CRANBERRY TWP — Margaret Spingola, a Butler High School senior, was named the 2007 Butler County Leader of Tomorrow on Tuesday night.

Spingola, a vocalist, musician, honor student and community volunteer, was chosen from more than 150 nominees.

This is the fourth year that Embarq and the Butler Eagle have sponsored the annual program that honors youths in grades seven to 12 for their leadership in the community, their academic success and their extracurricular activities.

Spingola and the finalists were selected by a committee of community representatives.

Spingola, who was a finalist each of the three previous years, received a $1,000 award at the recognition dinner at the Pittsburgh Marriott North where the leaders were announced.

She is a daughter of Charles Spingola and Kathy Schweikart-Spingola of Center Township.

In her nomination form, her accomplishments, which are too numerous to list completely, include these:

Spingola has been an honor roll student throughout her academic career with a GPA of 4.2.

She has organized and performed in 16 musical programs at the Newhaven Court at Clearview assisted living facility.

She is well known for singing the Star Spangled Banner at Butler High School football games. On Sept. 27, she sang the National Anthem at the Pittsburgh Pirates game against the Houston Astros at PNC Park.

"I was not just one person singing but part of the body of the American people, remembering all our nation represents,"she recalled in an essay about the experience for school. "I felt a surge of pride for being an American able to honor my country and those defending her."

She has played piano for 10 years, trumpet for nine, handbells for four and recently began playing guitar. The Butler County Symphony Orchestra has recognized her as a "Young Musician of Note."

Spingola was a featured performer with the Blazing Star Choral Society, and has appeared in multiple concerts with the North Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra.

As upper brass section leader, she performed with the Butler Golden Tornado Marching Band in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year's Day. She also is a vocalist for the 300-plus member band, often its soloist.

Spingola is active in her church, St. Peter's Parish Family Roman Catholic Church, where she is a member of the choir, a Sunday School teacher, vacation Bible School assistant, vice president of the parish youth group, alter server, and volunteer at the annual Thanksgiving dinner.

Last summer, she helped raise vegetables in Katie's Garden, which helps supply meals for Katie's Kitchen community meals.

She also raised more than $400 in last year's March of Dimes WalkAmerica campaign.

She has entertained residents at the Lowrie House assisted living center, and visited and assisted patients in Butler Memorial Hospital's Transitional Care Unit.

Spingola is certified in CPR through the American Red Cross.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, has been inducted into the National Society of High School Scholars, and been nominated to the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.

In statewide competition, Spingola earned first and second place awards for scientific research, and a special recognition award for microbiology from the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. She plans a career in health care.

She has a third-degree black belt in tae kwon-do and is a certified trainer at the American Taekwondo Center and the Martial Arts Academy in Butler.