Abington Heights
Two seniors took their talents in speech and debate to the national level.
Meg Carter and Panos Tsaklas traveled to Connecticut and took part in the Yale University Speech and Debate Tournament in September.
Panos finished seventh in the Humourous Interpretation event, while Meg scored well in Original Oratory and Duo Interpretation of Literature.
"It was a lot of fun going and performing in front of a group of kids," Panos said. "This is something I want to continue to do because I think it helps the maturity process. It has helped me so much in terms of public speaking."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Blue Ridge
A sea of pink flooded over Blue Ridge High School and Middle School on Nov. 1.
Student council President Allison Coller and the rest of the council organized a "Pink Out" to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The students sold more than 300 T-shirts with the slogan, "We Pink We Can, We Pink We Can," and other blush-hued trinkets in the cafeteria, raising about $600 for the cause. The council's enthusiasm caught fire, and the middle school student council participated in the efforts as well. The council is also working to keep the money raised in Pennsylvania.
Allison has been on student council since sixth grade and helps organize the group's fundraising and awareness efforts every month.
The future nursing student is president of the prom committee, a member of the SADD and Leo clubs, secretary of the National Honor Society, a Future Business Leader of America member, and vice president of the senior class. She also participated in the school's Veterans Day breakfast.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Carbondale Area
Rosanna Misura can add royalty to her high school résumé.
The senior was announced as the homecoming queen on Oct. 12 during the crowning ceremony. Homecoming princesses included Leea Berrios, Karissa Caffrey, Emily Scotchlas, Chelsea Castle, Katelyn Bognatz and Brooke Caviston.
"It makes me feel good to know that I was selected by the whole school as the person they wanted to represent them at Homecoming," Rosanna said.
After graduation, she plans to attend college and become a pharmacist.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Delaware Valley
Kristen DeVilliers, a junior, is a three-year member of the Environmental Club and has participated in Odyssey of the Mind since second grade. She has also been a member of the swim team since freshman year and was involved in Teens Against Tobacco Use during ninth grade as well.
"School related activities have affected me both mentally and physically," she said.
Kristen volunteers at Delaware Valley Raptor Center, including cleaning cages and studying and working with the birds.
She is also a volunteer with the Lions Club, United Way, Special Olympics and summer swim teams. She would like to be remembered as "someone who followed her hopes and dreams and most of all followed her heart and did what she enjoyed to do no matter what."
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Dunmore
Brian Comparetta, a fourth-grader at Dunmore Elementary Center, helped make a difference for Superstorm Sandy victims.
After seeing the devastation from the storm in news coverage, Brian approached the administration at the school about having some type of fundraiser to help. After meeting with Brian, the school officials decided to have a dress-down day for the victims.
The event raised more than $1,300 to send to the American Red Cross. Brian raised $150 from friends and family to help.
"I'm happy with how much money we raised," Brian said. "I felt bad for the people who lost their homes and I thought how I would feel if I knew my home was gone. I really wanted to help them out."
rward@timesshamrock.com
Elk Lake
Senior Jason Vermeulen is serving as this year's student council president. Student council began its annual food drive on Oct. 15 and concluded it on Oct. 26. "It was't the turnout that we expected, but every little bit helps, so we're proud we can do our part," Jason said.
He is also serving as president of District 9 student council and is a member of National Honor Society, prom steering, band, cross country and track.
Jason plans to major in mechanical engineering in college.
lzaccagnino@ timesshamrock.com
Forest City
Tommy Campbell is using his senior project to increase environmental awareness.
Under the senior's guidance, the Green Club, which focuses on recycling, has collected bins from the elementary and high schools. The group also helps teach elementary students about the topic.
"When they grow up to be like us, they can know that littering is a bad thing," the club president said.
After graduation, Tommy plans to study mechanics.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Holy Cross
Senior Katie Purcell recently attended the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils 76th State Conference at Laurel and Union High School.
Throughout the weekend of the conference earlier this month, Katie and other students attended workshops on leadership and listened to motivational speakers. They also had a banquet and a dance.
"I met a lot of new people and learned many new things to bring back to our student council," Katie said.
She also plays basketball and softball and serves as treasurer in both the student council and National Honor Society. She is also active in the pro-life, environmental, yearbook and foreign language clubs.
rward@timesshamrock.com
Lackawanna Trail
Gabby Sunseri took a different approach to Halloween.
Instead of scaring others, the senior organized a safe night out at Lackawanna Trail Elementary School on Oct. 26.
"I wanted to organize something that the younger kids could enjoy, and wouldn't be too scared to attend," Gabby said. "The turnout was great and the support was better than I could have imagined."
As part of her senior project, the event raised more than $1,500. Gabby sent the proceeds to the elementary school and the United Nations Children's Fund.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Lakeland
Mayfield Elementary School has named its October students of the month. Students honored are Aliya Stephens, Madalyn James, Hunter Kwader, Mykaylah Williams, Joseph Pezanowski, Shelby Urda, Joshua Campbell, Olivia James, Angelica Nowak, Deanna Reece, Jonathan Nowak, Alyssa Roginski, Kenneth Mims, Joseph Bootz, Mariah Wormuth, Tristan Uram and Rachael Battle.
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Mid Valley
For the past three years, Marja Bjornstad has been involved in the choir.
This year, the sophomore, who sings the alto 2 part, was recognized for her hard work when she successfully auditioned for the District 9 Chorus. She competed against more than 300 peers from area schools.
"I just love to sing and the people are usually really nice there," she said of her singing peers.
Several other Mid Valley students were selected for the District 9 Chorus, which Marja said has helped to ease her worries.
"They just tell me don't be nervous and sing your best," she said.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Montrose
Barack Obama may have won the election but the Republican candidate took the seat in Joseph Festa's AP government class.
Students in seven through 12th grade upheld their right to vote by electing Mitt Romney during a schoolwide mock election.
When the ballots were counted, the students at the high school voted in Mr. Romney, 320-280.
Tommy Krupinski, senior and AP government student, felt the election was a good learning opportunity for students participating in the election.
"Students were given a lesson in civics about the greatness of the right to vote and the importance of casting a ballot, especially considering the margin of victory," Tommy said.
The school wide election takes place every four years to educate the students on the importance of voting.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
Mountain View
Every day had a different theme at Mountain View during Red Ribbon Week.
Emily Supancik, a freshman, and the rest of the Students Against Destructive Decisions group helped organize different events in support of the cause.
The group collaborated to come up with the weeklong awareness celebration for SAAD.
On Monday, students were encouraged to wear red for "redesign your day." The students laced up their boots on Wednesday to "give drugs the boot." Participants wore colorful socks with vivid patterns to "sock it to drugs," on Thursday. During the week, the club sold snap bracelets for $1 with the slogan, Drugs Bug Me, and on Friday, if you purchased a bracelet, pajama bottoms were an acceptable form of dress.
Emily is looking forward to promoting SADD's message throughout the year. A member of the National Junior Honor Society, she also took the stage in this year's school play.
kbolus@timesshamrock.com
North Pocono
North Pocono High School student Spencer Williams was named a commended student in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship program.
Principal John Marichak presented Spencer with a letter recognizing him for the achievement.
About 34,000 students nationwide receive the designation, which means they placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in 2013.
rward@timesshamrock.com,
Pittston Area
Because a Pittston Area School District student won a national essay contest explaining why she is proud to be an American, she spent a weekend at a conference bearing the name of a location that tested a burgeoning American spirit.
Pittston High School sophomore Kristen Richards wrote an essay and won the 2012 AMVETS Department of Pennsylvania National Essay contest and spent a weekend at the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Youth Leadership Conference.
Reasons why she is proud to stand by the American flag range from the military to the Constitution to Neil Armstrong's "small step for man."
"The United States was the first nation to fly. We were also the first, and only, nation on the moon," Kristen wrote in her essay. "The advancements that were made here as a result of the opportunity are something to take pride in."
Among other activities, all the students at the conference learned about American history.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Riverside
The Riverside High School science club and its adviser, Susan Ludwikowski, all pulled together for Tabetha Saylock.
Tabetha, a senior at Riverside High School, has interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and large medical bills.
Raising more than $220 with a "pie a teacher" event, the science club donated all the money to help offset some of those expenses.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Scranton
Joseph Meyers' German classes held their annual celebration of Oktoberfest on Oct. 26. Students celebrated German culture and traditions as part of their classes for the day, including listening to traditional and modern German music, and tasting foods like black forest cake, vanilla raspberry torte and apple strudel.
Senior members of the German classes and German club officers who helped in preparations included Alex Bolsar, Kim Graham, Tyler Bonafede, Brian Patchoski, Annie White, Austin Martinelli and Christoper Wood.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Scranton Prep
Senior Colby Morgan and his teammates won second place at Bloomsburg University's high school math contest for the game of 24.
"We were hoping for first but we're still pretty happy," Colby said. He and his teammates, Kevin Kelly, Molly Siebecker and Kaitlyn Davis practiced regularly as a team and individually as well.
At Prep, Colby is a member of the computer, Spanish and classical languages clubs. He plans to attend college for computer science.
shofius@timesshamrock.com
Valley View
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Valley View student council hopes to make sure no one goes without a holiday meal.
Eric Gowat, a senior and president of student council, is in charge of Valley View's Feed-A-Friend project.
"I feel it is very important to help the community so that everyone will have the opportunity for a good Thanksgiving," he said.
Eric is also involved in SADD, health and physical education club, Spanish club, Red Cross club, National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, ski club, history club, soccer and tennis.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Wayne Highlands
An eighth-grade Damascus student hopes to have a career in entertainment.
Over the summer, Jordan Peer, 13, participated in the National American Miss Pageant in Harrisburg and in Hawley's Ritz Junior Theater Program's rendition of "Pinkalicious" in the summer of 2011.
Last year, she also participated in the chorus at the Middle Grades Music and Arts Festival and will perform with the Marywood Honors Band this year.
"I hope to be successful in the entertainment business, particularly music or acting," Jordan said. "Someday I also hope to do something to help kids with disabilities, such as autism or Down syndrome. I feel that a lot of kids who have disabilities are misunderstood and should be treated like everyone else."
Jordan has also performed as a member of the chorus, vocal ensemble, the band and the woodwind ensemble throughout middle school.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Western Wayne
Ten National Honor Society members volunteered at the Wayne County Food Pantry, dropping off a load of canned goods and nonperishable food items donated by Western Wayne High School students in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday.
"We spent the day packing 400 Thanksgiving bags for families," said Nicole Buehring, a National Honor Society member. "I was surprised by how many people stopped by to pick up food. It's eye-opening how many people rely on this to make ends meet."
rward@timesshamrock.com