BY FRANK SOJAK
The Tribune-Democrat
May 13, 2009 11:48 pm
—
The Rotary Club of Johnstown honored 68 high school seniors from the Johnstown area for their academic achievements and service to the community during its 25th annual Salute to Area Scholars on Wednesday.
Eleven students were awarded a total of $9,750 in scholarships during the event, held at Sunnehanna Country Club in Westmont.
Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar was the keynote speaker.
Rotary President Gregory Petrilla said the students were being recognized for achieving at least a 3.5 grade-point average through all four years of high school.
“We’re proud of all these students,” Petrilla said. “The achievements showed they worked hard all four years in high school.”
The students are from Bishop McCort, Conemaugh Township Area, Conemaugh Valley, Ferndale Area, Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, Richland and Westmont HIlltop high schools.
All had the opportunity to apply for scholarships that were awarded during the event.
Those awarded scholarships were Tracy Tabib, Westmont Hilltop, $2,000; Kathryn Maceyko, Richland, $1,000; Leah Yingling, Bishop McCort, $1,000; Abigail Motley, Westmont Hilltop, $750; Kevin Dorian, Bishop McCort, $750; and Zachary Evans, Westmont HIlltop, $500.
An independent panel of three judges selected the six finalists, Petrilla said.
Maceyko’s scholarship was provided by the Arthur B. Hagadus Memorial Scholarship program. The others were provided by Rotary.
Receiving $1,000 scholarships that were provided by the Johnstown Chapter of the American Association of University Women were Sarah Pastorek, Bishop McCort; Ryan Podgorney, Conemaugh Valley; and Zachary Evans, Westmont Hilltop.
Rotary also awarded its “Service Above Self” scholarships to James Grandas, Conemaugh Township, $500; and Taylor Wyar, Ferndale Area, $250.
Tabib said the students receiving the scholarships will use the awards wisely.
“I think it’s very generous on their part,” she said about the scholarships.
Maceyko said she was excited about being given an opportunity to continue her education.
“It’s such an honor to be selected as a finalist along with such highly talented students,” she said.
Additional students recognized at the Rotary event for their academic achievement:
Bishop McCort: Jenna Bailey, DaniRae Block and Angela Litvin.
Conemaugh Township Area: Nicole Garrety, Toni Harr, Kyle Smiach and Nicole Telenko.
Conemaugh Valley: Zykia LaRue, Roman Marano, Dina Peruso and Amanda Rosenbaum.
Ferndale Area: Bradley Brosig, Rachel Dorchak, Kaitlyn McMullen, Alexandra Ratliff, Taylor Wyar and Cayla Zahoran.
Forest Hills: Jesse Davis, Brittany Fockler, Maria Gallina, Catherine Jones, Sara Katrancha, Jason Mackel, Brittany McClelland, Scott Mehall, Cassandra Myers, Heather Romanow, Brittany Shall, Ethan Sturey, Eric Tedjeske, Sean Varner, Ciara Varnish and Kasey
Wilson.
Greater Johnstown: Danielle Alberter, Katelin Lindrose, Kaitlin Smith and Derek Yerty.
Richland: Elizabeth Bausher, Bethany Biesinger, Ashley DeVore, Allison Hayes, Kaylin Hofecker, Victoria
LaMonaca, Adrianne Lazer, Malia Lonergan, Dallas Malzi, Daniel
Marshall, Kayla Petrilla and Bryan Szczur.
Westmont Hilltop: Alexa Eplett, Shauna
Hetrick, Jordy Hudson, Brett Karan, Christopher Kessler, John Livingston, Kirsten Meenan, Rebecca Morbito, Thomas Rohrabaugh Jr., Bradley Schroeder and Lauren Simmons.
Additional students recognized for their community service:
Bishop McCort: DaniRae Block, Kevin Dorian, Angela Litvin and Leah Yingling.
Conemaugh Township: Elizabeth Mlaker.
Ferndale Area: Kaitlyn McMullen and Cayla Zahoran.
Forest Hills: Jesse Davis, Maria Gallina and Heather Romanow.
Greater Johnstown: Katelin Lindrose and Derek Yerty.
Richland: Elizabeth Bausher, Bethany Biesinger, Allison Hayes, Adrianne Lazer and Malia Lonergan.
Westmont Hilltop: Ashley Gilbert, Jordy
Hudson and Lauren
Simmons.
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