organization for vocational, industrial, technical and health occupations students.
"There were a lot of skilled students who presented tough competition for me at the competition," Emily said. "It was quite an honor to receive first place."
Emily hopes to go to college to become a nurse. She will participate in the state competition in April.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Delaware Valley
Junior Erika Lipari placed first in business ethics at the recent Future Business Leaders of America club's regional competition, where she was the assistant to the regional president.
An honor roll student, Erika is a member of FBLA, political awareness club, student council and orchestra.
"Being involved has allowed me the opportunity to socialize with many new people," she said. "I have become more acquainted with my peers as well as the faculty members in our school."
She helps to raise funds for the Humane Society, student council, food drives and the United Way's Day of Caring, as well as volunteering her time with many other events.
"I would like to be remembered as an opinionated, ambitious, genuinely kind and friendly person who is humorous and enjoyable to be around," Erika said.
lzaccagnino@
timesshamrock.com
Dunmore
Seventh-grader Lizzy McNeff and her classmates in the Service Club and the Friends of Rachel Club provided gifts for sick children in hospitals.
Working on a project called the Jared Box, Lizzy and her classmates decorated boxes and collected small toys, games, puzzles, art supplies, costume jewelry and other items to put inside.
On Valentine's Day, the students delivered about 200 boxes to area hospitals and gave them to children who were ill or awaiting surgery.
Lizzy said she enjoyed helping children who spent time in hospitals.
"It helps the kids take their minds off being sick," she said. "Everyone enjoyed the project as they know it's for a good cause."
rward@timesshamrock.com
Elk Lake
Eighth-grader Ben Woolcock is president of the Builder's Club, the district's junior high service club.
The club spearheaded the Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser.
"We did multiple fundraisers, sold poinsettias during Christmastime, and our big fundraiser was a dance-a-thon for seventh through 12th grades that was five hours after school," he said.
Ben plays basketball and soccer, is a member of the junior high student council and was recently nominated to the Junior High National Honor Society.
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Forest City
Monkey bread, cake squares, brownies and other baked goods were a big part of Brittany Rutledge's and Kaylie Gigliotti's senior project.
The two baked treats to deliver to the Forest City Senior Citizens Center.
"It felt good doing something for someone else," Brittany said.
The seniors learned to work as a team to bake, write a paper and manage schedules to juggle jobs and extracurricular activities.
"It was really rewarding going in there, because all the seniors were all happy and smiling," Kaylie added.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Holy Cross
Sophomore Gina Pettinato has qualified to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Regional Chorus festival in March.
Gina said she has enjoyed district chorus and appreciated the experience it has provided.
"We were able to meet new people with the same appreciation for music and learn about different types of music," she said. "I am so grateful for being able to participate in it"
rward@timesshamrock.com
Lackawanna Trail
Victoria Ellsworth is so excited to pursue a career in medicine, she wanted to get a jump-start on her college education.
The senior is on track to complete nine credits' worth of classes at the University of Scranton, which she said will allow her to enroll in her major courses earlier.
"I think it will really help me adjust to college life," she said. "I know I will be in school for a while, so I wanted to take advantage of an opportunity to get a head start."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Lakeland
As president of the school's Future Business Leaders of America Club, Hugh Doyle has learned the importance of leadership and communication.
The senior is in charge of registering all club members for state conferences as well as organizing meetings. The experience, he said, has been invaluable.
"No matter what situation I am put in, I feel like I can go in and lead everyone in the right direction," he said.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Mid Valley
The January student of the month had a particularly high GPA this month, but the honor was still a surprise.
Senior Delaney Reynolds was selected after her teachers took a vote, based on academic performance and school and community involvement.
"I'm proud to be given it, and I'm glad that the teachers voted for me," she said. "I know that it's hard to get it because there are so few people that get it."
Delaney is also involved in basketball, Future Business Leaders of America, science club and National Honor Society. After graduation, she plans to attend college and major in criminal justice and minor in psychology.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Montrose
After two months of creating flowers, Emily Hare's hard work paid off.
Emily, an eighth-grader, won the Scholastic Gold Key award for the floral drawing she submitted to the contest. Although she didn't work on the drawing every day, the artwork took a lot of time to complete.
"I felt pretty good because I was the only one from my school to win," Emily said.
Her artwork has been sent to New York.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Mountain View
In honor of the excellent care the VNA Hospice in Olyphant gave to Kyla Mills' grandmother, she held a fundraiser for the hospice.
With help from family members and friends, Kyla organized a spaghetti supper at the Elk Diner in Clifford. She prepared the pasta that was paired with sauce made by her aunt. The event raised a total of $654 and was part of Kyla's senior project.
Kyla, a Susquehanna Vo-Tech student, enjoys snowboarding and recently joined the Clifford Twp. Volunteer Fire Company.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
North Pocono
Senior Emily Morgan raised $24,000 in donations and distributed 1,700 books, bookcases, art and school supplies, games and puzzles through an organization she founded.
Called "Eat a Book," Emily started the project in 2011 to inspire children to "devour" good books. She has also developed curriculum for two summer camps, publishes a children's magazine and has built six literacy centers at shelters and other facilities for at-risk children.
Emily has been named one of the top runners-up in the 2013 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in Pennsylvania. Emily will receive an engraved bronze distinguished finalist medallion to commemorate this prestigious award.
rward@timesshamrock.com
Riverside
A Riverside East Elementary fifth-grader is already finding ways to apply her classwork to the real world.
Lilliana Merino has been working with local author Margo Azzarelli as she researches Moosic for her next "Images of America" series book. Mrs. Azzarelli needed to know the school's age, and Lilliana was ready for the job.
She used subtraction to find out her school's age by subtracting 2013 from the school's completion date of 1968.
"Subtraction is my favorite operation," Lilliana said. "I never knew the age of our school."
Old photographs of the school, formerly called Moosic Elementary, will be part of the upcoming book published by Arcadia Publishing.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Susquehanna Community
Ariana Hagopian walked the runway for her senior project.
At the inaugural prom fashion show held at St. John's Church in Susquehanna, Ariana modeled prom dresses the church collected. The fashion show and dress sale helped to supply the students with prom dresses at a discount price. More than 100 donated gowns were sold at $5, $10 and $15; the proceeds went to support St. John's Pro-Life Committee.
The event included a display of tuxedos and new gowns, music, raffle and many other prom-related exhibits.
Off the catwalk, Ariana is a football and basketball cheerleader and plays softball. She is involved with SADD and Envirothon and a member of the National Honor Society.
Although Ariana is only in her junior year, she plans to attend college to become an obstetrician/gynecologist.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Scranton
West Scranton High School completed two rounds of the annual mock trial competition sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Lackawanna Bar Association.
Four students won awards: Danielle Rutkowski for best witness and Kaitlyn Tokash for best advocate against Western Wayne, and Cara Anzulewicz for best witness and Kaela Palmiter for best advocate against Scranton High.
West Scranton's team was coached by Nicholas Kramer and attorneys Christopher Piazza and Mike Genello.
Other team members included Vinny Arcieri, Hannah Makowski, Randall Kasorek, Diane Matteo, Sara Skoritowski, Aileen Royce, Brian Martin and Alexandra Kerecman.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Scranton Prep
As a football and basketball cheerleader, senior Amanda Adamo has learned more than stunts and chants. She has gained confidence, along with an increased ability to trust and believe in people.
"Since I've been on the squad, I've also made so many friendships," she said. "We love cheering our boys on, too."
Amanda, who is one of more than 20 girls on the squad, is also a member of the Prep Players.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Valley View
Twins Erika and Staci Deleo know the importance of family.
The sophomores are co-chairwomen of the Breakfast of Hope at Rossi's Restaurant on Sunday, March 17, at 10 a.m., an event that honors their cousin and the foundation created in his name. The Lou Ruspi Jr. Foundation was started to promote awareness and funds for suicide prevention.
The proceeds of the breakfast will help provide 17 educational packets for school districts in Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike counties. "Due to the tragic loss of my cousin, I feel it is very important to promote awareness in the hope of saving lives," Erika said.
Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for children. For tickets, call 840-2680 or email LRJFoundation@live.com.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Wayne Highlands
A Preston Area School eighth-grade student is taking a passion to professional levels.
Dwight Welch, 14, runs two small businesses from home. He's maintaining a minnow hatchery to sell bait to fishermen and raises trapdoor snails to those interested in keeping their ponds clean.
In school, he plays trumpet in the school band and has participated in the Middle Grades Music and Arts Festival, as well as the Marywood University Junior Wind Band Celebration.
"I really enjoy playing the trumpet, and I want to keep on playing as long as I can," Dwight said. "I hope to join the orchestra at church."
Dwight is an active member of the Green Grove Pilgrim Holiness Church.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Western Wayne
Instead of the typical speech outlining her accomplishments, Western Wayne senior Elizabeth Curtis presented the school board recently with her list of "top ten reasons to attend Western Wayne."
Some of her highlights included taking 13 honors and AP courses with nine different teachers; visiting seven states on school trips; six years honing her presentation and science skills in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, leading to her career goal as a food chemist; and developing a second family through marching band, where Elizabeth has been drum major for two years.
"While I have had personal accomplishments in FBLA and PJAS, nothing compares to band," she said. "To see a group of teenagers give up their individuality and work towards perfection gives me hope for our future.
Elizabeth, a 10-year 4-H member and a three-time Locks of Love hair donor, will attend Penn State's University Park campus and major in food science.
rward@timesshamrock.com