Hilltopper Highlights 2014 - Westmont Hilltop School District

Transcription

2 014 A c h i e v e m e n t A n d E x c e l l e n c e
Students Honored as Top Ten Scholars of 2014
Top Ten Scholars of 2014
Row 1: Abbigail Smajda,
Sydney Ruis, Alyssa Miller,
Nicole Barnhart, Courtney
Morder Row 2: Madison
Milligan, Rex Cosgrove,
Matthew Wehner, Josh
Livingston, Ashlyn Bulas
Annually, scholars who rank
academically as the Top Ten Scholars
within their graduating class are
honored at the opening of the
Westmont Hilltop Commencement
Ceremony. The students pictured
here have significantly contributed
to the tradition of excellence that
characterizes Westmont Hilltop. The
names of the following students will
be inscribed on a plaque on permanent
display in the lobby of our high school.
Westmont Hilltop Education Association
Top Ten Awards Listed Alphabetically
Nicole M. Barnhart
Madison J. Milligan
Ashlyn M. Bulas
Courtney J. Morder
Rex M. Cosgrove
Abbigail E. Smajda
Josh W. Livingston
Sydney R. Ruis
Alyssa K. Miller
Matthew D. Wehner
The 2014 Hilltopper Highlights Achievement and Excellence, now entering its fourteenth year of publication,
is a special summer edition of the Hilltop School News, dedicated to the recognition of the outstanding
individual and collective accomplishments of our students within our school and community.
Throughout the 2013-2014 school year, students in every grade and classroom have excelled in the areas of academics, arts,
community service, and athletics. Examples of the service and accomplishments through which our students have honored
their community, their parents, and the Westmont Hilltop School District,
are contained within the pages of this newsletter, dedicated to the Class of 2014.
Commencement 2014
National Merit Achievement
The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition that started in 1995. Students qualify for this
recognition by taking the PSAT Exam/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. National Merit Commended Students
and Finalists are recognized on a national level as having outstanding academic promise.
Of the 1.5 million students nationwide who took the PSAT exam, 34,000 students receive recognition from the
National Merit Corporation as “commended students.” Semifinalists are then named from the highest scoring entrants
in each state. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to finalist standing in the
competition by meeting very high academic standards. Finalists and their school districts are notified at the conclusion
of the process.
Students from the Class of 2014 who were recognized by the National Merit Program are as follows: Grant Bernstein,
Commended Student; Rex Cosgrove, Finalist; and Dorthea Oller, Finalist.
Rex Cosgrove
National Merit Finalist
Dorthea Oller
National Merit Finalist
Grant Bernstein
National Merit Commended Student
Tributes to the Class of 2014 at Commencement
The Class of 2014 was honored at the commencement
ceremony. Excerpts from those tributes follow.
Michele Trevorrow
School Board President
Westmont Hilltop School Board President, Mrs. Michele
Trevorrow, chose a trip down memory lane as her tribute
to the Class of 2014. From Elementary School through the
Middle School to the High School, students were reminded
of many of the joyful high points of the experiences they
have shared. Mrs. Trevorrow concluded her memorable trip
and tribute with a wish for the Class of 2014: “I wish you a
life filled full of love, hugs, and smiles!”
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“Commencement 2014”
Todd Vore
Keynote Speaker
Alumnus, Class of 1986
It is always an honor for an alum to return as a
keynote speaker with a message to the graduating class.
Todd Vore, Class of 1986, is one of a family of six siblings,
all of whom are alumni. He currently resides in Raleigh,
North Carolina with his wife Dena (Muto) Vore, a 1990
graduate of the district, and their three children. He has
been employed for 23 years at Implus Corporation, where
he was named president in 2001. He was awarded the
inaugural “SGB 40 Under 40,” an acknowledgement of
outstanding future leaders in the sporting goods industry.
Commencement 2014
Matthew Wehner
Scholarship Representative, Class of 2014
Karlee DeMarco
Class President, Class of 2014
Scholarship Representative Matthew Wehner reflected,
“When I first set out to write my graduation speech, I
planned to talk about how the successes of the Class of
2014 in different sports, clubs, and organizations led us
to where we are today; but then I realized something. I
realized that it wasn’t only our successes that taught us
what we know, but also our failures. Everyone in the room
tonight has failed at some point, but the results of these
failures are not always negative.” Citing experiences of
disappointing failures that were turned into successes,
Matt concluded, “I would like to quote Winston Churchill
who stated, ‘Courage is going from failure to failure with
no loss of enthusiasm.’ As we move on to new challenges
and new phases in our lives, we should move forward with
enthusiasm and positive attitudes. Don’t fear failure, but
embrace it, because through failure, we will learn how to
truly succeed.”
Class President Karlee DeMarco quoted her elementary
physical education teacher, Mr. David Benford, who
reminded his young pupils, “Laces up, ball by the ear, face
to the side, turn, and throw for distance!” Karlee echoed
those early elementary days and wondered, “Who knew
that this quote would be a metaphor for our lives? You see, I
think Mr. Benford was teaching us more than how to throw
a football; he was teaching us how to make it through life.
“‘Laces up’ represents our building block years. The
years that helped prepare us for all of our standardized tests
. . . but more importantly, for the real test which is known
as life. ‘Ball by the ear’ symbolizes our time spent in high
school and all of the pressures that come along with it. As
long as we decided to take the high road, we would all be
okay. . . . ‘Face to the side’ represents our future and what’s
to come of it. This metaphor symbolizes our senior year, the
year that forces us to accept the fact that every choice we
make will influence our future. . .
“‘Throw for distance!’ This metaphor asks us to strive
for excellence in everything we do . . . Whether we decide
to go into the workforce, join the military, or attend college,
we will have a plan, and that plan will most certainly work
as long as we remember to go the distance in everything we
do!”
Karly concluded, “We have the ability to change the
world so let’s remember, ‘Laces up, ball by the ear, face to
the side, turn, and throw for distance!’
Josh Livingston
President of Student Council, Class of 2014
Josh Livingston, Student Council President, decided that
the best way to celebrate the impending entry into the next
chapter of life was to reminisce with a few “gleeful campfire
stories!” Josh regaled the audience with illustrations of the
determination of the Class of 2014 and their creativity as well
as their interdependence in addressing the issues they faced:
“I propose that we be enormously proud to call ourselves
members of Westmont Hilltop High School’s Class of 2014 .
. . Without the supportive community that has surrounded
us these past twelve years, we would not be the close-knit
community that you see on stage tonight. From the bottom of
our hearts, thank you.”
“Commencement 2014”
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High School Achievement
Where in the World
is the Class of 2014?
“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
–Henry Miller
The Class of 2014 will be seeing things in
new ways, initially from the following
vantage points:
American University
Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Boston College
Cambria Rowe
Cedarville University
Conemaugh School of Nursing
Duquesne University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Johnson and Wales University
Juniata College
Kent State University
LaSalle University
Liberty University
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Millersville University
Mount Aloysius College
Northwestern University
Penn State University – Altoona
Penn State University - University Park
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Philadelphia University
Roger Williams University
Rutgers University
Saint Francis University
Shippensburg University
Slippery Rock University
Thiel College
United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
University of Cincinnati
University of Massachusetts
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown
University of Utah
Valley Forge Military College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Washington and Jefferson College
Waynesburg College
West Virginia University
Westminster College
York College
YTI Career Institute:
Motorcycle Technology Center
Academic Excellence and Achievement
Academic Excellence is a standard that is engrained in the culture of
Westmont Hilltop. These high school students have been recognized as
exemplary role models of that standard.
United States Air Force ROTC Scholarship
Aaron Douglas Marko
Aaron Marko received the US Air Force ROTC Scholarship from Col. James Kirkstadt
United States Naval ROTC Scholarship
Ian Joseph Campbell
US Navy ROTC Scholarship Awards -- Capt. Psyhogis (Presenter), Ian Campbell, Sgt. David Campos (Presenter)
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“High School Achievement”
Horatio Alger Association
of Distinguished Americans
Pennsylvania Scholarship
United States Military Awards
Devon James Gilbert
Justin Samuel Hovanec
Hayden John Johnson
Cody Michael Sabo
US Military Award Recipients Justin Hovanec, Hayden Johnson, and Devon Gilbert, with presenter
Sgt. David Campos
Westinghouse Science Honors Institute
Baylee Elizabeth Bortz
Margaret May Gerow
Cullen Patrick Kaschalk
Emily Marie Kilmartin
John David Ridella
Shivangshu Tandukar
Aiden Powell Winterscheidt
Cody Sabo is the recipient of the Pennsylvania
Scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of
Distinguished Americans
Westmont Hilltop Education
Association Scholarship Award
Hailey Marie Varner
Westinghouse Science Honors Institute Row 1: Emily Kilmartin, Margaret Gerow, Baylee Bortz Row 2: Aiden
Winterscheidt, Shivangshu Tandukar, Cullen Kaschalk, John Ridella
Hailey Varner received the Scholarship Award
from the Westmont Hilltop Education Association
“High School Achievement” 5
Scholastic Quiz Team
Westmont Hilltop’s Scholastic Quiz emerged victorious at
the end of the Regional Competition this year. The winning
competitors were as follows: Alex Hockensmith, Josh Livingston, Dorothea Oller, Nicco Shorto, Matthew Wehner,
and Erik Wehner.
Daniel Cooley
Venkat Gella
Mitchell Hochfeld
Alex Hockensmith
Isaac Joseph
Daniel Kevenk
Josh Livingston
Dorothea Oller
Niccolas Shorto
Eric Wehner
Matthew Wehner
John Weidner
David Williams
Scholastic Quiz Team Row 1: Melissa Kalwanaski (Advisor) Row 2: Daniel Cooley,
Josh Livingston, Venkat Gella, John Weidner, Matthew Wehner, Daniel Kevenk Row
3: Isaac Joseph, David Williams, Dorothea Oller Row 4: Mitchell Hochfeld, Alex
Hockensmith, Eric Wehner, Niccolas Shorto
Greater Johnstown Career and
Technology Center NOCTI
(National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) Awards
Cheyenne Rebecca Garrison
Ashley Nicole Hughes
Brianna Renee Merringer
Katie Lynn Stem
Catherine Julia VanSlyke
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center NOCTI Awards Row 1:
Ashley Hughes, Ninna Louder, John Augustine (Presenter), Katie Stem, Broderick
Murray Row 2: Mariah Weeks, Catherine VanSlyke, Onalee Nickels, David Farra
Forensics Awards
Under the skillful leadership of advisors Angela Sloan and
Billie Kisko, the Forensics Team swept Districts, placed second at Regionals, and competed at States and Nationals.
Forensics Award – Row 1: Billie Jo Kisko (Presenter and Advisor), Sadie Carney,
Sarah Elston Row 2: Edwin Kesslak, Abby Panek, Rachelmae Pulliam, Abigail Stern,
Karlee DeMarko Row 3: Isaac Joseph, Emily Strandquest, Natalie Fiorica, Ashlyn
Bulas, Angela Sloan (Presenter and Advisor) Row 4: Josh Livingston, Emily Ward
Row 5: Zachary Yonko, John Williams, Madison Milligan Not Pictured: Margaret
Clark, Dan Cooley, Rex Cosgrove, Venkat Gella, Sarah Kilpatrick, Shiann Malcom,
Helen Stern, Shivy Tandukar, Daphne Valencia
6 “High School Achievement”
Ashlyn Bulas (Persuasive)
Sadie Carney (Duo Drama)
Maggie Clark (Duo Drama)
Dan Cooley (Extemporaneous)
Rex Cosgrove (Commentary)
Karlee DeMarko (Informative)
Sarah Elston (Duo Drama)
Natalie Fiorica (Duo Drama)
Venkat Gella (Commentary)
Isaac Joseph (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
Edwin Kesslak (Informative)
Sarah Kilpatrick (Prose)
Josh Livingston (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
Shiann Malcolm (Persuasive)
Madison Milligan (Serious Drama)
Abby Panek (Prose)
Rachelmae Pulliam (Poetry)
Abigail Stern (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
Helen Stern (Humorous Drama)
Shivy Tandukar (Extemperaneous)
Emily Strandquest (Poetry)
Daphne Valencia (Duo Drama)
Emily Ward (Humorous Drama)
John Williams (Public Forum Debate)
Zachary Yonko (Public Forum Debate)
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
at the High School Level
Timothy Brian Barry
Grant Fletcher Bernstein
Ashlyn Marie Bulas
Ian Joseph Campbell
Rex Michael Cosgrove
Lindsay Grace Geiser
Alex Michael Hockensmith
Brittany Nicole Irwin
Isaac William Joseph
Gregory Nicholas Krinock
Josh William Livingston
Aaron Douglas Marko
Noah John Marley
Andrew Allan Miller
James Austin Miller
Madison Justine Milligan
Dorothea Grace Oller
Rachelmae Naquin Pulliam
Sebastian James Ragno
Sydney Rhea Ruis
Cody Michael Sabo
Abigail Patricia Stern
Emily Louise Strandquest
Matthew Donald Wehner
Robert Samuel Whitlow
President’s Award for Educational Excellence Row 1: Timothy Barry, Lindsay Geiser, Sydney Ruis, Abigail Stern Row 2: Rex Cosgrove,
Alex Hockensmith, Ashlyn Bulas, Brittany Irwin Row 3: Sebastian Ragno, Madison Milligan, Emily Strandquest Row 4: Josh Livingston, Noah
Marley, Aaron Marko, Isaac Joseph, Matthew Wehner Row 5: Grant Bernstein, Dorothea Oller, Robert Whitlow, Rachelmae Pulliam Row 6:
Cody Sabo, James Miller, Gregory Krinock, Andrew Miller, Ian Campbell
Fast Facts Featuring WHSD Alumni
• Michelle Searle, a graduate of the district, has become a
music teacher and choral director. She has been receiv ing top ratings at adjudication festivals. She and her
students performed recently at the White House for
President Obama. She was selected as the outstanding music teacher for the state of Maryland this year.
• Alumna Lady Hilltopper Gina Rievel finished 3rd in
the nation in NJCAA Women’s Basketball scoring at
23.3 points per game. Gina plays at Allegany College
of Maryland.
• Graduates Zac Bennett and Josh Duplin, both wrestling
for UPJ, advanced to the NCAA Div. II National
Championships.
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Academic ‘Letter’ Awards,
Class of 2014
Nicole Marie Barnhart
Colin Mitchell Barron
Timothy Brian Barry
Angela Bassi Andreasi
Jenna Nicole Becker
Ashlyn Marie Bulas
Ian Joseph Campbell
Karlee Marie DeMarco
Hannah Grace Dorian
Natalie Anne Fiorica
Hunter Caroline Funk
Grant Joseph Gagnon
Devon James Gilbert
Alex Michael Hockensmith
Brandon Jacob Hunsinger
Benjamin Katz
Jonas Mark Kresak
Brianne Taylor Krieger
Kayla Michelle Lamison
Aaron Douglas Marko
Noah John Marley
Alyssa Kali Miller
Andrew Allan Miller
James Austin Miller
Madison Justine
Milligan
MorganAnn Elizabeth
Millinder
Courtney Jo Morder
Alexandra Rose Mostoller
Nollaig Marie Noll
Abby Jo Panek
Patrick John Michael
Petrell
Hailey Marie Porter
Caroline Renee Rea
Sean Winters Robb
Sydney Rhea Ruis
Cody Michael Sabo
Abbigail Eileen Smajda
Timothy Edward Smith
Taylor Ann Somerville
Eric Charles Thomas
Daphne Isabelle Valencia
Hailey Marie Varner
Emily Morgan Ward
Zachary Michael Yonko
Bailyn Alexis Yost
Ashley Nicole Young
Academic Achievement Award
Class of 2014
Nicole Marie Barnhart
Colin Mitchell Barron
Timothy Brian Barry
Angela Bassi Andreasi
Jenna Nicole Becker
Ashlyn Marie Bulas
Ian Joseph Campbell
Karlee Marie DeMarco
Hannah Grace Dorian
Natalie Anne Fiorica
Hunter Caroline Funk
Grant Joseph Gagnon
Devon James Gilbert
Alex Michael
Hockensmith
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Brandon Jacob Hunsinger
Benjamin Katz
Jonas Mark Kresak
Brianne Taylor Krieger
Kayla Michelle Lamison
Aaron Douglas Marko
Noah John Marley
Alyssa Kali Miller
Andrew Allan Miller
James Austin Miller
Madison Justine
Milligan
MorganAnn Elizabeth
Millinder
Courtney Jo Morder
Nollaig Marie Noll
Abby Jo Panek
Patrick John Michael
Petrell
Hailey Marie Porter
Rachelmae Naquin
Pulliam
Caroline Renee Rea
Sean Winters Robb
Sydney Rhea Ruis
Cody Michael Sabo
Abbigail Eileen Smajda
Timothy Edward Smith
Eric Charles Thomas
Daphne Isabelle Valencia
Hailey Marie Varner
Emily Morgan Ward
Zachary Michael Yonko
Bailyn Alexis Yost
Ashley Nicole Young
Academic Achievement Awards
Class of 2015
Tristan Rovansek Aiken
Tyler Mitchell Azar
Baylee Elizabeth Bortz
Olivia Lauren Bridges
Lydia Paige Campbell
Sadie Danielle Carney
Amber Sophia Cerwinsky
Corrin Elizabeth Claycomb
Daniel Cooley
Drake David Dorian
Ethan Ross Yap Dumayas
Anna Kathryn Ecklund
Alexandria Leigh
Edwards
Sarah Lynette Fisher
Jillian Rose Foster
Nina Kay Foster
Lauren Michele Fregly
Kyle Jamison Geibig
Margaret May Gerow
Maura Elizabeth
Glennon
Noah Michael Gordon
Kaylee Rose Grassmyer
Kasey Jane Helmick
Zoe Irene Johnson
Ellis Mayer Kane
Taylor Nicole Kaseler
Edwin Charles Kesslak
Emily Marie Kilmartin
Jenna Lea Kutchman
Austin Michael
Lovenduski
Maiya Leigh Mastovich
Emily Rochelle Mayket
Adrienne Nicole McDowell
Grace Madison McIlhenny
Juliet Florence Messer
Nicholas John Mical
Maura Frances Milligan
John Thomas Minnick
Bridget Anne Moyer
Courtney Marie Musser
Alexandra Marie-Claire
Nash
Cameron John Nulton
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Pawcio
Francesca Noelle Ramirez
Julia Mary Rodacay
Alexander Michael Roper
Courtney Lynn Schilling
Bridget Claire Sheehan
Amanda Marie Slezak
Kyleigh Danielle Smith
Nicholas John Sturniolo
Jacob Paul Suppes
Shivangshu Tandukar
Nicole Elizabeth Taylor
Sadie Mae Thompson
Bradley David Trevorrow
Sara Elizabeth Trio
Truman Andrew Welsh
Erin Mairghead Whyte
John Michael Williams
Aidan Powell
Winterscheidt
Megan Anne Zolnosky
Class of 2016
Ryan John Adams
Meghan Rebecca
Albertelli
Lindsey Nicole Aman
Karly Lynne Balon
Samuel William Barry
Emily Ann Brazill
Quinn Alyssa Callihan
Bethany Grace Carney
Michelle Marie
Concannon
Evan James Dluhos
Sarah Chen Elston
Brianne Lynn Ferpas
Alec Benjamin Geibig
Jamie Leora Geiser
Gregory Paul Heider
Kohl Mark Henry
Autumn Elizabeth
Hershberger
Mitchell Scott Hochfeld
Leah Michelle
Hockensmith
Madison Rae Hrin
Courtney Leigh Irwin
Sarah Catherine
Kilpatrick
Tristin Noel Kresak
Ashley Marie Kush
Monica Ann Lough
Shiann RoShay Malcolm
Katheryn Marie Marley
Autumn Nicole McClain
Sarah Lynn Minnick
Bryan Andrew Mock
Kathyleen Adair O’Leary
Allison Marie Petrick
Veronica Louise Petrus
McCabe Donovan Rakvin
Morgan Alexandra Ruis
Jenna Marie Rutledge
Jarod Robert Shark
Alana Rose Somerville
Helen Iris Stern
Dylan Jon Sutt
Jenna Lynn Toth
Emily Samantha Tyger
Zachary John Vliet
Erik Daniel Wehner
David Drew Williams
Hunter Clay Williams
Gina Marie Yonko
Class of 2017
Alexander Carlyle
Barnhart
Alyssa Leigh Beitsinger
Brock Samuel Bernstein
Madelyn Renee Bridges
Gerard Thomas Brill
Lauren Elizabeth
Criswell
Byron King Custer
Alexandra Emily
D’Arrigo
Kyle Kirk Drennen
Jacob Thomas Elders
Madison Nicole Eppley
Victoria Rose Geiser
Venkat Satyanarayana
Gella
Rebecca Jane Gvozden
Allison Marie Hlivko
Jennifer Lynn Hlivko
Samantha Hong
Abigail Riley Kesslak
Daniel Cengiz Kevenk
Veronica Anne Kovach
Zachary Thomas Krieger
Michael James Lamison
Fisk Aleksandr Lee
Brionna Lynn Lehman
Zachary William McLoota
Shea Rose McQuillan
Alexander Dalton Miller
Lauren Grace Moran
Matthew Francis
Mostoller
McKenna Vera Ray
Hannah Kailyn Robart
Michael Francis Roper
Megan Elizabeth
Rutledge
Mathilda Viola Santee
Alexis Anne Schiffhauer
Laurel Alyssa Steinly
Gavin Lynn Sullivan
Rachel Renee Toth
Meredith Nicole Trio
Orion Frank Voelker
John David Weidner
Aunna Joy Yingling
Isaiah Storm Yuhas
Middle School Achievement
C-Mites
National Spelling Bee
Meghana Gella, Aurora Schrum
Ethan Dubnansky, Grade 8
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
Honoring student achievement and hard work is the purpose of the President’s Education Award Program. Students
who receive this award earned 92 percent or above in each grade level for Grades 5, 6, 7, and the fall semester of Grade 8.
They also must have scored Advanced in both the reading and math assessments.
President’s Educational Excellence Award – Row 1: Clinton Sparling, Patrick Brown, Molly Callihan, Delaney Irwin, Simon Joseph, Harrison Weidner,
Abigail Balog Row 2: Emmaline Collins, Kaitlyn Poad, Morgan Muller, Holly Fabrizio, Gabrielle Nagorite, Kolby DeGrange, Margaret Walsh, Jenna Zatsick
Row 3: JuliAnna Stuer, Sarah Polacek, Zoey Zentkovich, Adam Kush, Luke Schrum, Hannah Davis, Kaitlin Haynal, Ethan Dubnansky Row 4: Madison Reitter,
Morgan Spencer, Jacob Law, Nicholas Albertelli, Grayson Moyer, Adam Mrozowski, Leo Cosgrove, Clayton Dorian, Mackenzie Dunn Missing from Photo:
Christian Assad, Grace Mackall, Meredith Winterscheidt
“Middle School Achievement”
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Principal’s
Excellence Award
2014
This award is presented to Grade 8
students. Students must have a 92 percent or higher each quarter for Grades
5, 6, and 7 in honor roll subjects; and
they must also have a 92 percent or
higher for quarters 1 and 2 of Grade 8
in honor roll subjects.
Principal’s Excellence Award – Row 1: Ethan Dubnansky, Harrison Weidner, Zoey Zentkovich, Adam Kush
Row 2: Hannah Davis, Grayson Moyer, Sarah Polacek, Adam Mrozowski, Leo Cosgrove
Honoring the “Best”
Johns Hopkins Young
Students Talent Search
Academic Best Awards – Row 1: Ethan Dubnansky (Best of the Best), Harrison Weidner (English), Madison
Reitter (Science), Gabrielle Nash (Music), Stephanie Rosendale (Art), Sarah Al-Ubaidi (Spanish) Row 2: Leo Cosgrove
(Civics), Grayson Moyer (Math), Jacob Law (Technology Education), Mr. David Mrozowski (Presenter), Kolby
DeGrange (Physical Education)
Meghana Gella
STEAM Award
The STEAM Award recognizes
students that excel in the fields of
Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts, and Mathematics.
STEAM Award Recipients: Maeve Milligan (Grade 7), Kristian
Burnheimer (Grade 8)
10 “Middle School Achievement”
Continental Math League
Continental Math League – (Grades 5 & 6) Row 1: Noah Martin, Eric Barnhart,
Greta George, Reilly Malcolm, Eden Balog, Meghana Gella, Pierce Martin Row 2:
Elliott Sparling, Lauren Mock, Lakyn Davis, Max Wilkinson, Gabrielle Angeletti,
Meghan Smitherman, Mark Rutledge
Continental Math League – (Grades 7 & 8) Row 1: Rebekah Kevenk, Jessica
Swadley, Julie Duong, Emily Barkhimer Row 2: Kaitlin Haynal, Abigail Balog, Zoey
Zentkovich, Austin Gibson, Jonathon Heider Row 3: Riley Shriver, Grayson Moyer,
Moses Zeidan, Patrick Brown, Leo Cosgrove Missing from Photo: Lukas Shiley, Elliott
Batovsky
National History Day
The Westmont Hilltop Middle School
Celebrated National History Day. Students spent several months thoroughly
researching topics related to the theme
of “Rights & Responsibilities,” and they
followed with a day of presentation of
their projects. They received feedback,
and edited and prepared their projects
for the NHD Regional competition that
at IUP
National History Day (Grades 6-8) Row 1:
Julie Duong, Emily Barkhimer, Julia Bingler, Alex
Claycomb, Madelynn Weir, Maeve Milligan, Cassidy
Weir, Isabella Misner Row 2: Gabrielle Angeletti,
Gabrielle Nagorite, Austin Gibson, Jonathan
Barnhart, Harrison Weidner, Amelia Aiken, Zoey
Zentkovich Row 3: Delaney Irwin, Lily Dudash,
Sophie Hochfeld, Kyle Gordon, Adam Kush, Simon
Joseph, Susan Williams, Hannah Davis, Morgan
Muller Row 4: Meghan Smitherman, Ronald
Jezeskie III, Mackenzie Dunn, Patrick Brown, Tanner
Hinterliter, Andrew Rea, Madison Reitter, Alexis
Nibert Row 5: Moses Zeidan, Adam Mrozowski,
Benjamin Wescott, Mark Oller, Grayson Moyer, Leo
Cosgrove Missing from Photo: Christian Assad, Anna
Gagnon, Sarah Polacek
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MATHCOUNTS
The regional MATHCOUNTS
competition took place on a snowy
February 15, 2014, at UPJ. There
were 91 students from 12 schools in
the region. Three schools could not
make it due to the weather. Westmont
Hilltop had nine students competing,
four of whom represented the district
in the team competition and five others competing as individuals. For the
third year in a row, Westmont Hilltop
won the competition with a fantastic
performance! We held six spots out of
the Top 20! Furthermore, we had four
students in the Top 6! Our first place
team qualified for the state competition again, and Ethan Dubansky was
our fourth individual champion in
the 31-year history of MATHCOUNTS!
Past champions have included Daniel
Kevenk, Class of 2013, Utsav Bhat,
Class of 2004, and Andrew Lentvorski, Class of 1984.
Along with Ethan, three other team
players made up the state qualifying team. They are Grayson Moyer,
Partick Brown, and Leo Cosgrove.
The individual qualifiers were Moses
Zeidan, Harrison Weidner, Austin
Gibson, Madison Reitter, and Susan
Williams. Moses was the second
highest ranking 7th grader in the entire competition. Our state qualifiers
traveled to the Hershey-Harrisburg
Sheraton Hotel for the competition
which was held among 64 schools
across the state on March 8, 2014.
This year’s competition resulted in
another incredible performance by the
MATHCOUNTS Team!
For more information on MATHCOUNTS, visit www.mathcounts.org.
MATHCOUNTS – Row 1: Meghana Gella, Max Wilkinson, Harrison Weidner, Greta George, Cassidy Weir, Abigail
Balog Row 2: Melanie Hong, Zoey Zentkovich, Ethan Dubnansky, Nicholas Fetzer, Zachary Connor, Austin Gibson,
Meghan Smitherman Row 3: Madison Reitter, Susan Williams, Grayson Moyer, Moses Zeidan, Patrick Brown, Leo
Cosgrove
Science Bowl
Three Science Bowl Teams from the
Middle School competed against teams
from across Western Pennsylvania at
the Southwestern PA Regional Science
Bowl, held at the Community College
of Allegheny County South Campus.
The WHMS A team had the best
performance, taking second in their
division with only one loss for the day
to the eventual regional champion,
Marshall. The C team was given the
Civility Award for their sportsmanship
during the day.
Science Bowl (Grades 6-8) Row 1: Max Wilkinson, Julia Bingler, Harrison Weidner, Austin Gibson Row 2: Meghan
Smitherman, Ethan Dubnansky, Simon Joseph, Susan Williams Row 3: Madison Reitter, Patrick Brown, Moses Zeidan,
Grayson Moyer, Leo Cosgrove
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Scholastic Quiz
At the Hilltopper Scholastic Quiz Spring Invitational, held at WHMS on Saturday,
February 1, Westmont Hilltop swept the podium with a first, second, and third place!
A total of 18 teams competed at the middle school-level tournament from four
schools. The squad qualified to send three teams to Nationals in Atlanta
May 9-11, 2014.
Scholastic Quiz (Grades 5 & 6) – Row 1: Noah Rose, Cassidy Weir, Greta George, Aurora Schrum,
Eden Balog, Meghana Gella Row 2: Abigail Hassett, Lakyn Davis, Vincent Tabib, Daniel Zeidan,
Kallie Williams Row 3: Abigail Rose, Gabrielle Angeletti, Madalyn Barnes, Meghan Smitherman,
Max Wilkinson, Jonathan Kane, Catherine Veranese
Technology Club
This year, 29 students in Grades 6,
7, and 8 participated in the Westmont
Hilltop Middle School’s Technology
Club. These students worked individually or with a few other students to
create projects in the following categories: Animation, Computer Fair Logo,
Digital Movie, Graphic Design, and
Web Page Design. They stayed after
school to work on their projects, which
were taken to the PA Middle School
Regional Computer Fair held in March
at the Penn State, Altoona Campus. All
students represented WHMS superbly
at the competition. WHMS took 1st
place in all five categories and therefore qualified for the state competition,
which was held at Dickinson College in
Carlisle.
The winners in each category were
as follows:
Animation Category
Colin Whyte, Carl Foust,
Elliott Finney
Computer Fair Logo Category
Joshua Reitter, Kyle Gordon
Web Page Design Category
Leah Brennsteiner, Julia Bingler, Jessica Stuer
Digital Movie Category
Ethan Dubnansky, Clinton Sparling
Graphic Design Category
Austin Gibson
Scholastic Quiz (Grades 7 & 8) Row 1: Rebekah Kevenk, Julie Duong, Julia Bingler, Simon
Joseph, Harrison Weidner, Sarah Al-Ubaidi Row 2: Madison Reitter, Ethan Dubnansky, Patrick
Brown, Austin Gibson, Sophie Hochfeld, Susan Williams Row 3: Alexis Nibert, Daniel DiFrancesco,
Ronald Jezeskie III, Moses Zeidan, Adam Mrozowski, Grayson Moyer, Leo Cosgrove Missing from
Photo: Christian Assad
Interscholastic
Reading
Competition
Team
Interscholastic Reading
Competition – Row 1: Maddison
Brant, Olivia Brill, Maeve Milligan,
Ethan Dubnansky Row 2: Meghan
Smitherman, Lily Dudash, Alexis
Nibert, Madison Reitter, Leah
Brennsteiner, Sophie Hochfeld
Technology Club 1st Place Winners (Grades 6-8) –
Row 1: Colin Whyte, Carl Foust, Elliott Finney, Joshua
Reitter, Kyle Gordon Row 2: Leah Brennsteinner,
Julia Bingler, Jessica Stuer, Ethan Dubnansky, Clinton
Sparling, Austin Gibson
13
WordMasters
Several students representing
Westmont Hilltop Middle School
achieved individual Highest Honors
in the recent WordMasters Challenge™—
a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students annually.
Competing in the Blue Division of
the WordMasters Challenge™, fifth
graders Lakyn Davis and Laney
Wagner, and seventh grader Nicholas
Gorschak achieved a perfect score of
20 on the third of three challenges
held this school year. Nationally, only
110 fifth graders and 53 seventh graders achieved this result.
Other students from Westmont Hilltop Middle School who achieved outstanding results in the meet included:
Daniel Zeidan, Gabrielle Angeletti,
Isabella Misner, Kallie Williams,
Pierce Martin, Samuel Paratore, and
Zachary Jackson.
The students were coached in
preparation for the WordMasters Challenge™ by their teachers, Mrs. Jana
Bennett, Miss Jodi Hillegass, and Mrs.
Amanda Tresnicky.
The WordMasters Challenge™ is an
exercise in critical thinking that first
encourages students to become familiar with a set of interesting new words
(considerably harder than grade level),
and then challenges them to use those
words to complete analogies expressing
various kinds of logical relationships.
Working to solve the analogies helps
students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. Although most
vocabulary enrichment and analogysolving programs are designed for use
by high school students, WordMasters
Challenge™ materials have been specifically created for younger students
in grades three through eight. They
are particularly well suited for children
who are motivated by the challenge of
learning new words and enjoy the logical puzzles posed by analogies.
The WordMasters Challenge™
program is administered by a company
based in Indianapolis, Indiana, which
is dedicated to inspiring high achievement in American schools. Further information is available at the company’s
website: www.wordmasterschallenge.com.
14
WordMasters (Grades 5 & 6) – Row 1: Nicholas Marsh, Greta George, Layla Dalton, Lakyn Davis, Landon Steinly,
Roy Dunn Row 2: Samuel Paratore, Pierce Martin, Isabella Misner, Christopher Martin, Daniel Zeidan, Lauren
Mock, Laney Wagner, Elliott Sparling Row 3: Meghan Smitherman, Gabrielle Angeletti, Kallie Williams, Catherine
Veranese, Jonathan Kane, Dylan Roberts McDonald, Connor Toth
WordMasters (Grades 7 & 8) Row 1: Julie Duong, Harrison Weidner, Jonathon Heider, Nicholas Gorschak, Amelia
Aiken Row 2: Tucker Kushner, Lily Dudash, Susan Williams, Zoey Zentkovich, Adam Kush, Ethan Dubnansky Row 3:
Tyler Geary, Zachary Jackson, Moses Zeidan, Grayson Moyer, Patrick Brown, Leo Cosgrove, Clinton Sparling Missing
from Photo: Sarah Polacek, Elliott Batovsky, Christian Assad
Geography Bee Recognition
Geography Bee (Grades 6-8) – Row 1: Sydney Podrebarac, Jonathan Kane, Ethan Dubnansky, Tanner Hinterliter,
Rebekah Kevenk Row 2: Alexis Nibert, Ronald Jezeskie III, Grayson Moyer, Moses Zeidan, Patrick Brown
Elementary Achievement
Our Youngest Scholars
Students in Grades 2, 3, and 4 participated in the
Science and Language Arts Olympiads. Both of these
contests are based on multiple-choice questions, which
are administered to grade level groups. Each contest has a
time limit of 35 minutes. There is no limit to the number
of students who may participate. The sum of the top ten
scores for each competition is the school’s team score.
Questions for the Language Arts Olympiad are based
on the following topics: spelling, vocabulary, reading
comprehension, analogies, and grammar. Science Olympiad
questions are based on factual knowledge, as well as
students’ understanding of scientific processes.
Science Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 2 – Row 1: Cayden Thompson, Gayath
Karunaratne, Julia Kane, Ella Leitenberger, Patrick Tuinstra, Hanna Leitenberger Row 2:
Sash Innis, Kaedon Schoming, Isebella Miller, Juliet Peltzer, Barrett Gyure, Adam Rutz
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 2 – Row 1: Alyssa Ressler, Ella Leitenberger,
Hanna Leitenberger, Gayath Karunaratne, Sophia Buday Row 2: Sasha Innis, Grace
Messina, Darcy Muir, Julia Kane, Julia Czyrnik, Aiden Selders
Science Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 3 – Row 1: Emma Stonecypher, Sophie Maestra,
Elizabeth Bowser, Nea Mentor, Logan Pringle Row 2: Skylar Richter, Ryleigh Jones,
Hailey Rhoades, Alexandria Easley Missing from Photo: Ethan Bodenschatz
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 3 – Row 1: Emma Spisak, Elizabeth
Bowser, Brooke Burns, Morgan Faight, Carissa Krall Row 2: Emery Shaw, Molly Davies,
Camren Horner, Emma Stonecypher, Alexandria Easley
Science Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 4 – Row 1: Ean Jaber, Anthony TukanowiczHassett, Isabella Granich, Greta Stager Row 2: Maria Mackall, Shivashish Tandukar,
Yahya Farag Missing from Photo: William Gerow, William Bulas, Lenox Baloglou
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 4 – Row 1: Isabella Johncola, Chloe
Gaydos, Greta Stager, Ian Buday Row 2: Shivashish Tankukar, Dunil Karunaratne,
Alexandra Barnhart, Judith Oller, Julia Dill Missing from Photo: William Gerow, Lenox
Baloglou
“Elementary Achievement”
15
Annual WHES
Science Fair
Science Fair, 4-year Participants – Row 1: Lauren Anderson, Alexandra Barnhart, Shannon
Christie, Wesley Crum, Yahya Farag Row 2: Chloe Gaydos, Daniel Heider, Zane Hoover, Elijah Innis,
Dunil Karunaratne, Ryan Kovach, Penny Lee Row 3: Brian MIsner, Ella Nibert, Makenna Oswalt,
Aiden Rice, Avery Rudolph, Payton Sell, Kelli Sheehan, Robbie Tauber Missing from Photo: William
Gerow, William Bulas, Lenox Baloglou
Students in Grades 1 through 4 may
participate in our annual Science Fair. This event
represents a collaborative venture between the
Parent Teacher Organization, several district
teachers, and many other members of the
school community. The goal of this initiative is
to develop in our students a sense of curiosity
about the world around them. The students
pictured here have participated in the Science
Fair each year for four years.
Continental Mathematics League
WordMasters
Continental Mathematics League is a national
competition with the goal of helping students improve
problem-solving skills by challenging them with complex,
multi-step problems.
The WordMasters competition is designed to increase the
students’ vocabulary by studying a different list of words and
their meanings weekly.
Continental Math League, Grade 3 – Row 1: Emma O’Neil, Landry Burnheimer,
Brooke Burns, Morgan Faight, Ella Brawley Row 2: Ryan Jaber, Emery Shaw, Tyler
Wescott, Kendal Shingler, Carissa Krall, Emma Spisak
WordMasters, Grade 3 – Row 1: Madalyn Hoover, Adeline Wagner, Alexandria Easley,
Morgan Faight, Brooke Burns Row 2: Jake Raco, Camren Horner, Carissa Krall, Ella
Brawley, Tristan Todaro, Olivia Oviedo
Continental Math League, Grade 4 – Row 1: Judith Oller, Maria Mackall, Dunil
Karunaratne, Alexandra Barnhart, Linnea Johansson Row 2: Lauren Anderson,
Shivashish Tandukar, Elizabeth Kovalchik, Kelli Sheehan, Daniel Heider
WordMasters, Grade 4 – Row 1: Mallory Morrell, Alexandra Barnhart, Ean Jaber,
Lauren Anderson Row 2: Maria Mackall, Anthony Tukanowicz-Hassett, Shivashish
Tandukar, Dunil Karunaratne Missing from Photo: William Gerow, Lenox Baloglou
16 “Elementary Achievement”
Math-A-Thon Raises
Funds for St. Jude
Math-A-Thon Participants – Left to Right: Penelope Lee, Addison Olalere, Owen Thomas, Casey
Lauf, Ava Hindman, Jordan Pecze, Julia Kane, Aiden Swanson, Kason Bailor, Aiden Tedeski, Emma
Spisak, Haley Mosorjak, Brady Jones, Sebastian Masterson, Chase Krouse
WHES Hilltopper
Earns National
Recognition!
Sebastian Masterson, a Grade
1 student, earned 3rd place in the
American Statistical Association’s
national poster competition in the grade
K-3 category for his poster, “The Force of
Weather on an Angry Bird’s Flight.” The
poster is the finished product from his
entry into the WHES Science Fair. For his
efforts, Sebastian earned prize money, a
plaque, and deserved recognition among
his peers via a presentation from an ASA
member. Additionally, his achievement
made the local newspaper.
Student names and pictures of the
winning posters will be featured in the
August issue of Amstat News and on the
ASA website, www.amstat.org/education/
posterprojects/index.cfm.
Sebastian Masterson (Grade 1) placed
third in the American Statistical Association’s
poster competition
Westmont Hilltop Elementary School
participated in Math-A-Thon, a fundraiser to
benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The students
raised a total of $7,305! These donations will be
used to help cure childhood cancer and other
deadly diseases, as well as help pay St. Jude’s
daily operating costs of $1.9 million. The Top 15
fundraisers are pictured here with Math-A-Thon
Coordinator, Mrs. Petrunak.
WHES Presents 101 Dalmatians
The Westmont Hilltop 4th grade class presented Disney’s 101 Dalmatians on
Wednesday, May 21 in the WHHS auditorium. The show was performed during
the day for the entire elementary school, and again in the evening for parents and
community members. The show was directed by Mrs. Jennifer Kresak (elementary
enrichment teacher) and Mr. Shawn Miller (elementary music teacher), with
choreography by Mrs. Connie Cameron, of Concepts Dance Studio.
All 4th grade students participated in the musical by acting, dancing, and/or
singing. Audience members enjoyed dancing Dalmatians, prancing poodles, and
singing Scotties (to name a few!), as well as the scheming of the dastardly Cruella
De Vil and her two evil henchmen. The production could not be mounted without
the support of the numerous parent volunteers who generously donated time and
money to help with costuming, sets, props, and make up.
See page 25 for cast list. Thanks to all 4th grade students, parents, and staff
members who helped to make the show a rousing success!
Representatives of the Fourth Grade class playing the Dalmatians.
“Elementary Achievement”
17
Community Recognition, Service & Citizenship
Gella Family Scholarships
Westmont Hilltop Student
Memorial Scholarship Awards
Ashlyn Marie Bulas,
Dr. Susan Anderson (Presenter),
Gella Family Scholarship (Math/Science)
Dr. Jyothi Gella (Presenter)
Sydney Rhea Ruis – High Achieving Math,
Timothy Edward Smith – Top Achieving Science,
Matthew Wehner – Top Achieving Math & High Achieving Science,
Dr. Kamal Gella (Presenter)
Westmont Hilltop Alumni
Association Scholarship
Award recipients
Hannah Grace Dorian and
Zachary Michael Yonko, with
William Hargreaves (Presenter)
Gella Family Scholarship (Arts)
Brandon Jacob Hunsinger - Outstanding Male Arts,
Rachelmae Naquin Pulliam - Outstanding Female Arts,
Aaron Douglas Marko - Outstanding Male Arts
Emerging Leader Scholarship
Ian Joseph Campbell with
David Mills (Presenter)
Westmont Peace Award
Brandon Michael Leech
Bailyn Alexis Yost
18 Community Recognition, Service & Citizenship
Johnstown Rotary Club
Academic Scholarship
Primary Healthcare
Network Award
Hannah Grace Dorian
Westwood Kiwanis Club
Scholarship
Ian Joseph Campbell
Courtney Jo Morder
Key Club Award
Mitchell and Rebecca Azar
Family Scholarship
Mitchell Azar (Presenter), Award
Recipient Lindsay Grace Geiser,
Kasey Azar (Presenter)
Metz & Associates Scholarship
Don McIntosh (Presenter),
Westwood Kiwanis Club and
Key Club Awards
Anthony Battaglia (Presenter),
Ian Campbell (Kiwanis),
Courtney Morder (Kiwanis),
Alexandra Mostoller (Key Club),
Lindsay Geiser (Key Club),
Suzanne Updyke (Presenter)
Swanson Family Scholarship
for Future Educators
Amy Swanson (Presenter) with
Award Recipient Alyssa Kali Miller
Ferndale Lions Club Award
Hunter Caroline Funk with
Presenter Jonathan Rutledge
Perfect Attendance
“I learned the value of hard work by working hard.”
– Margaret Mead
It doesn’t get better than perfect,
and Taylor Summerville has set a new
bar for perfect attendance. Taylor had
perfect attendance every year from
kindergarten through graduation with
the Class of 2014.
Catherine Hubbard
Memorial Award
Tori Marie Lehman
Taylor Summerville had
her own definition of
Perfect Attendance!
19
American Red Cross
Blood Drive Scholarship &
Making a Difference
Educational Scholarship
Ian Joseph Campbell with
Christine Schirato (Presenter)
Class of 1972 Scholarship
Brandon Michael Leech
Bailyn Alexis Yost with
Lt. Col. Craig Minnick (Presenter)
Oreo Foundation Scholarship
Class of 1947 Westmont/Upper
Yoder Endowment Fund
Sergeant First Class Raymond
Richard Buchan Memorial
Scholarship
Cynthia Eplett (Presenter),
Melanie Nicole Criswell
West End Lions Club
Scholastic Awards
Dr. Jyothi Gella (Presenter)
Ashlyn Marie Bulas,
Matthew Donald Wehner,
Dr. Kamal Gella (Presenter)
Brad Wess Memorial
Scholarship
Ian Joseph Campbell
(pictured above)
Dharbhamulla Award for
Excellence in Forensics
Class of 1960 Scholarship
Matthew Joseph Arena
The Challenge Program Awards Westmont Seniors
The Challenge Program, Inc. distributed financial awards to the seniors at Westmont Hilltop High School for excelling
in the areas of Attendance, Academic Improvement, Academic Excellence, STEM (science, technology, engineering,
mathematics) and Community Service. Concurrent Technologies Corporation is the sponsor of the program at the school.
The Challenge Program Award
for Academic Excellence
for Community Service
Ashlyn Marie Bulas
Hannah Grace Dorian
for STEM
for Most Improved in Grade
Andrew Allan Miller
for Attendance
Jeremy Douglas Petrick
The Challenge Program Awards L-R: Edward Sheehan (Presenter), Hannah Dorian (Community Service), Jeremy Petrick
(Most Improved Grades), Andrew Miller (STEM), Ashlyn Bulas (Academic Excellence), Taylor Somerville (Attendance), Barbara
Grandinetti (Presenter)
School Citizenship Awards
Grade 12
Grade 10
James Austin Miller
Bailyn Alexis Yost
Gregory Paul Heider
Shiann RoShay Malcolm
Sarah Lynn Minnick
Inez Panebianco
Grade 11
Grade 9
Sarah Lynette Fisher
Edwin Charles Kesslak
Alexandra Marie-Claire Nash
Brock Samuel Bernstein
Allison Marie Hlivko
Jennifer Lynn Hlivko
Mathilda Viola Santee
School Citizenship Awards – Row 1: Alexandra Nash, Catherine
VanSlyke, Allison Hlivko, Jennifer Hlivko, Alexandra Mostoller,
Mathilda Santee Row 2: Bailyn Yost, Brock Bernstein, Inez
Panebianco, Shiann Malcolm, Sarah Minnick Row 3: Gregory Heider,
Cullen Kaschalk, Sarah Fisher Missing from photo: Edwin Kesslak,
James Miller
21
High School
Diversity Team
Visits Middle School
Students
Examples of good citizenship
also are abundant in cross-district
conversations among students. For
example, after a visit by the Pittsburgh
Pirates’ Manager of Diversity
Initiatives, Chaz Kellem, our high
school Diversity Team collaborated
to prepare a small group session to
present to middle school students.
The Diversity Team consisted of: Ian
Campbell, Inez Panebianco, Shiann
Malcolm, Courtney Irwin, Helen
Stern, and Georgann Carnevali.
The high school students met
with a small group of middle school
students and talked with them about
the “3 P’s” that Chaz promoted:
Positivity, Perseverance and Passion.
As we try to stress “positivity” with
our students, we wanted to help them
to learn to get along with one another
and to learn strategies to use in the
face of adversity. The high school
students stressed “perseverance” as
they discussed ways that they have
strived to persevere during their high
school careers. They also discussed the
“passion” they had for their heritage
and ethnic backgrounds and the
importance of working together to
achieve success.
The middle school students were
very receptive to the Diversity Team
and hope to continue a relationship
with the team in the future.
Senatorial
Good Citizenship
The purpose of this award is
to give special recognition from
Senator John Wozniak to a middle
school student that meets the
following criteria:
• Superior academic achievement
• Leadership
• Consistent work habits
• Positive self-image
• Ability to get along well
with others
Mr. Thomas Simmons (Presenter),
Molly Callihan (Grade 8)
American Legion Award Grade 8
Mr. Stephen Lomago (presenter) with
Ethan Dubnansky
American Legion Award,
Grade 8
Hannah Davis with Mr. Stephen
Lomago (Presenter)
Fleet Reserve Award
Sarah Polacek, Grade 8, with Greg
Simmons (Presenter)
Meritorious Attitude
and Effort Awards
Each year Meritorious Attitude and Effort
Awards are given to several students in all grades.
Only students who possess a positive attitude and
give continuous effort in educational endeavors are
considered for this award.
Meritorious Attitude and Effort Award – Row 1: Lakyn Davis, Greta
George, Briana Lohr, Samantha Cavrak, Kallie Williams, Lauren Lavis,
Eden Balog Row 2: Jesse Helsel, Nicholas Fetzer, Luke Waltman, Gabrielle
Angeletti, Abigail Miller, Karalyn Pawcio, Maeve Milligan, Samuel Snider
Row 3: Ethan Dubnansky, Joseph Derringer, Mackenzie Dunn, Grace
Weinzierl, Kaitlyn Poad, Leah Brennsteiner, Madalyn Intihar, Madison Reitter
Senatorial
Good Citizenship Award
Perfect Attendance
Elementary
Perfect Attendance
It’s an outstanding feat when a student earns an annual
perfect attendance certificate. The following students attended
school every day of the 2013-2014 school year.
Perfect Attendance Awards - Row 1: Jacob Allen, Hannah Bortz, Olivia
Magdelinic, Sydney Podrebarac Row 2: Blake Cassick, Leo Cosgrove, Benjamin
Wescott, Caelyn Butler, Luke Schrum Missing from Photo: Isaac Sotosky,
David Assad
Keystones to Opportunity (KtO)
Family Literacy Night &
Book Mailing
Westmont Hilltop School District welcomed 81 families
to the 2nd annual Family Literacy Night on March 6, 2014.
Our Literacy Team had two goals for the evening: First, we
wanted to welcome families with a child in the birth to age 5
(but not yet in Kindergarten) statutory area into our district
and to make them aware of the local preschools and early
intervention/head start agencies that are available within our
district. Second, we wanted to promote early literacy and the
love of reading by getting books into children’s hands. We
modeled different read aloud techniques as families traveled
to different stations, we offered extension activities to do at
home in connection to each book, and we provided tangible
activities for our littlest Hilltoppers to do at home. Each book
that was read to the children at a station was given to every
family as they left for the evening along with a packet of
nursery rhymes.
In May of 2014, families were also mailed an additional
packet of books and extension activities. We were able to reach
out to many families within our district and we hope to help
our littlest learners to develop a strong foundation in early
literacy. To quote Marilyn Jager Adams, “Reading aloud with
children is known to be the single most important activity for
building the knowledge and skills that children will eventually
require for learning to read.”
By accepting our gifts and by reading to their children,
families are helping WHSD to promote a strong literacy base,
as well as a love of reading within our community.
Perfect Attendance, Grade 1 – Aiden Kohan, Jesse Miller, Celine Wang
Perfect Attendance, Grade 2 – Zachary Davis-Reese
Perfect Attendance, Grade 3 – Emma O’Neil
Community Recognition, Service & Citizenship 23
Our Youngest “Good Citizens”
The Senatorial Good Citizen Award is provided by
Senator John Wozniak for students who met the following
criteria:
•
•
•
•
•
Superior Academic Achievement
Leadership Capacity
Consistent Work Habits
Positive Self-image
Ability to Interact Positively with Others
Students are nominated by the classroom teacher,
guidance counselor, and principal to receive this honor.
Recipients of this award for Kindergarten through Grade 4
are presented here.
Citizenship Awards, Kindergarten – Top Row: Brett Hoffman, Chanith
Jayasooriaya, Seth Kepple, Kassidy Newman, James Webb Bottom Row: Marcus
Anderson, Jayda Bodenschatz, Phoebe Bowser, Ethan Dabbs, Katelyn Engle, Bryn
Henderson
Citizenship Awards, Grade 1 – Row 1: Kate Piro, Alicia Rice, Luke Snider, Graham
Wagner, Layne Williams Row 2: Emma Foley, Aiden Kohan, Zoey Lynch, Emily
Mamula, Christopher Myer, Joseph Nibert
Citizenship Awards, Grade 2 – Row 1: Jan Morales-Marin, Addison Oswalt,
Jordan Pecze, David Ray, Brody Schneider Row 2: Taylor Bango, Michael Distefano,
Katelyn Hassett, Sasha Innis, Hanna Leitenberger Missing from Photo: Joseph
Messina
Citizenship Awards, Grade 3 – Row 1: Madalyn Hoover, Mackensie Kozak, Jacob
Mamula, Hayden McRae, Emma O’Neil, Kendal Shingler Row 2: Jocelyn Andolina,
Julia Brennsteiner, Alexander Crespo, Cameron Danchanko, Morgan Faight, Dane
Galasso
Citizenship Awards, Grade 4 – Row 1: Daniel Heider, Meredith McNulty, Sydney
Moore, Norah Panek, Makenna Oswalt, Kelli Sheehan, Anthony Tukanowicz-Hassett
Row 2: Lauren Anderson, Olivia Berg, Nathan Bosserman, DaQuan Greenwell, Chace
Gutilla Missing from Photo: William Gerow
24
Music and the Arts
Westmont Hilltop High School presents South Pacific
This year’s musical took us to the South Pacific as we celebrated the musical and theatrical talents of the students of
Westmont Hilltop.
Other Players
Nurses
Abigail Stern, Alexandra Nash, Catherine
VanSlyke, Helen Stern, Inez Panebianco,
Jenna Toth, Leah Hockensmith, Rachel Toth,
Tori Lehman, Emily Mayket
Sailors
Derek Blackner, Thomas Messer, Ethan
Dumayas, Grant Gagnon, Greg Krinock,
Isaac Joseph
Islanders
Abbigail Smajda, Ashley Kush, Emily Brazill,
Kathyleen O’Leary, Kiersten Warren, Lauren
Fregly, Madison Eppley, Mary Clark, Veronica
Petrus, Sadie Carney, Kyleigh Smith
Cast
Ensign Nellie Forbush...........................................................................................................Madison Milligan
Emile de Becque.....................................................................................................................Alex Hockensmith
Ngana- his daughter.................................................................................................................... Hailey Pavlik
Jerome- his son.....................................................................................................................Kaleb Haselrig
Henry his native servant.....................................................................................................................Thomas Messer
Bloody Mary............................................................................................................................ Karlee DeMarco
Liat- her daughter............................................................................................................................Lindsay Geiser
Bloody Mary’s Assistant..........................................................................................................Savannah Summers
Luther Billis- a sailor.........................................................................................................................John Weidner
Abner........................................................................................................................................Shivangshu Tandukar
Stewpot (Carpenters Mate, Second Class, George Watts)...................................................................Erik Wehner
Professor............................................................................................................................................Benjamin Mica
Lt. Joseph Cable, United States Marine Corps.............................................................................Josh Livingston
Capt. George Brackett, United States Navy..................................................................................... Aaron Marko
Cmdr. William Harbison, United States Navy...................................................................Matthew Wehner
Lt. Buzz Adams.............................................................................................................................Daniel Cooley
Yeoman Herbert Quale- sailor.........................................................................................................Fisk Lee
Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey- sailor..........................................................................Brock Bernstein
Lt. Genevieve Marshall- Lead Nurse..........................................................................Nicole Barnhart
Ensign Dinah Murphy........................................................................................................... Emily Ward
Ensign Janet MacGregor.........................................................................................Rachelmae Pulliam
Student Production Staff
French Pronunciation................................................................................................................Alexandra Nash
Stage Manager............................................................................................................Savannah Summers
Assistant to the Tech Director.......................................................................................Thomas Messer
Assistant to the Set Designer...........................................................................Jennifer Forbess
Assistant to the Costume Designer.................................................................Ashley Santichen
Assistant to the Lighting Engineer......................................................................John Minnick
Bulletin Board Display Coordinator.....................................................................................Juliet Messer
French Girls
Rebecca Gvozden, Victoria Geiser, Veronica
Kovach, Sarah Kilpatrick, Sarah Elston, Megan
Krisay, Maiya Mastovich, Juliet Messer, Erin
Whyte, Cheyann Warner, Autumn McClain
101 Dalmatians
The cast members from the
4th Grade Class production of 101
Dalmatians. (see article and photo on
page 17)
Cruella De Vil: Judith Oller
Roger: Felice Panebianco
Anita: Alyssa Kush
Horace: Nate Perrin
Jasper: Ean Jaber
Canine Narrators: William Gerow,
Shannon Christie, Sydney Moore,
Anthony Tukanowicz-Hassett
Pongo: Ryan Kovach
Perdita: Avery Rudolph
Sergeant Tibbs: Mallory Morrell
Nanny: Bella Garanich
Police Officers: Chloe Smith, Parker
Marion
Dogcatcher: Greta Stager
Dalmatian Puppies, London Dogs,
Other Dalmatian Pups: Grade 4 Class
“Music and the Arts” 25
Music and the Arts
Jackie Young-Flack Memorial Scholarship
Alex Hockensmith
Niccolas Shorto received the Ken Null Memorial Award and Rachelmae Pulliam
received both the James Kocher Memorial Award and the Rhythm & Groove
Award for Jazz Studies
National School Orchestra Award
Samuel Hillard Outdoor Color Guard Award
MorganAnn Elizabeth Millinder
John Phillip Sousa Award
Aaron Douglas Marko
National School Choral Awards
Christopher Pickering (Presenter),
Band, Chorus & Orchestra Awards: Ashley Santichen (Music Monster),
MorganAnn Millinder (National School Orchestra Award and
Samuel Hillard Outdoor Color Guard Award),
Aaron Douglas Marko (John Phillip Sousa Award)
Director’s Award for Band
Kathyleen Adair O’Leary
Jenna Lynn Toth
Music Monster Award
Our music monster, Ashley Lynn Santichen
Ken Null Memorial Award
Niccolas Shorto
James Kocher Memorial Music Award
Rhythm & Groove Award for Jazz Studies
26 “Music and the Arts”
Samuel Hillard Outdoor Instrumentalist Award
Samuel Hillard Indoor Percussion Award
Emily Rochelle Mayket
Samuel Hillard Indoor Color Guard Award
Courtney Lynn Schilling
Music and the Arts
County Band
County Band (Grades: 7-8) – Kaitlin Haynal, LeeAnn Kuhn, Evan Christie
Strings & Things
Strings & Things (Grades: 5, 6, 7, 8) – Row 1: Layla Dalton, Kyle Gordon, Abigail
Rose, Hayes Rakvin, Maeve Milligan, Julia Bingler, Gaerielle Nagorite, Julie Duong,
Gabrielle Nagorite Row 2: Olivia Nicoloff, Hailey Pavlik, Destinee Grumbling, Elliott
Finney, Kaitlyn Poad, Olivia Brill, Amelia Aiken, Sophie Hochfeld, Laina Mastovich,
Margaret Walsh, Mackenzie Dunn Row 3: Christine Duong, Isaiah Haselrig, Jasmine
Innis, Anthony DeLisa, Moses Zeidan, Meghan Smitherman, Gabrielle Nash, Susan
Williams, Alexis Nibert
New York Times Rap Contest
New York Times Rap Contest (Grade: 7) – Susan Williams, Sophie Hochfeld
County Chorus
County Chorus (Grades: 6, 7, 8) – Row 1: Jacob Allen, Meryam Salem, Macey
Morrell, Abigail Miller Row 2: Josalyn McMillan, Hailie Hearn, Hailey Giuffre, Siairra
Weidner, Chloe Whorl Row 3: Nicholas Czyrnik, Madison Kist, Sydney Rupert,
Madison Reitter, Savannah Taylor Missing from Photo: Samuel Paratore, Bryce
Platzer, Joshua Reitter
Band Fest
Band Fest (Grade: 6) – Row 1: Bryce Platzer, Noah Martin Row 2: Chloe Kesslak,
Amber Hearn, Samuel Paratore
Young Artists Exhibition
Young Artists Exhibition (Grades: 6-8) – Row 1: Emmaline Collins, Sydney Droz,
Andrea Rutledge, Maeve Milligan, Conner Polacek, Tanner Hinterliter Row 2: Austin
Kaelin, Stefen Dean, Alyssa Cagliuso, Stephanie Rosendale, Helaina Kaschalk, Olivia
Brill Row 3: Ryan Flowers, Zachary Jackson, Hannah Davis, Jacob Law, Madison
Zitnay, Madison Reitter, Alyssa Augustine Missing from Picture: Joshua Reitter
“Music and the Arts”
27
Athletics & Sportsmanship
The pages of this newsletter are a testimonial to the achievements of our students in academics, the arts, community
service, and athletics. Within our educational community, good sportsmanship is considered paramount to a positive program.
The capacity to demonstrate leadership and citizenship through sportsmanship is as highly respected as academic achievement.
The athletes highlighted below have been shining stars in sportsmanship and athletics.
Male Athlete of the Year
Female Athlete of the Year
Grant Gagnon earned 15 Varsity Letters while
competing in Cross Country, Track, Soccer, and Swimming.
He has been recognized as the outstanding athlete in
Swimming, Soccer, Cross Country, and Track.
In Swimming, Grant was a four-year letter winner
and four-year District VI Swimming Championship
qualifier. Grant has won the Westmont Outstanding Male
Swimmer title for the past three years. Grant had a 3rd
place finish in the 50 Freestyle and 5th place finish in the
100-Yard Breaststroke at the 2014 District VI Swimming
Championships. He was the anchor swimmer for the team,
earning 4th place in the 200 Medley Relay, and he earned
5th place with the 400 Freestyle Relay Team.
In soccer, Grant was a four-year letter winner and led
the team to district playoffs in each of his four years. He
was chosen to play in the Santa Fund Soccer Classic, and
was this season’s Outstanding Player. Grant earned the
Corona and Grady Coach’s Award for the Outstanding
Boys’ Soccer Player.
In Cross Country, Grant was a perennial state qualifier
and was named to the West Central All-Area Cross Country
First Team. Grant earned the Herdman-Dailey Award for
Outstanding Boys’ Track and the district’s Outstanding
Boys’ Cross Country Award.
Alyssa Miller was co-captain of the Basketball Team
and helped lead the team to an overall record of 18 and 4,
claiming the LHAC (Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference)
title, which hasn’t been won by Westmont Hilltop since 2007.
She scored 278 total points this year and was the team’s
leading scorer averaging 12.8 points per game. She was also
the leading rebounder, averaging 7.1 per game. Alyssa was
named to the LHAC All-Conference Team. She was selected to
play in the AmeriServ Tribune Democrat All Star Game.
In Softball, for her career, Alyssa had 101 hits, 64 RBI, 78
runs scored and a .439 batting average. She was a four-year
letter winner, 2013 Co-MVP, 2013 LHAC Player of the Year,
2014 co-captain, and 2014 MVP. She was honored with the
John P. Horty Award for Outstanding Softball Players.
In Volleyball, Alyssa was co-captain during the fall season
and served as an exceptional leader to her teammates. She is a
four-year volleyball starter and letter winner. She led the team
this season in digs and had the highest hitting percentage.
Alyssa was selected to the All-District Team, LHAC AllConference Team, and she played for Cambria County in the
All-Star Game. She earned the Westmont Hilltop Outstanding
Volleyball Player Award.
For her contribution to teamwork and sportsmanship,
Alyssa earned the Fran Urban Award for a versatile and
outstanding athlete who made a significant impact on the
district’s athletic teams.
Grant Gagnon
Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year
Grant Gagnon
28 Athletics & Sportsmanship
Alyssa Miller
Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year
Alyssa Miller
District VI Sportsmanship Awards
Dr. Michael Sewak Award
for Outstanding Girls’ Basketball
Taylor Hoover, Alyssa Miller
Outstanding Boys’ Basketball
Taylor Hoover, Noah Marley
Girls’ Cross Country Award
Herdman Scholarship Award
for Outstanding Runner
David Coulson Award
for the Outstanding Football Player
Herdman-Dailey Award
for Outstanding Girls’ Track
William Askey Scholarship
Conor Mendelson (Skip Pristow Award) and Andrew
Miller (John Khuri Memorial Award)
Herman-Dailey Award
Colin Barron
for Outstanding Boys’ Track
Dr. William J. Hargreaves Award
for Outstanding Golfers
She runs as fast as lightening, so
Hannah Dorian has earned many,
many awards.
Angela Mosbrucker and Devon Jackson
Lawrence Cernansky (co-recipient with
Grant Gagnon pictured on page 29)
Athletics & Sportsmanship 29
Adele Dovey Award
for Outstanding Girls’ Tennis
Bethany Carney
Outstanding Cheerleader
David J. Murphy Award
for Outstanding Hockey Players
LHAC All-Conference Team Award
for Softball
Sebastian Ragno and Brandon Leech
Claycomb Coach’s Award
for Outstanding Wrestler
Jillian Foster
Ellwood Ailes Award
for Outstanding Baseball Player
Hailey Porter
John Saracena Coach’s Award
for Outstanding Girls’ Soccer Player
Logan Blackburn
Bill Mishler Scholarship
for Wrestling
Shyleigh Hughes
Lawrence Cernansky
Kohl Henry
Westmont Hilltop Fitness Awards
Finalists Awards (Male) – Row 1: Lewis Buchovich, Drake Dorian, Daniel Yost,
Kyler Pyshnik Row 2: Connor Schafer, Grant Gagnon Row 3: Sam Whitlow, Colin
Barron, Lawrence Cernansky
Finalist Awards (Female) – Row 1: Taylor Kaseler, Jocelyn Pawcio, Hanna Robart
Row 2: Emily Tyger, Alexandra Mostoller, Nollaig Noll, Kaitlyn Pawcio Row 3:
Alexandria Edwards, Monica Lough
President’s Physical Fitness Awards
The Presidential Fitness Test measures students in five areas of fitness including: cardiovascular endurance,
muscular strength and endurance, speed, and flexibility. Students passing this test demonstrate a high level of fitness and
determination! President’s Physical Fitness (Grade 8) – Row 1: Jenna Zatsick, Lindsey Andolina,
Harrison Weidner, Jacob Toth, Adam Kush, Isaak James Row 2: Julie Steinkirchner,
Molly Callihan, Sarah Polacek, Grayson Moyer, Noah Birthisel, Joseph Nash
President’s Physical Fitness (Grade 6) – Row 1: Dayne Boxler, Zane Blackburn,
Eliza Crans, Grace Dryer, Greta George Row 2: Isabella Hunt, Miles Zitnay, Conner
Polacek, Gavin Miller, Max Wilkinson, Lauren Kozak Row 3: Jasmine Innis, Nicholas
Fetzer, Joshua Elders, Mason Muto, Sydney Rupert, Chloe Kesslak Missing from
Photo: Savannah Marano
President’s Physical Fitness (Grade 7) – Row 1: Jacob Adams, Jonathon Heider,
Collin Kelley, Christopher Hasse, Devin Boxler, Ian Snider Row 2: Karalyn Pawcio,
Gaerielle Nagorite, Abigail Miller, Macey Morrell, Andrea Rutledge, Mikaela Crum,
Madison Rozich, Maeve Milligan, Amelia Aiken Row 3: Maddison Brant, Kayleigh Noll,
Sydney Droz, Sarah Stohon, Alex Sutt, Tucker Kushner, Brandon Kaseler, Jonathan
Barnhart Row 4: Isaiah Haselrig, Benjamin Wescott, Carson Custer, Tanner Mann,
Moses Zeidan, Alexis Nibert, Lee Santee, Riley Shriver, Susan Williams
Missing from Photo: Lukas Shiley
President’s Physical Fitness (Grade 5) – Row 1: Ellie Dorian, Grace Gardill,
Alexander Widmar, Roy Dunn, Olivia Caper, Casey Aman Row 2: Matthias Noll,
Landon Weeks, Lakyn Davis, Olivia Van Scoyoc, Madison Knupp, Dustin Edwards
Row 3: Elliott Sparling, Tyler Mosorjak, Mitchell Corcoran, Hudson Holbay, Dylan
Craft, Lauren Mock Missing from Photo: Luke Benner
31
Lori Blackburn
Memorial Track Dedication
Athletic Highlights of 2013-2014
Year in Review by Athletic Director Thomas Callihan
Boys’ Basketball - The following basketball players have received awards for
their success this season:
Conor Mendelson - LHAC All Conference and Skip Pristow
Outstanding Male Basketball Player
Andrew Miller - John Khuri Memorial Scholarship, given to the Boys’ Basketball Player that is competitive on the court and charitable off the court.
Samuel Barry, Bridget Sheehan, Sara Trio
Outstanding Girls’ Swimmer
Cheerleading - The 2013-2014 cheer season was a success, and boasted one of
the largest cheer squads in recent history. This year’s Outstanding Cheerleader was
Hailey Porter. Hailey was not only a captain of the varsity squad this past season
but was also an effective leader. She showed determination, commitment, and
strong decision-making skills.
Cross Country - The 2013 Boys’ Outstanding Runner was Grant Gagnon. Grant
is a senior who earned first team all-area team honors. He was a state qualifier again
this season and was a leader on the team. During the 2012 season, he helped the
team win the District 6 title.
Westmont’s 2013 outstanding girl runner is Hannah Dorian. Hannah helped the
girls’ team to an 11-1 dual meet record. She led the girls to a District 6 team runnerup title and earned a trip to the PIAA state championship meet. Hannah was named
to the First Team All-Area XC Team for the third consecutive year.
Football - Brady Shriver and Jonas Kresak were voted as LHAC All Conference
players on offense, and Liam Moran and Cody Sabo were named to the LHAC AllConference Team on defense. The SAFCA winner for Offensive Player of the Year
was Sam Curry and the Defensive SAFCA award winner was Colin Barron. This
year’s David Coulson Award winner was Colin Barron.
Nollaig Noll
Robert A. Gleason Award
for Outstanding Boys’ Tennis Player
Girls’ Tennis - The 2013 ladies tennis team won the Laurel Highlands Athletic
Conference with a 13-0 record. The team’s non-conference record was 2-0 with
an overall record of 15-0. In District 6 competition, Westmont Hilltop claimed the
District VI Championship for the second consecutive year.
In the team state competition, the ladies completed a successful season with a record
of 15-1. Bethany Carney won the Adele Dovey Award for the Outstanding Female
Tennis Player, while Lauren Fregley won All-Conference honors.
Boys’ Soccer - The 2013 Boys’ Soccer season was a spectacular one. The team
battled for a 14-4-1 overall record. They held opponents to an average of .63 goals per
game while averaging 5.06 goals per game. Thirty-nine players were on the roster!
Grant Gagnon won the Outstanding Boys’ Soccer Award this year for his leadership
and ability.
Volleyball - The 2013 volleyball team had a successful season in the fall and made
an improbable run through the District VI Playoffs that had the gym packed with fans
hanging on every point. This year’s Outstanding Volleyball Player was Alyssa Miller.
She was Co-Captain of the team and an exceptional leader. She is a four-year starter
and letter winner, who led the team in digs and had the highest hitting percentage on
the team. She was selected to the All District Team, LHAC All Conference Team, and
played for Cambria County in the All-Star Game.
Benjamin Katz
Wrestling - The Varsity Wrestling team finished 6-5 this season which marks the 17th straight season the team has
finished at .500 or better. The team also qualified for the District Duals where they finished 4th. This was the 9th time
a Westmont Hilltop team has placed in the top 4 at districts in the past 10 years. Logan Blackburn finished 2nd in the
District, 3rd in the Region, and qualified for the PIAA State Tournament. Logan was named this seasons Milt Lantz Award
winner as well as winning the Claycomb Coaches Award winner. Lawrence Cernansky won the Bill Mishler Award.
Golf - The golf team finished 4th in the Anderson Memorial Tourney and 8th in the Wheeling Tourney. For the 2013 season
the Outstanding Male Golfer was Devon Jackson and the Outstanding Female Golfer was Angela Mosbrucker.
Girls’ Soccer - The Girls’ Soccer team advanced through the District VI playoffs and lost in a tough game for the
Championship. Shyleigh Hughes broke the school record for goals scored and was named the Outstanding Girls’ Soccer Player.
Girls’ Basketball - The Girls’ Basketball Team claimed the LHAC Championship for the fifth time in the past eleven years.
The team was led by co-captains Alyssa Miller and Taylor Hoover. Alyssa was named to the LHAC All-Conference Team
and the Ameriserv / Tribune-Democrat All Star Team. Both Taylor and Alyssa were recipients of the Dr. Sewak Award for their
contributions and leadership on the team.
Boys’ Tennis - The Boys’ 2013-2014 Tennis Team advanced to the District VI playoffs. This year’s winner of the Robert
Gleason Outstanding Boys’ Tennis Player is Benjamin Katz.
Softball - For the fourth consecutive season, the Varsity Softball Team made the District VI playoffs. Alyssa Miller was
named the John P. Horty Outstanding Softball Player of the Year. Alyssa finished her career with 101 hits, 64 RBI and a 439
Batting Average.
Outstanding Runner - This year’s Herdman Scholarship Outstanding Runner award winner was Hannah Dorian.
Hannah participated in Track and Cross Country. She placed 1st in District VI in the 3200 and placed 6th at the PIAA
Track and Field Championships.
Track and Field - Both Boys’ and Girls’ Track Teams had excellent seasons and culminated with nine members participating
in the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Award winners in Track and Field included:
Lori Blackburn Memorial Award – Sara Trio and Bridget Sheehan
Boys’ Track Dedication – Samuel Barry
Swimming - The Girls’ Swim Team finished the season with an 11-1 record and took second place in the Central Western
Alleghenies Aqua Conference (CWAAC). This group of seniors finished their career with a 47–2 record overall.
This year’s Girls’ Outstanding Swimming Award went to Nollaig Noll. She was a 2nd Team All Star this season and is a District
VI 4 time champion in the 50 and 100.
The Boys’ Swim Team finished the season with an 8-3 record. They finished in 4th place in the CWAAC this season and had 11
district qualifiers. Grant Gagnon was this year’s Outstanding Male Swimmer. He was named to the Second Team All Stars.
Hockey - This season’s Hockey Team won the East Division Championship with a record of 17-11-5. They were champions of
the inaugural Tomahawks Cup, and finished as runner-up in the Canlan Christmas Freeze-Out Tournament held in Toronto.
The 2014 David J. Murphy Outstanding Hockey Player Award winners were Sebastian Ragno and Brandon Leech.
Baseball - The Ellwood Ailes Outstanding Baseball Player Award went to Kohl Henry. Kohl led the team in batting with a
.574 Average collecting 27 hits in 47 at bats. He also led in RBI’s and Runs Scored.
William Askey Award - Mr. William Askey was a Teacher and Athletic Director at Westmont Hilltop. The William Askey
Scholarship Award honors a female athlete who participated in sports and held a 3.00 grade average or better. Hannah Dorian
earned the 2014 William Askey Award.
District VI Sportsmanship Award - Fifty senior high schools across the ten-county area of the PIAA District VI have
been honored with sportsmanship awards through the “Let It Begin With Me” program. This award recognizes two senior
athletes from each of the schools who exemplify leadership and sportsmanship. This year’s award winners are Taylor Hoover
and Noah Marley.
33
General Information
Annual Public Notice
Helping Children with
Special Needs
The Westmont Hilltop School
District provides pre-referral and
special education services to children
with special needs. There are two
important resources for parents
and community members to assist
in deciding whether students need
extra help or special services and, if
so, what services are available and
how to utilize them. The links to this
information, along with a description
of the type of information available are
listed below.
For more information, please call
your school guidance counselors,
nurses, or building principals as
follows: High School—255-8726,
Middle School—255-8704, and
Elementary School—255-8707. Additional information on contact
people, student support teams, signals
that children may need special
education, types of services available,
educational programs for parents, and
helping children in crisis situations
is available online at www.whsd.org.
Please click on “District Departments”
and then “Educational Support.”
The Intermediate Unit 8 provides
an Annual Public Notice of Special
Education Services and Programs
in the State of Pennsylvania that is
publicized in local newspapers and also
available as the first “Link of Interest”
at the following site:
http://iu08.org//site/default.
aspx?PageID=52
This site includes information
regarding the Pennsylvania
Department of Education’s
responsibility to ensure that all
children with disabilities residing
in the Commonwealth—including
children with disabilities attending
private schools, regardless of
the severity of their disabilities,
34 “General Information”
and who are in need of special
education and related services—are
identified, located, and evaluated.
This responsibility is required by a
federal law called the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act Amendments
of 2004 (IDEA ‘04). It provides details
about special education law, the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act,
and the types of programs that are
available for students who have been
identified as being in need of specially
designed instruction and have one
or more of the following physical or
mental disabilities:
Autism
Emotional Disturbance
Deafness
Hearing Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Intellectual Disability
Multiple Disabilities
Other Health Impairment
Orthopedic Impairment due to chronic or
acute health problems
Speech and Language Impairment
Visual Impairment including Blindness
Deaf-Blindness
Traumatic Brain Injury
Developmental Delay
The processes of early intervention,
screening services, evaluation, and
educational placement are explained
along with the types of services
and levels of support. Information
regarding parents’ and students’ rights
and protections are detailed, including
issues of privacy and confidentiality,
and procedures to be followed if you
feel that rights have been violated.
Senior Residents
Have V.I.P. Status
Each year we are pleased to
acknowledge and thank senior
residents for their contributions to our
educational system. Our Senior VIP
(Very Important Person) community
members cheer in our stadiums,
encourage our youth, and support our
educational processes in a myriad of
ways.The VIP program passes are one
way we try to accomplish that goal.
Seniors enjoy free admission to all
school-related athletic events. The
only exceptions are hockey games
played at the Cambria County War
Memorial and the annual musical. If
you are a senior resident, age 62 or
older, you are eligible for a VIP pass.
To obtain yours, please contact the
district office at 814-255-6751.
Attention Parents!
All Westmont Hilltop parents have
the power to know instantly when
notifications and newsflashes are
posted to the website.
Please take a minute and go to
www.whsd.org to sign up for eNotify.
This option is part of the Power
Announcement System that enables
parents to receive all district alerts
and updates. (Note: This is not part of
the PowerSchool Network.)
To sign up for eNotify, follow the
link on the homepage of www.whsd.
org or click the “Quicklinks” tab from
the main web page at www.whsd.org,
and choose “Website Account Sign Up
eNotify,” from the pull-down menu.
Directions are provided as to how to
create an account.
General Information
Comprehensive Planning 2014
A new Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2014 for implementation beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. We
are grateful to the following parents, students, educators, business leaders, community members, board members, and
administrators for their work at the district and building levels in designing the plan. Their creative work began during the
2012-2013 school year and was finalized and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the spring of 2014.
Dr. Susan Anderson
Mrs. Karen Azer
Mrs. Jane Bassi
Mr. Edward Benning
Mrs. Lori Brawley
Mrs. Patricia Buckovich
Mrs. Claudia Christner
Mrs. Katie Crow
Mrs. Terri Denk
Mrs. Lisa Drennen
Mr. Norman Ed
Miss Lisa Friedhoff
Dr. Kamal Gella
Dr. James Grecco
Mr. Gregory Heider
Miss Billie Jo Kisko
Dr. Eugene Kupchella
Mrs. Nicole Kuzmiak
Mrs. Gloria LaMonaca
Mr. Jeffrey Masterson
Mrs. Cindy McCombie
Mr. Steven McGee
Mrs. Estelle Milligan
Mrs. Barbara Miltenberger
Mr. Thomas Mitchell
Mr. Joseph Molnar
Mrs. Teresa Mrozowski
Mrs. Molly O’Neil
Mr. Jeffrey Papcun
Miss Lori Petyak
Mrs. Joan Ponzurick
Mr. Jonathan Rutledge
Mrs. Melissa Rzasa
Mr. Gregory Sanford
Mrs. Beth Shoff
Mrs. Joselle Skelley
Mrs. Eileen Springer
Mrs. Beth Stem
Mrs. Kelly Stiles
Mrs. Deanna Swincinski
Mrs. Debra Taczanowsky
Mrs. Heather Thomas
Mr. Matthew Thomas
Mrs. Amanda Tresnicky
Mrs. Michele Trevorrow
Miss Carol Visnovsky
Mrs. Lori Weeks
Mrs. Deborah Winterscheidt
Mr. Mark Yonko.
Last, but not least, we gratefully acknowledge the input and creative ideas of the High School Student Council under the
direction of President Josh Livingston.
The major goals of the Comprehensive Plan provide the visionary guidelines for the next five years. They include the
following examples:
• Committees will study recommendations regarding curriculum, technology initiatives, safe and supportive schools, special education, and professional development.
• Differentiated instruction is planned for students at all levels.
• Professional development will be designed to meet the needs of all teachers with faculty redesign opportunities and enhancement of the new teacher induction program.
• Professional learning communities involving teacher leadership will function at all levels. • Enhanced state-of-the-art technology access and integration has been planned.
• Employment of a data warehousing system will enable data analysis teams to enhance diagnostic instruction.
• Standards-based needs assessments and standards-aligned planned courses of study will be published.
• Distributed instructional leadership will increase the capacity for progress at all levels of the district. • Informed decision-making will be enhanced through gathering of data from various groups followed by meaningful adjustments based upon the information.
• The guidance program will be aligned with the American Association of School Counselors (ASCA) model (with domains of focus including academic development, career exploration, and personal/social development).
• Enhanced family and community involvement will be a focus.
• Universal screening and diagnostic assessment will be employed for all students.
• Intensive interventions will be planned for students in need of support and effective enrichment and opportunities for individualized pacing and progress will be an emphasis for advanced level students.
• School-wide positive behavioral support will be employed at the elementary and middle schools. • Student support teams will include guidance counselors, school psychologist, emotional support staff, and Student Assistance Program team members who will support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
“General Information”
35
Sources of Funding
The Westmont Hilltop School District received funding from both federal and state sources and publicizes receipt. The following is a
listing of funding sources from the 2013-2014 school year.
FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES
2013-2014
Title I—helps to fund our elementary Title I program.
Title II—provides a portion of an extra teacher’s salary
in the elementary school, which helps with class size reduction.
Accountability Block Grant—funds early childhood initiatives
and the implementation of full-day kindergarten.
IDEA—helps with special education staffing
and related support services for children.
KtO (Keystones to Opportunity—funds special programs
for children from birth to age 5 before kindergarten.
$238,357
$34,279
$48,681
$177,640
$91,271
Westmont Hilltop School District Board Of Education 2014
Mrs. Michele Trevorrow, President
Mrs. Lisa Drennen, Vice-President
Mr. Jeffrey Masterson, Treasurer
Dr. Kamal Gella, Secretary
Mr. John DeMarco
Mr. Joseph Kesslak
Mr. Michael Lynch
Mr. Darin Marley
Mr. William Trevorrow
Mr. Steven McGee, Recording Secretary (Non-Member)
Elementary School
District Administrative Staff 2013 - 2014
Dr. Susan Anderson, Superintendent
Mr. Donald Irwin, Assistant Superintendent and Business Manager
Mr. Steven McGee, Director of Education,
Coordinator of Special Education and Federal Programs
Mr. Joseph Molnar, Technology Director
Mr. Matthew Thomas, Director of Professional Development
and District-Wide Assessment Coordinator
Building Administrative Staff 2013 - 2014
Mr. Thomas Mitchell, High School Principal
Mrs. Nicole Kuzmiak, Middle School Principal
Mr. Edward Benning, Elementary School Principal
Middle School
Mission Statement
The mission of the WHSD, in partnership with our community, is to prepare each student
to be an informed, ethical, responsible adult in a changing and competitive global society
through high expectations and a challenging educational program offering knowledge
and skills within a safe, nurturing environment.
Civil Rights Statement
The Westmont Hilltop School District, an equal opportunity employer, will not discriminate in
employment, educational programs or activities, based on race, color, religion, national origin,
gender, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, or disability. Publication of this policy in this document
is in accordance with state and federal laws including: The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
Title IV, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 & 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the American Disabilities Act of 1992.
High School
Printed on recycled paper

Hilltopper Highlights 2014 - Westmont Hilltop School District

Transcription

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