Hilltopper Highlights 2011 - Westmont Hilltop School District

Transcription

2 011 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 2011
Westmont Hilltop scholars
who rank academically in the Top
Ten of their graduating class are
honored annually at the opening of
the Commencement Ceremony. Top
Ten scholars are recognized with a
savings bond and plaque provided
through a collaborative effort of the
Treasurer of the Board of Education
and the Westmont Hilltop Education
Association. This award is now
sustained by the current Board
Treasurer, Mr. Rooney Gleason, with
leadership provided by the current
Board President, Mr. Mitchell Azar
and the Westmont Hilltop Education
Association President, Mr. Stephen
Lindberg.
Each student of the Top Ten
will receive an award in the form
of a $100.00 savings bond. The
students pictured in the photograph
have contributed to the tradition
of excellence that characterizes
Westmont Hilltop. Throughout the
2010-2011 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 their
school, are contained within the pages
of this newsletter, dedicated to the
Class of 2011.
The Class of 2011 Top Ten
Top Ten Scholars of the Class of 2011 Row 1: Kasey Azar, Christina Atterbury, Jamie Hudson, Sarah Walko,
Lauren Matevish Row 2: Andrew Kilpatrick, David Pepley, Bryant Fisher, Keegan Terek, Joshua Polacek
The names of the following
students will be inscribed on a plaque
on permanent display in the lobby of
our high school.
Bryant Fisher
Westmont Hilltop Education
Association Top Ten Awards
Listed Alphabetically
Lauren Matevish
Christina Atterbury
Keegan Terek
Kasey Azar
Sarah Walko
Jamie Hudson
Andrew Kilpatrick
David Pepley
Joshua Polacek
The 2011 Hilltopper Highlights Achievement and Excellence, now entering its twelfth summer of publication,
is a special summer edition of the Hilltop School News dedicated to recognition of the outstanding individual and
collective accomplishments of our students within their school and community.
High School Achievement
Well Done, My Fellow Alumni!
Before handing out diplomas and commending his fellow alumni of the Class
of 2011, Westmont Hilltop School Board President, Mr. Mitchell Azar, annually
reminisces with parents, families, and friends of the graduates about the highlights of their school year. Mr. Azar served as the keynote speaker of the evening.
Excerpts of the speech are as follows:
“I began to wrestle with the dilemma of how to approach my speech. I’ve
been on the School Board for the past thirteen years, the last eight as president,
so I could talk to you from that perspective. Or since this year marks the 30th
anniversary of my own graduation from Westmont, I could approach my remarks
as a fellow alumnus. Or since my daughter is among the 136 of you that are
receiving diplomas tonight, I could simply talk to you as a parent. So after a great
deal of thought, I figured why pick? I’ve decided to speak to you from all three of
these roles.”
“Mr. Thomas and Mr. Mitchell refer to the Three A’s (Academics, Athletics,
and the Arts). Tonight, however, I’ve decided to give you some suggestions to
take with you as you begin your post-Westmont Hilltop days that I call the Three
‘Be’s.’ The first ‘Be’ that I offer comes from my role as School Board President.
And that is ‘Be Passionate.’ Wherever your life takes you after you leave Westmont Hilltop, find something you love doing and attack it with passion. Give
everything you do 110%.” “The Class of 2011 clearly has demonstrated that they have passion. You’ve
done amazingly well academically. You are sending 83% of your graduating class
on to further their educations at some of the best schools in the country. You
have 55 classmates who graduate tonight with a cumulative grade point average
in excess of 92% and ten who are over 100%. You have a classmate who received
an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, some who are entering
other branches of military service, and some who are heading into the workforce.
The recognitions you’ve received for such things as Scholastic Quiz, Forensics,
and Foreign Language competitions are vast and impressive.”
“Athletically, you’ve also shown great passion. This year, you brought the
Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference trophy back to where it belongs, you had
a classmate who finished second in the state in wrestling, and your girls’ swim
team completed its third consecutive undefeated season.”
“Your passion is evident in the arts and music programs, which are also filled
with unbelievable achievements. The musical production of Godspell, which by
the way is one of my all-time favorites, was phenomenal.”
“You had representation at regional and state chorus, band, and orchestra.
Mr. Mitchell Azar, fellow alumnus and 2011 Commencement keynote speaker.
“High School Achievement”
You may think these types of successes
are the norm for high school students,
but I can tell you, they aren’t. So you
clearly have demonstrated that you
have passion. I urge you to keep it up.”
“My second ‘Be’ comes from the
perspective of a fellow Westmont graduate. And that is ‘Be Socially Conscious.
Be Community-minded.’ I hope you
realize that you have had some great
opportunities here at Westmont. You
have strong family support, teachers
who really care about you, and a community that is really behind you. Not
everyone has that. So I encourage you
to try to find ways to pay it forward, to
help those who are less fortunate.”
“Just think about what you have
done this year. Your efforts have
raised almost $30,000 for brain cancer
research. $30,000? That’s remarkable.
Organizations such as the Make-AWish Foundation, the Four Diamonds
Fund, The Women’s Help Center, the
YWCA, Special Olympics, and so many
more have benefited from your time
and effort. You’ve done projects that
benefitted our area youth and helped to
better our community. I encourage you
to keep this up. There is no better feeling than when you realize that you’ve
helped someone who is less fortunate
than you.”
“My third and final ‘Be’ comes to
you as a parent. ‘Be Careful!’ But when
I tell you to be careful, I’m not suggesting that you should never take chances
or risks. Sometimes you need to take
chances in life. I’m suggesting that you
need to think through your decisions
and make smart choices. You are going
to be faced with hundreds of decisions every day. Be smart. Think them
through.”
Mr. Azar then recognized members
of the faculty who were retiring this
year. These individuals have contributed over 118 years of service to our
school district: Mr. Ronald Cleaver,
Mrs. Jackie Carpenter, Mrs. Marilyn
McClelland, Mrs. Terri Terndrup, and
Mr. Brooke Testa. Sadly this year, we
lost a member of our faculty far too
soon. Mr. Azar paid tribute to the
memory of Mrs. Jackie Young-Flack.
Mr. Azar concluded his address
as follows: “Class of 2011, the time is
almost here. In just a little while, I’ll
hand you your diploma, shake your
hand (okay, one of you may get a hug!)
and you will be a high school senior
no more. You should leave here with
great confidence, because I know that
our Alma Mater has prepared you well.
Just remember to continue to show
that passion, continue to serve your
community, and whatever you do, ‘Be
Careful.’ Well done, my fellow alumni.
Thank you.”
Mr. Azar will commence in 2011 as
well, as he will conclude thirteen years
of dedicated and selfless service to the
Board of Education of the Westmont
Hilltop School District. Well done,
and thank you our fellow alum,
Mr. Mitchell Azar!
Student Speakers
Bryant Fisher, pictured below, is
an outstanding role model of academic
excellence as he addressed his fellow
students with his uplifting message.
Student Council President Christina
Atterbury, pictured below, explained
the true meaning of “commencement”
and provided the concluding inspiration
for the Class of 2011 as they were ready
to commence.
Class President Keegan Terek, pictured below, regaled the audience while
communicating to his classmates that, “Over the past thirteen years, we’ve
learned to absorb knowledge, information, reason, and awareness and use them
to radiate our minds outwards. . . . In the words of my classmates, we have
gained clarity.”
Graduation Plans
for 2011
The graduates of the Class of
2011 have declared plans to
continue their education in the
following institutions of higher
learning:
Bridge Program
California University of PA
Champlain College
Clarion University of PA
Commonwealth Technical Institute
Denison University
Duke University
Edinboro University
Elizabethtown College
Geneva College
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Grove City College
Indiana University of PA
Juniata College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Mansfield University
Marshall University
Ouachita Baptist University
Penn Highlands Community College
Penn State University
Penn State Altoona Campus
Penn State – Berks
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Rhode Island School of Design
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Francis University
Seton Hill University
Shippensburg University
Slippery Rock University
Susquehanna University
University of Maryland
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
University of the Arts
University of Western Ontario
United States Air Force Academy
Uppgala University (Sweden)
Waynesburg University
West Virginia University
Washington & Jefferson College
*Three members of the Class of 2011
have enlisted in the military.
National Merit Achievement
National Merit Commended Students and Finalists are students who are
recognized on a national level as having outstanding academic promise. The
National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition that started
in 1995. Students qualify for this recognition by advanced performance on the
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. We congratulate
Andrew Kilpatrick of the Class of 2011, who was commended by the National
Merit Scholarship Corporation for his score on the PSAT and received a
Certificate of Merit for having one of the top 5,000 scores in Pennsylvania on
the SAT. Andrew Kilpatrick graduated from Westmont Hilltop School District this
year in the Top Ten of the Class of 2011. He attended the annual Top 20 Honors
Banquet all four years of high school! Andrew’s extracurricular activities
included four years of choral singing, SADD, Scholastic Quiz, and Forensics. He
competed at both the State and National levels in Forensics in the category of
Dramatic Interpretation.
National Merit Scholar: Andrew Kilpatrick
Academic Achievement & Excellence
Academic excellence is part of the culture at Westmont Hilltop High School.
The students on the pages that follow are exemplary role models.
Westmont Hilltop Educational Mitchell and Rebecca Azar
Association Scholarship Award Family Scholarship
United States Air Force
Academy Appointment
Sarah Katherine Godish (Photograph on page 21)
Westmont Hilltop Student
Memorial Scholarship Awards
Jenna Marie Magistro
Zachary Charles Drennen, Julie Rose Kittka
David Frederick Pepley, Rebecca Helen Shark
Gella Family Scholarship
Dr. Gary J. Estadt Scholarship
Zahorchak Education
Endowment
Marinanicole Dohrman Miller
Greater Johnstown Career and
Technology Center
NOCTI Awards
Michael CeJay Barry
Adam Tyler Webb
Jackie Young-Flack
Memorial Scholarship
Andrew James Kilpatrick
(Left to Right) Keegan Chase Terek, Jyothi and Kamal Gella
(presenters), Bryant William Fisher
Greater Johnstown Career &
Technology Center SelfServ
Certificate
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
Jake Bradi Bair
Skills Certificate
Row 1: Keegan Chase Terek, Christina Loring Atterbury, Jamie Mosier Hudson, and David Frederick Pepley
Row 2: Riley Bennett Timbs
Row 3: Benjamin Eric Bukoski, Jedediah Matthew Brandwein, Daniel Patrick Wolfe, and Bryant William Fisher
Christina Loring Atterbury
Jedediah Matthew Brandwein
Benjamin Eric Bukoski
Bryant William Fisher
Jamie Mosier Hudson
David Frederick Pepley
Keegan Chase Terek
Riley Bennett Timbs
Daniel Patrick Wolfe
Amber Lee Harden and Madison Alayne LaMantia
Academic ‘Letter’ Awards,
Class of 2011
Brianna K. Alianiello
Katherine M. Andrews
Katelyn E. Arcurio
Christina L. Atterbury
Kasey L. Azar
Matthew J. Bambino
Jedediah M. Brandwein
Daniel A. Brennsteiner
Benjamin E. Bukoski
John M. Burnheimer II
Kim A. Carney
Christina J. Cassone
Ian P. Clark
Denae M. Dorian
Zachary C. Drennen
Annabeth R. Faucher
Annie L. Fiffick
Bryant W. Fisher
Luke B. Gindlesperger
Christopher M. Gnagey
Sarah K. Godish
Brianna N. L. Gordon
Andrew J. Herbert
Tanner M. Hough
Jamie M. Hudson
Marcus Kallur
Jamie L. Kessler
Andrew J. Kilpatrick
Emily E. Kirkstadt
Julie R. Kittka
Sarah A. Krupa
Jenna M. Magistro
Leah M. Marko
Lauren M. Matevish
Kara E. Matthews
Maggie A. McNamara
Aaron R. Miller
Madelyn G. Miller
Marinanicole D. Miller
Kyle A. Molchany
Daniel W. Oberst
David F. Pepley
Joshua M. Polacek
Aubrey L. Rafinski
Summer L. Reitter
Joseph S. Rizkalla
Aaron Z. Seigh
Joseph S. Seigh
Rebecca H. Shark
Madelyn Snopko
Patricia M. Spisak
Sean A. Stephens
Carly A. Stump
Keegan C. Terek
Riley B. Timbs
Alex L. Trevorrow
Sarah N. Walko
Daniel P. Wolfe
April L. Yanko
Michael D. Zamias
Ty C. Zatsick
Academic Achievement Award
Class of 2011
Katherine M. Andrews
Katelyn E. Arcurio
Jennifer A. Asel
Christina L. Atterbury
Kasey L. Azar
Matthew J. Bambino
Jedediah M. Brandwein
Benjamin E. Bukoski
John M. Burnheimer II
Kim A. Carney
Christina J. Cassone
Ian P. Clark
Denae M. Dorian
Zachary C. Drennen
Jonathan M. Esch
Annabeth R. Faucher
Annie L. Fiffick
Bryant W. Fisher
Luke B. Gindlesperger
Sarah K. Godish
Luke D. Gonzalez
Matthew S. Heider
Andrew J. Herbert
Tanner M. Hough
Jamie M. Hudson
Marcus Kallur
Jamie L. Kessler
Andrew J. Kilpatrick
Emily E. Kirkstadt
Julie R. Kittka
Jenna M. Magistro
Leah M. Marko
Lauren M. Matevish
Kara E. Matthews
Kelsey D. McLachlan
Aaron R. Miller
Adam C. Miller
Madelyn G. Miller
Marinanicole D. Miller
Kyle A. Molchany
David F. Pepley
Joshua M. Polacek
Aubrey L. Rafinski
Summer L. Reitter
Joseph S. Rizkalla
Zachary Rummel
Aaron Z. Seigh
Joseph S. Seigh
Rebecca H. Shark
Madelyn Snopko
Patricia M. Spisak
Sean A. Stephens
Carly A. Stump
Keegan C. Terek
Riley B. Timbs
Alex L. Trevorrow
Sarah N. Walko
Raymond M. Ward
Daniel P. Wolfe
April L. Yanko
Alyssa R. Yewcic
Michael D. Zamias
Ty C. Zatsick
Alexyis R. Allen
Sarah M. Bunyea
Christopher J.
Campagna
Carly E. Campbell
Bradley W. Carney
Brittany L. Carney
Julia M. Chessa
William A. Crowe
Daniel J. Dailey
Derek S. Danzl
Brittany M. Davis
Parag Dharbhamulla
DeAnnah M. Dick
Nicole L. Dorn
Giovane Dos Santos
Silva
Jonathan M. Findish
Alyson S. Forman
Meena K. Gella
Zachary D. Georgevich
Caitlin T. Gutilla
Mustafa B. Hammudi
Kelcy J. Harrison
Autumn N. Helman
Allison N. Henry
Meredith W. Herman
Kyra N. Hill
Benjamin H. Holmes
Kelsey E. Hoover
Cody J. Kmecak
Cheyenne B. Kovach
Kara A. Kovach
Lyndsie N. Lampel
Benjamin F. Legath
Zachary T. Long
Matthew M. Masiello
Jane L. McIlhenny
Marissa R. Miller
Samantha A. Morello
Mark Nathaniel
Naofa R. Noll
Ileana Panebianco
Alexandra N. Petak
Ethan M. Policicchio
Adam J. Pozun
Amy R. Regan
Gina C. Rieval
Niza M. Scuderi
Rebecca D. Seigh
Eric D. Sheehan
Elizabeth A. Sherrier
Nicole L. Simmons
Matthew S. Slezak
Britney A. Smith
Carolyn V. Somerville
Erin S. Suppes
Lida A. Thompson
Kylie M. Truscello
Mary E. Valcheff
Andrew D. Varchol
Jennifer L. Weinzierl
Forest Penn Whitlow
Brittany C. Young
Academic Achievement Awards
Class of 2012
Class of 2013
Victoria E. Albert
Elizabeth P. Atterbury
Abbigail M. Bealonis
Angela S. Bealonis
Marley R. Bonner
Jaime M. Bumbernick
Jeremy W. Burnheimer
David J. Carney
Joshua J. Cavrak
Jill A. Clark
Sarah B. Clark
Kirsten E. Coyle
Taylor M. Davis
Hannah N. Drane
Daniel B. Durham
Christiana R. Faucher
Kasia N. Foster
Blaine P. Friday
Tara L. Fritz
Stacee D. Glass
Bryan R. Hoegg
Dante Horvath
James M. Kane
Sara M. Kimmell
Jill H. Kittka
Lukas A. Kleinmeyer
Seneca L. Koontz
Mariel N. Kramer
Evan T. Louder
Kathryn N. Lynch
Shannon R. Marko
Sarah G. Marley
Leah M. Mercik
Kaitlin Mical
Megan B. Miller
Hannah G. Mills
Meghan N. Mock
Joel S. Neff
Margaret E. Oberst
Victoria A. Parlock
Elizabeth A. Petrell
Andrew S. Rizkalla
Erin C. Rodgers
Sarah M. Rogers
Rachel I. Roper
Anthony J. Rosage
Donald C. Shovestull
Angela R. Sutt
Allison R. Swadley
Madalynn E. Swaltek
Jessica M. Toth
Robert J. Varner
Michael T. Vliet
Jonathan E. Wagner
Melissa J. Walko
Deana L. Werner
Steven P. Zipf
Class of 2014
Nicole M. Barnhart
Timothy B. Barry
Jenna N. Becker
Ashlyn M.Bulas
Ian J. Campbell
Theodore F. Christensen
Rex M. Cosgrove
Melanie N. Criswell
Karlee M. DeMarco
Hannah G. Dorian
Mattison H. Evans
Natalie A. Fiorica
Hunter C. Funk
Grant J. Gagnon
Lindsay G. Geiser
Devon J. Gilbert
Alex M. Hockensmith
Brittany N. Irwin
Isaac W. Joseph
Braden M. Junker
Benjamin Katz
Meghan E. Komara
Kayla M. Lamison
Tori M. Lehman
Josh W. Livingston
Aaron D. Marko
Noah J. Marley
Alyssa K. Miller
Andrew A. Miller
Holly N. Miller
James A. Miller
Madison J. Milligan
Joseph S. Mitchell
Courtney J. Morder
Alexandra R. Mostoller
Nollaig M. Noll
Dorothea G. Oller
Abby J. Panek
Patrick J. Petrell
Rachelmae N. Pulliam
Sebastian J. Ragno
Caroline R. Rea
Sean W. Robb
Sydney R. Ruis
Cody M. Sabo
Adam J. Shark
Niccolas P. Shorto
Abbigail E. Smajda
Timothy E. Smith
Taylor A. Somerville
Leah K. Steinbring
Abigail P. Stern
Emily L. Strandquest
Eric C. Thomas
Emily M. Ward
Jacob C. Weaver
Matthew D. Wehner
Robert S. Whitlow
Ruby I. Whorl
Bailyn A. Yost
Ashley N. Young
Students Excel in World Languages!
About 300 students from more than 15 school districts participated in the Appalachian Language Educators Society, or APPLES, Foreign Language Festival at St.
Francis University. Congratulations to the following students who distinguished
themselves in the competition.
NAME
LANGUAGE / LEVEL
PLACE
Seneca Koontz
French 2
1st 2nd
Evan Louder
French 3 1st 2nd
1st Sophie Noonan
French 33rd Benjamin Bukoski French 5 2nd 1st Carly Stump
French 5
1st 2nd
April Yanko
French 53rd
3rd
French 5 /Senior High2nd
Josh Livingston
Spanish 1/Junior High
1st
Mary Clark
1st Natalie Fiorica
1st
Madison Milligan
Spanish 23rd Dorothea Oller Spanish 2
1st 2nd Spanish 2/Junior High3rd Abigail Stern
Spanish 2
1st Emily Ward
Spanish 23rd Jill Clark
Spanish 2
2nd Mattison Evans
Spanish 2
1st 1st Erica Claycomb
1st Elizabeth Petrell
Spanish 3
1st 3rd
Nicole Dorn
Spanish 3
1st 1st
Kirsten Rafinski
Spanish 32nd Anthony Rosage
Spanish 3
1st Ryan Glover
Spanish 3/ Senior High3rd Kelsey Harrison
Spanish 42nd 1st
Penn Whitlow
Spanish 4/ Senior High2nd Sarah Layton
Spanish 43rd Keegan Terek
Spanish 5
1st 1st
1st 1st Jenna Magistro
Spanish 53rd 2nd
Christina Atterbury
Spanish 52nd 3rd
2nd EVENT
Listening Comprehension
Speaking Proficiency
Listening Comprehension Reading Comprehension
Composition
Reading Comprehension
Music- Vocal
Music- Instrumental
Tee Shirt
Art-Original
Music- Vocal
Literary Recitation
Composition
Composition
Art- Reproduction
Literary Recitation
Art- Original
Composition
Art- Reproduction
Literary Recitation
Composition
Each year, the APPLES Festival
awards an overall prize in each of three
languages: French, German and Spanish. Students in Level 4 or higher are
eligible. Criteria are speaking proficiency, listening and reading comprehension, and composition. Congratulations to Keegan Terek for winning the
overall prize in Spanish. Keegan was also the recipient of
the Yvonne Torzok Memorial Scholarship, awarded by APPLES. Madame
Torzok, a native Parisian, was a war
bride who taught language in Indiana
County Schools for over 30 years. Each
year, an exemplary high school senior
who plans to continue language study
at the university level receives the
$500 scholarship. Keegan was accepted into the US
Department of State’s National Security
Language Initiative for Youth. This
program offers full scholarships for
high school students to learn less commonly taught languages and to understand new cultures through immersion
programs throughout the world. These
“critical languages” include Arabic,
Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean,
Persian (Farsi), Russian, and Turkish.
For seven weeks in the summer of
2010, Keegan studied Arabic in Egypt.
For this summer, he received a scholarship to continue his Arabic studies in
Morocco through the same program.
In the fall, Keegan will pursue a double
major in Spanish & Arabic at Georgetown University. Christiana Faucher will also have
a unique travel experience this summer. She has received a full scholarship
for the “Festival of Theater” program,
a multi-week stay in France offered by
Experiment in International Living.
Through homestays, adventure travel,
experiential learning, and language
immersion, Christiana will build leadership and communication skills, gain
essential international experience, and
increase her global awareness.
Bon voyage!
Christiana Faucher
Keegan Terek
Middle/High School Academics, Arts, Athletics
Academic Achievement Fast Facts
• The Forensics Team did well in
state level competition.
Parag Dharbhamulla placed as
the second funniest student in Pennsylvania (humorous drama), and Stacee Glass earned a 6th place of 78 in impromptu speaking.
Christiana Faucher placed 13th in extemporaneous speaking.
Taylor Davis and Madelyn Swaltek were a dynamic duo, placing 14th in duo drama. • Under the leadership of Mrs. Terri Terndrup, Grades 5 and 6 students placed 6th in Pennsylvania and 27th among 270 in the nation in the Knowledge Master’s Open this year!
• Westmont Hilltop Scholastic Quiz had another excellent season this year, finishing 2nd of 14 area schools that compete in the Central Western Quiz League. This is the 9th
consecutive year that Westmont has finished among the top three teams in our league. During the same time period Westmont Scholastic Quiz has captured five league championships.
• Keegan Terek was recognized as 3rd highest individual scorer
in the Central Western Quiz League during the regular season and David Pepley received an award for being the 7th highest individual scorer during league play. Members of the Varsity Team included
Seniors Keegan Terek, David Pepley, Andrew Kilpatrick, and
Jedediah Brandwein, Junior Ethan
Polichicchio, and Sophomore
Daniel Durham. David Pepley
provided excellent leadership
while Andrew Kilpatrick and
Jedediah Brandwein were essential to the team’s accomplishments. David’s senior project involved
Scholastic Quiz as he helped
organize the first ever, and quite successful, Westmont Hilltop Middle School Scholastic Quiz Tournament under the direction of advisor
Melissa Kalwanaski. 3A Days…Arts, Academics & Athletics
In an effort to encourage the overall development of our middle school
students’ various abilities, this year a group of middle school teachers
collaborated to redesign the traditional Track and Field Days. Along with a new
name (3A Days), a new concept prevailed. The revamped “3A Days” included
activities in the Arts, Academics and Athletics. Students were encouraged to compete for their homeroom points in the
area where they felt that they were best able to showcase their talents. Not
surprisingly, many students participated in all three areas. In year’s past,
students were only able to contribute to their homeroom score through athletic
events. This year, there was something for everyone and every child was able to
contribute.
In addition to the traditionally offered track and field events, some of the
newly added activities included: Ceramics, Graphic Logo Design, Free Style
Drawing, Singer Strength, Rhythm Zap, Math 24, Spelling Bee, Geography Bee,
Scholastic Quiz, Team Art, and Engineering and Design. The students had a great
time competing and contributing to their homeroom’s success. We would like to
thank the teachers and parents who helped to make the first year of “3A Days” so
rewarding for our students!
• There are 22 students on the
Scholastic Quiz Team of the Middle School. Under the leadership of Miss Melissa Kalwanaski, the Middle School Scholastic Quiz Teams competed in the first annual
Hilltopper Invitational. Of 46
competitors, Westmont Hilltop had
five students place in the top ten individual scorers. Those
students were Ethan Dubnansky,
Venkat Gella, Mitchell Hochfeld,
Simon Joseph, and Nora Springer. All quiz team members put forth a stellar performance. • The Knowledge Master Open (KMO) is a computerized academic
competition in which hundreds of
high schools nationwide work as a
team to answer questions covering
a wide range of topics. In the fall and spring, the Hilltoppers finished in the top third of schools that competed nationwide and first among schools of our size in our region.
National History Day
Grade 6:
Daniel Kevenk
Daniel Kevenk receives his National
History Award.
Left to Right: Leah Hockensmith, Francesca
Ramirez, John Minnick, Nicole Taylor,
Maura Milligan, Quinn Callihan Not Pictured:
Katheryn Marley
“Middle/High School Academics, Arts, Athletics”
Middle School Achievement
MIDDLE SCHOOL “BEST” AWARDS
Art: Good citizenship; class participation;
The “Best” Award is for Grade 8
positive effect on peers; artwork
students only. To be eligible, the student
must have attended Westmont Hilltop
Middle School for all four quarters of this
year. A $100 Savings Bond is awarded to
the “Best” named student in the following
categories:
Science: Must have an “A” average
for three quarters; participates in
all aspects of class (lectures, labs,
question/answer, discussions); has
not required any discipline reports;
demonstrates leadership, respect for
others, responsibility, reliability, and a
mature attitude.
Awarded to John Williams.
Civics: Scholastic high achievement;
citizenship demonstrated through
in-school and community service;
responsible and dependable; displays
cooperative attitude; shows initiative
through class participation.
Awarded to Maura Glennon.
Math: Scholastic high achievement;
classroom performance; outcomes
of any appropriate contests will be
considered.
Awarded to Noah Gordon.
exhibits the use of all directions given;
work exhibits high level of creativity;
work exhibits significant level of
improvement/achievement.
Awarded to Megan Zolnosky.
Foreign Language: Scholastic high
achievement; excellent class
participation, no discipline problems;
positive classroom attitude; demonstrates
classroom leadership, reliability. Awarded to Alexandra Nash-French and Nicholas Sturniolo-Spanish.
Music: Participation in at least one
ensemble; superior grade in general
music class; possesses leadership,
responsibility, positive attitude,
dependability; recommended by the
ensemble director.
Awarded to Isabella Letzo.
English: Scholarship; leadership; positive
attitude; class participation; responsibility;
accountability; dependability; initiative.
Awarded to Emily Kilmartin.
Physical Education: Displays a positive
attitude toward physical education;
participates to the best of ability in
all activities at all times; scores at the
least, the average requirements on
the National Physical Fitness Test for
fitness; maintains and/or improves
score each time they are tested; selfdisciplined; displays sportsmanlike
behavior; maintains a sense of game;
responsible; respectful to peers and
those in authority; team player.
Awarded to Conor Mendelson.
Academic “Best” Front Row: Nicholas Sturniolo
(Spanish), Emily Kilmartin (English), Alexandra Nash
(French), Maura Glennon (Civics), Megan Zolnosky (Art)
Back Row: Conor Mendelson (Physical Education),
Isabella Letzo (Music), Noah Gordon (Math) Absent
from Picture: John Williams (Science)
MERITORIOUS ATTITUDE & EFFORT AWARD
Each year Meritorious Attitude and Effort Awards are given to several students
in each grade. This award is given to students who exhibit a positive attitude and
give continuous effort in their educational endeavors.
Grade 5:
Molly Callihan, Ariana Santos,
Luke Schrum
Grade 6:
Rebecca Gvozden, Abigail Kesslak,
Hannah Robart
Grade 7:
Emily Brazill, Ashley Kush,
Gina Yonko
Grade 8:
Baylee Bortz, Austin Lovenduski,
Kaitlyn Pawcio, Kyleigh Smith,
Kiersten Warren
Front Row: Molly Callihan, Hannah Robart, Ariana Santos, Luke Schrum,
Kiersten Warren Back Row: Rebecca Gvozden, Abigail Kesslak, Ashley Kush,
Kaitlyn Pawcio, Emily Brazill, Gina Yonko, Kyleigh Smith, Baylee Bortz, Austin
Lovenduski
S pec i al R ec o gn i t i o n
Academics, Community Recognition, Music & Art
Johns Hopkins Young
Students Talent Search
Fleet Reserve Award
The Johns Hopkins University
Center for Talented Youth conducts
international talent searches to identify
outstanding academic talent in young
students. Below are the honorees.
Grade 5: Adam Mrozowski
Grade 6: Venkat Gella
Grade 7: Mitchell Hochfeld
Kyleigh Smith received the Fleet Reserve
Award.
Erik Wehner, David Williams
Outstanding Achievement: Venkat Gella
proudly displays his 16 awards.
C-Mites
The C-Mites Program of Carnegie Mellon is a search for academically
talented students in Grades K-6. Students across Pennsylvania took the
EXPLORE test in late January to qualify for membership in C-Mites and were
distinguished as follows:
Grade 5: Delaney Irwin
Grade 6: Erin Casale, Venkat Gella
Johns Hopkins Young Students Talent
Search Left to Right: Adam Mrozowski,
Erik Wehner, Mitchell Hochfeld, Venkat Gella
Not Pictured: David Williams
National Current
Events Team
Medal and Certificate
Daniel Kevenk
Certificates of Distinction
Christian Assad, Gerard Thomas
Brill, Leo Cosgrove, Venkat Gella,
Rebecca Gvozden, Simon Joseph,
Vaughan Kramer, Grayson Moyer,
Luke Schrum
Certificates of Participation
Elle Goldblatt, Joseph Hlivko, Alayna
Kalinyak, Abigail Kesslak, Adam
Kush, Brionna Lehman, Adam
Mrozowski, Meredith Trio, Harrison
Weidner, John Weidner
10 “Middle School Achievement”
Left to Right: Venkat Gella, Delaney Irwin, Erin
Casale
Knowledge Masters
WordMasters
Grade 5: Christian Assad, Leo
Cosgrove, Hannah Davis, Ethan
Dubnansky, MacKenzie Dunn, Holly
Fabrizio, Simon Joseph, Vaughan
Kramer, Grayson Moyer, Adam
Mrozowski, Gabrielle Nash, Luke
Schrum, Clinton Sparling, Zoey
Zentkovich
Grade 6: Brock Bernstein, Jacob
Elders, Venkat Gella, Daniel
Kevenk, Zachary McLoota, Matthew
Mostoller, Rachel Toth, Meredith Trio
Grade 5:
Medal and Certificate Leo Cosgrove
Certificates Patrick Brown, Ethan
Dubnansky, MacKenzie Dunn, Simon
Joseph, Vaughan Kramer, Grayson
Moyer, Ariana Santos, Clinton
Sparling
Grade 6:
Medal and Certificate Devon Charles
Certificates Brock Bernstein,
Cameron Bradley, Elle Goldblatt,
Venkat Gella, Daniel Kevenk,
Matthew Mostoller, Hannah Robart,
Michael Roper, Taylor Smitherman,
Rachel Toth, Kirsten Vazquez, Isaiah Yuhas
Interscholastic Reading
Competition Team
Grade 6:
Certificate Rebecca Gvozden
Scholastic Quiz
Geography Bee
WordMasters Award
Medal and Certificate Erik Wehner
Certificates Samuel Barry, Maryjo
Bekhash, Baylee Bortz, Stephen
DeMarco, Brady Distefano, Kyle
Geibig, Nicholas Mical, Nora
Springer, Truman Welsh
Grade 7:
1st Place Sarah Minnick
2nd Place Bethany Carney, Zachary
Vliet
4th Place McCabe Rakvin, David
Williams
6th Place Georgann Carnevali,
Bryce Kramer
8th Place Mitchell Causer, Mitchell
Hochfeld, Madison Hrin
Grade 7:
Front Row: Venkat Gella, Grayson Moyer, Hannah
Davis, Sarah Kilpatrick, Leo Cosgrove, Simon Joseph,
Ethan Dubnansky Back Row: Nora Springer, Adam
Mrozowski, Vaughan Kramer, Mitchell Hochfeld,
MacKenzie Dunn, Sarah Minnick Not Pictured: Rachel
Toth, Samuel Barry, Ashley Kush, David Williams, John
Williams
Grade 5: Leo Cosgrove, Hannah Davis,
Ethan Dubnansky, MacKenzie Dunn,
Simon Joseph, Vaughan Kramer,
Grayson Moyer, Adam Mrozowski
Grade 6: Venkat Gella, Rachel Toth
Grade 7: Samuel Barry, Mitchell
Hochfeld, Sarah Kilpatrick, Ashley
Kush, Sarah Minnick, Nora Springer,
David Williams
Grade 8: John Williams
Front Row: Nicholas Mical, Stephen DeMarco, Truman
Welsh, Kyle Geibig Back Row: Maryjo Bekhash, Baylee
Bortz, Nora Springer, Erik Wehner
Not Pictured: Samuel Barry, Brady Distefano
1st Place Margaret Gerow
2nd Place Francesca Ramirez
3rd Place Zoe Johnson
4th Place Alexandra Nash
5th Place Noah Gordon, Emily
Kilmartin
7th Place Baylee Bortz, Jonas Geisel
9th Place Nicholas Mical, Kyle Geibig
Interscholastic Reading
Competition Team
Grade 5:
Certificates
Grade 7: Michelle Concannon,
Mitchell Hochfeld, Sarah Minnick,
Kathyleen O’Leary
Grade 8: Emily Kilmartin, John
Minnick, Alexandra Nash
Maryjo Bekhash
Emily Kilmartin
Grade 6:
Grade 7:
Medal and Certificate Jarod Shark,
George Wiley, Hunter Williams
Certificates James Fabrizio, Chad
Held, Sarah Minnick, David Williams
Grade 7:
Grade 8:
Medal and Certificate Grayson Moyer
Certificates Leo Cosgrove, Clayton
Dorian, Ethan Dubnansky, Vaughan
Kramer, Ariana Santos
Medal and Certificate Daniel Kevenk
Certificates Brock Bernstein, Devon
Charles, Venkat Gella, Allison Hlivko,
Samantha Hong, Michael Lamison,
Matthew Mostoller, Rachel Toth
National Current Events
League Award
Medal and Certificate Mitchell
Hochfeld
Certificates Rita Bekhash, Emily
Brazill, Bryce Kramer
Continental Math League
Award
Front Row: Rebecca Gvozden, Kathyleen O’Leary, John
Minnick Back Row: Sarah Minnick, Alexandra Nash,
Emily Kilmartin, Michelle Concannon, Mitchell Hochfeld
Grade 8:
Medal and Certificate John Williams
Certificates Noah Gordon, Nicholas
Mical, Aiden Winterscheidt
“Middle School Achievement”
11
MathCounts
Spelling Bee
Grade 6:
Creative Communications
Essay Contest
Venkat Gella, Daniel Kevenk
Grade 6:
Venkat Gella
Grade 7:
Samuel Barry, Mitchell Hochfeld,
Ashley Kush, Sarah Minnick, David
Williams, Hunter Williams Grade 8:
Grade 6:
Venkat Gella
Lions Club Environmental Award Recognition
Peace Poster
Baylee Bortz
Alyssa Beitsinger, Brock Bennett,
Cameron Bryga, Nathan Fleegle,
Jennifer Hlivko, Lauren Moran, Taylor
Smitherman, Serena Vega
Essay Contest
Venkat Gella, Elle Goldblatt, Abigail
Kesslak, Hannah Robart, Laurel
Steinly, Savannah Summers
Front Row: Ashley Kush, Sarah Minnick
Back Row: Mitchell Hochfeld, Samuel Barry,
Hunter Williams, Daniel Kevenk, Venkat Gella
Not Pictured: David Williams, Baylee Bortz
Computer Fair
Grade 6:
Venkat Gella
Grade 7:
Michelle Concannon, Claire Gagnon,
Corey Kosis, Caitlyn Miller, Jenna
Paratore, Veronica Petrus Grade 8:
Corrin Claycomb, Alexandria
Edwards, Lauren Fregly, Jonas Geisel,
Samuel Hoover, Zoe Johnson, Dylan
Kmecak, Maiya Mastovich, John
Minnick, Andrew Price
Front Row: Jenna Paratore, Venkat Gella, Dylan
Kmecak, Caitlyn Miller, Claire Gagnon, Lauren
Fregly, Corrin Claycomb Middle Row: Veronica
Petrus, Michelle Concannon, John Minnick, Andrew
Price, Maiya Mastovich, Samuel Hoover Back Row:
Alexandria Edwards, Zoe Johnson, Jonas Geisel, Corey
Kosis
12
Front Row: Venkat Gella, Abigail Kesslak, Laurel
Steinly, Hannah Robart, Jennifer Hlivko
Back Row: Serena Vega, Cameron Bryga, Brock
Bennett, Taylor Smitherman, Lauren Moran, Alyssa
Beitsinger Not Pictured: Nathan Fleegle, Elle
Goldblatt, Savannah Summers
Young Artists Exhibition
The following students’ artwork was chosen to be displayed at the Greater
Johnstown Young Artists Exhibition. Awards were presented by Allied Artists of
Johnstown and the Community Arts Center.
Grade 5:
Grade 8:
Ariana Santos
Maryjo Bekhash, Anna Ecklund,
Nina Foster, Jonas Geisel, Maura
Glennon, Nicholas Mical, Bridget
Moyer, Francesca Ramirez, Megan
Zolnosky
Grade 6:
Lauren Criswell, Caliegh Higgins,
Amanda Johns, Alexis Schiffhauer Grade 7:
Evan Barkhimer, Nathan Bunyea,
Georgann Carnevali, Leah
Hockensmith, Madison Hrin
Permanent Art Collection
Maryjo Bekhash
Kyleigh Smith
Megan Zolnosky
(Left to Right) Maryjo Bekhash, Megan Zolnosky and Kyleigh Smith
had their artwork added to the permanent art collection on display
at WHSD.
4-Year Orchestra Members Strings & Things
Baylee Bortz
Sadie Carney
Alexandria Edwards
Margaret Gerow
Kaylee Grassmyer
Corey Hrivnak
Ellis Kane
Jenna Kutchman
Nathaniel Marsh
Maiya Mastovich
Emily Mayket
Alexandra Nash
Kyleigh Smith
Nicole Taylor
Sara Trio
Heaven Wiley
John Williams
4-Year Choral Members
Olivia Bridges
Corrin Claycomb
Alexandria Edwards
Maura Glennon
Megan Griffith
Corey Hrivnak
Ellis Kane
Mikayla Kosis
Isabella Letzo
Amanda Martella
Maiya Mastovich
Emily Mayket
Grace McIlhenny
Jasmine Mucker
Kortnee Murphy
Onalee Nickels
Jayna Owens
Kaitlyn Pawcio
Kyleigh Smith
Nicole Taylor
Kiersten Warren
Breanna Werner
Grade 5 & 6
Erin Casale, MacKenzie Dunn,
Rebecca Gvozden, Caliegh Higgins,
Samantha Hong, Laina Mastovich,
Gabrielle Nash, Ariana Santos, Taylor
Smitherman, Meredith Trio
Members of All 3
Ensembles at the
Middle School
Grades 7 & 8
Baylee Bortz, Alexandra Edwards,
Claire Gagnon, Margaret Gerow,
Madison Hrin, Ellis Kane, Sarah
Minnick, Alexandra Nash, Veronica
Petrus, David Williams
Four-Year Ensemble
Members
Left to Right: Isabella Letzo, Emily Mayket
Isabella Letzo
Emily Mayket
Sadie Carney
Peter Carnevali
Bradley Hollins
Jenna Kutchman
Isabella Letzo
Emily Mayket
Angela Mosbrucker
Heaven Wiley
Vocal Ensemble
Vocal Ensemble Row 1: Kiersten Warren, Jasmine Mucker, Grace McIlhenny, Derek Blackner, Amanda
Martella and Corrina Pritt Row 2: Jayna Owens, Corey Hrivnak, Anne-Marie Henninger, Breanna Warner,
Onalee Nickels, and Megan Griffith Not Pictured: Mikayla Kosis
Derek Blackner
Megan Griffith
Corey Hrivnak
Anne-Marie Henninger
Mikayla Kosis
Amanda Martella
Grace McIlhenny
Jasmine Mucker
Onalee Nickels
Jayna Owens
Corrina Pritt
Kiersten Warren
Breanna Werner
13
County Chorus
Front Row: Jasmine Mucker, Taylor Smitherman, Michael Crans, John Weidner,
Zachary Hill, Laken Burkhardt Middle Row: Jayna Owens, Kiersten Warren, Megan
Griffith, Grace McIlhenny, Kristina Lynch, Nastasja Banks, Corey Kosis Back Row: Fisk
Lee, Anna Ecklund, Maiya Mastovich, Kyleigh Smith, Erik Wehner, Sarah Elston, Jaime
Baugher Not Pictured: Elle Goldblatt
Grade 6:
Grade 8:
Nastasja Banks, Michael Crans, Elle
Goldblatt, Zachary Hill, Fisk Lee,
Kristina Lynch, Taylor Smitherman,
John Weidner
Anna Ecklund, Megan Griffith, Maiya
Mastovich, Grace McIlhenny, Jasmine
Mucker, Jayna Owens, Kyleigh Smith,
Kiersten Warren
Grade 7:
Jaime Baugher, Laken Burkhardt,
Sarah Elston, Corey Kosis, Erik
Wehner
County Band
Band Fest
Front Row: Allison Hlivko, Kristina Lynch, Jennifer
Hlivko Back Row: Daniel Kevenk, Skyler Moore, John
Weidner
Grade 6:
Allison Hlivko, Jennifer Hlivko, Daniel
Kevenk, Kristina Lynch, Skyler Moore,
John Weidner
Perfect Attendance Award
Grade 5:
Grade 7:
Nicholas Albertelli, Ethan
Dubnansky, Kaitlyn Poad, Luke
Schrum
Laken Burkhardt, Michelle
Concannon, Sarah Minnick,
Alana Somerville, Matthew
Thomas
Grade 6:
Lucas Kohan
Grade 8:
John Minnick, Nicholas
Sturniolo, Jacob Suppes
Left to Right: Heaven Wiley, Jenna Toth, Emily
Mayket, Sadie Carney, Erik Wehner, Jarod Shark, Ashley
Kush Not Pictured: Patrick Dailey, Jenna Kutchman
Sadie Carney
Patrick Dailey
Ashley Kush
Jenna Kutchman
Emily Mayket
Jarod Shark
Jenna Toth
Erik Wehner
Heaven Wiley
14 “Middle School Achievement”
Front Row: Laken Burkhardt Middle Row:
Nicholas Sturniolo, Luke Schrum, Nicholas
Albertelli, Kaitlyn Poad, Ethan Dubnansky
Back Row: Jacob Suppes, Matthew Thomas,
John Minnick, Michelle Concannon, Sarah
Minnick, Lucas Kohan, Alana Somerville
Educational Excellence
Honoring student achievement and hard work is the purpose of the
President’s Educational Excellence Award Program. Students who received this
award scored 92 percent or above in Grades 5, 6, 7, and the fall semester of Grade
8. They also scored advanced in mathematics and reading on the Grade 7 PSSA.
President’s Award for Educational Excellence Recipients
Tristan Aiken, Tyler Azar, Maryjo Bekhash, Baylee Bortz, Corrin Claycomb,
Drake Dorian, Anna Ecklund, Alexandria Edwards, Jillian Foster, Nina Foster,
Margaret Gerow, Noah Gordon, Kaylee Grassmyer, Sarah Hamaty, Kasey
Helmick, Ellis Kane, Emily Kilmartin, Isabella Letzo, Nicholas Mical, Maura
Milligan, Bridget Moyer, Alexandra Nash, Kaitlyn Pawcio, Francesca Ramirez,
Alexander Roper, Amanda Slezak, Kyleigh Smith, Nicholas Sturniolo, Nicole
Taylor, Bradley Trevorrow, John Williams, Aidan Winterscheidt
PRINCIPAL’S EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Front Row: Kyleigh Smith, Maura Milligan, Corrin Claycomb Middle
Row: Maryjo Bekhash, Emily Kilmartin, Nicholas Sturniolo Back
Row: Baylee Bortz, Bridget Moyer, Alexander Roper Not Pictured:
John Williams
This award is presented to students in Grade 8. The criteria follows: Students must have an academic average of 92 percent or higher each quarter of Grades, 5, 6, and 7 in honor roll subjects. Students must have an
academic average of 92 percent or higher for the first and second quarter of Grade 8.
Principal’s Excellence Awardees
Maryjo Bekhash
Baylee Bortz
Corrin Claycomb
Emily Kilmartin
Maura Milligan
Bridget Moyer
Alexander Roper
Kyleigh Smith
Nicholas Sturniolo
John Williams
RESPECT
The Westmont Hilltop Middle
School (WHMS) continued its
initiatives with our school’s
RESPECT (Remember Every Single
Person Deserves Equal Caring
Treatment) Program. The RESPECT
Program follows the guidelines
set forth by the Olweus Bullying
Prevention Program (OBPP), the
internationally-known successful
bullying prevention program. The
OBPP program calls for schools
to promote a safe and positive
school environment through a
school-wide element, a classroom
element, an individual element, and
a community involvement element.
Highlights of this year’s RESPECT
Program included the 2010-2011
RESPECT Kickoff Week with a
presentation from Bill Sanders,
co-author of Chicken Soup for the
Teenage Soul. Mr. Sanders also
presented at the second annual
Anti-Bullying Community or “ABC
Night.”
Students and staff worked
together as teams in their RESPECT
groups. Each team created door
banners promoting the RESPECT
monthly themes/words. The teams
also created video clips promoting
the November monthly theme,
“Caring,” and the March monthly
theme, “Perseverance.” Each
student was part of a grade-level
RESPECT Group consisting of 12-14
other students. Weekly meetings
were held on Friday, during the last
period of the day.
WHMS also participated in
the Olweus Quality Assurance
System (OQAS), a management tool
designed to help our school reach
its short and long term goals in
the RESPECT Program. An OBPP
certified trainer worked with our
RESPECT Core Committee in an
effort to become nationally certified
by completing the 14 necessary
steps/requirements for certification.
WHMS is on pace to receive our
certification in the fall of the 20112012 school year. “Middle School Achievement”
15
Elementary Achievement
Punctual & Perfect
It’s an outstanding feat when
a student earns an annual perfect
attendance certificate. The following
students attended school all day,
every day (without arriving late
or leaving early) of the 2010-2011
school year.
Grade 3 Perfect Attendance
Max Wilkinson, Jacob Allen, Coby Cassick, Daniel Zeidan, Trent Yoder
Kindergarten Perfect Attendance
Front Row: Mikayla Evans, Brooke Burns, Evan
Allen, Madison Podrebarac Back Row: Samantha
Dixon, Nicholas Rozich
Moses Zeidan, Miracle Kaminsky, Sydney Podrebarac,
Lily Dudash
Annual WHES Science Fair
Caitlyn Bergemann, Stephen Hanley, Kianna
Leiato, Ella Rozich
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 following students have
participated in the Science Fair each
year for four years.
Clockwise, from left: Olivia Magdelenic, Samuel
Suppes, Connor La Mantia
4-Year Participants – WHES Science Fair
Front Row: Amelia Aiken, Maeve Milligan, Carissa Casale, Sydney Bergmann,
Emma Piro, Sophie Hochfeld, Madison Weir, Jonathan Barnhart, Jacob Adams, Alex
Claycomb Back Row: Ian Russ, Julia Bingler, Riley Shriver, Moses Zeidan, Evan
Junker, Mikaela Crum, Jason Masiello, Alexis Nibert, Olivia Brill
16 “Elementary School 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.
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten Grade 4:
Science Olympiad Top Ten Grade 4:
Front Row: Jonathan Heider, Moses Zeidan (Local and National 1st Place Medal
Winner), Rebekah Kevenk Back Row: Mark Oller, Kyle Gordon, Austin Gibson
Not Pictured: Susie Williams (Local and National 1st Place Medal Winner), Amelia
Aiken, Julie Duong, Alexis Nibert
Front Row: Carissa Casale, Madison Kist, Austin Gibson (1st Place Medal Winner),
Moses Zeidan (1st Place Medal Winner), Katherine Witsberger, Amelia Aiken
Back Row: Alexis Nibert, Mark Oller, Joshua Reitter, Kyle Gordon, Julia Bingler
Front Row: Cassidy Weir, Noah Martin, Malcolm Milligan (1st Place Local and
National Medal Winner), Meghan Smitherman Back Row: Grace Misner, Joshua
Higgins, Samuel Paratore, Dylan Roberts-McDonald Not Pictured: Gabrielle
Angeletti, Lillian Brown
Front Row: Daniel Zeidan, Michael Buchkovich, Noah Martin, Kara Lynch
Back Row: Grace Misner, Conrad Suppes, Josalyn McMillan, Jonathan Kane, Meghan
Smitherman Not Pictured: Gabrielle Angeletti (1st Place Medal Winner)
Front Row: Pragnya Govindu, Lauren Mock (1st Place Local and National Medal
Winner), Catherine Veranese (1st Place Local and National Medal Winner), Grace
Brawley, Kody Miller, Abbie Pastorek Back Row: Eric Barnhart, Kallie Williams, Eden
Balog, Elliott Sparling
Front Row: Roy Dunn, Samuel Suppes, Catherine Veranese (1st Place Medal
Winner), Carlie Jeszeskie, Laura Roach Back Row: Kallie Williams, Lauren Mock,
Olivia Caper, Elliot Mock Not Pictured: Xavier Tutko
“Elementary School Achievement”
17
Top Scores in Continental Mathematics League
Continental Mathematics League is a national level competition with the goal of helping students improve problemsolving skills by challenging them with complex, multi-step problems.
Continental Math League Grade 3: Cassidy Weir (2nd Place Medal Winner),
Gavin Scott (2nd Place Medal Winner), Joshua Elders (1st Place Local and IU08
Medal Winner), Pierce Martin Not Pictured: Gabrielle Angeletti (2nd Place Medal
Winner)
Continental Math League Grade 4: Front Row: Jonathan Heider,
Amelia Aiken (2nd Place Medal Winner), Moses Zeidan (1st Place
Local and IU08 Medal Winner) Back Row: Mikaela Crum, Jonathan
Barnhart
WordMasters Top Tens
The WordMasters competition is designed to increase the students’ vocabulary by prompting them to study a
different list of words and their meanings weekly.
WordMasters, Grade 3
WordMasters, Grade 4
Front Row: Cassidy Weir, Jonathan Kane, Mason Martin, Dylan RobertsMcDonald (1st Place Medal Winner), Greta George, Meghan Smitherman
Back Row: Chloe Kesslak, Kara Lynch, Grace Misner, Pierce Martin
Not Pictured: Gabrielle Angeletti
Front Row: Kyle Gordon, Amelia Aiken, Austin Gibson (1st Place Medal Winner),
Moses Zeidan, Jonathan Barnhart Back Row: Andrew Rea, Mark Oller, Lily
Dudash Not Pictured: Julie Duong, Susie Williams
18 “Elementary School Achievement”
Citizenship & Community Recognition
Good Citizens
This award was provided by Senator John Wozniak for elementary students who met the following criteria: 1) superior
academic achievement, 2) leadership capacity, 3) consistent work habits, 4) positive self-image, and 5) the 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 below.
Senatorial Good Citizenship Award - Kindergarten Front Row: Ella Brawley,
Madalyn Hoover, Emma Rea, Morgan Faight Back Row: Kendal Shingler, Jenna
Williams, Keira McNulty
Senatorial Good Citizenship Award – Grade 2 Front Row: Lauren Mock, Kallie
Williams, Mathias Noll, Lauren Lavis, Eric Barnhart, Abbie Pastorek, Landon Weeks
Back Row: Leanne Goodell, Blaize Bloom, Haley Pavlick, Connor Toth, Maggie Piro,
Jordan Faust
Senatorial Good Citizenship Award – Grade 1 Front Row: Mallory Morrell,
Daniel Heider, Zane Hoover, Caitlyn Bergemann, Noelle Paratore, Jacob Kozak,
Alyssa Ursua Back Row: Dawson Roman, William Gerow, Madison Keefer, Shannon
Christie, Nathan Mosserman, Felice Panebianco, Casey Lauf Not Pictured: Norah
Panek, Ian Buday
Senatorial Good Citizenship Award – Grade 3 Front Row: Gabrielle Nibert,
Lauren Ozog, Melanie Hong, Sydney Rupert, Isabella Panebianco, Adrienne Moser,
Jasmine Innis Back Row: Vincent Tabib, Max Wilkinson, Zachary Connor, Malcolm
Milligan, Samuel Paratore, Joshua Grassa Not Pictured: Aiden Henderson
Senatorial Good Citizenship Award – Grade 4 Front Row: Andrew Rea, Abigail
Miller, Maeve Milligan, Sophie Hochfeld, Kayleigh Noll, Emma Piro, Madelynn Weir
Middle Row: Alexis Nibert, Lee Santee, Tyler Geary, Luke Brawley, Mikaela Crum, Lily
Dudash Back Row: Devin Boxler, Jonathan Heider Not Pictured: Tanner Hinterliter
“Citizenship & Community Recognition”
19
Serving with Honor
Students honor their community when they perform community service,
and they honor their school when they demonstrate outstanding citizenship.
There are numerous examples of service every single year. Two that stand out
in particular this year are service by the High School Key Club and the Middle
School’s Westy’s Angels.
The Key Club began the school year participating with homecoming
activities by selling baked goods and hot chocolate and providing the
community with interactive games. Key Club members helped with the Kiwanis
Halloween party in October. Near Thanksgiving, Key Club members helped to
set up and serve the Thanksgiving Meal for Senior Citizens to a few hundred
senior citizens of our community. During January, the club collected clothing
and household items for those less fortunate in our area. February Valentine sales
benefited Unicef. Key Club assisted the American Cancer Society with Daffodil
Days via sales and deliveries. The pep rally for the student body and faculty held
in the spring benefited “Nothing But Nets” via the United Nations Foundation. To
add to the enjoyment of the spring season, the Art Club created ceramic flower
pots that Key Club members planted and placed on the cafeteria patio for all to
enjoy. Recently, the landscape areas at the high school were freshly mulched by
the members of Key Club.
At the Middle School, students learn about community service through the
philanthropic group, Westy’s Angels. This year, the group raised $4,500 through
the sale of daffodils, a school record for Daffodil Days! The group has held the
record for three straight years among schools who contribute to the initiative of
the American Cancer Association. Just as the students honor their community, the community honors them.
The following is a sampling of recognitions that our students have received.
Westmont Peace Award
Kelsey Dawn McLachlan
Class of 1947 Westmont/Upper
Yoder Endowment Fund
Kevin Grant Zipf
Class of 1960 Award
Annie Lee Fiffick
Catherine Hubbard
Memorial Award
Luke David Gonzalez
Zahorchak Education
Endowment
Marinanicole Dohrman Miller
Community Arts Center Awards
Fred Glosser Award
Christina Jane Cassone
Alice W. Thomas Award
Sergeant First Class Raymond
Richard Buchan Memorial
Scholarship
Kyle Augustus Molchany
20 “Citizenship & Community Recognition”
American Red Cross/Making
a Difference Educational
Scholarship
Sarah Nicole Walko
Annie Lee Fiffick
Annabeth Rodgers Faucher
Presenters honor Naofa Noll and
Christina Atterbury with the Fleet
Reserve Award
Fleet Reserve Essay Winner
Naofa Rose Noll
West End Lions Club Scholastic Awards:
Bryant Fisher, Kamal Gella (presenter),
Christina Atterbury
West End Lions Club
Scholastic Awards
United States Air Force
Academy Appointment
Sarah Godish
Bryant William Fisher
School Citizenship Awards
Challenge Program Awards: April Yanko
(Community Service), Joshua Bunyea
(Attendance), Jerry Hudson (presenter),
Barbara Grandinetti (presenter), Kelsey
McLachlan (Most Improved In Grade), Kasey
Azar (Academic Excellence)
Grade 12
Joshua Thomas Bunyea
Andrew Joseph Herbert
Jamie Lee Kessler
Summer Lee Reitter
Grade 10
David James Carney
Stacee Danielle Glass
Dante Horvath
Nicole Ann Klemens
Grade 11
Michael Robert McDaniel
Naofa Rose Noll
Britney Alyssa Smith
Brittany Christine Young
Grade 9
Josh W. Livingston
Madison Justine Milligan
Dorothea Grace Oller
Zachary Michael Yonko
The Challenge Program Award
for Academic Excellence
Kasey Lyn Azar
for Community Service
April Lynn Yanko
for Most Improved in Grade
Kelsey Dawn McLachlan
for Attendance
Joshua Thomas Bunyea
School Citizenship Awards: Row 1: Summer Reiter, Jamie Kessler, Naofa Noll,
Joshua Bunyea Row 2: Andrew Herbert, Michael McDaniel, Britney Smith
Row 3: Brittany Young, Stacee Glass, Nicole Klemens Row 4: Dante Horvath,
Zachary Yonko, David Carney, Dorothea Oller, Madison Milligan, Josh Livingston
“Citizenship & Community Recognition”
21
Prudential Spirit of Community Award
The Prudential Spirit of Community Award is presented for Community
Service and represents the largest youth recognition program based solely on
volunteer service in the United States. The award winners for 2011 are Conner
Hagins and Garrett Crans.
SENATORIAL
GOOD
CITIZENSHIP
AWARD
The purpose of this award is to
give special recognition from Senator
John Wozniak to a middle school
student who meets the following
criteria:
1. Superior academic achievement
2. Leadership abilities
3. Consistent work habits
4. Good self-image
5. Ability to get along well with others.
recipient Garrett Crans, Grade 5
Alexandra Nash is the 2011 award
recipient.
Leadership: Ability to do well the
duties of leadership assigned to one
as exemplified in holding of office,
committees, etc. and exhibition of
good team play.
Courage: Show moral courage to stand
up for what is right; physical courage
in games and play.
Senatorial “Good Citizenship” Award
Alexandra Nash and Tom Simmons (Presenter)
recipient Conner Hagins, Grade 8
American Legion Awards
Each year the American Legion
Auxiliary presents a citizenship award
to one eighth grade girl and one
eighth grade boy who demonstrate the
following:
Honor: Strength and stability of
character, high standards of conduct,
keen sense of what is right, adherence
to truth, and conscience and devotion
to duty.
Scholarship: Scholastic attainment,
evidence of industry, and application
in studies.
Service: Kindness, unselfishness,
willingness to lend a helping hand,
protection to the weak and preferment
of the interests and welfare of
associates, without hope of personal
reward.
Americanism: Active interest in
promotion of love of country, as may
be expressed in formal exercises,
respect to the flag, knowledge of the
National Anthem, the flag salute,
adherence to the country’s highest
ideals, and worthy citizenship.
22 “Citizenship & Community Recognition”
The 2011 Award Recipients are Stephen
DeMarco and Maura Milligan.
Matt Morgan presents the American Legion Award to
Maura Milligan and Stephen DeMarco.
Performing Arts
Godspell
The production of Godspell
marked 49 years of musical
theater for the Westmont
Hilltop School District. The cast
and crew never disappoint, and
every carefully thought out
detail, including the beautiful
program cover (designed by art
teacher Mr. Michael Begenyi),
contributed to the overall
enjoyment of the audiences
who were entertained by our
amazingly talented students. Godspell program cover designed by art teacher Mr. Michael Begenyi
The Laramie
Project
Westmont Hilltop Theater Club members (left to right): Ryan Glover, Brittany Young, Ethan Policicchio,
Annabeth Faucher, Andrew Kilpatrick and Britney Smith perform in The Laramie Project.
The Westmont Hilltop
Theater Club presented The
Laramie Project, a play that
won state level competition this
school year. We acknowledge
the cast and dedicate this
recognition of their success
to Theater Club Advisor, Mrs.
Jackie Young-Flack, who passed
away too soon and unexpectedly
this year. It was obvious to all
who knew Mrs. Flack that the
remarkable accomplishments
of our students in theater were
among the greatest joys of her
life.
“Performing Arts” 23
Performing Arts
Music and the Arts
National School
Orchestra Award
Shannon Renee Marko
Ken Null Memorial Award
Austin Lee Paratore
Community Arts Center Awards:
(left to right) Annabeth
Faucher (Alice W. Thomas
Award) and Christina Cassone
(Fred Glosser Award)
Community Arts Center Awards
Fred Glosser Award
Christina Jane Cassone
Alice W. Thomas Award
Annabeth Rodgers Faucher
Director’s Award for Band: (left to right) Kelsey
Petrusic and Patricia Spisak
John Phillip Sousa Award
Kyra Nichole Hill
Director’s Award for Band
Patricia Marie Spisak
Kelsey E. Petrusic
National School Choral
Awards: (left to right) Kim
Carney and April Yanko
National School Choral Awards
Kim Alexandra Carney
April Lynn Yanko
Rhythm & Groove Award
for Jazz Studies
Samuel Hillard Outdoor Award
Dante Horvath
Music Monster Awards:
(left to right) Kim Carney
and Leah Marko
Music Monster Awards
Leah Marie Marko
24
“Performing Arts”
Marilyn Kocher Mills (daughter
of James Kocher) presented
the Kocher Memorial Music
Award to Leah Marie Marko.
James Kocher Memorial
Music Award
Leah Marie Marko
Jackie Young-Flack Memorial Scholarship: Andrew
Kilpatrick is awarded the Jackie Young-Flack Memorial
Scholarship by Mrs. Flack’s husband, Ray Flack.
Jackie Young-Flack
Memorial Scholarship
Athletic Recognition
Cheerleaders Support Sports and Community
Supporting all sports through all seasons are the Westmont Hilltop Cheerleaders. They are a competitive squad,
which they proved through a second place win at the PA Elite March Madness Competition in Harrisburg and a Third
Place win at the Shamrock Showcase in Danville. This year, the group also focused on community service. Thanks for
your support of our programs and community, Westmont Hilltop Varsity Cheerleaders!
Westmont Hilltop Varsity Cheerleaders: Top Row—Jenna
Becker, Carly Stump, Amanda Miller, Nicolle
Komara, Hailey Porter & Alexis Speranza Bottom Row:
Madalynn Swaltek, Alexyis Allen, Cheyenne Kovach,
Jessica Coolbaugh, Amber Harden, Tracy Yanosky
Girls’ Swim Team Approaches 50 Straight Dual Meet Wins
The Lady Hilltopper Swim Team
has won 49 straight dual meets over
the past four seasons. The Class of
2011 graduates on the team did not
experience a loss since the second dual
meet of their freshmen year. Following
that loss to Hollidaysburg early in their
freshmen season, the girls reeled off this
almost unbelievable string of victories.
This year’s swimmers completed a
third straight 13-0 dual meet season.
They’ve also won the past three District
6-9 AA Regionals and have captured the
CWACC title for the same three years.
This year’s team also took top honors
in the Laurel Highlands Invitational in
Somerset and the IUP Invitational in
Indiana. At IUP, the team toppled such
AAA powerhouses as Indiana, Norwin,
and Greensburg-Salem.
The 2010/2011 team consisted of over
30 girls and took thirteen swimmers and
one diver to the regional competition.
The following six girls qualified for the
PIAA State Swimming Competition
at Bucknell University: Christina
Atterbury, Kasey Azar, Kara Kovach,
Marinanicole Miller, Naofa Noll, and
Nollaig Noll. At Bucknell, Marinanicole
Miller placed 15th in the 500-yard
Freestyle, earning her both an All-State
and NISCA Award.
The 2011/2012 team will be
attempting to reach the magical
50th straight win when the next
season commences in December.
Congratulations to the Lady Hilltopper
Swim Team and Coach Jay Hicks for this
outstanding accomplishment! Good luck
in reaching #50.
Swimming State Qualifiers Row 1: Nollaig Noll, Kara Kovach, Kasey Azar
Row 2: Raymond Ward (Outstanding Boys’ Swimmer), Naofa Noll, Christina
Atterbury, Marinanicole Miller (Outstanding Girls’ Swimmer)
“Athletic Recognition” 25
2011 Outstanding Male Athletic Award
Tanner Hough
Tanner Hough competed in four different sports during his
athletic career at Westmont Hilltop High School. During the fall
athletic season, Tanner competed in soccer during his freshman
and sophomore years, lettering as a sophomore. His contribution at
midfield helped the Hilltoppers make it to the District Playoffs for
the first time in six years. During his junior and senior years, Tanner
competed in cross country. He lettered both years and helped lead
the team to a cumulative 23-1 record over that span. He was named
to the Central Western All-Area Cross Country Team both years.
During his senior season he helped lead the team to a conference
championship, two team invitational wins, a second place team
finish at the District 6 Meet, and a berth in the PIAA Championship
Meet in Hershey. During the winter sports season, Tanner earned
four letters in wrestling. He finished his career with the most wins
in school history (143). His career victories by fall (71) is second
most in school history. Tanner was a three-time District 6 champion,
a Northwest Regional champion, a two-time Southwest Regional
runner-up, and a three-time PIAA state place winner, finishing
second in this year’s tournament. In the spring, Tanner lettered in
track and field, competing in the pole vault during his freshman
season. Tanner was a member of the National Honor Society and
will be continuing his education and his wrestling career this fall at
Duke University.
2011 Outstanding Male Athlete
Tanner Hough
2011 Outstanding Female Athletic Award
Rachel Rajter
2011 Outstanding Female Athlete
Rachel Rajter
26 “Athletic Recognition”
Rachel Rajter competed in three different sports during her career
at Westmont Hilltop High School. During the fall athletic season, Rachel
competed in both soccer and cross country. Balancing the demands
of two sports in the same season is difficult; however, Rachel was able
to excel at both. A four-year letter winner in soccer, she helped lead
the Lady Hilltopper soccer team to a 10 – 5 record her senior year and
competed in the District 6 playoff tournament. In cross country, she
also earned four varsity letters. She is the only Westmont Hilltop female
cross country runner to qualify for the PIAA State Championship
Meet all four years of her high school career. Rachel was named to the
Central Western All-Area Cross Country Team for four consecutive
seasons. During the spring athletic season, Rachel earned three letters
as a member of the track and field team, competing in running events
ranging from the 400 meter up to the two mile, as well as the 4x800
relay and 4x400 relay. She holds the second quickest time in school
history in the 800 meter run and was named the team Most Valuable
Runner twice during her career at Westmont Hilltop. Rachel will be
continuing her education and her cross-country career at the University
of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in the fall.
Sports Recognition and Awards
SPONSORSHIP
HONOR
David Coulson Award
Outstanding Football Player
David J. Murphy Award
Outstanding Hockey Player
Claycomb Coach’s Award
Outstanding Wrestlers
Skip Pristow Award
Outstanding Boys’ Basketball Player
Khuri Family Award
John Khuri Memorial Award
WHSD
Outstanding Volleyball Player
Herdman-Dailey Award
Outstanding Boys’ Track
Herdman-Dailey Award
Outstanding Girls’ Track
Lori Blackburn Memorial Award Girls’ Track Team Dedication
WHSD
Boys’ Track Team Dedication
Herdman Family
Herdman Scholarship Outstanding Runner
Robert A. Gleason Award
Outstanding Boys’ Tennis Players
Adele Dovey Award
Outstanding Girls’ Tennis Player
John P. Horty Award
Outstanding Softball Player
Ellwood Ailes Award
Outstanding Baseball Player
Dr. Michael Sewak Award
Outstanding Girls’ Basketball Player
WHSD
Outstanding Boys’ Cross Country WHSD
Outstanding Girls’ Cross Country
Dr. William J. Hargreaves Award Outstanding Male Golfer
Dr. Patrick Gianopoules Academic Achievement and
Scholarship (PIAA District 6)
Success on the Wrestling Mat
Mark Wesley Memorial Academic Achievement and
Scholarship (PIAA District 6)
Success on the Wrestling Mat
WHSD
Outstanding Cheerleader
William Askey Family Scholarship Scholarship and Sportsmanship
Corona & Grady Coaches’ Award Outstanding Boys’ Soccer Player
John Saracena Coach’s Award
Outstanding Girls’ Soccer Player
WHSD
Outstanding Girls’ Swimmer
WHSD
Outstanding Boys’ Swimmer
PIAA District 6
District 6 Sportsmanship Award - Female
PIAA District 6
District 6 Sportsmanship Award - Male
WHSD
Outstanding Female Athlete Award
WHSD
Outstanding Male Athlete Award
RECIPIENT
Nathaniel Bennett
Corey Schafer
Joshua Duplin
Tanner Hough
Ryan Burnheimer
Zachary Drennen
Bryant Fisher
Jenna Magistro
Kevin Dailey
Brittany Davis Rachel Rajter
Paige Lamberson
Aaron Seigh
Joseph Seigh
Evan Tabek
Parag Dharbhamulla
Jennifer Asel
Victoria Parlock
Adam Miller
Alyssa Yewcic
Kevin Dailey
Rachel Rajter
Patrick Lennon
Daniel Wolfe
Andrew Herbert
Tanner Hough
Joshua Polacek
Carly Stump
Jamie Kessler
Matthew Masiello
Penn Whitlow
Jamie Kessler
Marinanicole Miller
Raymond Ward
Alyssa Yewcic
Stephen Popchak
Westmont Hilltop
Recaptures LHAC All
Sports Trophy
Westmont Hilltop won the Laurel
Highlands Athletic Conference All
Sports Trophy for the 2010-2011 school
year. Listed below are some of the most
notable individual and team highlights.
Fall Season
Boys’ Cross Country
Undefeated season, finishing with a 13-0
record! State Qualifiers: Jason Dean,
Calvin Hetrick, Grant Gagnon, Kevin
Dailey, Tanner Hough, Mike Walsh,
and Mustafa Hammudi (first alternate).
Jason Dean was named to the LHAC AllConference Team.
Girls’ Cross Country
State Qualifiers: Rachel Rajter and Sarah
Godish. Rachel Rajter was named to the
LHAC All-Conference Team.
Volleyball
Jenna Magistro reached the 2,000 assist
mark during the season and was named
to the LHAC All-Conference Team and
to the District 6 First Team. Jenna, along
with Jamie Hudson and Maddie Miller,
were selected to play in the Cambria/
Somerset All-Star Game.
Girls’ Tennis
District 6 team champions with a 13-3
record. Doubles team of Brittany Carney
and Jennifer Asel won the District 6 Title
and advanced to the quarterfinals in state
competition. Jennifer Asel was named to
the LHAC All-Conference Team.
Boys’ Soccer
Matt Masiello and Penn Whitlow were
named to the LHAC All-Conference
Team.
Girls’ Soccer
Jamie Kessler and Melissa Walko were
Team.
Rachel Rajter
Tanner Hough
“Athletic Recognition”
27
Football
Nate Bennett, Ryan Burnheimer, Josh
Duplin, and Garrett Lucas were named
to the LHAC All-Conference Team. Ian
Clark received the Western Pennsylvania
Football Conference Scholar Athlete Award.
Golf
The WHSD Golf Team won the Anderson
Memorial Tournament and finished third
in the Wheeling Tournament. Second
place finish in the LHAC, first place in
Sectionals, and fifth place in District 6.
Dan Wolfe was named to the LHAC AllConference Team.
Winter Season
Wrestling
Champions of the Conemaugh Township
Tournament and had four placewinners
at the PowerAde Tournament. Tanner
Hough broke the school record for
victories on February 8 with his 133rd
win. Ryan Burnheimer and Tanner
Hough won Northwest Regional Titles
and, along with Josh Duplin and Josh
Polacek, competed in the PIAA AAA State
Wrestling Championships in Hershey.
Tanner Hough was the State AAA
Runner-up.
Girls’ Basketball
Ended the season with a 21-7 record and
competed in inter-district competition
after finishing third in District 6 Playoffs.
Alyssa Yewcic was named to the Altoona
Mirror Basketball Classic Team. The
junior varsity team won the Meyersdale
Tournament.
Boys’ Basketball
Zac Drennen was named to the LHAC
All-Conference Team and was selected to
play in the Tribune-Democrat/AmeriServ
All-Star Game.
Hockey
16-4-1 Regular Season Record. Varsity
team had the lowest penalty minutes
in the entire league for the season and
was recognized for sportsmanship by
the PA Scholastic Showcase Committee.
Participated in the Outdoor Charity
Game in Pittsburgh. Andy Herbert and
Madelyn Snopko, as their senior projects,
helped raise over $19,000 for brain cancer
research in conjunction with this event.
28 “Athletic Recognition”
Girls’ Swimming
Undefeated season – third year in a
row! Placed first in the LHAC and IUP
Invitational meets and won the CWACC
and the District 6/9 titles. Naofa Noll
broke the 100-yard Butterfly record and
her sister Nollaig Noll broke the 50-yard
Freestyle record. At PIAA State Swimming
Competition, Marinanicole Miller
received both an All-State and NISCA
Award for placing 15th in the 500-yard
Freestyle. Christina Atterbury, Kasey
Azar, Kara Kovach, Naofa Noll, Nollaig
Noll, and Marinanicole Miller were
named CWACC First-Team All-Stars.
Boys’ Swimming
Ray Ward received both an All-State and
NISCA Award for placing 13th in the 100yard Freestyle in PIAA State Swimming at
Bucknell. Ray Ward and Penn Whitlow
were named CWACC First-Team All-Stars.
Spring Season
Boys’ Tennis
Team record of 9-1 and a first place finish
in both the LHAC and District 6. AA
Singles Tennis Championship was held at
WHHS since the finalists were both from
our school. Parag Dharbamulla and
Aaron Miller met, with Parag coming
out on top. Parag Dharbamulla advanced
to PIAA State Singles competition and
was named to the LHAC All-Conference
Team.
Baseball
Ben Legath was selected as a 2011
Under Armour Pre-Season All-American
in November and to the Perfect Game
Preseason Underclass All-American Team
in April of 2010. Lucas Kleinmeyer was
Team.
Softball
Kara Matthews was named to the LHAC
All-Conference Team.
Boys’ Track
Dan Dailey and Travis Kushner were
Team.
Girls’ Track
Abby Bealonis and Shayla Salter were
Team.
Cheerleading
Competitive Squad earned second place
at the PA Elite March Madness Cheering
Competition in March and a third place
finish at The Shamrock Showcase in
Danville
Rachel Rajter and Tanner Hough proudly display the
Laurel Highlands All Sports Trophy
District 6 Sportsmanship Awards Alyssa Yewcic and
Stephen Popchak
General Information
Annual PSSA Performance Posting
Percentage of Students Proficient and Advanced
The chart below indicates the percentage of Westmont
Hilltop School District students scoring in the advanced
and proficient ranges relative to the 2003-2014 PSSA Target
goals as established by the Pennsylvania Department of
Education. This date is used to determine whether the
district has met adequate yearly progress goals (AYP). The
chart below presents a longitudinal picture of the district’s
progress relative to the targets. Blank cells indicate that
a particular grade level was not tested during the school
year.
Parents will receive more detail during a variety
of opportunities throughout the current school year,
beginning with back-to-school events.
Targets Percent of
Grade
forProficient
Spring of: Reading 3
4
5
6
7
8
11
Performances Target Goal Set by State
Percent of
Proficient
Math
3
4
5
Performances
Target Goal Set
by State
Grade
6
7
8
11
2003
45%
64%
79%
69%
35%
67%
72%
63%
2004
45%
64%
72%
81%
74%
35%
67%
70%
75%
62%
2005
54%
77%
72%
83%
80%
45%
90%
78%
80%
75%
2006
54%
74%
83%
77%
75%
85%
91%
78%
45%
91%
89%
76%
78%
93%
82%
70%
2007
54%
88%
78%
75%
73%
78%
94%
83%
45%
91%
87%
85%
86%
81%
87%
73%
2008
63%
90%
82%
78%
85%
94%
91%
78%
56%
92%
88%
96%
97%
92%
86%
66%
2009
63%
87%
84%
72%
88%
84%
96%
83%
56%
95%
85%
86%
92%
94%
92%
71%
2010
63%
81%
84%
66%
76%
95%
92%
82%
56%
87%
95%
86%
89%
92%
79%
73%
“General Information” 29
General Information
Annual Public Notice 2011
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 to help parents
and community members in deciding
whether students need extra help
or special services and, if so, what
services are available and how to take
advantage of 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, or
Elementary School—255-8707.
At the link below, community
members will find information about
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.
You may access this site online from
any public computer at www.whsd.org
and click on “District Departments”
and then “Educational Support.”
Call the school if you need online
assistance 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,
but information is also available at
the following link: www.iu08.org/
educational/annual-public-notice. This
site includes information regarding
the Pennsylvania Department of
Education’s responsibility to ensure
that all children with disabilities
residing in the Commonwealth,
Autism
Mental Retardation
Emotional Disturbance
Multiple Disabilities
Deafness
Other Health Impairment
Hearing Impairment
Orthopedic Impairment due to
Chronic or Acute Health Problems
Specific Learning Disability
including children with disabilities
attending private schools, regardless
of the severity of their disabilities,
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:
Visual Impairment
including Blindness
Deaf-Blindness
Traumatic Brain Injury
Developmental Delay
Speech and Language Impairment
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.
30 “General Information”
General Information
Sources of Funding
The Westmont Hilltop School District received funding from both
federal and state sources and publicizes receipt. The following is a
comparison of funding for the upcoming and previous school years.
Title I: 2010-2011
$207,212
2011-2012
$192,773
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
$ 118,046
$0
$47,434
$36,227
Accountability Block Grant $126,307
$48,681
IDEIA $188,261
$184,461
IDEIA (ARRA) $ 198,992 $0
(divided over a 2-year funding period)
Title II: (divided over a 2-year funding period)
Title I provides 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. The Accountability Block Grant funds early
childhood initiatives and the implementation of full-day kindergarten.
IDEIA Funding is dedicated to special education staffing and related
support services for children. 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 V.I.P.
community members cheer in our
stadiums, encourage our youth, and
support our educational processes in
a myriad of ways. The V.I.P. program
(Very Important Person) 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 V.I.P. pass. To obtain
yours, please contact the district office
at 814-255-6751.
The Vision
The Mission Statement of the Westmont Hilltop
School District is regularly posted on mailings
and online publications of the district. Whereas
we frequently publish our mission, we speak less
frequently of our vision, which embodies the
principles that guide us in goal setting and action
planning. We would like to take this opportunity
to share the vision that the Strategic Planning
Committee, comprised of students, teachers,
administrators, board members, and business
community leaders has established for the district.
This vision will serve as our roadmap for the 20112012 school year.
Collectively, we envision a district . . .
•
•
where all students learn in a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment and where students are equipped with the knowledge that healthy lifestyle choices are essential in reaching their optimal learning potential.
where educators deliver the highest standards of teaching to maximize opportunities for student success.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
where all stakeholders become increasingly aware of educational processes as well as both the protective factors and the risk factors inherent in the home, neighborhood, and school environments.
where students receive a well-rounded experience through involvement in the academics, the arts, and extracurricular experiences.
where students learn evaluative skills and develop increasing capacity to draw their own conclusions through effective application of higher order thinking and the development of problem-solving skills.
where all students assume a responsibility to learn, each having unique strengths and weaknesses, differing learning styles, and differing rates of retention.
where all teachers have a responsibility to differentiate instruction based on the varying needs of their students.
where a culture of continuous learning and improvement is fostered through quality leadership.
that values and models all aspects of lifelong learning, professional growth, continual improvement, and a commitment to researching and implementing best practice in our schools.
that encourages and rewards community service by providing a wide range of opportunities and recognizes students for their efforts in pro-social involvement and community service.
that provides mentoring and shadowing experiences via community partnerships that will enhance career exploration and through which students become aware of the high value that employers place on a strong work ethic, accountability, and ownership in the organization as a whole.
that prepares all students for successful integration into the global society through acquisition of technological competencies and facility in languages other than English.
that maximizes utilization of human and fiscal resources through artful use of infrastructure.
that continues to strive to upgrade its facilities, equipment, and personnel competence in order to provide a premier program where curriculum is rigorous and relevant with quality and effectiveness as high priorities.
“General Information”
31
Westmont Hilltop School District
827 Diamond Boulevard
Johnstown PA 15905
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
JOHNSTOWN PA
PERMIT #142
Return Service Requested
Westmont Hilltop School District Directory Information 2011
Board Of Education
Mr. Mitchell G. Azar: President
Mr. George P. Wolfe: Vice-President
Mr Robert A. Gleason III: Treasurer
Mrs. Phyllis G. Forman, Dr. Kamal V. Gella, Dr. Gary S. Kramer, Mrs. Diana L. Schroeder,
Mrs. Leah S. Spangler, Mr. Joseph W. Veranese, Mr. Gregory T. Sanford: Secretary (Non-Member)
District Administrative Staff
Dr. Susan J. Anderson, Superintendent
Mr. Steven D. McGee, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Gregory T. Sanford, Business Manager Mr. Joseph P. Molnar, Technology Director Mr. Daniel P. Ream, Facilities Manager
Elementary School
Building Administrative Staff
Mr. Matthew P. Thomas, High School Principal
Mr. Thomas R. Mitchell, High School Assistant Principal
Mrs. Nicole D. Kuzmiak, Middle School Principal
Mr. Edward W. Benning, Assistant Middle School Principal
Mr. Samuel J. Brunatti III, Elementary School Principal
Administrative Offices
827 Diamond Boulevard, Johnstown PA 15905
Phone: 814-255-6751 Fax: 814-255-7735 E-mail: Dr. Susan Anderson, Superintendent, [email protected]
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.
Printed on recycled paper
High School

Hilltopper Highlights 2011 - Westmont Hilltop School District

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