Two students from Butler County were honored for completing studies with a perfect 4.0 grade point average during Indiana University of Pennsylvania commencement exercises.

They are:

Mackenzie Craig, a criminology graduate from Chicora. The daughter of Dave Craig of Butler and Maggie Craig of Chicora, she is a 2017 graduate of Karns City Area High School. She was a member of the IUP women’s basketball team and the Catholic Student Association.

Jessica Patterson, an early childhood-special education major from Valencia. The daughter of Bill Patterson and Trudy Patterson, she is a 2017 graduate of Mars Area High School.

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Butler County students were among 27 students recognized at the Honors Award Ceremony during Baldwin Wallace University’s Ovation 2021 Day of Excellence.

The following local students received recognition:

Erin Neff of Valencia majoring in neuroscience psychology and psychology, received the Outstanding Senior Award.

Julia Confer of Fombell majoring in exercise science received the Suzanne Claflin Strew Dance Scholarship, named for professor, director and coach Sue Strew, who retired in 2010.

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A pair of Grove City College students who teamed up with two recent alums earned a $10,000 grant for their startup podcast platform during the Ben Franklin Virtual TechCelerator Graduation & Championships in March.

Senior Entrepreneurship majors Cameron Suorsa of Slippery Rock and Eric Dudgeon of Pittsburgh are working to develop a venture called sidekickk. It is a tech platform that gives podcasters the resources and tools they need to launch and manage their shows from scheduling to distribution.

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Four Butler Catholic students were winners in Saint Joseph High School’s inaugural Earth Day Challenge 2021. Students in grades six to eight chose from one of the following categories: Photography, Artwork, Green Strategy, Prayer or Poetry. Students created a project of what Earth Day means to them. Students in grade eight will be awarded a $500 SJHS scholarship. Students in grade six and seven will be awarded a gift card and an SJHS hoodie.

Richard Konopski won the grade seven photography category; Sophia VanFossen won the grade eight Green Strategy category; Arella Mackalica won the grade eight art project category, and Ava Roxberry won the grade seven prayer category.

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The Seneca Valley Academic Decathlon Team once again earned the title of state champs and is heading to nationals.

With a total score of 33,513 points, these students placed first in their division against the top high schools from Western, Central and Eastern Pa. at the (virtual) United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) Pennsylvania State Competition.

The following students won state competition awards:

Shanker Pillai: Essay (Bronze), Art (Silver), Economics (Bronze), Literature (Bronze), Mathematics (Silver), Social Science (Bronze), Individual Overall (Gold)

Allison Flatt: Art (Silver), Economics (Bronze), Literature (Silver), Music (Silver), Science (Bronze), Social Science (Gold), Individual Overall (Bronze)

Mia Chevallier: Essay (Silver), Art (Gold), Economics (Bronze), Literature (Silver), Music (Silver), Social Science (Bronze), Individual Overall (Bronze)

Rayan Ghaffar: Mathematics (Bronze), Music (Bronze), Science (Bronze), Social Science (Gold)

Nancy Chen: Art (Bronze), Literature (Bronze), Science (Gold)

Ashley Eury: Essay (Gold), Art (Gold), Music (Silver)

Kason Kunkelmann: Mathematics (Bronze)

Grace Johnson: Art (Bronze).

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Butler High School students Nilah Foley and Jake Ritzert were recipients of $25 gift certificates in the school’s Stand Tall program, a school-based program that creates a safe and positive environment to promote a drug free, healthy lifestyle.