Hilary McCarren, daughter of Mike and Nancy McCarren of Jefferson Township, was one of 16 students nationwide to receive the 2004 National Merit Scholarship from the Siemens company.

The scholarship, worth $16,000 over four years, is awarded to children of Siemens Operating Company Employees.

McCarren, recently graduated first in her class from Knoch High School.

While in high school, she was active in cross country, track, National Honor Society, peer tutoring, the Family and Community Leaders Association, school musicals, the Jefferson Center Presbyterian Church Youth Group, the academic challenge group, and the French, drama and science clubs.

In addition to the National Merit Scholarship, she received the Pittsburgh Rotary Scholarship, the Butler Rotary Scholarship, the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award, the Knights of Knowledge Scholastic Achievement Golden K and the National History and Government Award. She was also named to Who's Who Among High School Students and the National Honor Roll.

She has been active in community service, voluteering at the Old Stone House, organizing clothing drives for the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries and several other activities.

McCarren plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University in the fall and major in mathematics.

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Mary Kulin

, a 2004 graduate of Corry High School, has been accepted to Duquesne University.

While in high school, she was active in track, marching band, musicals, Key Club, the mentoring program and national honor society.

She is the recipient of the Presidential Education Award, the Outstanding Academic Excellence Award and several scholarships from Corry High School and Duquesne University.

The daughter of Anne and Ron Kulin, formerly of Butler, she plans to major in music education.

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Joseph Hunt

, son of Patricia Hirt of Butler, has been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville for the fall 2004 term.

Hunt is a 2004 graduate of Seneca Valley Senior High School.

While in high school, he was a member of the junior ROTC, mixed chorus and men's choir. He also received the senior award for proficiency in reading.

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Jeremy Brunst

, son of Theresa Brunst of Slippery Rock and Arthur Brunst Jr. of West Sunbury, has been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville for the fall 2004 term.

A 2004 graduate of Slippery Rock High School, he plans to major in administration of justice.

While in high school he was active on the baseball team.

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Edward Spinner

, son of Catherine Killmer of Butler, has been accepted to Gannon University for the fall 2004 term.

A graduate of Butler High School, he plans to major in education.

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Lindsay Hasychak

, daughter of Lynne and Rick Hasychak of Butler, has been accepted to present her paper, "Bridging El Mundo: Bilingual Education in our Schools," at the 2004 National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in New Orleans.

A junior at Slippery Rock University, she is pursuing degrees in Spanish and education.

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Nicholas Kosanovich

, son of Kimberly DeVos of Renfrew, has been accepted to Gannon University for the fall 2004 semester.

A graduate of Seneca Valley High School, he plans to major in marketing.

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Susan Carney

, daughter of David and Linda Carney of Saxonburg, was recently awarded the Class of 1922 Memorial Scholarship at Penn State University.

Carney is a student at Penn State, majoring in elementary education.