Abington Heights
Since his grandmother first taught him, Jordan Oakley has excelled at sewing.
This year, the junior put his skill to good use.
For a project in his clothing, construction and design class, Jordan and his classmates created a sleeping bag, which they will donate to an organization that will give it to a homeless person.
"It's just a great feeling knowing that you are helping someone out," Jordan said. "We had to create it just using basic sewing, but we wanted to do something special."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Blue Ridge
Members of the Leo club at Blue Ridge High School have turned into quilters.
The club is creating "ugly quilts" for My Brothers Keeper Quilt Group in Hop Bottom. Members of the club, including President Adam Liepinis, asked students to donate old, clean blankets to be crafted into sleeping bags. When the blankets are complete, they will be dropped off in Kinglsey and handed out to the less fortunate.
Aside from sewing seams, Adam is a senior who plans on attending Penn Tech to receive his associate degree in welding technology. He was also nominated for class clown and class flirt in this year's yearbook.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Carbondale Area
There are some strong business minds at Carbondale Area.
Seven students qualified for the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference in Hershey.
John Scirone had the region's highest score in Business Procedures. The junior will compete at states next.
"I was very surprised," he said. "It made me feel good to rise to the top of such stiff competition. I feel pretty good going into the state competition."
Cory Boyko, Anthony Calabro, Mekenzie Voglino, Rachael Durkin, Mike Farrell and Jared Daniels will also compete at the state level. Rachael had the highest score in Technology Concepts and Cory had the highest score in Business Calculations.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Delaware Valley
Junior Sean Prudhoe is vice president of Mu Alpha Theta and a member of the National Honor Society and student council, as well as serving as one of the captains of the swim team and a member of the volleyball team.
He also volunteers with Relay for Life, United Way's Day of Caring and the swim team.
"Volunteer work has given me more experience working with other groups," Sean said.
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Dunmore
Dunmore Elementary Center second-graders Savannah Bonavoglia and Nicholas Creed know how to spread kindness.
Second-graders at the school worked on the community outreach program "Kindness is Contagious." For the past two weeks, students have been working on various classroom projects with a theme of being kind to fellow students and people in the community.
They collected food that will be donated to a local food pantry and worked to show kindness to others.
Savannah had words of wisdom for everyone out there: "It's nice to be kind. You don't have to be mean to others."
Nicholas said the program made him want to help others even more.
"It makes me want to be kind to other people," he said.
rward@timesshamrock.com
Elk Lake
Cassy Salsman, a senior, is painting a mural from "The Great Gatsby" in Mrs. Teetsel's classroom.
"Last year, when I had her as teacher, we were reading a book, and she knew how artistic I was, and she asked me to do a painting for her," she said. "I finally got to it this year, and it's just for fun. I love painting and art in general."
Cassy also runs cross country and track. She is attending McCann School of Business and Technology for massage therapy next year. She already has her nail technician license and will earn her cosmetology license before she graduates.
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Forest City
At school, students sit at desks, on bleachers and at cafeteria tables.
Thanks to James Austin and Zach Sosnowski, students will also be able to enjoy a bench the two constructed for their senior project.
"We're into that and being hands on," Zach said of the construction.
The money for the project was donated by SADD, and a plaque on the bench will announce the creators.
"(Students will) have a place to sit now and they'll love it, I'm sure," James said. "It will be pretty cool, just to see it there with my name on it, a part of the school's history."
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Holy Cross
Holy Cross senior Bryan Bilbao had a closer than front-row seat to watch a Shakespeare performance earlier this month.
He watched "As You Like It" at the Bloomsburg Theater from the stage.
Bryan attended the play with other members of the school's senior class.
"It was a fantastic experience seeing the actors up close with us on stage," he said.
Bryan is also captain of the school's soccer team and is a member of the National Honor Society, pro-life club and the environmental club.
He had a lead in the school production of "The Wizard of Oz."
rward@timesshamrock.com
Lakeland
Katelyn Bednash has always gone out of her way to make others happy.
When the senior isn't studying, she is normally volunteering with the school's National Honor Society.
"I like to help people, and I like to know that what I do makes their lives easier," she said. "My favorite experience was helping deliver Christmas presents to less-fortunate families on Christmas Eve."
In addition to volunteering, Katelyn also enjoys dancing. She plans to enroll at the University of Scranton.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Mid Valley
Science has a big influence in Nikko Bonavoglia's life.
The senior plans to study pharmacy at Wilkes University after high school. Before graduation, though, he'll focus on building a boomilever, meant to hold a specified weight a given distance from a vertical surface, and taking a test on anatomy and physiology at the Pennsylvania Science Olympiad on March 6.
"I knew your science grades had to be high and your interest in science had to be great," Nikko said of the honor.
Also competing are Nick Michini, Matt Pasquale, Lindsay Evans, Matt Bukowski, Cassidy Orrell, Megan Monahan, Haley Drutarovsky, Hannah Bjornstad, Jimmy Walsh, Joe Chieffalo and Vienna Jones.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Montrose
In January, Callie Curley was crowned princess.
The Pennsylvania First Alternate Dairy Princess, that is.
In January, Callie traveled to Harrisburg and attended the Pennsylvania Farm Show. The weeklong event is dedicated to promoting Pennsylvania's farming industry. And with her new title, Callie will spend the next year traveling to schools and community events promoting and educating people about Pennsylvania's 7,200 dairy farm families and about the dairy industry.
"I enjoy the farm show because it gives me the opportunity to educate people who know little to nothing about agriculture and its impact on society," Callie said.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Mountain View
For her first performance ever, Makenzie Bell narrated "Butterfly Shoes."
The play, held in January at Mountain View Elementary, told the tale of a grandmother who was kidnapped by robbers. Although the robbers brought her back, they forgot her shoes. The two heroes of the story bravely trekked up a mountaintop to rescue her shoes. The heroes lucked out and did not have to fight anyone; they stole the shoes back when no one was looking.
Makenzie was present on stage for the entire performance and helped tell the tale to the audience. She had a great time and said the dramatic arts is definitely something she would like to continue participating in.
A member of the soccer and softball teams, Makenzie also enjoys going outside and discovering new things.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Scranton
Six West Scranton High School students were selected to attend the Marywood University Wind Band Celebration this month, a program offered by the university to support the performing arts in schools.
The two-day event provides students in grades 10 through 12 with the opportunity to work with and perform under the direction of nationally recognized directors and musicians.
Students from West who were selected to attend were Matt George, Chris Hood, Miguel Mateo, Ed Roach, Teresa Whitehouse and Sarah Youshock.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Scranton Prep
Junior Ryan O'Hara wants to take one of his hobbies and make it a career.
"I've been playing video games since I was 3; they've always fascinated me," he said.
He hopes to attend college for video game design.
"I like games that have a challenge and games that are inspired," Ryan said.
At Prep, Ryan is a member of the art society and computer club.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Susquehanna Community
For the first half of Sydney Avery's senior year, she will relocate to southeast France.
After several interviews, Sydney was accepted into the Rotary Youth Exchange, an international exchange student program. Sydney will leave in August to become accustomed to the French ways of life.
"I'm very thankful and extremely excited for this opportunity," she said. "I love experiencing new cultures."
A member of National Honor Society, she is top 10 in her class and is also the captain of the cheerleading team. Sydney is in French club and participates in Reading Competition.
When she's not practicing her French, Sydney occasionally plays the piano. She has been dancing for six years and has received several gold and platinum medals. During the track season of 2012, she won "most dedicated."
This opportunity fits right in with Sydney's interests in art and travel.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Tunkhannock
An 11th-grade student who has excelled in poetry writing is now a Drug Abuse Resistance Education mentor.
Mayling Ijomah recently placed third in a regional poetry competition.
"This was my highest accomplishment in poetry writing thus far," she said.
Recently, Mayling was asked to be a DARE mentor for district middle school students. She also is a member of the school's drama club, interact club, Key Club and chorus.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Valley View
There were a few extra people sporting facial hair at Valley View recently.
Faculty, staff and students were able to purchase and wear fake mustaches as part of senior Daniel Deleo's Mustache Your Cash fundraiser.
Daniel raised about $600 to help the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center purchase electric razors.
"Our students and staff had so much fun with the fake mustache day," he said. "Everyone put them on during the school day. It was great that we were able to help out our veterans who allow us to be free and safe."
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Wayne Highlands
When Jason Demers first saw the Taj Mahal, he was amazed that no cranes of any kind were used to build it.
The Wayne Highlands School District student recently spent time with his family in India.
"I thought it was really cool and amazing," Jason said.
He said he liked the food, even though it was extremely spicy. He was also taken aback by the lack of rain. In the five weeks that he was there, it did not so much as sprinkle, he said.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Western Wayne
Western Wayne High School student Josh Doyle recently completed his professional firefighter certification.
"My uncle has been chief at the Hamlin fire station, so I basically grew up there," Josh said. "I've been a volunteer EMT for two years and became one of the youngest paid EMTs recently at age 18."
His recent training makes him nationally certified.
"I completed 190 hours of class and practical training in more specialized firefighting and rescue techniques at the Wayne County Emergency Operations Command Center," he said.
Josh volunteers for the Maplewood Fire Company and works as an emergency medical technician for Hamlin. After high school, he plans to enlist in the Navy as a combat medic.
rward@timesshamrock.com