Hilltopper Highlights 2012 - Westmont Hilltop School District
Hilltopper Highlights 2012 - Westmont Hilltop School District
Hilltopper Highlights 2012 - Westmont Hilltop School District
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<strong>2012</strong> Ac h i e v e m e n t A n d E x c e l l e n c e<br />
Students Honored as Top Ten Scholars of <strong>2012</strong><br />
Annually, at the opening of the<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Commencement<br />
Ceremony, scholars who rank<br />
academically in the Top Ten of their<br />
graduating class are honored. The<br />
students pictured in the photograph<br />
have significantly contributed to<br />
the tradition of excellence that<br />
characterizes <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>.<br />
Throughout the 2011-<strong>2012</strong> school<br />
year, students in every grade and<br />
classroom have excelled in the areas<br />
of academics, community service, arts,<br />
and athletics.<br />
Examples of the service and<br />
accomplishments through which<br />
our students have honored their<br />
community, their parents, and their<br />
school are contained within the<br />
pages of this newsletter, dedicated to<br />
the Class of <strong>2012</strong>. The names of the<br />
following students will be inscribed<br />
on a plaque on permanent display in<br />
the lobby of our high school.<br />
The Class of <strong>2012</strong> Top Ten<br />
Top Ten Scholars of <strong>2012</strong> Row 1: Kelcy Jean Harrison, Sarah Michelle Bunyea, Britney Alyssa Smith, Kyra Nichole<br />
Hill, Naofa Rose Noll Row 2: Parag Dharbhamulla, Ethan Marc Policicchio, Mustafa Bassam Hammudi, Christopher<br />
Joseph Campagna, Mark Nathaniel<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Education Association Top Ten Awards Listed Alphabetically<br />
Sarah Michelle Bunyea<br />
Kelcy Jean Harrison<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
Christopher Joseph Campagna<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Britney Alyssa Smith<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
Mustafa Bassam Hammudi<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
Naofa Rose Noll<br />
The <strong>2012</strong> <strong><strong>Hilltop</strong>per</strong> <strong>Highlights</strong> Achievement and Excellence, now entering its twelfth summer of publication,<br />
is a special summer edition of the <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> News dedicated to recognition of the outstanding individual and<br />
collective accomplishments of our students within their school and community.
Commencement <strong>2012</strong><br />
Pride & Hope<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> Board President, Mrs. Diana Schroeder, paid tribute<br />
to the Class of <strong>2012</strong>. Excerpts from that tribute are as follows:<br />
“This group of students has quietly worked within this community to make<br />
it a better place. The seniors are required to do a senior project. The intent of the<br />
senior project is to move beyond the walls of the school and into the community<br />
to make a positive impact. As I review the academic achievements of this group,<br />
their community engagement has been even more notable. The creativity and<br />
commitment that the students demonstrate in these projects is remarkable. As<br />
an example, we have one senior who organized a fashion show for the Cinderella<br />
Project, which gathers donated gowns and accessories for young women who<br />
might not be able to afford a prom dress. Another group of students ‘adopted a<br />
grandparent’ for their service. One young lady took a daily walk with a neighborhood<br />
couple, and continues to do so beyond the timeline of her original commitment.<br />
Four students organized and started a nursery at their church which<br />
has been wonderfully received by the parents and their children. Two students<br />
started ‘Cookies for Kids’ Cancer’ and baked 2,500 cookies for holiday cookie<br />
trays to sell to friends and neighbors for their cause. In total, at least 3,625 service<br />
hours were donated by this senior class to the <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> community.<br />
Now, that is a real legacy!<br />
The main focus of school is education. That education takes place primarily<br />
in the classroom, but some of our best learning comes from participation in<br />
extracurricular activities. It is there that students discover new skills, hone and<br />
develop existing skills, develop new friendships and learn as much from their<br />
failures as their successes. This year’s musical, The Pirates of Penzance, was the<br />
50th musical performed at WHHS, and it was a very special event. Members of<br />
the original cast of the very first WHHS musical Oklahoma were in attendance.<br />
Costumes representing many different musicals over the years were on display,<br />
and each and every program for the 50 years was available for alumni to autograph.<br />
As someone who did not graduate from WHHS, the phenomenon of ‘the<br />
musical’ is one that I have never experienced elsewhere. To say that it is<br />
amazing would be insufficient. Every year I marvel at the talent of the students<br />
and of the faculty to get such a professional<br />
presentation from high school<br />
students.<br />
You don’t need to go to Broadway;<br />
you only need to come to 200 Fair Oaks<br />
Drive in the spring.<br />
The capacity of this class doesn’t<br />
stop at music. There are accomplishments<br />
in Scholastic Quiz, Forensics,<br />
Band, Chorus, Art, and Athletics. The<br />
Class of <strong>2012</strong> has amassed 12 team<br />
champions, multiple <strong>District</strong> VI championships,<br />
and various individual<br />
honors and state place winners. This<br />
class is special: It has won the <strong>District</strong><br />
VI Sportsmanship Award more than<br />
any other <strong>District</strong> VI school and has an<br />
overall sports record of 754 wins and<br />
430 losses, which is more wins than<br />
any other Laurel Highlands Conference<br />
school. And most importantly, the<br />
class has supported its teams. This class<br />
has led a resurgence in fan support by<br />
cheering on the teams as they win or<br />
lose.<br />
As we speak of education both in<br />
the classroom and outside of it, that<br />
education would not occur without the<br />
dedication and support of the faculty<br />
here. I am sure that the faculty and<br />
administration feels a sense of pride<br />
and hope as they watch you graduate—<br />
pride in your accomplishments and<br />
hope for your greater impact on<br />
the world.”<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Academic Scholar, <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Class of <strong>2012</strong><br />
In her Commencement address, Kyra encouraged her classmates with an<br />
inspirational analysis of the ways in which Thomas Edison, J.K. Rowling, and<br />
Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) overcame obstacles and prior failures in their lives. She<br />
honored her alma mater as follows:<br />
“<br />
You have taught us well in academic areas along with the values that<br />
we will need to be successful and compassionate members of society…<br />
The knowledge and values we have gained here at <strong>Westmont</strong> have given<br />
us a foundation we can use to solve the problems on the road of life. No<br />
matter what bumps we may come across on that road, it is how we face<br />
the obstacles that will determine the ultimate direction of our lives.”<br />
2 “Commencement <strong>2012</strong>”
Commencement <strong>2012</strong><br />
Post-Grad Plans for the<br />
Class of <strong>2012</strong><br />
The Class of <strong>2012</strong> will attend<br />
thirty-nine different institutions<br />
in twelve different states and one<br />
other country. Seven students<br />
have plans to serve their country<br />
immediately following their<br />
graduation. Two will serve in the<br />
United States Marine Corps, two will<br />
serve in the United States Army, two<br />
in the United States Navy, and one<br />
will serve in the United States Coast<br />
Guard. Twenty-one students have<br />
plans to enter the workforce.<br />
Post-graduation plans of our<br />
students include attendance at<br />
the following institutions of higher<br />
learning:<br />
Commencement <strong>2012</strong><br />
In the front row Parag Dharbhamulla, Class of <strong>2012</strong> President, and<br />
Marissa Miller, Student Council President, contemplate the messages they<br />
are about to deliver to their classmates.<br />
Keynote Speaker<br />
Mr. John Kaites, a fellow alumnus of <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>, was the keynote<br />
speaker for Commencement <strong>2012</strong>. Mr. Kaites is a partner in the Law Firm of Ridenour,<br />
Hienton & Lewis in Phoenix, Arizona. He has extensive experience with<br />
professional sports franchises and leagues. Over the course of his career, he has<br />
represented fourteen Major League Baseball Clubs, two NBA Basketball Teams,<br />
the National Hockey League, an Arena Football Franchise, and a Minor League<br />
Baseball Team.<br />
Mr. Kaites is a graduate of the Duquesne University <strong>School</strong> of Law in Pittsburgh,<br />
Pennsylvania, where he was a member of The Order of Barristers. He<br />
began his legal career in 1989 as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of<br />
Arizona. Mr. Kaites later served three terms in the Arizona Legislature and received<br />
The National Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award.<br />
On behalf of the Class of <strong>2012</strong>, thanks are extended to you, Mr. Kaites, for your<br />
message and for the time you dedicated to your fellow alumni.<br />
AMDA Conservatory of the Performing Arts<br />
American University<br />
Art Institute of Pittsburgh<br />
Boston University<br />
California University of PA<br />
Capital University<br />
Clarion University<br />
College of Central Florida<br />
DeVry University<br />
Duquesne University<br />
East Carolina University<br />
Florida Atlantic University<br />
Fisher College<br />
Franklin and Marshall College<br />
Greater Johnstown Career & Tech Center<br />
Hillsdale College<br />
Indiana University of PA<br />
Juniata College<br />
LaRoche College<br />
Liberty University<br />
Messiah College<br />
Pennsylvania Academy of Cosmetology<br />
Pennsylvania College of Technology<br />
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College<br />
Penn State University, Altoona<br />
Penn State University, Main Campus<br />
Robert Morris University<br />
Seton Hill University<br />
Slippery Rock University<br />
South Korea College<br />
Saint Francis University<br />
St. John’s College<br />
University of Colorado, Boulder<br />
University of Pittsburgh<br />
University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg<br />
University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown<br />
University of Wisconsin, Madison<br />
Waynesburg University<br />
Westminster College<br />
“Commencement <strong>2012</strong>”<br />
3
High <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
National Merit<br />
Scholar<br />
The National Merit Scholarship<br />
Program is an academic competition<br />
that started in 1995. Students<br />
qualify for this recognition by<br />
taking the Preliminary SAT/National<br />
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.<br />
National Merit Commended Students<br />
and Finalists are recognized on a<br />
national level as having outstanding<br />
academic promise. Mustafa<br />
Hammudi earned recognition as<br />
a National Merit Finalist in <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Mustafa plans to attend Penn State<br />
University in the fall.<br />
Letter of<br />
Commendation<br />
National Merit Scholarship Corporation – Letter<br />
of Commendation: Blake Daniel Bernstein<br />
Students qualify for Letters of<br />
Commendation by achieving<br />
advanced performance on the<br />
Preliminary SAT/National Merit<br />
Scholarship Qualifying Test. We<br />
congratulate Blake Bernstein who<br />
was commended by the National Merit<br />
Scholarship Corporation.<br />
Mustafa Hammudi is congratulated by Mrs. Diana Schroeder, <strong>School</strong> Board President, during the Commencement<br />
Ceremony of <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Westinghouse Science Honors Institute<br />
Dr. Kupchella presented information about the Westinghouse Science<br />
Honors Institute at the high school awards ceremony as follows:<br />
“The Westinghouse Science Honors Institute is a free, advanced<br />
science, engineering, and technology program open to juniors who are of<br />
high academic standing and who have demonstrated a strong interest in<br />
science and engineering.<br />
Participating students attended dynamic lectures on:<br />
• nuclear energy and radiation;<br />
• meteorology;<br />
• FBI’s forensic investigations;<br />
• Bioengineering;<br />
• ACL reconstruction;<br />
• laser applications;<br />
• adult stem cell and tissue engineering applications;<br />
• and much more.<br />
Lectures were held on 10 Saturday mornings between October and<br />
February at the George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park in<br />
Churchill, with an optional trip and tour to the Breazeale nuclear reactor<br />
at Penn State.<br />
Each school participating in the program is invited to nominate up<br />
to 12 students for the program. Based on the selection criteria, 6 WHHS<br />
students were invited to participate and have successfully completed the<br />
program by attending the required number of sessions.<br />
An option available to all students is participation in a voluntary<br />
exam. One of our students, Daniel Durham, finished 11th among those<br />
taking the exam. As acknowledgment of this accomplishment, Daniel<br />
was awarded with a $150 check from Westinghouse. Other participants<br />
who were honored included Victoria Albert, Elizabeth Atterbury, Stacee<br />
Glass, Kasia Foster, and Angela Sutt.<br />
Congratulations, and best of luck to each of you, as you pursue your<br />
scientific interests.”<br />
4 “High <strong>School</strong> Achievement”
Varsity Sport of the Mind<br />
Scholastic Quiz advisor, Mr. John Wood, commended his team this year<br />
as follows:<br />
“Scholastic Quiz has been referred to as the ‘Varsity Sport of the Mind.’<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Scholastic Quiz had another successful season this year,<br />
building on its strong tradition of past accomplishments. <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong><br />
High <strong>School</strong> won the 2011 championship of the Central Western Quiz<br />
League on November 16. This victory brought the league championship<br />
trophy back to our school. <strong>Westmont</strong>’s Varsity team completed the season<br />
with a record of 8 and 0 to place first among the 14 schools from Cambria<br />
and Somerset counties that are members of the Central Western Quiz<br />
League. This was the sixth league championship in the last ten years for<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Scholastic Quiz. Members of the varsity championship<br />
team included senior captain Ethan Policicchio, junior Daniel Durham,<br />
and sophomores Dorothea Oller, Joshua Livingston, Matthew Wehner, and<br />
Alex Hockensmith.<br />
Sophomore Issac Joseph and Freshman Edwin Kesslak were members of<br />
the <strong>Westmont</strong> Junior Varsity team that also finished the season undefeated.<br />
For the first time in ten years, a <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> student, senior<br />
captain Ethan Policicchio, earned the top individual scorer award for<br />
the entire Central Western Quiz League during the regular season.<br />
Sophomore Dorothea Oller also received an individual award for finishing<br />
as the seventh highest scorer during league play.<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong>’s Varsity and Junior Varsity quiz teams combined to<br />
participate in the Fall and Spring Knowledge Master Open academic<br />
competition this year. <strong>Westmont</strong> recorded its best ever finish in the fall<br />
competition placing 10th in the entire State of Pennsylvania and finished<br />
higher than local schools including Fox Chapel Area, Hempfield Area, Penn<br />
Trafford Area, Bethel Park, Altoona, and Somerset.”<br />
We would like to extend our thanks to Advisor John Wood.<br />
High <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Academic Excellence<br />
Academic Excellence is a<br />
standard that is engrained in the<br />
culture of <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>. The<br />
following high school students have<br />
been recognized as exemplary role<br />
models.<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Student<br />
Memorial Scholarship Awards<br />
Kelcy Jean Harrison, Mr. Matthew Thomas<br />
(Principal), and Adam Jerald Pozun<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Educational<br />
Association Scholarship Award<br />
High <strong>School</strong> Scholastic Quiz Team<br />
Left to Right: Daniel Durham, Alex Hockensmith,<br />
Dorothea Oller, Mr. John Wood (High <strong>School</strong> Scholastic<br />
Quiz Team Advisor), Ethan Policicchio, Joshua<br />
Livingston, Matthew Wehner<br />
Scholastic Quiz Team Captain Ethan Policicchio with<br />
Advisor Mr. John Wood<br />
Erin Stokes Suppes (second from left) received her<br />
award from retiring teachers Mrs. Diana Smeal, Mrs.<br />
Karen McNair, and Mr. Stephen Lindberg<br />
Westinghouse Science<br />
Honors Institute<br />
Victoria Elizabeth Albert<br />
Elizabeth Patton Atterbury<br />
Daniel Brian Durham<br />
Kasia Noelle Foster<br />
Stacee Danielle Glass<br />
Angela Rose Sutt<br />
“High <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
5
High <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Academic ‘Letter’ Awards,<br />
Class of <strong>2012</strong><br />
Blake D. Bernstein Kara A. Kovach<br />
Trenten J. Boback<br />
Lyndsie N. Lampel<br />
Sarah M. Bunyea<br />
Benjamin F. Legath<br />
Christopher J.<br />
Matthew M. Masiello<br />
Campagna<br />
Jane L. McIlhenny<br />
Carly E. Campbell<br />
Marissa R. Miller<br />
Bradley W. Carney Samantha A. Morello<br />
Brittany L. Carney Mark Nathaniel<br />
Kayla M. Causer<br />
Naofa R. Noll<br />
Julia M. Chessa<br />
Sophie A. Noonan<br />
Daniel J. Dailey<br />
Ileana Panebianco<br />
Derek S. Danzl<br />
Ethan M. Policicchio<br />
Brittany M. Davis<br />
Adam J. Pozun<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla Gina C. Rievel<br />
DeAnnah M. Dick<br />
Niza M. Scuderi<br />
Nicole L. Dorn<br />
Rebecca D. Seigh<br />
Jonathan M. Findish Elizabeth A. Sherrier<br />
Alyson S. Forman<br />
Nicole L. Simmons<br />
Meena K. Gella<br />
Britney A. Smith<br />
Zachary D. Georgevich Carolyn V. Somerville<br />
Joseph A. Glennon Erin S. Suppes<br />
Caitlin T. Gutilla<br />
Lida A. Thompson<br />
Mustafa B. Hammudi Kylie M. Truscello<br />
Kelcy J. Harrison<br />
Andrew D. Varchol<br />
Autumn N. Helman Jennifer L. Weinzierl<br />
Allison N. Henry<br />
Forest (Penn) Whitlow<br />
Meredith W. Herman Brittany C. Young<br />
Kyra N. Hill<br />
Megan R. Ziemba<br />
Kelsey E. Hoover<br />
Benjamin T. Zurilla<br />
Cheyenne B. Kovach<br />
Academic Achievement Award<br />
Class of <strong>2012</strong><br />
Alicia J. Bowser<br />
Quentin L. Brandon<br />
Sarah M. Bunyea<br />
Christopher J.<br />
Campagna<br />
Carly E. Campbell<br />
Bradley W. Carney<br />
Brittany L. Carney<br />
Julia M. Chessa<br />
Tyler M. Crooks<br />
William A. Crowe<br />
Daniel J. Dailey<br />
Brittany M. Davis<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
DeAnnah M. Dick<br />
Nicole L. Dorn<br />
Jonathan M. Findish<br />
Alyson S. Forman<br />
Meena K. Gella<br />
Joseph A. Glennon<br />
Evan B. Good<br />
6 “High <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
Celina D. Gutierrez<br />
Caitlin T. Gutilla<br />
Mustafa B. Hammudi<br />
Kelcy J. Harrison<br />
Autumn N. Helman<br />
Allison N. Henry<br />
Meredith W. Herman<br />
Kyra N. Hill<br />
Benjamin H. Holmes<br />
Kelsey E. Hoover<br />
Sean A. Kesslak<br />
Cheyenne B. Kovach<br />
Kara A. Kovach<br />
Lyndsie N. Lampel<br />
Benjamin F. Legath<br />
Megan R. Legath<br />
Patrick R. Lennon<br />
Zachary T. Long<br />
Matthew M. Masiello<br />
Jane L. McIlhenny<br />
Marissa R. Miller<br />
Samantha A. Morello<br />
Austin H. Mundy<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
Naofa R. Noll<br />
Sophie A. Noonan<br />
Ileana Panebianco<br />
Alexandra N. Petak<br />
Ethan M. Policicchio<br />
Adam J. Pozun<br />
Amy R. Regan<br />
Gina C. Rievel<br />
Niza M. Scuderi<br />
Rebecca D. Seigh<br />
Elizabeth A. Sherrier<br />
Nicole L. Simmons<br />
Britney A. Smith<br />
Carolyn V. Somerville<br />
Erin S. Suppes<br />
Lida A. Thompson<br />
Kylie M. Truscello<br />
Mary E. Valcheff<br />
Andrew D. Varchol<br />
Hayle M. Walters<br />
Jennifer L. Weinzierl<br />
Forest (Penn) Whitlow<br />
Brittany C. Young<br />
Michael J. Young<br />
Megan R. Ziemba<br />
Benjamin T. Zurilla<br />
Academic Achievement Awards<br />
Class of 2013<br />
Elizabeth P. Atterbury Mariel N. Kramer<br />
Abbigail M. Bealonis Paige E. Lamberson<br />
Jeremy W. Burnheimer Brennan E. Lorditch<br />
David J. Carney<br />
Evan T. Louder<br />
Joshua J. Cavrak<br />
Kathryn N. Lynch<br />
Jill A. Clark<br />
Shannon R. Marko<br />
Sarah B. Clark<br />
Sarah G. Marley<br />
Toni H. Costa<br />
Leah M. Mercik<br />
Kirsten E. Coyle<br />
Kaitlin A. Mical<br />
Kevin J. Dailey<br />
Hannah G. Mills<br />
Taylor M. Davis<br />
Meghan N. Mock<br />
Hannah N. Drane Joel S. Neff<br />
Courtney L. Drennen Margaret E. Oberst<br />
Owen C. Dunagan Victoria A. Parlock<br />
Daniel B. Durham Elizabeth A. Petrell<br />
Lauren E. Ecklund Andrew S. Rizkalla<br />
Christiana R. Faucher Erin C. Rodgers<br />
Kasia N. Foster<br />
Rachel I. Roper<br />
Blaine P. Friday<br />
Anthony J. Rosage<br />
Tara L. Fritz<br />
Riley C. Schropp<br />
Samuel S. Gagan Donald C. Shovestull<br />
Stacee D. Glass<br />
Angela R. Sutt<br />
Scott M. Harris<br />
Madalynn E. Swaltek<br />
Stephanie L. Hetrick Jessica M. Toth<br />
Bryan R. Hoegg<br />
Robert J. Varner<br />
Dante Horvath<br />
Michael T. Vliet<br />
James M. Kane<br />
Jonathan E. Wagner<br />
Sara M. Kimmell<br />
Melissa J. Walko<br />
Nikolas I. Kindya Michael F. Walsh<br />
Jill H. Kittka<br />
Deana L. Werner<br />
Lukas A. Kleinmeyer Steven P. Zipf<br />
Seneca L. Koontz<br />
Academic Achievement Award<br />
Class of 2014<br />
Nicole M. Barnhart<br />
Timothy B. Barry<br />
Grant F. Bernstein<br />
Lewis A. Buchkovich<br />
Ashlyn M. Bulas<br />
Erica R. Claycomb<br />
Meghan E. Komara<br />
Brianne T. Krieger<br />
Kayla M. Lamison<br />
Josh W. Livingston<br />
Aaron D. Marko<br />
Noah J. Marley<br />
Timothy E. Smith<br />
Taylor A. Somerville<br />
Abigail P. Stern<br />
Emily L. Strandquest<br />
Daphne I. Valencia<br />
Emily M. Ward<br />
Rex M. Cosgrove<br />
Melanie N. Criswell<br />
Karlee M. DeMarco<br />
Hannah G. Dorian<br />
Mattison H. Evans<br />
Hunter C. Funk<br />
Lindsay G. Geiser<br />
Korryn E. Getz<br />
Devon J. Gilbert<br />
Alonzo G. Hilario<br />
Alex M. Hockensmith<br />
Brandon J. Hunsinger<br />
Brittany N. Irwin<br />
Isaac W. Joseph<br />
Braden M. Junker<br />
Alyssa K. Miller<br />
Andrew A. Miller<br />
James A. Miller<br />
Madison J. Milligan<br />
MorganAnn E. Millinder<br />
Courtney J. Morder<br />
Dorothea G. Oller<br />
Abby J. Panek<br />
Patrick J. Petrell<br />
Hailey M. Porter<br />
Sebastian J. Ragno<br />
Caroline R. Rea<br />
Sydney R. Ruis<br />
Cody M. Sabo<br />
Abbigail E. Smajda<br />
Matthew D. Wehner<br />
Robert S. Whitlow<br />
Zachary M. Yonko<br />
Bailyn A. Yost<br />
Ashley N. Young<br />
Academic Achievement Award<br />
Class of 2015<br />
Tyler M. Azar<br />
Maryjo Bekhash<br />
Baylee E. Bortz<br />
Olivia L. Bridges<br />
Sadie D. Carney<br />
Margaret A. Clark<br />
Corrin E. Claycomb<br />
Daniel Cooley<br />
Austin J. Crespo<br />
Drake D. Dorian<br />
Ethan R. Dumayas<br />
Anna K. Ecklund<br />
Alexandria L. Edwards<br />
Paige E. Eppley<br />
Sarah L. Fisher<br />
Jillian R. Foster<br />
Nina K. Foster<br />
Lauren M. Fregly<br />
Kyle J. Geibig<br />
Margaret M. Gerow<br />
Maura E. Glennon<br />
Noah M. Gordon<br />
Kaylee R. Grassmyer<br />
Kasey J. Helmick<br />
Ellis M. Kane<br />
Cullen P. Kaschalk<br />
Taylor N. Kaseler<br />
Kaylee M. Keefe<br />
Edwin C. Kesslak<br />
Emily M. Kilmartin<br />
Dylan A. Kmecak<br />
Mariah N. Kozak<br />
Jenna L. Kutchman<br />
Isabella C. Letzo<br />
Maiya L. Mastovich<br />
Emily R. Mayket<br />
Grace M. McIlhenny<br />
Juliet F. Messer<br />
Nicholas J. Mical<br />
Maura F. Milligan<br />
John T. Minnick<br />
Bridget A. Moyer<br />
Alexandra M. Nash<br />
Cameron J. Nulton<br />
Kaitlyn E. Pawcio<br />
Francesca N. Ramirez<br />
John D. Ridella<br />
Alexander M. Roper<br />
Courtney L. Schilling<br />
Bridget C. Sheehan<br />
Amanda M. Slezak<br />
Kyleigh D. Smith<br />
Nicholas J. Sturniolo<br />
Jacob P. Suppes<br />
Nicole E. Taylor<br />
Sadie M. Thompson<br />
Bradley D. Trevorrow<br />
Sara E. Trio<br />
Truman A. Welsh<br />
Erin M. Whyte<br />
Heaven L. Wiley<br />
John M. Williams<br />
Aidan P. Winterscheidt<br />
Megan A. Zolnosky
International Focus Theme Continues<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, the WHHS had an international focus. High <strong>School</strong> World Language<br />
Teacher, Mrs. Diane Rugh, reminded the students as follows:<br />
“Just a few weeks ago, the halls here at <strong>Westmont</strong> were amazing. Our school<br />
looked like the United Nations! International Week is just one indication of the<br />
interest and enthusiasm that you, the students of <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>, have expressed<br />
for languages and the world beyond the <strong>Hilltop</strong>.<br />
Another is the voluntary participation of our world language students at the<br />
Appalachian Language Educators Society, or APPLES, Foreign Language Festival.<br />
The festival returned from St. Francis to IUP this year. Once again over 300<br />
students from more than a dozen area school districts gathered for a full day of<br />
language specific & language related competitions.”<br />
The following students earned honors:<br />
NAME LANGUAGE / LEVEL PLACE EVENT<br />
Seneca Koontz French 3 2nd Listening Comprehension<br />
1st<br />
Speaking Proficiency<br />
Kelcy Harrison Spanish/Advanced 1st Reading Comprehension<br />
Marley Bonner Spanish /Advanced 3rd Literary Recitation<br />
Jacob McLoota Spanish /Advanced 3rd (tie) Listening Comprehension<br />
2nd (tie) Reading Comprehension<br />
Dorothea Oller Spanish 3 1st Listening Comprehension<br />
1st<br />
Composition<br />
2nd (tie) Reading Comprehension<br />
Joshua Livingston Spanish 3 1st Speaking Proficiency<br />
1st Reading Comprehension<br />
Isaac Joseph Spanish 3 3rd Reading Comprehension<br />
3rd<br />
Composition<br />
Mattison Evans Spanish 3 2nd Speaking Proficiency<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla Senior High 1st Music Instrumental<br />
Colton Moser 2nd Construction Model<br />
Lucie Durand Senior High 1st Art – Original<br />
Sadie Carney Junior High 2nd Music Instrumental<br />
Paige Eppley Junior High 2nd Art - Original<br />
Mrs. Diane Rugh, French teacher at <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> High <strong>School</strong>, was the<br />
winner of a national teaching award from the Johns Hopkins University Center<br />
for Talented Youth (CTY). Rugh was selected as the winner of the Friedel and<br />
Otto Eberspacher Award for Excellence in the Teaching of a Modern Western<br />
European Language. The award was established in 1989 by Liesolette E. Kurth of<br />
Johns Hopkins University’s German Department to promote the teaching of modern<br />
languages and recognize the dedication of educators who instill in young<br />
people the desire to better understand the people and cultures of different parts<br />
of the world.<br />
Rugh was nominated by <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> student Stacee Glass. Stacee had<br />
taken a Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Summer Program in Logic last summer<br />
in Lancaster, PA, and has spent two previous summers studying such topics as essay<br />
writing and etymology with CTY during their three week residential Summer<br />
Programs.<br />
High <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
University of Pittsburgh at<br />
Johnstown REB Commuter<br />
Scholarship<br />
DeAnnah Marie Dick<br />
Jonathan Michael Findish<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
University of Pittsburgh<br />
at Johnstown Presidential<br />
Scholar Award<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
American Association of<br />
University Women Scholarship<br />
Marissa Rae Miller<br />
Pennsylvania Highlands<br />
Community College Board<br />
Scholarship<br />
Kathryn Nicole Lynch<br />
Poetry Out Loud<br />
Mariel Kramer won the regional<br />
Poetry Out Loud competition sponsored<br />
by the National Endowment for<br />
the Arts. The competition took place<br />
at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona. She<br />
was one of only two students delivering<br />
perfect performances. Mariel’s<br />
presentation resulted in qualification<br />
for state level competition at the<br />
Governor’s Mansion, for which she<br />
was accompanied by her parents and<br />
English teacher, Ms. Debra Taczanosky.<br />
“High <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
7
High <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Forensic Milestones<br />
<strong>District</strong> Level Competition<br />
Winners<br />
2nd Place<br />
Christiana Faucher<br />
Extemporaneous Speaking<br />
Stacee Glass<br />
Commentary Speaking<br />
4th Place<br />
Daniel Durham<br />
Extemporaneous Speaking<br />
RachelMae Pulliam<br />
Poetry<br />
Joshua Livingston<br />
Serious Drama<br />
Madalynn Swaltek<br />
Duo Drama<br />
Taylor Davis<br />
Duo Drama<br />
Zachary Yonko<br />
Public Forum Debate<br />
Patrick Petrell<br />
Public Forum Debate<br />
5th Place<br />
Meena Gella<br />
Informative Speaking<br />
Caroline Rea<br />
Persuasive Speaking<br />
Mustafa Hammudi<br />
Public Forum Debate<br />
Robert Varner - Public Forum Debate<br />
Semifinalists<br />
RachelMae Pulliam<br />
Poetry<br />
Joshua Livingston<br />
Serious Drama<br />
Stacee Glass<br />
Commentary<br />
Natalie Fiorica<br />
Serious Drama<br />
Emily Ward - Declamation<br />
Emily Strandquest - Poetry<br />
Rex Cosgrove - Commentary<br />
States<br />
Stacee Glass<br />
Top 12, Commentary Speaking<br />
Daniel Durham<br />
Top 24/ 87, Impromptu Speaking<br />
Regionals<br />
1st Place<br />
Meena Gella<br />
Informative Speaking<br />
3rd Place<br />
Daniel Durham<br />
Extemporeanous Speaking<br />
4th Place<br />
Christiana Faucher<br />
Extemporaneous Speaking<br />
Madalynn Swaltek<br />
Duo Drama<br />
Taylor Davis<br />
Duo Drama<br />
Nationals<br />
At Nationals, <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong><br />
students compete against students from<br />
24 other schools in our league. In most<br />
categories, the competitor must place<br />
first or second to earn the national spot.<br />
However, duo drama students can place<br />
in the Top Five. Meena Gella placed first<br />
at the regional tournament in Informative<br />
Speaking and she attended the national<br />
competition. Madalynn Swaltek and<br />
Taylor Davis are a duo drama team who<br />
placed 4th at Regionals and also attended<br />
Nationals. Our students competed against<br />
the best speakers from over 60 leagues<br />
across the United States. This year the<br />
NCFL Grand National Tournament was<br />
held in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 26<br />
and 27. Next year the tournament is in<br />
Philadelphia.<br />
We would also like to congratulate<br />
high school English teacher Angela<br />
Sloan. Mrs. Sloan was presented with<br />
Regional Champion Forensics: Mrs. Angela Sloan—Forensics<br />
Instructor and Winner of the Marilyn Englehart Award, Meena<br />
Gella—Regional Champion/Informative Speaking, Miss Billie<br />
Kisko, Forensics Instructor<br />
Dharbhamulla Award for Excellence in Forensics<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla, Meena Gella<br />
the Marilyn Englehart Award for the<br />
Forensics League. This award is given<br />
to the coach who best represents the<br />
students and the league.<br />
8 “High <strong>School</strong> Achievement”
President’s Award for<br />
Educational Excellence<br />
Blake Daniel Bernstein<br />
Trenten Jeffrey Boback<br />
Sarah Michelle Bunyea<br />
Christopher Joseph<br />
Campagna<br />
Bradley William Carney<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
DeAnnah Marie Dick<br />
Nicole Lindsey Dorn<br />
Jonathan Michael<br />
Findish<br />
Alyson Sara Forman<br />
Zachary Dimitri<br />
Georgevich<br />
Mustafa Bassam<br />
Hammudi<br />
Kelcy Jean Harrison<br />
Autumn Nicole Helman<br />
Meredith Westray<br />
Herman<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Matthew Michael<br />
Masiello<br />
Marissa Rae Miller<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
Naofa Rose Noll<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
Niza Maria Scuderi<br />
Elizabeth April Sherrier<br />
Britney Alyssa Smith<br />
Carolyn Victoria<br />
Somerville<br />
Lida Adair Thompson<br />
Forest Penn Whitlow<br />
Benjamin Thomas<br />
Zurilla<br />
High <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Row 1: Kelcy Harrison, Sarah Bunyea, Naofa Noll, Parag Dharbhamulla Row 2: Carolyn Somerville, Britney Smith,<br />
Lida Thompson, Alyson Forman, Zachary Georgevich Row 3: Nicole Dorn, Elizabeth Sherrier, Bradley Carney, Kyra<br />
Hill Row 4: DeAnnah Dick, Forest (Penn) Whitlow, Benjamin Zurilla Row 5: Meredith Herman, Mustafa Hammudi,<br />
Christopher Campagna, Mark Nathaniel Row 6: Blake Bernstein, Matthew Masiello Absent from Photo: Trenten<br />
Boback, Jonathan Findish, Autumn Helman, Marissa Miller, Ethan Policicchio, Niza Scuderi<br />
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center NOCTI Awards<br />
Ashleigh Amber Anderson<br />
David Joseph Hunt<br />
Cassidy Lilybet Jones<br />
Stephanie Marie Kress<br />
Jesse Lee Leverknight<br />
GJCTC NOCTI Award Winners* with fellow GJCTC students Row 1: Alec Koontz, Ashleigh Anderson<br />
Row 2: Madison LaMantia, Brandi Grumbling Row 3: Amber Harden, Mr. John Augustine (GJCTC Director),<br />
Amanda Miller Row 4: Stephanie Kress, Cassidy Jones-Brown Row 5: Matthew Walker, David Hunt*<br />
Row 6: Austin Hipp*, Jesse Levernight<br />
“High <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
9
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
WordMasters<br />
The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking. Students are<br />
given a list of 25 words with which they must become familiar by learning<br />
their definitions and parts of speech. Students then practice using the words in<br />
analogies. The competition is a list of 20 analogies using the words learned up<br />
to that point in the competition. The English teachers in 5th through 8th grade<br />
work with the students to help them<br />
learn the words before the competitions<br />
three times a year. At the end of<br />
the year, scores for all three tests are<br />
totaled to determine the medal and<br />
certificate winners at each grade level.<br />
Completing these analogies is very<br />
difficult. By the third meet, students<br />
have 75 words. This year we had several<br />
students earn a perfect score on<br />
one of the three meets.<br />
5th Grade Top 10 in WordMasters<br />
WordMasters, Grades 5 & 6 – Row 1: Katherine Witsberger, Julie Duong, Sydney Podrebarac, Ariana Santos,<br />
Ethan Dubnansky Row 2: Rebekah Kevenk, Julia Bingler, Maeve Milligan, Amelia Aiken, Zoey Zentkovich, Leo<br />
Cosgrove, Clinton Sparling Row 3: Moses Zeidan, Lily Dudash, Susan Williams, Vaughan Kramer, Hannah Davis,<br />
Mackenzie Dunn, Madison Reitter, Grayson Moyer<br />
Principal’s Excellence Award<br />
Honoring student achievement and hard work is the purpose of the President’s<br />
Educational Excellence Award Program. Students who received this<br />
honor scored 92 percent or above in Grades 5, 6, 7, and the fall semester of<br />
Grade 8. They also scored advanced in mathematics and reading on the Grade<br />
7 PSSA.<br />
The following students received<br />
Honorable Mention.<br />
Julia Bingler<br />
Katherine Witsberger<br />
Sydney Podrebarac<br />
(earned a perfect score in Meet 1)<br />
Rebekah Kevenk<br />
Julie Duong<br />
Lily Dudash<br />
Maeve Milligan<br />
The following students tied for<br />
first place, earned High Honors,<br />
and are this year’s medal winners.<br />
Amelia Aiken<br />
(earned a perfect score in Meet 2)<br />
Susan Williams<br />
Moses Zeidan<br />
(earned a perfect score in Meet 1)<br />
6th Grade Top 10 in WordMasters<br />
Leo Cosgrove<br />
Hannah Davis<br />
Ethan Dubnansky<br />
Mackenzie Dunn<br />
Vaughan Kramer<br />
(earned a perfect score in Meet 1)<br />
Grayson Moyer<br />
Madison Reitter<br />
Ariana Santos<br />
Clinton Sparling<br />
Zoey Zentkovich<br />
All of our Top 10 sixth graders<br />
earned High Honors. There were two<br />
6th graders who tied for the top score<br />
this year. The medal winners were Leo<br />
Cosgrove and Vaughan Kramer.<br />
Principal’s Excellence Award, Grade 8 – Row 1: Zachary Vliet, Bryan Mock Row 2: Emily Brazill, Bethany<br />
Carney, Rita Bekhash Row 3: Sarah Minnick, Mitchell Hochfeld, Ashley Kush<br />
10 “Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
7th Grade High Honors<br />
In the seventh grade, the following<br />
twelve students earned High Honors:<br />
Co-medalists: Brock Bernstein,<br />
Cameron Bradley<br />
3rd Place<br />
Taylor Smitherman<br />
4th Place<br />
Venkat Gella<br />
5th Place<br />
Jacob Elders<br />
Victoria Geiser<br />
Hannah Robart<br />
Rachel Toth<br />
9th Place<br />
Samantha Hong<br />
Skyler Moore<br />
Mathilda Santee<br />
Kirsten Vazquez<br />
8th Grade High Honors<br />
In the eighth grade, the following<br />
ten students earned High Honors:<br />
The medal winner, in first place:<br />
Madison Hrin<br />
Tied for Second<br />
Jamie Geiser<br />
Sarah Kilpatrick<br />
Sarah Minnick<br />
5th Place<br />
Bethany Carney<br />
6th Place<br />
Zachary Vliet<br />
7th Place<br />
Bracken Helsel<br />
8th Place<br />
Evan Barkheimer<br />
Samuel Barry<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
WordMasters, Grades 7 & 8 – Row 1: Rachel Toth, Samantha Hong, Hannah Robart, Skyler Moore, Venkat Gella, Jamie Geiser, Cameron Bradley, Row 2:<br />
Victoria Geiser, Bethany Carney, Mathilda Santee, Jacob Elders, Zachary Vliet, Taylor Smitherman, Brock Bernstein, Samuel Barry, Ashley Kush, Madison Hrin,<br />
Sarah Minnick, Evan Barkheimer Missing from photo: Kirsten Vazquez, Sarah Kilpatrick, Bracken Helsel<br />
“Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
11
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Knowledge Masters<br />
The Knowledge Masters Open is a team competition. Our middle school enters<br />
two divisions in the competition. One in the 5th and 6th grade division and one<br />
in the middle school division. Many of our 5th and 6th graders competed on<br />
both teams.<br />
Teams receive a CD-ROM containing curriculum-based questions (100 at 5th &<br />
6th grade level and 200 at the middle school level). Our teams use the Promethean<br />
board to display the questions and answer them as a team. The event is held<br />
twice each year for both middle school and 5th & 6th grade teams.<br />
In the fall competition, the 5th and 6th grade team placed 11th out of 88<br />
schools in the world with similar enrollment. In the winter competition, our 5th<br />
and 6th grade team placed 8th out of 103 schools with similar enrollment.<br />
The following is a list of students who participated:<br />
Grade 6:<br />
Sarah Al-Ubaidi, Christian Assad,<br />
Ashley Bell, Patrick Brown,<br />
Leo Cosgrove, Ethan Dubnansky,<br />
Patrick Dunagan, Evan Christie,<br />
Vaughan Kramer, Simon Joseph,<br />
Camden Moors, Adam Mrozowski,<br />
Madison Reitter, Grayson Moyer,<br />
Ariana Santos, Kennedy Welsh<br />
Grade 5:<br />
Amelia Aiken, Devin Boxler, Leah<br />
Brennsteiner, Carissa Casale,<br />
Anthony DeLisa, Lily Dudash, Julie<br />
Duong, Austin Gibson, Kyle Gordon,<br />
Hala Hammudi, Jonathon Heider,<br />
William Hillegass, Tanner Hinterliter,<br />
Sophie Hochfeld, Sydney Houston,<br />
Brandon Kaseler, Rebekah Kevenk,<br />
Allyson Kowalczyk, David Leiden,<br />
Jason Masiello, Maeve Milligan,<br />
Macey Morrell, Joshua Reitter, Lee<br />
Santee, Jessica Stuer, Susan Williams,<br />
Katherine Witsberger, Moses Zeidan<br />
Scholastic Quiz Team<br />
The <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Middle<br />
<strong>School</strong> Scholastic Quiz team performed<br />
admirably at the national<br />
competition held in Chicago, IL<br />
April 20-22, <strong>2012</strong>. This year the<br />
middle school qualified to send<br />
three teams: the A team, comprised<br />
of Samuel Barry, Mitchell<br />
Hochfeld, Nora Springer, and<br />
David Williams; the B team, comprised<br />
of Brock Bernstein, Venkat<br />
Gella, Dan Kevenk, and Bryce<br />
Kramer; and the C team, comprised<br />
of Leo Cosgrove, Ethan<br />
Dubnansky, Vaughan Kramer,<br />
Erik Wehner, and Jack Weidner.<br />
The A team finished in 35th<br />
place, out of the top 72 teams, after<br />
losing a close tie-breaker to get into<br />
the final competition. The B team<br />
ranked 56th, and the C team came<br />
in 59th. One student from the A<br />
team, Mitchell Hochfeld, individually<br />
ranked 16th out of 366 students<br />
competing.<br />
Our thanks go out to Advisor<br />
Miss Melissa Kalwanaski for<br />
organizing another successful team.<br />
Knowledge Masters, Grades 5 & 6 – Row 1: Julie Duong, Katherine Witsberger, Ariana Santos, Evan Christie, David Leidan, Patrick Dunagan Row 2: Madison Reitter,<br />
Brandon Kaseler, William Hillegass, Devin Boxler, Simon Joseph Row 3: Austin Gibson, Rebekah Kevenk, Amelia Aiken, Maeve Milligan, Ethan Dubnansky, Joshua Reitter, Kyle<br />
Gordon, Jonathon Heider, Carissa Casale, Macey Morrell, Allyson Kowalczyk, Camden Moors, Kennedy Welsh Row 4: Ashley Bell, Grayson Moyer, Jason Masiello, Leo Cosgrove,<br />
Patrick Brown, Tanner Hinterliter, Lee Santee, Moses Zeidan, Christian Assad, Susan Williams, Hala Hammudi, Sarah Al-Ubaidi, Jessica Stuer, Leah Brennsteiner, Sophie<br />
Hochfeld, Lily Dudash, Adam Mrozowski, Vaughan Kramer Missing from photo: Anthony DeLisa, Sydney Houston<br />
12 “Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”
Technology Club<br />
Technology Club, Grades 6-8: (left to right) Vaughan Kramer, Venkat Gella, Ashley Kush, Clinton Sparling, Evan<br />
Christie, Wyatt Summers, Nicholas Albertelli, Caitlyn Miller, Nastasja Banks, Meghan Albertelli, Claire Gagnon, Laina<br />
Mastovich, Veronica Petrus, Michelle Concannon, Hannah Robart<br />
Mrs. Dana McCreery served as<br />
advisor to fifteen students at the PA<br />
Regional Computer Fair held by the IU<br />
at Penn State, Altoona Campus. The<br />
students worked on projects in several<br />
different categories including:<br />
• Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
• Graphic Design – Restaurant<br />
Challenge<br />
• Animation<br />
• Web Page Design<br />
• Digital Movie<br />
All students in the club stayed after<br />
school and worked on various projects.<br />
Three 8th graders won at the<br />
regional level and therefore went on<br />
to states, which was held at Dickinson<br />
College in Carlisle, PA. Ashley Kush<br />
and Caitlyn Miller worked together<br />
on an Italian cuisine graphic design,<br />
which won 3rd Place at the state level<br />
competition! We are very proud of all<br />
the students who participated this year<br />
for doing such a great job and representing<br />
WHMS so well. The following<br />
students were honorees:<br />
Grade 6:<br />
Laina Mastovich –<br />
Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
Evan Christie, Clinton Sparling,<br />
Wyatt Summers – Worked together on<br />
a Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
Laina Mastovich –<br />
Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
Vaughan Kramer (worked with 7th<br />
grader Venkat Gella) - 3rd Place in<br />
Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
Nicholas Albertelli – 3rd Place in<br />
Animation – Lego Video Clip<br />
NASA Shoebox Challenge<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
The Shoebox Challenge is an in-depth research and design program that<br />
challenges students to design and build a glider out of a shoebox and other<br />
household materials. Students participated in the challenge this year through<br />
video conferences with a NASA representative and put many hours into design<br />
and building their glider.<br />
Student participants included:<br />
Amelia Aiken<br />
Patrick Brown<br />
Leo Cosgrove<br />
Ethan Dubnansky<br />
Anna Gagnon<br />
Austin Gibson<br />
Gabrielle Hrin<br />
Vaughan Kramer<br />
Grade 7:<br />
Nastasja Banks and Hannah Robart<br />
(worked together on a Graphic<br />
Restaurant Design)<br />
Venkat Gella (worked with 6th grader<br />
Vaughan Kramer) – 3rd Place for<br />
Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
Grade 8:<br />
Meghan Albertelli<br />
Computer Fair Logo Design<br />
Michelle Concannon – 2nd Place in<br />
Web Page Design – Westy Clubs<br />
Claire Gagnon – 2nd Place in<br />
Animation – Claymation Video<br />
Veronica Petrus – 1st Place in<br />
Animation – Animated Video on<br />
Bullying moved on to the state<br />
competition held at Dickinson College<br />
in Carlisle, PA<br />
Ashley Kush and Caitlyn Miller<br />
Graphic Design – 1st Place in the<br />
Regional competition and also won 3rd<br />
Place at the state level competition!<br />
Grayson Moyer<br />
Sarah Polacek<br />
Andrew Rea<br />
Madison Reitter<br />
Ariana Santos<br />
Susan Williams<br />
Katherine Witsberger<br />
Moses Zeidan<br />
NASA Shoebox Challenge, Grades 5 & 6 – 1st Row: Anna Gagnon, Katherine Witsberger, Moses<br />
Zeidan, Ariana Santos, Amelia Aiken, Gabrielle Hrin, Ethan Dubnansky 2nd Row: Grayson Moyer, Sarah<br />
Polacek, Austin Gibson, Andrew Rea, Madison Reitter, Susan Williams, Patrick Brown, Leo Cosgrove,<br />
Vaughan Kramer<br />
“Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
13
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Academic “Best” Awards<br />
Grade 8:<br />
English - Nora Springer<br />
Math - Hunter Williams<br />
Science - Samuel Barry<br />
Civics - Helen Stern<br />
Foreign Language<br />
French - Meghan Albertelli<br />
Spanish - Bethany Carney<br />
Art - Georgann Carnevali<br />
Music - Erik Wehner<br />
Physical Education -<br />
Leah Hockensmith<br />
Johns Hopkins<br />
Talent Search<br />
Academic Best Awards, Grade 8: (left to right) Leah Hockensmith, Bethany Carney, Meghan Albertelli, Helen<br />
Stern, Nora Springer, Georgann Carnevali, Erik Wehner, Samuel Barry, Hunter Williams<br />
Meritorious Attitude & Effort Awards<br />
Johns Hopkins Young Students Talent Search<br />
Mrs. Terri Mrozowski, Middle <strong>School</strong> Counselor,<br />
presents Venkat Gella with his award.<br />
Meritorious Attitude & Effort Awards<br />
Grades 5-8 – Row 1: Karalyn Pawcio, Kayleigh Noll, Maeve Milligan, Moses Zeidan, Ariana Santos, Kolby DeGrange,<br />
Samantha Hong Row 2: Deseree Divittorio, Alexis Nibert, Christian Assad, Zachary Vliet, Alexandra Schiffhauer,<br />
Victoria Geiser, Madison Eppley, Hannah Robart Missing from photo: Molly Callihan<br />
National History Day<br />
Nora Springer placed eighth of fourteen<br />
finalists chosen from a field of more than<br />
660,000 original entries in the nation for<br />
her documentary, The American Dream<br />
Deferred: The Myers Family in Levittown,<br />
PA, which she produced after months of intensive<br />
research. More than 36,000 entries<br />
comprised the junior individual documentary<br />
category, and 89 of those represented<br />
their states in the final competition in<br />
Washington, D.C. Nora was accompanied<br />
by middle school teacher Miss Melissa Kalwanaski.<br />
Nora stated, “It was just so exciting to see<br />
the work of more than 2,800 students from<br />
all over the country and the world and to<br />
meet so many other kids who love history<br />
and research as much as I do.” More than<br />
300 historians and other education professionals<br />
help to evaluate the entries during<br />
the National History Day competition.<br />
National History Day Row 1: Brock Bernstein, Bryce Kramer, Samuel Barry, Venkat Gella, Veronica Kovach,<br />
Rachel Toth, Gina Yonko, Mitchell Hochfeld, Laurel Steinly Row 2: Ethan Dubnansky, Gabrielle Hrin, Grayson<br />
Moyer, Daniel Kevenk, Susan Williams, Ashley Kush, Sarah Minnick, Vaughan Kramer, Isaiah Klanchar Yuhas,<br />
Abigail Kesslak Row 3: David Williams, Erik Wehner, Michelle Concannon, Emily Brazill, Leah Hockensmith,<br />
Sarah Kilpatrick, Nora Springer (placed 2nd in the state & qualified for nationals), Madison Hrin Missing<br />
from Photo: Meredith Trio, Aunna Yingling<br />
14 “Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”
Sports Trivia<br />
Math Counts<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
MathCounts Row 1: Simon Joseph, Leo Cosgrove, Patrick Brown Row 2: Victoria Geiser, Rachel Toth, Samantha<br />
Hong, Daniel Kevenk, Venkat Gella, Samuel Barry, Mitchell Hochfeld, Sarah Minnick Row 3: Vaughan Kramer, Ashley<br />
Kush, David Williams, Hunter Williams, Grayson Moyer Missing from Photo: Luke Schrum<br />
Continental Math League<br />
Sports Trivia Adam Kush, Adam Mrozowski<br />
C-Mites<br />
Continental Math League Grades 5 & 6 – Row 1: Ariana Santos, Julie Duong, Hannah Kohan, Rebekah Kevenk,<br />
Amelia Aiken, Jonathon Heider, Jonathan Barnhart Row 2: Ethan Dubnansky, Grayson Moyer, Andrew Rea, Susan<br />
Williams, Ronald Jezeskie, Patrick Brown, Vaughan Kramer, Moses Zeidan, Austin Gibson Missing from Photo:<br />
Tanner Hinterliter<br />
C-Mites<br />
Julia Bingler<br />
Continental Math League Grades 7 & 8 – Row 1: Harrison Fear, Hannah Robart, Skyler Moore, Rachel Toth,<br />
Venkat Gella Row 2: Daniel Kevenk, Hunter Williams, Alexander Miller, Mitchell Hochfeld, Jarod Shark, McCabe<br />
Rakvin, Samuel Barry, Connor Bunn, Gina Yonko, Rita Bekhash Missing from Photo: Jade Marshall<br />
“Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
15
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
President’s Physical Fitness<br />
President’s Physical Fitness Grade 5 – Row 1: Jacob Adams, Andrea Rutledge, Macey Morrell, Sydney Droz,<br />
Amelia Aiken, Maddison Brant Row 2: Maeve Milligan, Karalyn Pawcio, Jonathon Heider, Tucker Kushner, Lee<br />
Santee, Lily Dudash Row 3: Brandon Kaseler, Jason Masiello Missing from Photo: Madison Rozich, Jack Spencer<br />
President’s Physical Fitness Grade 6 – Row 1: Gabrielle Nagorite, Gabrielle Hrin, Jacob Toth, Molly Callihan,<br />
Zoey Zentkovich, Camden Moors Row 2: Julie Steinkirchner, Olivia Letzo, Colton Schafer, Clayton Dorian, Sarah<br />
Polacek, Grayson Moyer, Jonathan Huston, Michael Purazo, Morgan Muller, Adam Kush Missing from Photo:<br />
Michael Wilks<br />
16 “Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
President’s Physical Fitness Grade 7 – Row 1: Laurel Steinly, Kylie Morder, Hannah Robart, Elle Goldblatt,<br />
Jocelyn Pawcio, Sophia Straw Row 2: Lauren Moran, McKenna Ray, Megan Rutledge, Kayla Vizza, Brionna<br />
Lehman, Kristina Lynch, Tessa Weeks Row 3: Matthew Young, Michael Lamison, Nicholas McQuillan, Ian Valente,<br />
Michael Crans, Zachary Krieger, Evan Zatsick Row 4: David Valcheff, Justin Bulas Missing from Photo: Gunnar<br />
Hockenberry, Alexis Pollock, Aunna Yingling
President’s Physical Fitness<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
President’s Physical Fitness Grade 8 – Row 1: Ryan Adams, Ashley Kush, Leah Hockensmith, Alana Somerville, Samuel Barry Row 2:<br />
Meghan Albertelli, Chase Davis, Connor Schafer, David Williams, Taylor Rozich, Katheryn Marley, Chad Held Row 3: Jenna Toth, Gregory<br />
Heider, Jenna Rutledge, Tristin Kresak Missing from Photo: Connor Bunn, Quinn Callihan, Katherine Flick, Hunter Williams, Daniel Yost<br />
President’s Award for Educational Excellence<br />
President’s Award for Educational Excellence Grade 8 – Row 1: Bethany Carney, Jamie Geiser, Karly Balon, Leah Hockensmith, Tristin Kresak,<br />
Courtney Irwin, Katheryn Marley Row 2: Ryan Adams, Bryan Mock, Alana Somerville, Emily Brazill, Ashley Kush, Morgan Ruis, Victoria Louder, Jenna Toth<br />
Row 3: Zachary Vliet, Hunter Williams, Sarah Kilpatrick, Allison Petrick, Samuel Barry, Jarod Shark, Rita Bekhash, Nora Springer, Sarah Minnick Row 4:<br />
Dylan Sutt, Evan Dluhos, Mitchell Causer, Erik Wehner, McCabe Rakvin, Mitchell Hochfeld, Gina Yonko, Madison Hrin Missing from Photo: Lindsey Aman,<br />
Quinn Callihan, Chase Davis, Kohl Henry, Kyler Pyshnik<br />
Principal’s Excellence Award<br />
Principal’s Excellence Award Grade 8 – Row 1: Zachary Vliet,<br />
Bryan Mock Row 2: Emily Brazill, Bethany Carney, Rita Bekhash<br />
Row 3: Sarah Minnick, Mitchell Hochfeld, Ashley Kush<br />
“Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
17
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Scholastic Quiz<br />
Scholastic Quiz Grade 5 – Row 1: Julia Bingler, Anna Gagnon, Anthony DeLisa, Jonathon Heider, Brandon<br />
Kaseler, Katherine Witsberger, Austin Gibson Row 2: Lily Dudash, Susan Williams, Sophie Hochfeld, Riley Shriver,<br />
Moses Zeidan, Mark Oller, Maeve Milligan Missing from Photo: Carissa Casale, Rebekah Kevenk, Andrew Rea<br />
Scholastic Quiz Grade 6 – Row 1: Christian Assad, Hailey Giuffre, Ethan Dubnansky, Garrett Crans, Adam<br />
Mrozowski, Vaughan Kramer Row 2: Hannah Davis, Mackenzie Dunn, Leo Cosgrove, Patrick Brown, Luke Schrum,<br />
Sarah Al-Ubaidi, Simon Joseph, Olivia Friday, Grayson Moyer Missing from Photo: Jacob Corona, Ariana Santos<br />
18 “Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
Scholastic Quiz Grades 7 & 8 – Row 1: Isaiah Klancher Yuhas, Helen Stern, Rachel Toth, Elle Goldblatt, Hannah Robart Row 2:<br />
Brock Bernstein, John Weidner, Nora Springer, Sarah Minnick, Samuel Barry, Venkat Gella, Ashley Kush Row 3: Mitchell Hochfeld, Erik<br />
Wehner, David Williams, Bryce Kramer, Daniel Kevenk Missing from Photo: Lindsey Aman
Science Bowl<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement<br />
Science Bowl Grades 6-8 – Row 1: Samuel Barry, Nora Springer, Mitchell Hochfeld Row 2: Bryan Mock, Hunter Williams, Venkat<br />
Gella, Sarah Minnick Row 3: Bryce Kramer, Daniel Kevenk, John Weider (Assistant Team Manager), Leo Cosgrove Missing from<br />
photo: Jordan Brant (Assistant Team Manager)<br />
Geography Bee<br />
Interscholastic Reading Team<br />
Geography Bee Grades 5-8 – Row 1: Carissa Casale, Sophie Hochfeld Row 2: Leah<br />
Hockensmith, Matthew Mostoller, Samuel Barry, Patrick Brown Row 3: Michelle Concannon,<br />
Erik Wehner, Mitchell Hochfeld Missing from photo: Quinn Callihan<br />
Interscholastic Reading Team Grades 6-8 – Row 1: Vaughan Kramer<br />
Row 2: Sarah Minnick, Michelle Concannon, Rebecca Gvozden, Hannah Robart<br />
Row 3: Ashley Kush, Nora Springer, Madison Hrin<br />
“Middle <strong>School</strong> Achievement”<br />
19
Elementary Achievement<br />
Our Youngest Scholars<br />
Students in Grades 2, 3, and 4 participated in the<br />
Science and Language Arts Olympiads. Both of these<br />
contests are based on multiple-choice questions, which<br />
are administered to grade level groups. Each contest has a<br />
time limit of 35 minutes. There is no limit to the number<br />
of students who may participate. The sum of the top ten<br />
scores for each competition is the school’s team score.<br />
Questions for the Language Arts Olympiad are based<br />
on the following topics: spelling, vocabulary, reading<br />
comprehension, analogies, and grammar. Science Olympiad<br />
questions are based on factual knowledge, as well as<br />
students’ understanding of scientific processes.<br />
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten<br />
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 2 Front Row: Morgan Kush, Shannon<br />
Christie, Dunil Karunaratne (1st Place, Local and National), Julia Dill Middle Row: Ella<br />
Rozich (1st Place, Local and National), Lauren Anderson (1st Place, Local and National),<br />
Greta Stager (1st Place, Local and National), Alexandra Barnhart Back Row: Elizabeth<br />
Kovalchik (1st Place, Local and National), Lenox Balogalou, Aiden Rice (1st Place, Local<br />
and National), Judith Oller (1st Place, Local and National)<br />
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 3 Front Row: Lakyn Davis, Lauren Mock,<br />
Roy Dunn, Eden Balog, Meghana Gella (1st Place) Back Row: Catherine Veranese (1st<br />
Place), Eric Barnhart, Matthias Noll, Kallie Williams, Elliott Sparling<br />
Language Arts Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 4 Front Row: Abigail Hassett, Greta George<br />
(1st Place, Local and National), Lillian Brown, Isabella Misner, Vincent Tabib Back Row: Dylan<br />
Roberts-McDonald, Daniel Zeidan, Pierce Martin, Meghan Smitherman, Hailie Hearn<br />
20 “Elementary Achievement”
Science Olympiad Top Ten<br />
Elementary Achievement<br />
Science Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 2 Front Row: Lauren Anderson, Dunil<br />
Karunaratno (1st Place), Julia Dill, Greta Stager Back Row: Daniel Heider, Yahya Farag,<br />
John Bekhash, Anthony Hassett, Judith Oller Missing from photo: Ean Jaber<br />
Science Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 4 Front Row: Mason Martin, Greta George,<br />
Cassidy Weir, Vincent Tabib, Noah Martin Back Row: Elliott Finney, Jonathan Kane,<br />
Meghan Smitherman, Isabella Misner (1st Place) Missing from photo: Conrad Suppes<br />
Science Olympiad Top Ten, Grade 3 Front Row: Samuel Suppes, Roy Dunn, Margot<br />
Springer (1st Place), Lauren Mock, Landon Steinly Back Row: Elliott Sparling, Blaise Bloom,<br />
Xavier Tutko, Laney Wagner, Layla Dalton<br />
The Mathematicians<br />
Continental Mathematics League is a national<br />
competition with the goal of helping students improve<br />
problem-solving skills by challenging them with complex,<br />
multi-step problems.<br />
Continental Math League Top Participants, Grade 3 Front Row: Meghana Gella<br />
(1st Place, Local and IU8), Roy Dunn, Mark Rutledge (2nd Place), Pragnya Govindu Back<br />
Row: Elliott Sparling (1st Place, Local and IU8), Kallie Williams (1st Place, Local and IU8),<br />
Laney Wagner<br />
Continental Math League Top Participants, Grade 4 Conner Polacek, Gavin Scott<br />
(2nd Place, Local and IU8), Pierce Martin, Noah Martin (1st Place, Local and IU8), Joshua<br />
Elders, Meghan Smitherman<br />
“Elementary Achievement”<br />
21
Elementary Achievement<br />
Punctual & Perfect<br />
It’s an outstanding feat when a student earns an annual<br />
perfect attendance certificate. The students pictured here<br />
attended school every day of the 2011-<strong>2012</strong> school year.<br />
Jacob Allen also received a special certificate for achieving<br />
perfect attendance for his entire elementary school career.<br />
Jacob did not miss one day of school from kindergarten<br />
through 4th grade.<br />
Perfect Attendance, Kindergarten Adam Rutz, Katelyn Hassett, Jacob Rhoades<br />
Perfect Attendance, Grade 4 Erin Merrits, Jacob Allen<br />
Perfect Attendance, Grade 3 Front Row: Mitchell Corcoran, Connor<br />
LaMantia, Meghana Gella, Pragnya Govindu Back Row: Laura Roach,<br />
Julia Rutz, Lauren Lavis<br />
4-Year Participants – WHES Science Fair Front Row: Cassidy Weir, Abigail Rose, Madalyn Barnes,<br />
Grace Christie, Zane Zentkovich Middle Row: Isabella Misner, Daniel Zeidan, Jacob Allen, Josalyn<br />
McMillan, Jonathan Kane, Pierce Martin Back Row: Nicholas Fetzer, Malcolm Milligan, Zachary Conner,<br />
Gabrielle Nibert, Jasmine Innis Missing from photo: Conrad Suppes<br />
Annual WHES<br />
Science Fair<br />
Students in Grades 1 through 4 may<br />
participate in our annual Science Fair. This<br />
event represents a collaborative venture<br />
between the Parent Teacher Organization,<br />
several district teachers, and many other<br />
members of the school community. The goal<br />
of this initiative is to develop in our students a<br />
sense of curiosity about the world around them.<br />
The students pictured here have participated in<br />
the Science Fair each year for four years.<br />
22 “Elementary Achievement”
WordMasters<br />
The WordMasters Challenge is a national language arts<br />
competition entered by approximately 220,000 students<br />
annually, and consists of three separate meets held at intervals<br />
during the school year. It is designed to increase the students’<br />
vocabulary by studying a different list of words and their<br />
meanings weekly.<br />
Elementary Achievement<br />
Competing in the “Difficult” division of the Challenge,<br />
third grader Lauren Mock earned a perfect score in the year’s<br />
third meet, held in April. In the entire country, only 113 third<br />
graders achieved perfect results.<br />
WordMasters Top Ten, Grade 3 Front Row: Lakyn Davis, Lauren Mock, Roy Dunn, Margot Springer, Paragnya Govindu<br />
Back Row: Catherine Veranese, Kallie Williams, Laney Wagner (1st Place), Elliott Sparling, Matthias Noll<br />
WordMasters Top Ten, Grade 4 Front Row: Cassidy Weir, Mallory Jackson, Greta George, Dylan Roberts-McDonald<br />
(1st Place), Jonathan Kane (1st Place), Abigail Rose Back Row: Meghan Smitherman, Isabella Misner, Conner Polocek,<br />
Malcolm Milligan, Daniel Zeidan, Lillian Brown<br />
“Elementary Achievement”<br />
23
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
Senior Projects Give Back<br />
Students are immensely creative in designing senior projects to demonstrate<br />
their skills and talents and often to serve their community. The following are<br />
shining examples of how Senior Projects may benefit the community.<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla presented a concert for the benefit of the Johnstown<br />
Symphony Orchestra. Not only did the concert delight and amaze an appreciative<br />
audience, but the JSO benefitted as Parag’s talent was extended to community<br />
service through his senior project.<br />
Community Member Megan Seese-Livingston, Founder and Coordinator of<br />
the Cinderella Project, sent a special commendation to senior Lauren Taylor.<br />
Through the project, students in need in the community receive prom dresses<br />
and accessories that they could otherwise not afford. Megan wrote:<br />
“I am writing to inform you of the exemplary performance of one of your<br />
seniors, Ms. Lauren Taylor. Lauren selected the Cinderella Project as her senior<br />
project and as the founder/coordinator, I could not have been more pleased with<br />
the work she did. Not only did she help work both of our Try-On Days from set<br />
up to clean up, she collected dresses, funds and coordinated an outstanding<br />
fashion show event to support the project. Lauren’s coordination of the prom<br />
fashion show was no small undertaking. She organized everything from models,<br />
dresses and hair to tickets, giveaways, refreshments, and she even wrote the<br />
script for the event. I know for a fact that she worked many long hours on<br />
making the event a success. Through her efforts she raised $1,000 and collected<br />
100 dresses, which is absolutely phenomenal.”<br />
Ethan Policicchio served the district by creating a project to light the flag at<br />
the top of the flagpole at the Middle <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Rotary Awards $8,500 in Scholarships<br />
The Johnstown Rotary Club awarded $8,500 in scholarship funds to eight<br />
graduating seniors at the 28th Annual Salute to Area Scholars this spring.<br />
“We are so pleased to continue this tradition of recognizing our highest<br />
academic achieving students,” said Ivar Berge, president of Johnstown Rotary<br />
Club. “This is always a very special evening for the students and their parents.”<br />
The event featured Cambria County Judge Linda Rovder Fleming, a<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> alum, as the keynote speaker. The Academic Scholarship<br />
Winners from <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> were: Mustafa Hammudi and Ethan Policicchio.<br />
To participate in the evening’s event and to be eligible for the academic<br />
scholarships, students must maintain a minimum QPA of 3.5 throughout all four<br />
Ethan Policicchio<br />
years of high school. Based on the<br />
number of students in the graduating<br />
class, each high school was allocated a<br />
number of students who were eligible<br />
to apply for the scholarships.<br />
The scholarship finalists were<br />
chosen on an evaluation of their QPA,<br />
SAT scores, extracurricular activities,<br />
and response to an essay question.<br />
The finalists were then invited to<br />
participate in an interview. Three<br />
non-Rotarian judges made the final<br />
allocation and scholarship award.<br />
Also receiving recognition for their<br />
academic achievements at this year’s<br />
Annual Salute to Area Scholars were<br />
the following students:<br />
Rotary Awards: Sarah Bunyea, Christopher Campagna, Mustafa Hammudi, Naofa<br />
Noll, Ethan Policicchio, and the Honorable Linda Rovder Fleming (WHHS Class of<br />
1981)<br />
24 “Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
Sara Bunyea<br />
Christopher Campagna<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
Nicole Dorn<br />
Kelcy Harrison<br />
Kyra Hill<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
Naofa Noll<br />
Adam Pozun<br />
Britney Smith
Oreo Foundation Scholarship<br />
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
We have a new award this year from the Oreo Foundation. The Oreo<br />
Foundation was created to honor the memory of Alexa Marie Eplett, who lived<br />
her life thinking of and doing for others first. She touched so many lives through<br />
her acts of kindness, humor, and unique outlook in life. Just like the middle of<br />
an Oreo cookie, she was not only the middle child but the sweet center of the<br />
Eplett Family…hence Alexa was given the nickname of Oreo, now also the name<br />
of the foundation. This scholarship is to be given to those students who best<br />
demonstrate Alexa’s passion to always pay it forward to others and who best<br />
exemplify her beautiful spirit.<br />
The recipient of this scholarship must be a graduating senior from<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> High <strong>School</strong>, must show empathy for others, be an athlete<br />
in the Top 20 of the class, and intend to further his or her education in a<br />
university/college in Pennsylvania. The first Oreo Foundation Scholarship<br />
Award Winner is Adam Pozun.<br />
Adam Pozun, Oreo Foundation Scholarship recipient,<br />
with presenter, Jennifer Kesslar<br />
Student Council Serves the Community<br />
Officers of <strong>2012</strong><br />
President — Marissa Miller<br />
Vice President — Melissa Walko<br />
Secretary — Matthew Masiello<br />
Chief of Staff — Tanner Miller<br />
Treasurer — Elizabeth Atterbury<br />
Community Service Chairperson — Erin Suppes<br />
The goals of the High <strong>School</strong> Student Council were three-fold this year: 1)<br />
Raise school spirit and get students involved. 2) Do more community service as<br />
a Council. 3) Continue projects through the winter. All of these goals were met<br />
and exceeded expectations.<br />
The Student Council started new projects to help give back to the<br />
community that will become annual events. An excerpt from the Student<br />
Council Banquet encapsulates the tenacity of these leaders:<br />
“Along with anything you ever try to plan, obstacles will always stand in<br />
your way. For example, every event that was planned for homecoming this year<br />
was met with buckets of rain. The first blood drive was all planned, and then<br />
we received an email telling us the date had to move up by two weeks. Kids’<br />
Night Out was initially planned for about 100 kids, but to our surprise, over 400<br />
elementary students sent in their RSVPs! Despite all of the obstacles (and many<br />
more!), we constantly worked together to pull it all off and make the very best<br />
of it! Our community members met us this year with amazing contributions to<br />
our causes.<br />
With all of the events we plan, there is a constant need for chaperones. Mr.<br />
Lindberg never failed to come through for us. Even at our all-nighters, he was<br />
there! We couldn’t have done it all<br />
without the help and support of our<br />
school, parents, and community.<br />
We’d like to thank everyone that<br />
helped to make our year one to<br />
remember.<br />
Community Service started this<br />
year before school even began! We<br />
started in August, volunteering our<br />
time at the Craft and Cruise event<br />
held at The Ridge in August 2011.<br />
When December came around, we<br />
implemented a new project to benefit<br />
members of our own school district.<br />
We put together boxed Christmas<br />
dinners for 8 families suffering<br />
financially in our district. We took<br />
care of purchasing potatoes, corn,<br />
green beans, bread rolls, cookies,<br />
sparkling grape juice, and $20 gift<br />
cards to Giant Eagle for the families<br />
to purchase a ham. The blood drives<br />
this year were also successful. At our<br />
spring blood drive, we purchased<br />
four $25 gift cards from Sheetz to be<br />
raffled off to the donors. Through the<br />
drives this year, we collected over 90<br />
pints of blood.”<br />
“Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
25
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
Westy’s Angels Serve Community<br />
at the Middle <strong>School</strong><br />
Westy’s Angels are a philanthropic group with a goal of community<br />
service through the middle school. Three special projects this year included<br />
American Cancer Society Daffodil Days, through which the Angels<br />
donated money for cancer research, Jeans for Teens, a partnership with<br />
the <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Key Club to collect gently used jeans of all sizes for<br />
homeless teens in the U.S., and Bandanas for the Human Society. Angels<br />
helped Mrs. Battaglia’s class with their project of making bandanas for the<br />
Humane Society. They also participated in the Salvation Army’s Treasures<br />
For Children.<br />
Key Club Serves Community<br />
at the High <strong>School</strong><br />
Key Club is a student led organization that serves in conjunction with<br />
the adult group Kiwanis that takes action in the community. Key Club<br />
organizes events and activities that can help to better the community by<br />
action or donation.<br />
Each year, Key Club recognizes one senior who gave 110% to the mission<br />
of Key Club. The recipient of this year’s scholarship award helped lead the<br />
club to perform more than 50 hours of community service projects this year<br />
and helped to raise nearly $1,500 for various charities. This year’s award<br />
went to Marissa Miller. The Kiwanis Club also presented the following<br />
students with awards: Nicole Dorn, Zachary Georgevich, and Erin Suppes.<br />
Metz & Associates Scholarship<br />
Presenter Donald McIntosh<br />
(food service director),<br />
Andrea Lynn Bealonis<br />
Good Students…Good Citizens<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> High <strong>School</strong> students value community service and the<br />
community recognizes our students for their positive citizenship. The following<br />
students have honored their school and their community with with their service.<br />
American Red Cross/Blood Drive<br />
Scholarship<br />
American Red Cross/Making<br />
a Difference Educational<br />
Scholarship<br />
Presenter Heather Rigel (center) with<br />
scholarship recipients Marissa Rae<br />
Miller and Erin Stokes Suppes<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> Peace Award<br />
Matthew Michael Masiello<br />
26 “Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
Catherine Hubbard<br />
Memorial Award<br />
Carly Elizabeth Campbell with<br />
presenter Courtney Boast, niece of<br />
Catherine Hubbard<br />
Key Club Award<br />
Marissa Rae Miller
Westwood Kiwanis Club Scholarship<br />
Nicole Lindsey Dorn<br />
Zachary Dimitri Georgevich<br />
Marissa Rae Miller<br />
Tanner Robert Miller<br />
Erin Stokes Suppes<br />
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
Westwood Kiwanis Club Scolarship (left to right) Key Club Advisor Suzanne<br />
Updyke, Tanner Miller, Zachary Georgevich, Marissa Miller, Erin Suppes, Nicole Dorn,<br />
Kiwanis representative Anthony Battaglia.<br />
Class of 1947 <strong>Westmont</strong>/Upper<br />
Yoder Endowment Fund<br />
Brittany Christine Young<br />
Class of 1972 Scholarship<br />
Guidance counselor Keith Jones and<br />
recipient Mustafa Hammudi<br />
Class of 1960 Scholarship<br />
Carolyn Summerville<br />
Class of 1960 Scolarship (left to right) Presenters Gary Horner and Nancy Basserman<br />
(Class of ’60 representatives), scholarship recipient Carolyn Summerville, presenter Lois<br />
Horn (Class of ’60 representative)<br />
Class of 1981 Scholarship<br />
Presenter Mitch Azar and recipient<br />
Britney Smith<br />
Elementary Students Serve Too!<br />
During the <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Elementary <strong>School</strong> Math-A-Thon ‘12, students raised a whopping $8,284.00<br />
for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital under the direction of advisor Mrs. Jamie Petrunak.<br />
Elementary students raised $3652.00 in 2010 and $6122.00 in 2011, for a grand total of just over $18,000 in 3<br />
years! Our students’ enthusiasm for Math-A-Thon keeps growing, and it shows.<br />
“Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
27
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
The Challenge Program Award<br />
for Academic Excellence<br />
Kelcy Jean Harrison<br />
The Challenge Program Award<br />
for Most Improved in Grade<br />
William Alexander Crowe<br />
The Challenge Program Award<br />
for Community Service<br />
Erin Stokes Suppes<br />
The Challenge Program Award<br />
for Attendance<br />
Nicole Lynne Simmons<br />
Sergeant First Class Raymond<br />
Richard Buchan Memorial<br />
Scholarship<br />
Zachary Dimitri Georgevich and<br />
Lt. Col. Craig Minnick (presenter)<br />
Challenge Program Awards: (left to right) Challenge Program presenter Karen Esaias from our<br />
partner CTC; Nicole Simmons, Attendance Award; Challenge Program presenter, Barbara Grandinetti;<br />
Kelcy Harrison, Academic Excellence Award; William Crowe, Most Improved Award; Erin Suppes,<br />
Community Service Award; Challenge Program presenter, William Crowe<br />
West End Lions Club Scholastic Awards<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Mustafa Bassam Hammudi<br />
Fleet Reserve Essay Winner<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
West End Lions Club Scholastic Awards Kamal Gella (far left) and Jyothi Gella (far right)<br />
presented awards to Kyra Hill and Mustafa Hammudi<br />
Gella Family Scholarship<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Naofa Rose Noll<br />
28 “Citizenship & Community Service”
Mitchell and Rebecca Azar Family Scholarship<br />
Forest (Penn) Whitlow<br />
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
Westinghouse Science Honors Institute<br />
Victoria Elizabeth Albert<br />
Elizabeth Patton Atterbury<br />
Daniel Brian Durham<br />
Kasia Noelle Foster<br />
Stacee Danielle Glass<br />
Angela Rose Sutt<br />
Mitchell and Rebecca Azar Family Scolarship Forest (Penn) Whitlow (second<br />
from left) received his scholarship from Mitch Azar and Becky Azar<br />
UPJ Scholarships and Award<br />
REB Commuter Scholarship Recipient –<br />
DeAnnah Marie Dick<br />
Jonathan Michael Findish<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
Presidential Scholar Award – Mark Nathaniel<br />
(left to right) Stacee Glass, Westinghouse Science Department Chairperson Dr.<br />
Eugene Kupchella, Victoria Albert, Daniel Durham, Angela Sutt, Elizabeth<br />
Atterbury, Kasia Foster<br />
<strong>School</strong> Citizenship Awards<br />
UPJ Scholarships REB Commuter Scholarship Recipient – Ethan Marc Policicchio;<br />
Presidential Scholar Award – Mark Nathaniel; Presenter and Director of Admissions<br />
for UPJ, Therese Grimes; REB Commuter Scholarship Recipient – DeAnnah Dick<br />
(Absent – Jonathan Findish)<br />
American Association of University Women Award<br />
Marissa Rae Miller with presenter, Georgia Yeager<br />
<strong>School</strong> Citizenship Awards Row 1 (Grade 9): Maura Milligan, Margaret<br />
Clark, Aubrianna Fisher, Sara Trio Row 2 (Grade 10): Hunter Funk, Ashley<br />
Young, Philip Vizza, Zachary Yonko Row 3 (Grade 11): Christiana Faucher,<br />
Jill Clark, Marley Bonner, Rachel Roper Row 4 (Grade 12): Meena Gella, Erin<br />
Suppes (Absent): Mustafa Hammudi and Naofa Noll<br />
Grade 12<br />
Meena Kamal Gella<br />
Mustafa Bassam Hammudi<br />
Naofa Rose Noll<br />
Erin Stokes Suppes<br />
Grade 10<br />
Hunter Caroline Funk<br />
Philip John Vizza<br />
Zachary Michael Yonko<br />
Ashley Nicole Young<br />
Grade 11<br />
Marley Rebecca Bonner<br />
Jill Anne Clark<br />
Christiana Rodgers<br />
Faucher<br />
Rachel Isabella Roper<br />
Grade 9<br />
Margaret Anne Clark<br />
Aubrianna Suzette Fisher<br />
Maura Frances Milligan<br />
Sara Elizabeth Trio<br />
“Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
29
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
American Legion Awards<br />
Each year the American Legion Auxiliary presents a citizenship award to one<br />
8th grade girl and one 8th grade boy who demonstrate the following:<br />
Honor: Strength and stability of character, high standards of conduct, keen sense<br />
of what is right, adherence to truth and conscience, and devotion to duty.<br />
Scholarship: Scholastic attainment, evidence of industry, and application in<br />
studies.<br />
Service: Kindness, unselfishness, willingness to lend a helping hand, protection to<br />
the weak, and preferment of the interests and welfare of associates, without hope<br />
of personal reward.<br />
Americanism: Active interest in promotion of love of country, as may be expressed<br />
in formal exercises, respect to the flag, knowledge of the National Anthem, the<br />
flag salute, adherence to the country’s highest ideals, and worthy citizenship.<br />
Leadership: Ability to do well the duties of leadership assigned to one as<br />
exemplified in holding of office, committees, etc., and exhibition of good team<br />
play.<br />
Courage: Show moral courage to stand up for what is right; physical courage in<br />
games and play.<br />
Senatorial Good<br />
Citizenship Award<br />
The purpose of this award is to give<br />
special recognition from Senator<br />
John Wozniak to a middle school<br />
student who meets the following<br />
criteria:<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Recipients of the<br />
American Legion Award<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
Erik Wehner<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong> Students Support<br />
Our Community<br />
• Superior academic achievement<br />
• Leadership<br />
• Consistent work habits<br />
• Good self-image<br />
• Ability to get along well with<br />
others.<br />
Fleet Reserve Award<br />
Venkat Gella<br />
Prudential<br />
Spirit of Community Award<br />
Gabrielle Fiffick received her award<br />
from Mrs.Terri Mrozowski, Middle<br />
<strong>School</strong> Guidance Counselor<br />
Westy Helpers<br />
Senatorial “Good Citizenship”<br />
Award<br />
Emily Brazill<br />
30 “Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
Grades 5-8 – Row 1: Destinee Grumbling, Joseph Nash, Madison Zitnay, Zoey<br />
Zentkovich, Jenna Zatsick, Kayleigh Noll, Megan Young Row 2: Jenna Paratore,<br />
Caitlyn Miller, Meghan Albertelli, Dante Maughan, Kayla Vizza, Lily Dudash,<br />
Riley Shriver Missing from Photo: Molly Callihan, Gabrielle Nash
Connecting with<br />
the World<br />
This year, supported by the<br />
efforts of Mrs. Bennett and Mrs.<br />
Bassi, students participated in video<br />
conferencing around the world.<br />
Utilizing <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>’s Polycom<br />
system, our students were able to meet<br />
face-to-face with NASA representatives,<br />
musicians, museum directors, and<br />
many other professionals.<br />
Our students visited places across<br />
the globe—a feat that would not be<br />
possible without a video conferencing<br />
system. Here are some of the locations<br />
we visited…via video:<br />
- NASA Shoebox Fly Part 1 and 2 –<br />
Johnson Space Center<br />
Houston, Texas<br />
- Running Low on H2O – CILC (Center<br />
for Interactive Learning and<br />
Collaboration), Westbrook, Texas<br />
- NASA Mission Geography –<br />
Dryden Flight Research Center<br />
Edwards, California<br />
- Transcontinental Railroad Durham<br />
Museum, Omaha, Nebraska<br />
- ISIS Music of Zimbabwe,<br />
Bloomington, Indiana<br />
- Where the Wild Things Glow<br />
Greenback, Tennessee<br />
(Smokey Mountains)<br />
- Holocaust (survivors broadcast live)<br />
HEC-TV, St. Louis, Missouri<br />
(Our students participated – filmed<br />
live/recording sent to WHMS)<br />
- Frontier Blacksmiths: Forging the<br />
West –Tuscola, Texas<br />
- Report for Duty: Camp Barkeley<br />
WWII Training Ground<br />
Merkel, Texas<br />
- Museum of Ancient Civilizations<br />
Lebanon, Kentucky<br />
- Ice Cream Fractions<br />
Sanford, Florida<br />
- The Johnstown Flood of 1889<br />
A presentation by WHMS to Media,<br />
PA, a CILC KC3 International<br />
Contest<br />
- Building the Transcontinental<br />
Railroad: Uniting a Country<br />
Omaha, Nebraska<br />
Kids Creating Community<br />
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
This was the first year <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Middle <strong>School</strong> entered a team in<br />
the Kids Creating Community Contest (KC3), an international competition. The<br />
goal of the program is to research something interesting within our community<br />
and then prepare a presentation to share with another school somewhere in the<br />
world.<br />
Our Grade 5 students selected the Johnstown Flood of 1889 and presented to<br />
a 4th Grade class near Philadelphia. Their presentation included an original song<br />
written and performed by two students (accompanied by 6th grader Simon Joseph<br />
on guitar), two movies, live interviews, and several Power Point presentations.<br />
Our school won the award for Research Gurus and a list of our gurus follows:<br />
Amelia Aiken<br />
Jonathan Barnhart<br />
Julia Bingler<br />
Maddison Brant<br />
Carissa Casale<br />
Alex Claycomb<br />
Sydney Droz<br />
Lily Dudash<br />
Julie Duong<br />
Anna Gagnon<br />
Austin Gibson<br />
Kyle Gordon<br />
Jonathon Heider<br />
Tanner Hinterliter<br />
Rebekah Kevenk<br />
Simon Joseph<br />
Hannah Kohan<br />
Maeve Milligan<br />
Alexis Neibert<br />
Sydney Podrebarac<br />
Andrew Rea<br />
Benjamin Wescott<br />
Susan Williams<br />
Katherine Witsberger<br />
Moses Zeidan<br />
Kids Creating Community Contestants – Row 1: Hannah Kohan, Sydney Podrebarac,<br />
Katherine Witsberger, Amelia Aiken, Maeve Milligan, Carissa Casale, Kyle Gordon, Sydney Droz,<br />
Maddison Brant Row 2: Alex Claycomb, Julia Bingler, Anna Gagnon, Simon Joseph (6th Grader -<br />
Played Guitar), Jonathon Heider, Tanner Hinterliter, Jonathan Barnhart Row 3: Benjamin Wescott,<br />
Alexis Neibert, Lily Dudash, Susan Williams, Austin Gibson, Moses Zeidan, Rebekah Kevenk, Andrew<br />
Rea Missing from Photo: Julie Duong<br />
Perfect Attendance<br />
Grades 5-8 –<br />
Row 1: Kaitlyn Poad,<br />
Luke Schrum,<br />
Caelyn Butler,<br />
Alexandra Schiffhauer,<br />
Tanner Hinterliter<br />
Row 2: Sarah Minnick,<br />
Alana Somerville,<br />
Emily Brazill,<br />
Courtney Krall,<br />
Zachary Krieger<br />
“Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
31
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
Lions Club<br />
Peace Poster Award<br />
Grade 5—Award<br />
Moses Zeidan<br />
Grade 5—Certificates<br />
Amelia Aiken<br />
Julia Bingler<br />
Mikaela Crum<br />
Grace Weinzierl<br />
Grade 6—Certificates<br />
Emmaline Collins<br />
Gabrielle Hrin<br />
Grace Mackall<br />
Camden Moors<br />
Grayson Moyer<br />
Gabrielle Nagorite<br />
Kaitlyn Poad<br />
Madison Reitter<br />
Luke Schrum<br />
Julie Steinkirchner<br />
Zoey Zentkovich<br />
Fast Facts on<br />
Community Service<br />
• <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> launched a<br />
recycling program in the fall of 2007.<br />
Mrs. Donahue’s Environmental Science<br />
Classes are proud to report that we have<br />
recycled a total of 10,660 pounds of<br />
white paper, through October 31, 2011.<br />
The district commends these efforts.<br />
• Mrs. Fran Sivi, Recreation<br />
Commission Director, acknowledged<br />
the volunteer help from Student<br />
Council, Cheerleaders, and Hockey<br />
Boosters who assisted at the <strong>Hilltop</strong><br />
Craft & Cruise event.<br />
• <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Middle <strong>School</strong> was<br />
among the first to be recognized as a<br />
Nationally Certified Olweus <strong>School</strong>. In<br />
order to achieve this status, the school<br />
had to implement the program with<br />
fidelity, comply with the requirements<br />
of the OBPP Quality Assurance System<br />
and the Olweus Standard, and address<br />
any necessary program revisions.<br />
The Middle <strong>School</strong> is among the first<br />
schools in the United States to achieve<br />
this status. Principal Ted Benning<br />
spearheaded the initiative.<br />
Peace Poster Awards – Row 1: Camden Moors, Luke Schrum, Julia Bingler, Amelia Aiken, Emmaline Collins, Zoey<br />
Zentkovich, Grace Mackall Row 2: Kaitlyn Poad, Grayson Moyer, Moses Zeidan, Grace Weinzierl, Madison Reitter,<br />
Gabrielle Nagorite, Julie Steinkirchner, Mikaela Crum Missing from Photo: Gabrielle Hrin<br />
Students Give Thanks<br />
The <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Thanks and Thanksgiving luncheon provides district<br />
students, faculty, staff, and administrators the opportunity to give back to those<br />
people that support them throughout each school year. Choral and instrumental<br />
performances from elementary, middle, and high school age groups perform and<br />
showcase their artistic talents. Following the performances, a Thanksgiving-style<br />
meal is served by students to senior citizens in attendance. Over 300 district<br />
residents attend this event each year.<br />
With the school district’s goals focused the concept of the “Triple A:”<br />
Academics, Athletics, and the Arts, each school building places significant focus<br />
on the value of “Service to Others.” High school students volunteer their time<br />
to serve during this event, inclusive of setup, luncheon service, and cleanup.<br />
Elementary school students create placemats for each seat at the luncheon.<br />
Middle school students help to organize the artistic performances.<br />
The result is a student service-oriented “THANK YOU” to district residents<br />
who continually support quality educational programming in the <strong>Westmont</strong><br />
<strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong>.<br />
Elementary, high school, and middle school students volunteer their time for the Thanks and<br />
Thanksgiving Community Luncheon.<br />
32 “Citizenship & Community Service”
Good Citizens at any Age<br />
The Senatorial “Good Citizenship” Award is provided by<br />
Senator John Wozniak for students who meet the following<br />
criteria:<br />
1) superior academic achievement<br />
2) leadership capacity<br />
3) consistent work habits<br />
4) positive self-image<br />
5) the ability to interact positively with others.<br />
Students are nominated by the classroom teacher,<br />
guidance counselor, and principal to receive this honor.<br />
Recipients of this award for Kindergarten through Grade 4<br />
are presented below.<br />
Citizenship & Community Service<br />
Good Citizenship Award, Kindergarten Front Row: Michael Distefano, Aubry<br />
Rutledge, Joe Messina Back Row: Cameron Dluhos, Sophia Buday, Barrett Gyure<br />
Good Citizenship Award, Grade 1 Front Row: Emma O’Neil, Kyra McNulty,<br />
Aiyanna Campbell, Gabriel Evans, Macy Flowers, Alex Marsh, Emma Spisak<br />
Back Row: Braydon Winkleman, Saul Santiago, Jackson Rupert, Hayden McRae,<br />
Ella Brawley<br />
Good Citizenship Award, Grade 2 Front Row: Linnea Johansson, Ella Rozich,<br />
Sydney Moore, Taha Al-ubaidi, Nathan Bosserman Back Row: John Bekash, Anthony<br />
Hassett, Olivia Golias, Elizabeth Kovalchik, Kianna Leiato<br />
Good Citizenship Award, Grade 3 Front Row: Grace Brawley, Lakyn Davis,<br />
Makala Kiser, Meghana Gella, Tiffany Lee Middle Row: Abbie Pastorek, Lauren<br />
Mock, Kallie Williams, Laney Wagner, Luke Benner Back Row: Erick Barnhart,<br />
Tanner Civis, Lauren Lavis, Aubrey Shaffer, Connor Toth<br />
Good Citizenship Award, Grade 4 Front Row: Cassidy Weir, Greta George,<br />
Lauren Ozog, Isabella Misner, Damiana Kniss Middle Row: Sydney Rupert, Isabella<br />
Panebianco, Stephen McClelland, Anna Master, Conner Polacek Back Row: Nicholas<br />
Czyrnik, Maximilian Yonko, Joseph Derringer, Malcolm Milligan<br />
Not Pictured: Hailey Yeager<br />
“Citizenship & Community Service”<br />
33
Music and the Arts<br />
50 Years of Musical Theatre<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> High <strong>School</strong> celebrated our 50th Musical in <strong>2012</strong>. Thanks<br />
to Ms. Beth Good for her leading role in this tradition of excellence. This year’s<br />
performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance was spectacular!<br />
For a trip down memory lane, please enjoy this listing of 50 YEARS of Musical<br />
Theatre at <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> High <strong>School</strong>!<br />
1962 – Oklahoma<br />
1963 – South Pacific<br />
1964 – My Fair Lady<br />
1965 – The Sound Of Music<br />
1966 – The King And I<br />
1967 – No Performance<br />
1968 – Camelot<br />
1969 – Mame<br />
1970 – How To Succeed In Business<br />
Without Really Trying<br />
1971 – Hello, Dolly!<br />
1972 – Guys and Dolls<br />
1973 – Carousel<br />
1974 – No, No Nanette<br />
1975 – A Funny Thing Happened<br />
On The Way To The Forum<br />
1976 – The Music Man<br />
1977 – Fiddler On The Roof<br />
1978 – Dames At Sea<br />
1979 – Godspell<br />
1980 – H.M.S. Pinafore<br />
1981 – Shenandoah<br />
1982 – Once Upon A Mattress<br />
1983 – Brigadoon<br />
1984 – West Side Story<br />
1985 – Anything Goes<br />
1986 – Mame<br />
1987 – Guys and Dolls<br />
1988 – Oliver!<br />
1989 – The Wizard Of Oz<br />
1990 – The Sound Of Music<br />
1991 – Hello, Dolly!<br />
1992 – Li’l Abner<br />
1993 – The Music Man<br />
1994 – Little Mary Sunshine<br />
1995 – Fiddler On The Roof<br />
1996 – Godspell<br />
1997 – Mame<br />
1998 – Guys and Dolls<br />
1999 – The Wizard Of Oz<br />
2000 – The Pirates Of Penzance<br />
2001 – Fiddler On The Roof<br />
2002 – Man Of La Mancha<br />
2003 – The Music Man<br />
2004 – <strong>School</strong>house Rock Live!<br />
2005 – Into the Woods<br />
2006 – How To Succeed In Business<br />
Without Really Trying<br />
2007 – Guys and Dolls<br />
2008 – Grease<br />
2009 – West Side Story<br />
2010 – Anything Goes<br />
2011 – Godspell<br />
<strong>2012</strong> – The Pirates of Penzance<br />
34 “Music and the Arts”
Dante Horvath<br />
Selected for the<br />
North American<br />
Honor Choir<br />
Dante Horvath auditioned for the<br />
North American Honor Choir which<br />
will be conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Ames<br />
and held at Carnegie Hall in New<br />
York City. He was selected from a<br />
pool of applicants from all over North<br />
America, including Canada.<br />
Renaissance Faire<br />
At the Pennsylvania Renaissance<br />
Faire, the <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Chamber<br />
Singers put <strong>Westmont</strong> on the map by<br />
winning FIRST PLACE at the Madrigal<br />
Singing Competition. Under less<br />
than ideal weather conditions and<br />
competing against groups from much<br />
larger school districts, our Chamber<br />
Singers topped the list of nine schools<br />
from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.<br />
Congratulations on an outstanding<br />
performance!<br />
High <strong>School</strong> Performance Art<br />
National <strong>School</strong> Choral Awards<br />
Britney Alyssa Smith<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
National <strong>School</strong> Choral Awards Choral Instructor –<br />
Ms. Beth Good, Britney Alyssa Smith (Absent – Ethan<br />
Marc Policicchio)<br />
Music Monster Award<br />
Kyra Nicole Hill<br />
Music and the Arts<br />
Ken Null Memorial Award<br />
David James Carney<br />
John Phillip Sousa Award<br />
Dante Horvath<br />
Rhythm & Groove Award for<br />
Jazz Studies<br />
Kevin Joseph Dailey<br />
Rhythm & Groove Award for Jazz Studies<br />
Instrumental Instructor – Mr. Josh Brumbaugh, Award<br />
Recipient – Kevin Joseph Dailey<br />
Blake Bernstein<br />
Alicia Bowser<br />
Sarah Bunyea<br />
Carly Campbell<br />
Carissa Connors<br />
Christine Connors<br />
William Crowe<br />
Edward Dreikorn<br />
Ryan Glover<br />
Magdalene Green<br />
Allison Henry<br />
Dante Horvath<br />
Victoria Karsaba<br />
Jane McIlhenny<br />
Jacob McLoota<br />
Marissa Miller<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
Alexandra Petak<br />
Mitchell Scarsella<br />
Eric Sheehan<br />
Elizabeth Sherrier<br />
Britney Smith<br />
Rocco Truscello<br />
Andrew Varchol<br />
Brittany Young<br />
Michael Young<br />
Music Monster Award Instrumental Music Instructor<br />
– Mr. Josh Brumbaugh, Award Recipient - Kyra Nichole<br />
Hill, Choral Instructor – Ms. Beth Good<br />
National <strong>School</strong><br />
Orchestra Award<br />
Aaron Douglas Marko<br />
Director’s Award for Band<br />
Zachary Alan Becker<br />
Daniel Jay Dailey<br />
Eric David Sheehan<br />
Samuel Hillard Outdoor Award<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Samuel Hillard Indoor Award<br />
Austin Lee Paratore<br />
James Kocher Memorial<br />
Music Award<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
“Music and the Arts”<br />
35
Music and the Arts<br />
Excellence in the Arts at the Middle <strong>School</strong><br />
Young Artists Exhibition<br />
Kristian Burnheimer, Madison Reitter, Stephanie Rosendale, Ariana Santos<br />
The artwork of the students listed above was chosen to be displayed at the<br />
Greater Johnstown Young Artists Exhibition. Awards were presented by Allied<br />
Artists of Johnstown and the Community Arts Center.<br />
Members of All Three<br />
Ensembles<br />
Jenna Paratore<br />
Erik Wehner<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
Young Artists Exhibition – Row 1: Stephanie Rosendale, Ariana Santos,<br />
Samantha Hong Row 2: Georgann Carnevali, Jenna Toth, Monica Lough, Matthew<br />
Alt, Hannah Robart, Jocelyn Pawcio Row 3: Gerard Brill, Michael Roper, Michelle<br />
Concannon, Madison Hrin, Brock Bennett, Madison Reitter Missing from Photo:<br />
Kristian Burnheimer, Bradford Molchany, Jamie Geiser<br />
The Rising Stars—Vocal Ensemble<br />
The Rising Stars is comprised of seventeen 8th graders who expressed<br />
an intense interest in preparing for additional performances, apart from the<br />
regular concert opportunities that 7th & 8th grade chorus provides. They have<br />
performed for the Grade 5 & 6 and Grade 7 & 8 concerts, 4th Grade Move-up<br />
Day, sang the National Anthem for school events, produced a fantastic spring<br />
recital for their family and friends, and they have been featured at various<br />
assemblies.<br />
The Rising Stars—Vocal Ensemble Row 1: Cheyann Warner, Leah Hockensmith, Jenna<br />
Paratore, Laken Burkhardt, Kylee Arms Row 2: Megan Krisay, Caitlyn Kelley, Helen Stern,<br />
Sarah Kilpatrick, Emily Brazill, Ashley Kush, Autumn McClain, Corey Kosis Row 3: Madison<br />
Hrin, Sarah Elston, Erik Wehner, Bryce Kramer<br />
Ensemble Excellence<br />
Jenna Paratore<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
Four-Year Ensemble Members<br />
Samuel Barry<br />
Michelle Concannon<br />
Patrick Dailey<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
Jenna Paratore<br />
Jenna Rutledge<br />
Jarod Shark<br />
Jenna Toth<br />
Erik Wehner<br />
4-Year Choral Members<br />
Emily Brazill<br />
Laken Burkhardt<br />
Sarah Elston<br />
Leah Hockensmith<br />
Madison Hrin<br />
Sarah Kilpatrick<br />
Corey Kosis<br />
Bryce Kramer<br />
Megan Krisay<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
Jenna Paratore<br />
Helen Stern<br />
Cheyann Warner<br />
Erik Wehner<br />
Gina Yonko<br />
36 “Music and the Arts”
Music and the Arts<br />
County Chorus<br />
This is the third year that Cambria County has offered a middle school level<br />
county chorus festival. Our students experienced wonderful guest conductors<br />
and enjoyed sharing choral experiences with students from other districts within<br />
Cambria County.<br />
County Chorus Grades 5-8 – Row 1: Kristina Lynch, Anna Mesko, Sarah Kilpatrick, Leah<br />
Hockensmith, Larry Weslager, Simon Joseph, Ariana Santos Row 2: Ashley Kush, Vaughan Kramer,<br />
John Weidner, Christian Assad, Madison Reitter Row 3: Taylor Smitherman, Erik Wehner, Bryce<br />
Kramer Missing from Photo: Zoe Goldblatt<br />
County Band<br />
4-Year Orchestra Members<br />
Ryan Adams<br />
Lindsey Aman<br />
Emily Brazill<br />
Georgann Carnevali<br />
Michelle Concannon<br />
Sarah Elston<br />
Madison Hrin<br />
Sarah Kilpatrick<br />
Ashley Kush<br />
Tristan Miller<br />
Sarah Minnick<br />
Jenna Paratore<br />
Veronica Petrus<br />
Nora Springer<br />
Helen Stern<br />
Jenna Toth<br />
David Williams<br />
Band Fest<br />
Camden Moors<br />
Garrett Crans<br />
Grayson Moyer<br />
Joseph Nash<br />
Mackenzie Dunn<br />
Olivia Letzco<br />
Stephen Elston<br />
County Band Grades 7-8 – Row 1: Ashley Kush, Jenna Paratore, John Weidner Row 2: Jenna Toth,<br />
Kathyleen O’Leary, Erik Wehner, Patrick Dailey, Daniel Kevenk<br />
Strings & Things<br />
Band Fest—Grade 6 Row 1: Mackenzie Dunn,<br />
Camden Moors, Olivia Letzo Row 2: Grayson Moyer,<br />
Garrett Crans, Joseph Nash, Stephen Elston<br />
Strings & Things—Grades 5 & 6 Row 1: Grace<br />
Mackall, Ariana Santos, Kaitlyn Poad, Laina Mastovich,<br />
Maeve Milligan, Joshua Reitter, Carissa Casale, Julie<br />
Duong, Destinee Grumbling, Samantha Hong Row 2:<br />
Susan Williams, Gabrielle Nash, Julia Bingler, Amelia<br />
Aiken, Moses Zeidan, Olivia Brill, Sophie Hochfeld, Erin<br />
Casale, Elle Goldblatt Row 3: Kristina Lynch, Mackenzie<br />
Dunn, David Williams, Meredith Trio, Rebecca Gvozden,<br />
Taylor Smitherman, Sarah Minnick, Madison Hrin,<br />
Veronica Petrus Missing from Photo: Gabrielle<br />
Nagorite, Gaerielle Nagorite<br />
“Music and the Arts” 37
Athletic Recognition<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Outstanding Male Athletic Award<br />
Joshua Duplin<br />
Joshua Duplin earned ten varsity letters during his<br />
athletic career at <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>. As a three-year letter<br />
winner on the football team, he was named to the 4th<br />
team all-state in 2011 and 3rd team all-state in <strong>2012</strong>. Josh<br />
was named to the 1st team Tribune-Democrat All-Area<br />
team in <strong>2012</strong> and was a <strong>2012</strong> Ken Lantzy participant.<br />
During his wrestling career, this four-year letter winner<br />
recorded 140 victories, 82 by fall. He is a three-time<br />
<strong>District</strong> 6 champion, a regional champion, and threetime<br />
place winner at the PIAA state tournament, with a<br />
<strong>2012</strong> 2nd place finish. During the spring sports season,<br />
this 3-year letter winner was the leading thrower for the<br />
<strong>2012</strong> track season. In the fall, Josh is going to continue<br />
his wrestling career at the University of Pittsburgh at<br />
Johnstown.<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Outstanding Male Athlete<br />
Joshua Duplin<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Outstanding Female Athletic Award<br />
Gina Rievel<br />
Gina Rievel earned ten varsity letters during her athletic<br />
career at <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>. As a four-year letter winner on the<br />
basketball team, she scored a total of 1,049 points. As a senior<br />
captain, she earned the MVP at the AmeriServ/Tribune-Democrat<br />
and Altoona Mirror Classic All-Star games, and earned the Dr.<br />
Michael Sewak Award as the Outstanding Girls’ Basketball Player.<br />
During the spring sports season, this 3-year letter winner was a<br />
2-time <strong>District</strong> 6 place winner in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles.<br />
During the <strong>2012</strong> season, she was a member of the record setting<br />
4X100 meter relay district championship team. Along with track,<br />
this athlete earned three varsity letters in softball and was named<br />
rookie of the year as a freshman. In the fall, Gina is going to<br />
continue her basketball career at Waynesburg University.<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Outstanding Female Athlete<br />
Gina Rievel<br />
38 “Athletic Recognition”
Athletics and Scholarship<br />
On May 9, <strong>2012</strong>, the following students signed letters of intent to play athletics<br />
at the respective colleges listed below. They are pictured with their parents/<br />
guardians:.<br />
Athletic Recognition<br />
Claycomb Coach’s Award<br />
Joshua James Duplin<br />
Ryan Andrew Burnheimer<br />
Quentin Lamar Brandon – University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (Basketball)<br />
Joseph Albert Glennon – Westminster College (Football)<br />
Gina Carmela Rievel – Waynesburg University (Basketball)<br />
Brittany Marie Davis – University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (Track)<br />
Joshua James Duplin – University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (Wrestling)<br />
Outstanding Wrestlers: Josh Duplin – Claycomb<br />
Coach’s Award & Bill Miller Scholarship, Ryan<br />
Burnheimer – Claycomb Coaches Award<br />
Skip Pristow Award<br />
Outstanding Boys’ Basketball Player<br />
Quentin Lamar Brandon<br />
Athletic Scholarship Recipients (seated, left to right): Quentin Brandon, Joseph Glennon, Gina Rievel,<br />
Brittany Davis, Joshua Duplin<br />
Athletic Achievements<br />
David Coulson Award<br />
Outstanding Football Players<br />
Ryan Andrew Burnheimer<br />
Noah Jack McQuillan<br />
David J. Murphy Award<br />
Outstanding Hockey Players<br />
Noah Jack McQuillan<br />
Zakery Andrew Kindya<br />
Outstanding Boys’ Basketball<br />
John Khuri Memorial Award – Brady Hamer<br />
Skip Pristow Award - Quentin Brandon<br />
Outstanding Volleyball Player<br />
Kelcy Jean Harrison<br />
Bill Mishler Scholarship<br />
Joshua James Duplin<br />
John Khuri Memorial Award<br />
Brady Richard Hamer<br />
“Athletic Recognition”<br />
39
Athletic Recognition<br />
Track Awards - Row 1: Abbigail Bealonis -<br />
Lori Blackburn Memorial Award for Track<br />
Team Dedication<br />
Row 2: Co-winners for Herdman-Dailey<br />
Award for Outstanding Girls’ Track -<br />
Gina Rievel and Brittany Davis;<br />
Bridget Sheehan - member of state<br />
qualifying 4 X 100 relay team<br />
Row 3: Kevin Dailey - Herdman-Dailey Award<br />
for Outstanding Boys’ Track; Andrew Miller<br />
- Award for Track Team Dedication; Christine<br />
Connors - state qualifier in the pole vault<br />
Robert A. Gleason Award<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
Adele Dovey Award<br />
Brittany Laura Carney<br />
Herdman-Dailey Award<br />
Outstanding Boys’ Track<br />
Kevin Joseph Dailey<br />
John P. Horty Award<br />
Outstanding Softball Player<br />
Victoria Anne Parlock<br />
Herdman-Dailey Award<br />
Outstanding Girls’ Track<br />
Brittany Marie Davis<br />
Gina Carmela Rievel<br />
Lori Blackburn Memorial Award<br />
Girls’ Track – Dedication<br />
Abbigail Marie Bealonis<br />
Boys’ Track – Dedication<br />
Andrew Allen Miller<br />
Herdman Scholarship<br />
Outstanding Runner Award<br />
Matthew Michael Masiello<br />
Ellwood Ailes Award<br />
Outstanding Baseball Player<br />
Brady Richard Hamer<br />
Outstanding Girls’ Tennis - Brittany Carney;<br />
Outstanding Boys’ Tennis – Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
Outstanding Baseball Players (L-R): Ellwood Ailes Award – Brady Hamer;<br />
Outstanding Defensive Players - Bryson Eplett, Adam Pozun<br />
40 “Athletic Recognition”
Outstanding<br />
Cross Country Runners<br />
Hannah Grace Dorian<br />
Kevin Joseph Dailey<br />
Maura Elizabeth Glennon<br />
Athletic Recognition<br />
Corona & Grady Coaches Award<br />
Outstanding Boys’ Soccer<br />
Matthew Michael Masiello<br />
John Saracena Coach’s Award<br />
Outstanding Girls’ Soccer<br />
Melissa James Walko<br />
Dr. William J. Hargreaves Award<br />
Outstanding Male & Female Golfers<br />
Patrick Robert Lennon<br />
Angela Marie Mosbrucker<br />
Outstanding Cheerleader<br />
Cheyenne Brooke Kovach<br />
Dr. Michael Sewak Award<br />
Outstanding Girls’ Basketball<br />
Gina Carmela Rievel<br />
William Askey Family<br />
Scholarship<br />
Scholarship & Sportsmanship<br />
Nicole Lindsey Dorn<br />
“Athletic Recognition”<br />
41
Athletic Recognition<br />
Outstanding Swimmers<br />
Kara Kovach<br />
Naofa Rose Noll<br />
Forest (Penn) Whitlow<br />
PIAA <strong>District</strong> 6<br />
Sportsmanship Award<br />
Erin Stokes Suppes<br />
Jonathan Michael Findish<br />
Outstanding Swimmers (left to right) Outstanding Boys’ Swimmer – Forest (Penn) Whitlow;<br />
Outstanding Girls’ Swimmers – Kara Kovach, Naofa Rose Noll<br />
Career Undefeated Swim Team Members<br />
Four Year Record: 52-0<br />
Kayla Causer, Kara Kovach<br />
Samantha Morello, Lauren Taylor, Naofa Noll<br />
Career Undefeated Swim Team Members Four Year Record: 52-0 Row 1: Kayla Causer, Kara<br />
Kovach Row 2: Samantha Morello, Lauren Taylor, Naofa Noll<br />
Athletic Fast Facts<br />
Outstanding male cross country<br />
runner Kevin Dailey went<br />
undefeated this past fall in the dual<br />
meets. He also placed in the top three<br />
of all invitational meets. Kevin won the<br />
Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference<br />
(LHAC) championship meet and was the<br />
<strong>District</strong> 6 runner up, earning a trip to the<br />
state championship in Hershey. He was<br />
named Central Western all-area team<br />
runner of the year!<br />
In Track and Field, Kevin Dailey<br />
was named boys’ outstanding track<br />
athlete. He ran the 3200 Relay and raced<br />
in all three distance events. He was<br />
the LHAC 1600 and 3200 champion<br />
and placed third in both events at the<br />
<strong>District</strong> 4 meet.<br />
The Girls’ Track and Field<br />
outstanding athletes were a pair of<br />
seniors, Brittany Davis and Gina Reivel.<br />
Brittany ran all the sprint events and<br />
was a team leader. Gina ran the 100<br />
and 300 hurdles and was a member of<br />
the 400 relay. Both Gina and Brittany<br />
contributed to the team, setting a new<br />
school record in the event. They were<br />
also district champions in the 400<br />
relay, along with Abbigail Bealonis and<br />
Bridget Sheehan, earning a trip to the<br />
PIAA state meet held in Shippensburg.<br />
The Girls’ Outstanding Runner<br />
Award went to Maura Glennon and<br />
Hannah Dorian. Both girls had great<br />
seasons. Maura had a top 10 finish at the<br />
<strong>District</strong> 6 meet and earned a trip to state<br />
competition as a freshman.<br />
42 “Athletic Recognition”
Athletic Fast Facts<br />
Athletic Recognition<br />
Girls’ Tennis - The Girls’ Doubles Team won <strong>District</strong> 6. Brittany Carney and Hannah Gleason Noyes won the first round of<br />
the PIAA state tournament. They lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champions from Sewickley Academy.<br />
Boys’ Tennis - The team won the Laurel Highlands Title. Parag Dharbhamulla won the <strong>District</strong> 6 Singles Title. The team<br />
qualified for the team state tournament, winning the first round. Parag Dharbhamulla qualified for the individual state<br />
tournament and competed through the first round.<br />
Hockey - Congratulations to senior defenseman Zakery Kindya for being selected by his teammates as <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>’s<br />
recipient of the prestigious Badger Bob Johnson Character Award. This Award is about the player that exemplifies the true<br />
meaning of the word “team”. Zak was recognized, along with other recipients, at the Penguin Cup Championship Games.<br />
Congratulations to Zak on being voted this award by his teammates.<br />
Congratulations to senior forward Noah McQuillan on being selected the Pittsburgh Penguins PIHL Player of the Month for<br />
January, <strong>2012</strong>. Noah scored in every game that <strong>Westmont</strong> played during the month of January. The highlight of the month<br />
came when he scored two goals, including the game winner, over previously unbeaten Mars. Noah was recognized during<br />
intermission of a Penguins game. Congratulations to Noah on being selected as the Pittsburgh Penguins Player of the Month for<br />
the month of January.<br />
A Successful Hockey Season - “The 2011-<strong>2012</strong> <strong>Westmont</strong> Hockey Team completed yet another successful season in the<br />
program’s history with an overall record of 11-7-3,” said hockey coach Mr. Art McQuillan. “This team carried on the proud<br />
tradition associated with <strong>Westmont</strong> Hockey. Along the way, they paid tribute to our late friend Dave Ziegler by raising over<br />
$7,500 for brain cancer research in the UPMC Outdoor Charity Series. Together they experienced success, disappointment, and<br />
in the end, they grew up a little together.”<br />
Varsity wrestling - Two <strong>Westmont</strong> wrestlers moved on to state competition. Joshua Duplin was in the final bout in the 285<br />
pound weight class, falling just short of a AAA State Championship. Ryan Burnheimer came in 5th after suffering a leg injury<br />
in the first match of the day. Congratulations to both Josh and Ryan, and to the rest of the team in a great showing at district,<br />
regional, and state competition.<br />
Girls’ Swimming - Girls’ swimming finished with an undefeated 13-0 record. The girls did very well at Regionals in Penn<br />
State and the team placed second overall. Naofa Noll, Nollaig Noll, Elizabeth Atterbury, Kara Kovach, and Hannah Dorian<br />
will move onto State competition at Bucknell University.<br />
Boys’ Swimming - Boys’ swimming finished with a final record of 10-3. In Regionals, our top boys’ swimmers placed 8th in<br />
the medley relay. Grant Gagnon took 10th in the 200 freestyle and Forest (Penn) Whitlow took 12th in the 100 butterfly.<br />
Cheering - Thanks are extended to the cheerleaders who support all sports through all seasons. Your service is needed in the<br />
advocacy of sportsmanship.<br />
Varsity Wrestling Coach Matt Beaujon had his 100th win as varsity wrestling coach on February 1, <strong>2012</strong> on Senior<br />
Night. He has been our head coach since 2005. Matt was <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>’s first State Champion in Wrestling (1991), and later<br />
accepted a scholarship to wrestle at Notre Dame. He has coached 15 state place winners, including Zachery Bennett who was a<br />
state champion. Matt’s career record now stands at 101-20. Congratulations are extended to Mr. Beaujon.<br />
Basketball Coach Dave Roman attained his 250th coaching victory on December 14. We would like to publically<br />
congratulate Mr. Roman for this accomplishment. In his coaching career at <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong>, Coach Roman has guided our<br />
boys’ team to PIAA <strong>District</strong> 6 Championships in 4 years: 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2007. In 2007, he guided the <strong><strong>Hilltop</strong>per</strong>s to an<br />
undefeated 22-0 regular season, and ended the season at a school record 29-1 season.<br />
Golf Team – was recognized as LHAC league champions. In Regionals at Tom’s Run, the State Qualifier was Patrick Lennon.<br />
MVP for the Boys was Patrick Lennon; and the Girls MVP was Angela Mosbrucker.<br />
Varsity Girls’ Soccer - Co-MVPs were Melissa Walko and Erin Rodgers.<br />
Varsity Boys’ Soccer - Co-MVPs were Matthew Masiello and Dominic Ramirez.<br />
Girls’ Cross Country - placed 4th at districts. The MVP was Maura Glennon. Qualifying for the State meet at Hershey were<br />
Kevin Dailey, Maura Glennon, Elizabeth Atterbury, and Margaret Clark.<br />
Varsity Volleyball - MVP was Kelcy Harrison.<br />
Varsity Football - MVPs on offense were Ryan Burnheimer and Joshua Duplin. MVPs on defense were Noah McQuillan<br />
and Joseph Glennon.<br />
“Athletic Recognition”<br />
43
General Information<br />
Annual Public Notice<br />
Helping Children with Special Needs<br />
The <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>District</strong> provides pre-referral and<br />
special education services to children<br />
with special needs. There are two<br />
important resources for parents and<br />
community members to help in<br />
deciding whether students need extra<br />
help or special services and, if so, what<br />
services are available and how to take<br />
advantage of them. The links to this<br />
information, along with a description<br />
of the type of information available are<br />
listed below.<br />
For more information, please call<br />
your school guidance counselors,<br />
nurses, or building principals as<br />
follows: High <strong>School</strong>—255-8726,<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong>—255-8704, or<br />
Elementary <strong>School</strong>—255-8707.<br />
At the link below, community<br />
members will find information about<br />
contact people, student support teams,<br />
Autism<br />
Emotional Disturbance<br />
Deafness<br />
Hearing Impairment<br />
Specific Learning Disability<br />
signals that children may need special<br />
education, types of services available,<br />
educational programs for parents, and<br />
helping children in crisis situations.<br />
You may access this site online<br />
from any public library computer at<br />
www.whsd.org, and click on ‘<strong>District</strong><br />
Departments’ and then ‘Educational<br />
Support.’ Call the school if you require<br />
online assistance.<br />
The Intermediate Unit 8 provides<br />
an Annual Public Notice of Special<br />
Education Services and Programs<br />
in the State of Pennsylvania that is<br />
publicized in local newspapers, but<br />
also available at the following link:<br />
www.iu08.org/educational/annualpublic-notice.<br />
This site includes information<br />
regarding the Pennsylvania<br />
Department of Education’s<br />
Intellectual Disability<br />
Multiple Disabilities<br />
Other Health Impairment<br />
Orthopedic Impairment due to<br />
chronic or acute health problems<br />
responsibility to ensure that all<br />
children with disabilities residing<br />
in the Commonwealth, including<br />
children with disabilities attending<br />
private schools, regardless of the<br />
severity of their disabilities, and who<br />
are in need of special education and<br />
related services, are identified, located,<br />
and evaluated. This responsibility is<br />
required by a federal law called the<br />
Individuals with Disabilities Education<br />
Act Amendments of 2004 (IDEA<br />
‘04). It provides details about special<br />
education law, the Family Education<br />
Rights and Privacy Act, and the types<br />
of programs that are available for<br />
students who have been identified as<br />
being in need of specially designed<br />
instruction and have one or more<br />
of the following physical or mental<br />
disabilities:<br />
Speech and Language Impairment<br />
Visual Impairment<br />
including Blindness<br />
Deaf-Blindness<br />
Traumatic Brain Injury<br />
Developmental Delay<br />
The processes of early intervention, screening services, evaluation, and educational placement are explained along with<br />
the types of services and levels of support. Information regarding parents and students’ rights and protections are detailed,<br />
including issues of privacy and confidentiality, and procedures to be followed if you feel that rights have been violated.<br />
YOU’RE INVITED…<br />
To become a part of the <strong>Westmont</strong><br />
<strong>Hilltop</strong> Community Team!<br />
Everyone living in the <strong>Westmont</strong><br />
<strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> is invited to<br />
become an active member of the WH<br />
Community Team, whether or not<br />
you have a child in the <strong>District</strong>. Our<br />
team will work in conjunction with<br />
the school board to raise funds<br />
for specific projects and programs<br />
needed or wanted by the district for the betterment of our students.<br />
The team looks forward to working with parent and public groups already<br />
established to serve as a community builder for our area. We will hold fundraising<br />
events and explore and promote programs available to raise additional funds for<br />
things such as technology in the schools. Events would include both adult and<br />
family gatherings. We will also function as a volunteer base to be called upon<br />
when projects come up.<br />
If you are interested in helping and want to become part of the team, or you<br />
want more information, send an email to Michele Trevorrow at the following<br />
address: 7trevs@atlanticbb.net with ”WHCT” in the subject line.<br />
Our <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> Community is a great place to live. Let’s pull together<br />
and make it even better!<br />
44 “General Information”
General Information<br />
Sources of Funding<br />
The <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> received funding from both federal and state sources and<br />
publicizes receipt. The following is a comparison of funding for the upcoming and previous school years.<br />
FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES 2011-<strong>2012</strong> <strong>2012</strong>-2013<br />
Title I $188,502 $259,055<br />
Title II $36,227 $37,859<br />
Accountability Block Grant $48,681 $48,681<br />
IDEA $186,030 $176,350<br />
Keystones to Opportunity Grant $0 $105,957<br />
Title I provides our elementary Title I program. Title II provides a portion of an extra teacher’s salary in the<br />
elementary school which helps with class size reduction. The Accountability Block Grant helps to fund early<br />
childhood initiatives. IDEA Funding is dedicated to special education staffing and related support services for<br />
children. “Keystones to Opportunity” is a new grant that will result in a Comprehensive Literacy Plan for our<br />
entire school that includes a specific focus on early literacy for children from birth to age 5.<br />
Annual PSSA Performance Posting<br />
The annual Pennsylvania System of <strong>School</strong> Assessment (PSSA), is used to<br />
measure a student’s attainment of academic standards while also determining<br />
the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of<br />
the standards. Student scores are measured against goals established by the<br />
Pennsylvania Department of Education. Every Pennsylvania student in grades<br />
3 through 8 and grade 11 is assessed in reading and math. Every Pennsylvania<br />
student in grades 5, 8, and 11 is assessed in writing. Every Pennsylvania student<br />
in grades 4, 8, and 11 is assessed in science.<br />
You can access results for the <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> by logging<br />
onto http://paayp.emetric.net/. Select your county and school district to view<br />
the results for the district as a whole, or for each individual school.<br />
If you have questions on the PSSA results, please feel free to contact the<br />
administrative office at 255-6751.<br />
Senior Residents<br />
Have V.I.P. Status<br />
Each year we are pleased to<br />
acknowledge and thank senior<br />
residents for their contributions to our<br />
educational system. Our Senior V.I.P.<br />
community members cheer in our<br />
stadiums, encourage our youth, and<br />
support our educational processes in<br />
a myriad of ways. The V.I.P. program<br />
(Very Important Person) passes are<br />
one way we try to accomplish that<br />
goal. Seniors enjoy free admission to<br />
all school-related athletic events. The<br />
only exceptions are hockey games<br />
played at the Cambria County War<br />
Memorial and the annual musical. If<br />
you are a senior resident, age 62 or<br />
older, you are eligible for a V.I.P. pass.<br />
To obtain yours, please contact the<br />
district office at 814-255-6751.<br />
“General Information”<br />
45
General Information<br />
The Vision<br />
The Mission Statement of the <strong>Westmont</strong><br />
<strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> is regularly posted on<br />
mailings and online publications of the district.<br />
Whereas we frequently publish our mission,<br />
we speak less frequently of our vision, which<br />
embodies the principles that guide us in goal<br />
setting and action planning. We would like to<br />
take this opportunity to share the vision that<br />
the Strategic Planning Committee, comprised<br />
of students, teachers, administrators, board<br />
members, and business community leaders has<br />
established for the district. This vision will serve<br />
as our roadmap for the <strong>2012</strong>-2013 school year.<br />
Collectively, we envision a district . . .<br />
• where all students learn in a healthy, safe,<br />
and nurturing environment and where<br />
students are equipped with the knowledge<br />
that healthy lifestyle choices are essential in<br />
reaching their optimal learning potential.<br />
• where educators deliver the highest<br />
standards of teaching to maximize<br />
opportunities for student success.<br />
• where all stakeholders become increasingly<br />
aware of educational processes as well<br />
as both the protective factors and the risk<br />
factors inherent in the home, neighborhood,<br />
and school environments.<br />
• where students receive a well-rounded<br />
experience through involvement in the<br />
academics, the arts, and extracurricular<br />
experiences.<br />
• where students learn evaluative skills and<br />
develop increasing capacity to draw their<br />
own conclusions through effective<br />
application of higher order thinking and the<br />
development of problem-solving skills.<br />
46 “General Information”<br />
• where all students assume a responsibility<br />
to learn, each having unique strengths and<br />
weaknesses, differing learning styles, and<br />
differing rates of retention.<br />
• where all teachers have a responsibility to<br />
differentiate instruction based on the varying<br />
needs of their students.<br />
• where a culture of continuous learning and<br />
improvement is fostered through quality<br />
leadership.<br />
• that values and models all aspects<br />
of lifelong learning, professional growth,<br />
continual improvement, and a commitment<br />
to researching and implementing best<br />
practice in our schools.<br />
• that encourages and rewards community<br />
service by providing a<br />
wide range of opportunities and<br />
recognizes students for their efforts in prosocial<br />
involvement and community service.<br />
• that provides mentoring and shadowing<br />
experiences via community partnerships that<br />
will enhance career exploration and through<br />
which students become aware of the high<br />
value that employers place on a strong work<br />
ethic, accountability, and ownership in<br />
the organization as a whole.<br />
• that prepares all students for successful<br />
integration into the global society<br />
through acquisition of technological<br />
competencies and facility in languages other<br />
than English.<br />
• that maximizes utilization of human and<br />
fiscal resources through artful use<br />
of infrastructure.<br />
• that continues to strive to upgrade its<br />
facilities, equipment, and personnel<br />
competence in order to provide a premier<br />
program where curriculum is rigorous and<br />
relevant with quality and effectiveness as<br />
high priorities.
Farewell Class of <strong>2012</strong><br />
General Information<br />
This newsletter is dedicated to the <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> High <strong>School</strong> Class of<br />
<strong>2012</strong>, listed below in alphabetical order.<br />
Alexyis Rischellee Allen<br />
Ashleigh Amber Anderson<br />
Caitlyn Elizabeth Antal<br />
Adam Christopher Ayre<br />
Zachary Alan Becker<br />
Chad Steven Berkebile<br />
Blake Daniel Bernstein<br />
Trenten Jeffrey Boback<br />
Alicia Joy Bowser<br />
Quentin Lamar Brandon<br />
Sarah Michelle Bunyea<br />
Ryan Andrew Burnheimer<br />
Christopher Joseph Campagna<br />
Carly Elizabeth Campbell<br />
Samuel Barnes Carlson<br />
Bradley William Carney<br />
Brittany Laura Carney<br />
Kayla Marie Causer<br />
Julia Marie Chessa<br />
Carissa Lynn Connors<br />
Christine Nicol Connors<br />
Jessica Lynn Coolbaugh<br />
Jonah Dean Cramer<br />
Tyler Matthew Crooks<br />
William Alexander Crowe<br />
Daniel Jay Dailey<br />
Derek Scott Danzl<br />
Brittany Marie Davis<br />
Giana Maria DeMarco<br />
Parag Dharbhamulla<br />
DeAnnah Marie Dick<br />
Galen Thomas Dorian<br />
Nicole Lindsey Dorn<br />
Edward Lentz Dreikorn<br />
Joshua James Duplin<br />
Lucie Gabrielle Durand<br />
Bryson Craig Eplett<br />
Jonathan Michael Findish<br />
Stephen Robert Flick<br />
John Haynes Follansbee<br />
Alyson Sara Forman<br />
Andrew William Garrison<br />
Meena Kamal Gella<br />
Zachary Dimitri Georgevich<br />
Kenneth Suarez Gibson<br />
Joseph Albert Glennon<br />
Ryan Sheridan Glover<br />
Evan Bennett Good<br />
Magdalene Ann Green<br />
Celina Danae Gutierrez<br />
Caitlin Taylor Gutilla<br />
Devlin Lynn Hale<br />
Brady Richard Hamer<br />
Mustafa Bassam Hammudi<br />
Judith Erin Harrigan<br />
Kelcy Jean Harrison<br />
Nicole Elizabeth Hasse<br />
Michael Emanuel Heider<br />
Autumn Nicole Helman<br />
Allison Nicole Henry<br />
Meredith Westray Herman<br />
Marcedes Elizabeth Mae Hersh<br />
Sara Apryle Hersh<br />
Kyra Nichole Hill<br />
Benjamin Harrison Holmes<br />
Kelsey Elizabeth Hoover<br />
David Joseph Hunt<br />
Alexander Dylan Intihar<br />
Cassidy Lilybet Jones<br />
Sara Kaitlyn Jones<br />
Victoria Lynn Karsaba<br />
Joshua Terry Kepple<br />
Sean Anthony Kesslak<br />
Dongjoon Kim<br />
Zakery Andrew Kindya<br />
Cody John Kmecak<br />
Cheyenne Brooke Kovach<br />
Kara Ann Kovach<br />
Stephanie Marie Kress<br />
Travis Alan Kushner<br />
Lyndsie Nicole Lampel<br />
Sarah Elizabeth Layton<br />
Christian Corey Leckey<br />
Jackelyn Alexandra Leckey<br />
Benjamin Francis Legath<br />
Megan Rose Legath<br />
Patrick Robert Lennon<br />
Jesse Lee Leverknight<br />
Zachary Thomas Long<br />
Matthew Michael Masiello<br />
Michael Robert McDaniel<br />
Jane Louise McIlhenny<br />
Noah Jack McQuillan<br />
Marissa Rae Miller<br />
Tanner Robert Miller<br />
Justin Ryan Mills<br />
Brandon Michael Minemyer<br />
Samantha Ann Morello<br />
Austin Henry Mundy<br />
Nickolas Jacob Murray<br />
Mark Nathaniel<br />
Naofa Rose Noll<br />
Sophie Anne Noonan<br />
Jeremey James Palmer<br />
Ileana Panebianco<br />
Austin Lee Paratore<br />
Tanner James Patton<br />
Alexandra Nicole Petak<br />
Ethan Marc Policicchio<br />
Adam Jerald Pozun<br />
Amy Robin Regan<br />
Gina Carmela Rievel<br />
Ian Richard Rovida<br />
Donald James Rummell<br />
Melissa Marie Salerno<br />
Mitchell Lee Scarsella<br />
Corey John Schafer<br />
Niza Maria Scuderi<br />
Rebecca Danielle Seigh<br />
Denis Charles Seiglie<br />
Eric David Sheehan<br />
Elizabeth April Sherrier<br />
Nicole Lynne Simmons<br />
Britney Alyssa Smith<br />
Carolyn Victoria Somerville<br />
Vanessa Marie Stofko<br />
Erin Stokes Suppes<br />
Lauren Michelle Taylor<br />
Lida Adair Thompson<br />
Daniel Joseph Trapanotto<br />
Kylie Marie Truscello<br />
Rocco William Truscello<br />
Mary Elizabeth Valcheff<br />
Andrew David Varchol<br />
Kurt Otto vonSchrenkel<br />
Brian Mark Walker<br />
Hayle Marie Walters<br />
Jennifer Lynn Weinzierl<br />
Justin Charles Werner<br />
Forest Penn Whitlow<br />
Seth Michael Wiesenbach<br />
Tracy Leigh Yanosky<br />
Brittany Christine Young<br />
Michael John Young<br />
Megan Rae Ziemba<br />
Alexis Nicole Zipf<br />
Benjamin Thomas Zurilla<br />
“General Information”<br />
47
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
827 Diamond Boulevard<br />
Johnstown PA 15905<br />
Return Service Requested<br />
NON-PROFIT ORG<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
JOHNSTOWN PA<br />
PERMIT #142<br />
<strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> Directory Information <strong>2012</strong><br />
Board Of Education<br />
Mrs. Diana L. Schroeder, President<br />
Mr. Robert A. Gleason III, Vice-President<br />
Mrs. Phyllis G. Forman<br />
Dr. Kamal V. Gella<br />
Dr. Gary S. Kramer<br />
Mr. Gordon D. Smith<br />
Mrs. Michele T. Trevorrow<br />
Mr. William Trevorrow<br />
Mr. Gregory T. Sanford, Secretary (Non-Member)<br />
Elementary <strong>School</strong><br />
<strong>District</strong> Administrative Staff<br />
Dr. Susan J. Anderson, Superintendent<br />
Mr. Steven D. McGee, Director of Education, Coordinator of Special Education and Federal Programs<br />
Mr. Gregory T. Sanford, Business Manager<br />
Mr. Joseph P. Molnar, Technology Director<br />
Mr. Daniel P. Ream, Facilities Manager<br />
Building Administrative Staff<br />
Mr. Matthew P. Thomas, Principal, Grades 10, 11 & 12<br />
Mrs. Nicole D. Kuzmiak, Principal, Grades 6, 7 & 8<br />
Mr. Thomas R. Mitchell, Principal, Grades 5 & 9, Cyber & Alt. Ed.<br />
Mr. Edward W. Benning, Elementary <strong>School</strong> Principal<br />
Middle <strong>School</strong><br />
Mission Statement<br />
The mission of the WHSD, in partnership with our community, is to prepare each student to be an informed,<br />
ethical, responsible adult in a changing and competitive global society through high expectations and a<br />
challenging educational program offering knowledge and skills within a safe, nurturing environment.<br />
Civil Rights Statement<br />
The <strong>Westmont</strong> <strong>Hilltop</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong>, an equal opportunity employer, will not discriminate in employment, educational<br />
programs or activities, based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, ancestry, sexual orientation, or disability.<br />
Publication of this policy in this document is in accordance with state and federal laws including: The Civil Rights Act<br />
of 1964, as amended, Title IV, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 & 504 of the<br />
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the American Disabilities Act of 1992.<br />
Printed on recycled paper<br />
High <strong>School</strong>
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