Seneca Valley junior Kaitlyn Moore and sophomores Rachel Spear and Veronica Pimenova were recently recognized by the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

Moore and Spear were selected as 2020 Central and Western Pennsylvania affiliate honorable mention recipients of the center’s Award for Aspirations in Computing.

Pimenova was named a 2020 Central and Western Pennsylvania affiliate Rising Star recipient of the center Award for Aspirations in Computing.

The students were recognized for their computing-related aspirations. They were also named for their demonstrated outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and their plans for post-secondary education.

The Western and Central Pennsylvania affiliate of the center Award for Aspirations in Computing is a collaborative effort by dedicated volunteers from Saint Francis University, Penn State New Kensington, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and All Clear Translations.

———

The Beaver Valley Chapter of Credit Unions awarded local students with scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. Armco Credit Union sponsored some of the recipients.

Breanna Tomsey, a senior at Karns City Area High School, won the first place award of $1,500. She plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She will double major in public policy and psychology and plans to pursue a law degree after her undergraduate studies.

Another recipient of the award is Nichole Sommers of Mars. She is a sophomore enrolled in the physician assistant program at Gannon University. Sommers won $500.

The Chapter represents credit unions in Butler and Beaver counties and is part of the PA Credit Union association. The students were chosen from 72 applicants from 11 credit unions. Students were required to respond to the following question with a 500 word essay: “How do credit union values differ from banks?

———

Ethan Reiser of Slippery Rock and North Catholic High School graduate Adrienne Nardone of Ellwood City have received a Dean’s Award with Distinction from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.

———

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, a collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, recently inducted new members, including Slippery Rock University students Andrew Kingan of Butler, Tabea Ohle of Slippery Rock, Madison Belsterling of Zelienople, and Samantha Nellis of Cranberry Township; and Ryan Wambaugh of Emlenton at Clarion University.

———

The following area students were offered Covestro Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair scholarships: Margaret Hollobaugh from Freeport Area Senior High School and Veronica Pimenova from Seneca Valley High School.

———

The Seneca Valley High School Math League team placed first in the region and 16th out of 34 high schools in the state.

Individually, junior David Choi tied for 18th place in the state with a cumulative score of 27 out of 30 over the six tests.

Rachel Spear, a sophomore, tied for 24th place in the state with a score of 26 out of 30.

According to the group’s website, The Math League contests give students an educationally enriching opportunity to participate in an academically oriented activity and to gain recognition for mathematical achievement.

———

National Merit Scholarship Corporation has released the names of the first group of winners in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, and two Butler County students are among them.

Approximately 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 160 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations.

Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide the scholarships for finalists who are children of their employees, residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue careers the sponsor wishes to encourage.

Butler County recipients include Nishant Jayachandran of Cranberry Township and John Felice of Mars.

Jayachandran from Seneca Valley High School plans studies in the field of health care.

His scholarship is from Computer Aid Inc.

Felice from Mars High School plans to study physics. He was awarded the scholarship from the Nationwide Foundation.