Blue Ridge
Kindergartner Hadleigh Gumaer was recently chosen as a Blue Ridge Elementary School Citizen of the Month. She was recognized by her teacher for working hard to be responsible, as well as being a caring and kind friend.
Hadleigh’s favorite subject in school is science as she enjoys learning new facts about animals. Her favorite animal to learn about is the red-tailed monkey.
When asked what it felt like to be chosen as Citizen of the Month, Hadleigh said, “It felt good because I try to be nice to people and help them with their work.”
Outside of school, Hadleigh plays soccer for Blue Ridge Youth Soccer, enjoys working on art projects, helping her family around the house and doing science experiments. She would like to be a police officer when she grows up so she can help keep people safe.
Carbondale Area
Freshman Jordan Berg recently participated in the District Chorus Fest at Honesdale High School. He sang “Carry the Light,” “Geronimo,” “Seize the Day” and “Viva La Vida” (his favorite).
“It was a wonderful experience. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys singing and not worried about performing in front of others,” Jordan said.
His activities include volunteering at Our Lady of the Rosary feast, soccer, chorus and drama club, where he most recently played a radio station singer and servant ensemble in the play “Annie Jr.” He also enjoys singing.
Jordan plans on studying astronomy in college.
Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
Paige Rivers, a senior at North Pocono High School in the protective services program, has excelled in the program, demonstrating remarkable resilience, according to school officials. Her completed seat-belt safety project has earned her a presentation opportunity with PennDOT in Harrisburg, where she will compete at the state level with great enthusiasm. While in the program, she has obtained her ASHI First Aid/CPR/AED certification, as well as her PATH- Practical and Tactical Handcuffing certification.
Paige provided the following quote: “We don’t do it for the money, we don’t do it to get paid. We don’t do it for the glory. But for the life that might be saved,” by Derek Landy.
At North Pocono, she is in Bandfront, manager of the color guard and PennDOT District winner. Paige plans to obtain a post-secondary NREMT certification after high school.
Dunmore
The following students were recognized for being students of the month for March: Molly Spager, grade 7; Sharlin Lionan, grade 8; Egen Haikes, grade 9; Madison Perrella, grade 10; Aleena Speed, grade 11; and Skye Madrazo, grade 12.
The students were selected by their teachers. The students are considered with the following criteria: displays excellent character, follows rules and expectations, maintains good attendance, displays a positive attitude toward learning, participates in class, demonstrates full effort, works to their potential, acts as a positive role model for fellow students and promotes the school as a proud member of our school community.
Elk Lake
Freshman Andrew Buffington is a pleasure to have in class, the school reported. He has an incredible work ethic and he is motivated to succeed. Andrew is a dedicated member of the art club and homework club, both of which he attends weekly. He is a great artist who is super creative and has great imagination. Andrew is well-liked by all of his peers.
“My favorite artist is Andy Warhol. I like art because I like to draw sketches,” he said.
Andrew’s activities include church youth group, video games, watching movies and writing stories.
After graduation, he will go and serve as the half-missionary of his church in Utah.
Forest City Regional
Senior Blake Menotti worked service hours at Menotti Tire and Repair for 30 hours for his senior project. He worked on brake changes, inspections, tire changes and various other tasks. This experience was helpful to his career in the future in automotive repair.
“I had a very good experience working and learning from my uncle in his shop,” Blake said.
His activities include soccer, football, volleyball, track and National Honor Society, and he earned advanced on the NOTCI written test at Career Technology Center.
Blake plans on working full time and applying to apprentice in heavy machinery in the fall.
Lackawanna Trail
Fifth grader Jake Evans wrestled at the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Associations North District Championships on March 29 at Athens Area High School. His performance allowed him to qualify for the North Regional Championships, which will be held on April 26 and 27 at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.
“I am looking forward to wrestling at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds,” Jake said.
His other activity is karate.
Lakeland
Eighth grader Cecilia Giombetti was recently recognized as junior high student of the month. Her teachers described her as someone who is “polite, cooperative, hard-working and inquisitive, has great class participation, and always brings a positive attitude to class.”
“It was really unexpected to be named student of the month, but it made me feel really good to know that my hard work was recognized,” Cecilia said. “It’s a cool accomplishment.”
Her activities are soccer, track and field, and playing piano. Cecilia loves to cook and bake, and would love to own her own bakery someday.
Mid Valley
Fifth grader Julia DiChiara was nominated for her many accomplishments. She sings in the fifth grade chorus, and was selected for ChorusFest, which took place April 1 at Honesdale High School. In addition, she plays the trumpet in the fifth grade band, and she is playing the piano at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 19.
“I am very proud of myself for being able to play two instruments and sing,” Julia said.
Her activities include fifth grade band (trumpet), fifth grade chorus, NEIU Reading Competition (MV team took first place), piano lessons for five years and dance classes at the Ballet Theatre of Scranton for four years.
Julia plans on attending college.
North Pocono
Soyer DeLucy is taking challenging classes this year, including AP chemistry, AP calculus, AP psychology and accelerated English. Soyer began taking accelerated classes in seventh grade, and by senior year she had taken seven AP classes. She has received high honors throughout her high school career, and has been in the National Honor Society for three years.
Soyer has been a member of the girls varsity volleyball and track and field teams for four years, and has been captain of both sports her junior and senior year. She has also been a part of the Electric City Volleyball Academy for five years. Soyer has been named all-region for both volleyball and track for two years, and a coaches all-star for four years. She is also a part of various clubs such as Mini-Thon, Red Cross and SADD. She helps out throughout her community by coaching travel volleyball at Riverfront Sports after school. She is currently employed at Hollister.
After graduation, Soyer will attend Florida Atlantic University, where she will major in biology. She plans to go to medical school and become a medical examiner.
Old Forge
Senior Margaret DeStefano just recently passed MIG welding and has been recognized twice for young writers saga contests.
“I think being a published writer is cool because my work is literally in a book. I am also grateful that Mrs. Marsico, my teacher who brought it up to us in class, because otherwise I wouldn’t have known about it,” she said.
Margaret added, “One of my personal favorite quotes is ‘Take pride in your dysfunction’ — Aron Beauregard. I like this quote, because to me it means taking pride in yourself even though you are different from the norm.”
She is involved in drama and Leo clubs and plays the clarinet in the band.
Margaret plans on being a welder. She’s not sure if she wants to go to college yet, but if she does she would like to go to Johnson College and then move to Philadelphia.
Riverside
The students in grades 3-6 at Riverside Elementary East participated in the second annual science fair organized by their teachers. Students presented their projects by doing experiments for their families.
“I tested different designs of my paper airplanes,” stated Ali El Haouzi, grade 4. “My hypothesis was that the plane with the thinnest wing would be the fastest, but I was wrong. The one with the widest wing was the fastest. It was still fun being in the science fair,” he added.
Susquehanna Community
Sixth grader Benjamin Detwiler was chosen by Marissa Draim, his music, chorus and band teacher, to sing the national anthem at the sixth grade versus faculty basketball game. Draim chose him because of his passion, drive and talent for music. She says Benjamin excels in singing, playing trumpet and reading music, and has the ability to hear a song and reproduce it quickly.
School officials say he demonstrates that music is very important to him and is an active member of as many music-related ensembles and activities as he can be. Benjamin is also excellent and quick to step in when others face musical challenges to help them overcome barriers in the music classroom and band lessons.
He says about singing the national anthem a capella style in front of the whole school, “I was nervous and wondered if I was capable of singing it because it is such an important song and at times wanted to back out, but I knew how special it was to be asked and that not many students get the opportunity to do this, especially in the elementary school.
“I am very proud of myself for going out there and singing it,” Benjamin said. “I really enjoyed it and the support from my classmates and the rest of the school was really cool!”
His accomplishments within the district music and band programs so far include joining the high school marching band, attending the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Chorus Festival two years in a row, as well as the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Band Festival this May with his trumpet.
Valley View
Kylie Krzak has been selected as senior of the month in computer science.
“I am very grateful to receive this nomination; it truly means a lot to me. It’s things like this that make all of my hard work worth it, so I would like to thank my teachers for this honor,” she said.
Kylie dedicates much of her time to extracurricular activities when she’s not busy with schoolwork, serving as president of the drama club, co-president of the history club, treasurer of the National Honor Society, PR officer of the Leo club, and a member of the Math Honor Society, student council, bio club, yearbook, and as a dancer at Kelly Patrick Studio of Dance. Her involvement in so many leadership roles showcases her commitment to personal growth and community engagement.
Upon graduation from high school, Kylie is committed to Penn State University Park’s College of Education, as well as Penn State Schreyer Honors College. She will be majoring in secondary education (English).
Wayne Highlands
Stourbridge Primary Center second grader Chelsea Dekeris attends Irish dance lessons weekly at the DeNogla Academy of Irish Dance in Stroudsburg. She has been involved in Irish dance in New York and Pennsylvania since kindergarten.
Although Chelsea is at the beginner level, she is close to advancing to the next stage. She enjoys meeting girls from many different places and dancing with her two older sisters, Olivia and Brooke, and her younger sister, Kylie. One of Chelsea’s favorite activities at dance lessons is the floor ladder; she enjoys the challenge of trying not to touch any part of the ladder during the routine.
When asked about her Irish dance experience, Chelsea says, “I like getting to learn all the dance steps and I really like performing at shows.” She also said, “When we are in the car, I like to sing along with the songs that have words.” Chelsea excitedly mentioned, “I am looking forward to advancing to hard shoes and a sparkly dress soon!”
In addition, she is involved in gymnastics at Balance Gymnastics, going to DEFY trampoline park, riding with her dad in their UTV and then going for hikes. Chelsea, who wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up, looks forward to shopping and eating out with her grandparents, and has fun jumping on the trampoline at home and spending time with her big dog, Seamus.
Western Wayne
Senior Allyson Irvine is an all-around excellent academic student who has participated in a variety of activities in her high school career, according to school officials. One of her favorite high school accomplishments is being this year’s student body president.
“I like this leadership role because I get to listen to my classmates’ ideas and try to make them a reality,” Allyson said.
Her favorite class is English because she enjoys creative writing. For her freshman through junior years, Allyson played volleyball and participated in track. In addition, for the first three years of high school, she participated in Future Business Leaders of America. Allyson has also been a CATS Club member for all four years, along with being a four-year student council member. She is also in National Honor Society and works on the yearbook. In addition, she is a part of the school broadcast news team and does many on- and off-screen tasks there.
Allyson will attend Misericordia University to study physical therapy, having been inspired by her high school physics class to do so.
