Student Directory
Three South Butler County School District students earned awards in an inaugural writing contest by the Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English.
Jenae Perine, a fifth-grader at the South Butler Intermediate Elementary School, won the grand prize in the council's Flash Fiction writing contest, which was held in the fall.
Jenae's submission, entitled “The Battle of Possibility,” took the top prize in the grades four to six category.
Jenae's classmate, Melanie Mitchell, earned an honorable mention in the grades four-to-six category for her work, “At the Bottom of Hope.”Knoch Middle School sixth-grader Mia-Kate West also took an honorable mention in that category for writing “The Wild Cat House.”A virtual awards ceremony was conducted Feb. 18.
SV academic team earns first placeWith a score of 32,631 and a 3,000-point lead, the Seneca Valley Academic Decathlon team placed first and took home 12 medals at the recent Western Pennsylvania Regional Academic Decathlon Competition.SV medalists include seniors Allison Flatt, who won an overall gold and medaled in the categories of art, economics, literature, music, science and social science; Mia Chevallier, who won an overall silver and medaled in essay, art, economics, music, science and social science; and Ash Eury, who medaled in art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science and social science.Juniors included Shanker Pillai, who won an overall gold and medaled in the categories of essay, economics, literature, mathematics, science and social science; Nicholas Nedzesky, who won an overall silver and medaled in essay, art, literature, music, science and social science; Kason Kunkelmann, who medaled in essay, economics, mathematics, science and social science; and Rayan Ghaffar, who medaled in mathematics.Nancy Chen, a sophomore, also medaled in the categories of literature and science.“This year has presented many challenges and changes to the structure of not only competitions, but after-school practices as well,” said David Reichard, senior high school teacher and Academic Decathlon coach. “The SV Academic Decathlon team quickly adapted to the format of virtual practices and the demands of virtual competitions.”Seneca Valley's Academic Decathlon Regional team includes Nancy Chen, Mia Chevallier, Ash Eury, Allison Flatt, Rayan Ghaffar, Grace Johnson, Kason Kunkelmann, Nicholas Nedzesky and Shanker Pillai.The students competed in eight events: essay, art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science and social science.The next competition will be against the top schools throughout the state in March.
Mars student wins full-ride scholarshipMars Area High School senior Ian Buttermore has been awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship as a winner of Saint Vincent College's annual Wimmer Scholarship Competition.A native of Mars, Ian was awarded the scholarship, valued at more than $150,000, by placing in the top five in the scholarship competition, which drew 143 entrants.At Mars Area High School, Ian is involved in a host of activities.He is a member of the varsity tennis team, German National Honor Society, Spanish Club, German Club, AP Computer Science Club and Computer Club.Ian has also taken part in the Water Protection Program, in which he and a group of high school students teach fifth-graders about the science of the stream.Additionally, he has led the Kids Club in Bible study at Northway Community Church and has served as a volunteer for the Fellowship Dinner for senior citizens at his home parish of Saint Kilian's Roman Catholic Parish in Cranberry Township.He plans to pursue a degree in chemistry with a secondary education certification.Ian is the son of Joe and Rebecca Buttermore.The Wimmer Scholarship program is named after Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, who founded Saint Vincent College in 1846 as the first Benedictine college in the U.S.The scholarship winners are based on their performance on a written examination administered at Saint Vincent in December and January.The 143 students who participated in this year's exam were college-bound and met the academic qualifications of a minimum 3.75 GPA, as well as a documented SAT score of 1,300 or above or a minimum ACT score of 28.Students with no documented SAT or ACT scores were eligible to sit for the exam if they have a 4.0 GPA and have successfully completed six AP/college courses.This is the 40th year of the Wimmer Scholarship Competition.
Mars students join French NHSSeveral Mars Area High School students were inducted into the French National Honor Society (Société Honoraire de Français) Chapter No. 5415.Students are seniors Courtney Lisman, Sarah Anderson, Riya Cherlakola, Emily Frantz, Isabella Gaydosh, Meghan Graf, Noah Grau, Sara Hart, Janie Hodder, Lauren Jablunovsky, Stephanie Kiefer, Carly King, Kaitlyn Krause, Ashley Lawless, Olivia Magness, Isabel Mannella, Hannah Miller, Ryan Pasko, Nicholas Pengilly, Kylie Pietrusinski, Megan Smith, Isabelle Spoores, Genevieve Thomas, Emma Todd and Sarah Weis; juniors Jordan Banks, Morgan Beck, Aidan Bright, Lauren Campion, Ashlyn Carter, Kambria Eldredge, Rayna Halper, Katelyn Helmstadter, Sophie Huff, Luke Luedy, Meghan McKenzie, Abigail Miller, Jack Olshenske and Danielle Sticinski; and sophomore Lucie Morlino.The French National Honor Society, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, recognizes outstanding scholarship in the study of French.
Junior wins top spot in essay competitionSam Everson, a junior at Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh, was recently named the American Legion Essay First Place Contest winner for Allegheny County.Everson's essay was sponsored by American Legion Post 548, Bakerstown. Everson's achievement was recognized in a ceremony at American Legion Post 548.
