CCAC Student Named Coca-Cola Bronze Scholar
Community College of Allegheny County student Melinda McCloskey of Wexford has been named a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. McCloskey is enrolled in CCAC and IUP’s Collaborative program for Business Management with a focus on Marketing and a minor in Sustainability. McCloskey is president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Allegheny Campus, and Officer of Service for PTK’s Alpha Mu Theta Chapter, where she assisted the chapter in working with CCAC administration and the community to raise $3,500 for the Allegheny Campus Cupboard, which will sustain the food pantry for more than a year.
Student Named Semifinalist in Coca-Cola Scholarship Program
Fox Chapel Area High School senior Vivian Shao was selected as a semifinalist for the 2021 class of the Coca-Cola Scholars Program. She is one of 1,609 high school seniors from across the nation (and one of 73 from Pennsylvania) to be chosen as a semifinalist from more than 99,000 applicants. Students are selected based on their academic excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated in school and community activities.
SSA Eighth Grader Wins National Medal in Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Mark Henne of Fox Chapel, an eighth-grader at Shady Side Academy Middle School, is one of only 10 students from the Pittsburgh area to win a national medal in the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. Henne won a national Silver Medal in writing for his Personal Essay & Memoir piece, A Pot of Forgiveness. As a national medalist, his award-winning work will be featured in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2021 online gallery.
Sophia Kunkel Awarded Gold Key in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Sophia Kunkel was recently awarded a Gold Key in the 2021 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the Northeast Writing Region-at-Large. She won in the novel writing category for the prologue and first chapter of her book Starless Skies and Broken Dreams. Kunkel is an editor for the Seneca Scout, a member of Library Club, and a cofounder of the Teen’s Writing Club at the Cranberry Public Library. To read the prologue and first chapter of her book, visit www.svsd.net/GKWA21. Additionally, Seneca Valley Junior Julia Lingenfelter was awarded two honorable mentions for her personal essay and memoir The Apple Tree and for her poetry titled Julia.
SV Student Accepted into FBI Pittsburgh Teen Academy
Meera Rathod was recently accepted into the 2021 FBI Pittsburgh Teen Academy, where she will gain a better understanding of the FBI, highlighting the various positions and career paths that work together to help the agency in its mission to uphold the U.S. Constitution. She will be offered insight into a number of topics and specialties, including the importance of making good choices online; understanding which federal law violations the FBI investigates; requirements of all FBI applicants, and the FBI’s domestic and international roles. She will also have the opportunity for various hands-on experiences involving specialized areas of the FBI, such as their Evidence Response Team.
Shady Side Academy Names Bayh Sullivan Next Director of Enrollment
Shady Side Academy has appointed Bayh Sullivan as its next director of enrollment, effective July 1, 2021. Sullivan will succeed Katie Mihm ‘83, who will retire in June after 22 highly successful years leading admissions and enrollment at the Academy. Currently the director of enrollment management at The Ellis School in Pittsburgh, Sullivan leads Ellis’ recruitment, retention and financial aid efforts. Born and raised in Pittsburgh and an alumna of Ellis and Bryn Mawr College, Sullivan has been an ATHENA Young Professional Awards nominee and a member of both the Riverlife Young Professionals Board and The Ellis School Alumni Board of Visitors. She recently completed a Coro: Women in Leadership Fellowship.
Shady Side Academy Names Sean Simmons Next Director of Athletics
Shady Side Academy has appointed Sean Simmons as its next director of athletics, effective this summer. Simmons will succeed Gene Deal, who will conclude his highly successful 31-year run as AD this summer to assume a new role at SSA as alumni engagement officer. Simmons is currently director of athletics for the Pine-Richland School District, where he oversees one of western Pennsylvania’s outstanding athletic programs. Born in Trinidad, Simmons earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance at Seton Hall University, and a Master of Science degree in athletic administration from James Madison University.
Dance Department at La Roche University Welcomes Rikkai Scott as Guest Artist
The La Roche University Dance Department, in partnership with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet, will be welcoming Artistic Director Rikkai Scott of BDblaq as its 2021 guest artist this April. Scott is known for his signature style of dance theater combining tap, hip-hop and contemporary elements of humor. Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts from the London Contemporary Dance School.
Eight SV Seniors Named Finalists in National Merit Scholarship Program
Seneca Valley Seniors David Choi, Zachary Garcia, Simren Jayaraman, Parker Logue, Ananya Rao, Avani Salunkhe, Anoop Savio, and Dora White have been named finalists in the 66th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program held by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).These seniors are eight of approximately 15,000 finalists and will now advance to the next level of the program where they will have the opportunity to earn a National Merit Scholarship and, ultimately, the Merit Scholar® title.
Heritage Valley Health System Announces Cameos of Caring Awardees
Heritage Valley Health System recently announced the Health System’s 2020 Cameos of Caring Awardees: Darby Hupp, RN, Cardiopulmonary Unit, Heritage Valley Beaver; Rich Pongratz, RN, Emergency Department, Heritage Valley Kennedy; and Sara Manfredi, RN, Progressive Care Unit, Heritage Valley Sewickley. The Cameos of Caring Award honors exceptional bedside nurses who work in acute care hospitals.
Seneca Valley Students Bring Home Scholastic Art Awards
Claire Reynolds, a Seneca Valley senior, was recently named a Gold Key winner in the 2021 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Pittsburgh Arts Region Competition. She won for her piece titled Calm through Chaos. Seneca Valley Silver Key recipients include seniors Connor Campbell, Tess Enders, Jocelyn McNany and Emilee Neuman. Several students from Seneca Valley also received Honorable Mentions including seniors Isabella Bardelli, Kierstin Beahm, Gabriella Donatucci (two Honorable Mentions), Lacey Eisengart, Faith Milcic, Tia Myers (three Honorable Mentions), Chase Nething, Mackenna O’Mara, Anna Sikora (two Honorable Mentions) and Brian Whitney. Junior Julia Lingenfelter received two Honorable Mentions and sophomore Arden Kiely received one Honorable Mention.
Seneca Valley Decathlon Team Takes Home 12 Medals
