"The finest in America’s new professionals" is how one guidance counselor described her nominee for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s 10^th annual All-Star Achievers Award.

That term could describe any of the dozens of students nominated for this year’s program.

With interests ranging from music and dance to science and technology, these students plan to be the doctors, teachers, writers and other professionals of the next millennium.

School officials were invited to nominate three students from each school, and winners were selected by teams of editors and reporters for the Post-Gazette.

Criteria included academic achievement, extracurricular and community activities, and volunteer work.

In all, 70 seniors from the seven areas of the region were named winners, and all of them will be recognized at a dinner May 12 at the University of Pittsburgh, which co-sponsors the All-Star Achievers Award.

Also honored at the dinner will be the students’ parents, and the teachers they have chosen as having a profound effect on their academic lives.

Ten students, profiled below, were named winners from the . Other students nominated were:

Kendra Altman, Springdale High School; Melissa Dawn Gibbon, Kiski Area High School; Heidi Rebecca Goedicke, Elderton Junior/Senior High School; Kimberly Huth, St. Joseph High School; Brett Michael Patrick Klukan, St. Joseph High School; Lisa Moretti, Springdale High School; Thomas Rethage, Freeport Area Senior High School; Laura E. Schnur, Highlands High School; Jessica Sutara, Freeport Area Senior High School; and Kristi Tomayko, Burrell High School.

Here are the winners:

James, of Murrysville, wants to be a film director, and he’s already got some credits to his name. He was the chairman of the Kiski Area Telethon this year and is the station manager of "Good Morning Kiski," a live broadcast at Kiski Area High School. And he’s still had time to consistently make the high honor roll, serve as an assistant scoutmaster, earn the rank of Eagle Scout and volunteer as a video tutor.

Jason, ranked first in his class, is completing his term as vice president of the regional Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) chapter and was named the chapter’s 1998 Student of the Year. He also is a member of the Ford City Community Action Committee and tutors third-graders at Lenape Elementary. A resident of Dayton, Jason is planning to major in biology at St. Francis College and wants to be a physician assistant.

Mark, who has served as captain of the Highlands football and track teams, is ranked second in his class. He’s a member of the Interact Club and the Principal s Advisory Committee and volunteers as a coach for the Highlands Hornets youth football team. A Natrona Heights resident, Mark participates in the school’s gifted and talented program and is a winner of the National Science Merit Award. He plans to major in engineering.

Kathleen Foust
Leechburg Area High School

Katie, whose main interest is writing, also has participated in her school’s Math Team and Quiz Bowl for two years. She also likes singing and acting, and has performed with the Armstrong County Chorus Festival and the Freeport Theatre Festival. As captain of the cheerleader cheerleading squad, she’s earned two varsity letters, and has volunteered as statistician for the girls volleyball team. Katie wants to major in communications.

Rosalie is her school soccer team’s top scorer and best offensive player, and her guidance counselor says she uses that tenacity in the classroom. She’s ranked No. 1 in her class, and has earned medals at the Science Olympiad. She’s captain of the varsity cheerleaders and volunteers with the Special Olympics and Armstrong Folk Festival. The Kittanning resident plans to major in biology and math and wants to be an orthodontist.

Brian, ranked third in his class, has received many academic honors, including the Science Merit Award, Rotary Scholar and the Principal’s Leadership Award. A member of the school show choir, he has volunteered with the New Kensington Civic Theatre and participated in benefit concerts for the local food bank. Brian, a resident of New Kensington, is active in mock trials and wants to be a lawyer. He plans to major in international studies.

Ranked No. 1 in his class, Steve scored a perfect 800 in the math portion of the SAT. He participated in the Governor’s School for the Sciences and the Academy for Environmental Sciences, and is a Bausch & Lomb Science Award winner. He also volunteers at the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital. He lettered in varsity golf and is active in school musicals. Steve, a Ford City resident, plans to attend Allegheny College.

Terra, who is ranked No. 1 and serves as captain of the school tennis team, also has lettered in softball and basketball and is an experienced gymnast. Academically, she is ranked third in her class, and was given the Trustee’s Scholarship from Allegheny College, where she plans to major in biology. She volunteers as a peer tutor and at Armstrong Memorial Hospital. Terra, who lives in Worthington, wants to become a pediatrician

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Kelly Shaeffer
Ford City High School

Kelly, who wants to become a pediatrician, volunteers as a baby sitter for quadruplets as part of a National Honor Society project. He also was the school’s representative to the Rotary World Affairs Institute and is a member of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. The Ford City resident is president of the student council and a soccer team member. He’s president of the school chorus, and performs in school musicals.