Junior selected for state program

SLIPPERY ROCK — William McGuire, the son of Bob and Patty McGuire of Slippery Rock, was selected to attend Pennsylvania American Legion Keystone Boys State at Shippensburg University in June.

The program focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state designed to mirror the structure and operation of the state government.

William is a junior at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School where he participates in three varsity sports and the robotics team. He participated in three mission trips to Appalachia with St. Gregory’s youth group.

He hopes to attend the United States Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy to become a naval officer.

———

KUTZTOWN — Brittany Larkin, a Kutztown University education major, received the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (Penn-Del AER) Student of the Year Education Scholarship.

Larkin is a junior from Cranberry Township. She competed against graduate students and working professionals for the award. One outstanding university student receives the award and this is the second year in a row that a Kutztown University student has won the award.

Larkin worked for the Western School for the Blind while attending Seneca Valley High School.

———

EDINBORO — Tracy Geibel of Butler received third-place honors in the Gertrude Gordon Feature Writing Contest sponsored by the Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh. Geibel is a senior journalism major at Edinboro University.

The annual competition, hosted by Point Park University, is open to full-time undergraduates. Entrants conducted a group interview with Janera Solomon, executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh, and then had two hours to write a news feature story based on the information gathered at the interview.

This is the second journalism award in the past month for Geibel, who serves as executive editor of “The Spectator,” Edinboro’s student newspaper. She took second place in the feature writing category of the Student Keystone Press Awards, sponsored by the Pennsylvania News Media Association.

———

INDIANA, Pa. — Indiana (Pa.) University honored three local students at the school’s commencement. Each graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.

Kara Evans of Renfrew is the daughter of Eugene and Carlynn Evans and a 2013 graduate of Seneca Valley High School. She will receive a degree in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Evans is a recipient of the Sutton Scholarship and was a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Young Life College and the Audiology Student Association; a gold member of IUP’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association; a tutor at Rayne Elementary School; and a volunteer for the Indiana County Humane Society.

Taylor Kriley of Butler is the daughter of Jim and Sandi Kriley and a 2012 graduate of Butler High School. She will receive a degree in speech-language pathology.

Kriley is a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization, Golden Key International Honour Society, Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society, National Society of Leadership and Success and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

She is vice president of IUP Dance Explosion and a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and Sigma Sigma Sigma Lambda sorority.

Katlyn Plotzer of Ellwood City is the daughter of Karl and Kellie Plotzer and a 2012 graduate of Lincoln High School. She will receive a degree in speech-language pathology and audiology. She is a member of the Cook Honors College.

Plotzer is a recipient of the Environmentally Conscious Organization (ECO) Award and Dean’s Award of Excellence. She is a member of National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association; Audiology Student Association; TOST and Turned improvisation group; and Sign Language Club. She was also an audiology tutor.

Plotzer is also a volunteer at Indiana County Humane Society, Katie’s Closet and Philadelphia Street Playhouse.

———

INDIANA, Pa. — Megan Disher of Saxonburg was selected for an Indiana (Pa.) University Chacivity Award. The award honors students for character, civility and integrity.

Disher is a speech-language pathology and audiology major. She is a student in the Robert E. Cook Honors College and is a recipient of Sutton Scholars Scholarship, Cook Honors College Scholarship and Cook Achievement Fund.

She is president of Students Opting for Drug and Alcohol Responsibility and vice president of National Residence Hall Honorary.

She is a member of National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association and Wallwork Residence Hall Council. She is an executive board mentor and employed by the Office of Housing and Residential Living as a community assistant.

Disher is a 2013 graduate of Knoch High School. She is the daughter of Patricia Forester of Saxonburg and Jon Disher of Butler.

THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT publishes student news, honors and scholarships in the Sunday Student Directory. Information may be submitted by the school or family.