School news: Week of May 18
Angela Burns
Bailey Lawrence
Helen Reynolds
Yein Christina Park
Clare McMahan
Julia Angotti
Parent orientation
Neil Armstrong Middle School Bethel Park, will host a Fifth-Grade Parent Orientation 6-8 p.m. May 26 in the school’s auditorium for all parents of current fourth-grade students who will be attending Neil Armstrong in the fall as fifth-graders. Parents will also have the opportunity to tour the school. For more information, call the school at 412-854-8751.
Scholarship recipients
The Italian-American Cultural & Heritage Society of Washington County has announced this year’s scholarship winners, and four are from the South Hills. With this year’s awards, the organization will have given out 180 scholarships to Washington County residents since 1992.
The scholarships, $3,000 each, are awarded through application of criteria that includes: a one page essay expressing their insights as a member of an Italian-American family; high academic achievement with at least a 3.5 QPA in a rigorous college-bound curriculum; participation and evidence of leadership in co-curricular activities; and a strong recommendation by a school staff member or official.
Local scholarship winners include:
• Vincent Reed DeRienzo, Peters Township High School, has maintained a 4.47 GPA while enrolled in a rigorous program of studies that includes honor classes in English, Biology, Chemistry, World Cultures, Physics, Spanish IV and Economics, as well as AP courses in European History, Calculus AB, Physics, Spanish Language, English Language and Composition, United States History and Chemistry. Vincent has received many honors associated with his participation in the Forensics Speech and Debate Club, and is also active in the Photography Club and Dramafest. He serves as a Student Ambassador, ACE Mentorship, Lead Alter Server, Vacation Bible School Aide, and Elementary School Class Helper. He has had the opportunity to participate in the Architecture Sketching Workshop at Carnegie Mellon University, which enabled him to also serve an Architecture Internship and Apprenticeship. Vincent is the son of Dante and Mary DeRienzo of Peters Township.
• Domenic Vincent Ennace, Canon-McMillan High School, ranks in the top 10 percent of his graduating class with a 4.23 GPA while completing a challenging course of studies that include Honors English, PA Science, U.S. History 9, Biology, Honors Geometry, U.S. History 10, Chemistry, Pre-Calculus, Spanish IV, World History, Contemporary American Democracy and Physics, as well as AP Courses in Computer Science, Calculus AB and Psychology. Domenic is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. He demonstrates his leadership ability as a lead C-M mentor, football team captain and basketball team captain. He serves the community as a youth basketball coach and Work Camp volunteer. Domenic is the son of Vincent and Diane Filipponi Eannace of North Strabane Township.
• Jayde Eileen Morgan, Bishop Canevin High School, is in the top 4 percent of her graduating class and maintains a 4.88 GPA while being enrolled in a stringent academic program that includes Honor Classes in English, Modern World, Algebra I, Biology, American History, U.S. History, Geometry, Chemistry, Spanish 3, World Literature, Trigonometry, Physics, Calculus AB, as well as AP Classes in U.S. History, Spanish 4, Statistics, Chemistry, English and European History. She is member of the softball and volleyball teams, as well as the World Language Club, Drama Club, FBLA, concert choir, school play cast, yearbook staff and National Honor Society. She also participates in Junior Achievement, Crusaders for Life and Circle of Friends as a class officer. Jayde also is a hospital volunteer, camp counselor and does parish work. Jayde is the daughter of Bruce and Felicia Filipponi Morgan of Canton Township.
• Maria Teresa Stopenski, Canon-McMillan High School, is an AP Scholar who ranks within the top 3 percent of her class with a 4.33 GPA, while enrolled in challenging honors classes that include English, PA Science, U.S. History, Biology, Geometry, Chemistry, Pre-Calculus, Spanish IV, Physics, Contemporary American Democracy, as well as AP Courses in Statistics, World History, American History, Calculus AB and Spanish. Maria is a member of the Spanish Club, Math League, concert band, SEC Club, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Maria serves as captain of the Flag Corps and is a lead C-M mentor. She is the daughter of David Julian and Lucia Scandale Stopenski of Canonsburg.
BP students recognized
Four Bethel Park High School students have been recognized for outstanding achievement on the National Latin Exams.
Junior Madeline Goldsworthy-Seddon earned a Silver Medal on the Latin I Exam. Junior Courtney Manns earned a Magna Cum Laude Certificate on the Latin IV Exam. Sophomore Joseph Wright earned a Cum Laude Certificate on the Latin III Exam, and freshman Ariana Guerra earned a Cum Laude Certificate on the Latin II Exam. They are taught by Bethel Park High School Latin teacher Ellen Conrad.
Latin Honor Society
Sixteen Bethel Park High School students were inducted into the National Latin Honor Society. To be eligible for induction, students must maintain a 90 percent average in Latin classes for at least two years at the high school level and demonstrate personal integrity.
Inducted this year were juniors Ken Barnhart, Lily Farmerie, Courtney Manns, Courtney Maslanka, Michelle Raymond, Heather Walker and Joanna White.
Also inducted were sophomores Nathan Cassano, Emily Cowser, Paige Davidson, Alex DiPrampero, Elizabeth Hartnett, Alex Keplar, Korey Patterson, Brianna Shannon and Joe Wright.
Receiving Senior Honor Cords were Julia Angotti, Emily Augustine, David Erzen, Jeremy Huwe, Carolyn Vona and Joey Weston.
The students are taught by Bethel Park High School Latin teacher Ellen Conrad.
Summer research
(PIC) Bethel Park High School sophomore Angela Burns is one of 20 area high school students who successfully applied and has been accepted to participate as a summer intern in the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute’s Summer Academy, which will be held June 13-Aug. 5.
Angela will be working for eight weeks this summer in the Drug Discovery, Systems and Computational Biology Lab alongside Pitt researchers, conducting hands-on, cutting-edge cancer research.
The program is designed to provide career preparatory experiences to highly motivated high school students who are pursuing higher education and careers in STEM fields, especially research and medicine.
In addition to her work in the lab, Angela will also receive instruction, tour facilities, participate in journal clubs and attend presentations by professionals in the field.
Angela participated in a week-long biology lab at Bethel Park High School this school year, coordinated by Bethel Park High School Biology teacher Barbara Eisel and conducted by University of Pittsburgh researchers, to determine if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are present in snack foods. Coincidentally, she will be working this summer in the UPCI lab with David Boone, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, who led the lab exercise at the high school.
The application process for the summer program included three essays, a resume and transcripts. For participating in the program, students will also receive a $2,400 stipend and will be required to give a 10-minute oral presentation at the end of the program about their findings.
Angela is taught by BP science teachers Monica Graziani and Charleen Kondrot.
Wilderness Leadership
(PIC) Bethel Park High School senior Bailey Lawrence received a full sponsorship from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Safari Club International and will be one of 30 students across the country who will attend the American Wilderness Leadership School, set for June 29-July 5 in Jackson Hole, Wy.
AWLS is an outdoor instructional program for students and educators that focuses on conservation and natural resource management, in addition to leadership training. The program includes overnight camping in the Grand Tetons, white water rafting on the Snake River and field trips to Yellowstone National Park.
She was recommended for this program by Bethel Park High School science teachers Jason Mickey and Jeff Johns, who participated in the program in 2015.
Art Merit Award
(PIC) Helen Reynolds, a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School, was the 2016 recipient of the $2,500 American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Art Merit Award, due to her superb painting and drawing visual art submissions.
The daughter of an American diplomat, Helen attended schools in South Africa, Russia and Canada prior to moving to Mt. Lebanon in 2014 upon her father’s retirement.
The AFSA Merit Award Program was established in 1976, and later expanded in 1996 to offer Art Merit Awards as well. The awards recognize the many accomplishments of the Foreign Service high school seniors. A total of 117 applicants competed for 22 2016 AFSA Merit Awards, including four Art Merit Awards. In 2015/2016 AFSA was able to provide $263,000 in college assistance to children of the Foreign Service.
Helen will continue studying visual arts and design at Carnegie Mellon University this fall.
National Merit Scholarship
(PIC) Upper St. Clair High School senior Yein Christina Park has been named a National Merit $2,500 Scholarship recipient – one of only 2,500 in the country.
Winners are named in every state based on the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors. Students entered the scholarship competition by completing the PSAT, the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, during their junior year.
Christina will be attending Harvard University this fall and plans to double major in microbiology and math.
Writing contest winner
Caitlyn Bostaph, a fifth-grade student at Neil Armstrong Middle School, was one of the 10 winners in StoryWorks Magazine’s “Mountain of Fire” writing contest.
The students in Melinda Romito’s classroom read the story, “Mountain of Fire,” about Mount St. Helens from StoryWorks Magazine, and the writing prompt at the end of the story asked the students to pretend they were park rangers assigned with writing a letter to potential visitors to the park, warning them of the dangers of this dangerous and unpredictable volcano.
As one of the 10 winners selected by StoryWorks, Caitlyn received a congratulatory letter and a copy of the book, “Volcano.”
MAC Grants program
In recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, McDonald’s restaurants are launching the 22nd annual MAC Grants program to help area middle school teachers Make Activities Count for their students.
The MAC Grants program provides financial support so teachers can bring hands-on tools into the classroom to engage their students in innovative ways. Since the program’s inception in 1994, McDonald’s restaurants have awarded close to $1.5 million dollars to local teachers.
Fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade teachers may apply for grants of up to $500 for interesting and educational projects.
Teachers in Greater Pittsburgh area can now apply for a 2016 MAC Grant at www.macgrants.com. Applications must be submitted, along with a W-9 form, by Aug. 1, 2016. A limited number of grant recipients will be chosen on or before Sept. 15, 2016.
German NHS inductees
Sixteen students were inducted into the Bethel Park High School Chapter of the Delta Epsilon Phi German National Honor Society.
Inducted in 2016 were senior Macie McKitrick; juniors Jonathan Lucchitti and Joshua Sholder; sophomores Brody Flowers, Bailey Sims and Brooke Worrall; and freshmen Mason Bussard, Will Coplan, Sonja Hebestreit, Rachel Holt, Alyssa Iampietro, Abigail Kauric, Katelyn Marcovecchio, Eve Rosemeier, Holly Troesch and Evan Welsh.
Delta Epsilon Phi members must maintain a minimum 3.6 GPA in German and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all other courses, and must record at least one unweighted “A” grade and no grades of “C” or lower during any three-semester span. Additionally, they must be committed to the study of German at Bethel Park High School through graduation, and must demonstrate good character and academic integrity.
The students are taught by Bethel Park High School German teacher Christopher Tobias.
Summer study scholarship
(PIC) Bethel Park High School senior Julia Angotti was selected to receive the Bethel Park High School German Club’s Summer Study Scholarship, and will have the opportunity to study German for one week at the Millersville University Summer German Camp in July.
Julia was selected to receive the scholarship due to her outstanding level of participation in the German Club’s activities, as well as her strong commitment to the Bethel Park High School German Program over the past two years.
She is taught by Bethel Park High School German teacher Christopher Tobias.
French Honor Society
Thirty-four students were inducted into the Bethel Park High School Societe Honoraire de Francais (French Honor Society).
Newly inducted members include French V students Soulammite Sokou; French III students Alyssa Bradley, Casey Bruchwalski, Roman Dudowski and Colby Reid.
Also included were French II Honors students Joseph Bilski, Cameron Carroll, Kyleigh Flood, Sarah Fulton, Christopher Garland, Connor Heath, Zachary Janus, Kalie Kuss, Jillian Loeffelbein, Anthony Lucchitti, William Martin-Farmer, Morgan Saunders, Cameron Sillman, Vanessa Vargo, Kara Wentz and Jenelle Wu.
Additionally, French II students Alexander Duguid, Brayden, Frankert, Lori Gatz, Regan Gray, Nicholas Guimond, Samantha Huwe, Alexa Junazski, Andrew Lepri, Blake McGee, Sarah Pellis, Savannah Savarese, Anna Tarbert and Josh Ye were inducted.
Honor cords were presented to French V seniors Karissa Coffield, Danielle Hinish, Morgan Hirsh, Madison Jonas, Megan Kennedy, Carolyn Kerr, Samantha Mack, Macie McKitrick, Zachary Sedor-Schiffhauer, Ashley Wentz and French IV students Adella Antkowiak, Abigail Hartzell and Emily Williams.
Pins were presented to those members who were previously inducted and have maintained the requirement for membership. Receiving a pin were returning French IV students Katherine Bustamante, Erin Cavrak, Abigail Collavo, Cameron Happe, Sarah Kauffman, Autumn Laird, Ryan Lynch, Sydney Misak, Sarah Shaheen, Katelyn Turoski, Kevin Yost and Alexandria Zallo.
Also receiving pins were French III students Kayla Armstrong, Jason Cook, Ryan Cook, Leah DeJohn, Nicole Dembiczak, Rachel Grant, Nicole Habjan, Chelsea Hallman, Rachel Hankin, Casey Mack, Madison Newman, Jacob Opie, Haley Radcliffe, Sarah Russell, Jessica Scarlett, Adriane Slater, Keira Teagardner and David Zahniser.
To be eligible for membership, students must maintain a 90 percent average in French for four consecutive nine-week periods.
The students are taught by Bethel Park High School French teachers Tracy McCoy and Rachael Smith.
SHASDA award
Bethel Park High School seniors Ronald Schiller and Carolyn Vona received the SHASDA Award from the South Hills Area School Districts Association at a reception held at the Hilton Southpointe.
Every SHASDA member school is able to recognize two seniors who have overcome obstacles in their lives to succeed not only in school, but also in life.
BP music awards
The Bethel Park High School Music Department earned 26 awards during its Spring Music Trip to the Festivals of Music in Chicago, Ill., including 10 First Place Awards, 10 Superior Ratings, five Best Overall Awards and one Outstanding Award.
First Place Awards and Superior Ratings were earned by the Top 21 Mixed Choir, Top 21 Jazz Choir, Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Bethettes, Majorettes and Drum Line.
Earning Best Overall Awards in their respective categories were the Top 21 Mixed Choir, Top 21 Jazz Choir, Symphonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble.
The Saxophone Section earned the Outstanding Jazz Section Award.