Band students at Mars Area High School, from left, Kaden Ostapchenko, Carter Snyder, Sydney Denk and Audrey Stephenson, all freshmen, were selected to join in the PMEA Junior High Band Festival. Submitted Photo

Several Mars Area High School students were selected by solo audition for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Junior High Band Festival that was March 28 at Hopewell High School.

Freshmen Audrey Stephenson (percussion), Carter Snyder (trombone 1), Kaden Ostapchenko (alto sax 1) and Sydney Denk (euphonium) will join the Ninth Grade Band.

Mars Area Middle School eighth-graders Alexis Abbey (alto sax 2), Gavin Best (trumpet 2), Sophia Gourash (clarinet 2), Amanda Morrison (flute), Mei Lien Mansfield (oboe) and Grace Nam (flute); and, seventh-grader Alexis Riner (clarinet 2) will perform with the Seventh/Eighth Grade Band.

Mars Area Middle School eighth-graders, from left, Amanda Morrison, Grace Nam, Alexis Abbey, Mei Lien Mansfield, Gavin Best, Sophia Gourash, and seventh-grader Alexis Riner were selected to join in the PMEA Junior High Band Festival. Submitted Photo

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Marietta College's Trevor McNeill, of Fombell, was part of a four-person team of Society of Petroleum Engineers students who recently placed fifth in the North American 2023 Petro Bowl.

The strong showing allowed the team to advance to the Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, in the fall.

The team won four consecutive rounds before losing in the quarterfinals. However, they dominated the loser's bracket and finished alongside the top teams in North America.

McNeill is majoring in petroleum engineering and is a graduate of Riverside High School.