Area students do outstanding job
Teachers' Choice Award winners
North Star School District selected its Teacher's Choice Award winners for September. They are Amiah Russic, Molly Gontis, Darren Miller and Riley Eller.
Amiah Russic is the daughter of Erika Russic, Hooversville. She is a 12th grade college prep student.
Molly Gontis is the daughter of Melissa and Mark Remz, Boswell. She is an 11th grade student who is studying health occupations and accounting. She participates in soccer and softball at North Star. She is also a junior firefighter for Boswell Volunteer Fire Department.
Darren Miller is a 10th grade college prep student. He is the son of Beth Miller, Hooversville. Miller participates in band, choir and track.
Riley Eller is the son of Lyn Eller, Hollsopple. He is a ninth grade academic student.
Somerset Jaycees student
Carly Richard was selected as the Somerset Jaycees student of the month for September. Richard is the daughter of Donna and Jason Richard, Somerset. She is a senior at Somerset Area High School, where she is enrolled in the AP, Honors course.
Richard is a member of the National Honor Society, French Club, National French Honor Society, Interact Club, FFA, musical and participates on the cross country, swimming and track teams. She is Somerset County FFA president and was listed on highest honors for the Somerset honor roll.
Richard attends Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. She participates in Somerset Area Aquatics Team, Somerset Junior Holstein Club and Somerset County 4-H Dairy Club. She plans to attend the University of Wyoming to receive a bachelor's degree in geology.
She enjoys swimming, hiking and collecting rocks.
1st Summit Bank donates school supplies
Through July and August, 1st Summit Bank collected school supplies at each of its 17 community offices to be donated to local schools and nonprofits. Altogether, school supplies were donated to students at 22 different educational facilities across the bank’s five county service region.
1st Summit Bank’s annual Red Wagon Project encourages employees, customers and community members to donate school necessities at one of the bank’s offices. Many items like pens, paper, notebooks and backpacks were contributed. If cash was donated, bank employees went shopping for needed supplies.
At the end of the campaign, 1st Summit Bank employees donated the collected and purchased items to schools in Cambria, Somerset, Blair, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties.
Upton is Kiwanis student
Nevaeh Reese Upton, Somerset, is the Kiwanis Club of Somerset student of the month for September. Upton is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Upton. She is a senior at Somerset Area High School where she participates in tennis, orchestra and chorus.
Upton is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a praise singer at House of Prayer. After graduation she plans to get a degree in business.
Upton's hobbies are reading, traveling and playing the piano.
$2 million in scholarships
The National Honor Society (NHS) opened applications for the 2023 NHS Scholarship Program that will award $2 million to 600 outstanding high school seniors. The program is supported by NHS’s parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
The scholarships recognize students who exemplify the four pillars of NHS membership: scholarship, service, leadership and character. One national winner will receive $25,000, while four others will receive $10,625 for embodying each pillar. In addition, 20 finalists will each earn $5,625 scholarships and 575 semifinalists will receive $3,200 scholarships.
“We’re excited to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of NHS student leaders and their contributions to their communities,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “We need these passionate and forward-looking leaders who apply their learning in the name of service and advocate for systemic change.”
In April 2023, NASSP will host Trailblazing Leadership Week in Washington, D.C., an annual event that brings together the 2022 State Principals of the Year and 25 NHS Scholarship finalists to celebrate their accomplishments and connect with one another.
“The NHS Scholarship is one of the best opportunities available to high school students,” said Swetha Pendela, a 2022 NHS Scholarship Finalist and freshman at the University of Georgia. “The NHS Trailblazing Leadership Week was the most transformative experience I have ever had. I encourage anybody who is eligible to apply. This is not an opportunity you want to miss.”
“The NHS Scholarship is so much more than free money,” said Avia Weber, a 2022 NHS Scholarship Finalist and freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. “Not only did I get thousands of dollars towards my college education, I also made life-long connections with my fellow finalists and got the chance to share my perspectives with the U.S. Department of Education during Trailblazing Leadership Week. Every NHS student should apply.”
The application deadline is Nov. 30, and award winners will be notified in March 2023. Applicants must be high school seniors who are active NHS members in good standing, currently enrolled at a school with an affiliated NHS chapter and planning to enroll at a postsecondary college or university.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County school students show outstanding work
