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If the future is in the hands of the top seniors in the area,
its a good bet everythings going to be just fine.
This years All-Star Achievers actually are chronic overachievers -- students who
pile hundreds of volunteer hours and a part-time job on top of performing in school
musicals and maintaining outstanding grades in their school districts most advanced
classes.
Each school is asked to nominate as many as three students who excel in the classroom,
extracurricular activities and community service. The PG East staff selects 10 students as
All-Star Achievers.
In all, 70 seniors from the seven areas of the region were named winners, and all of
them will be recognized at a reception May 4.
Other East students nominated for the award were:
Lindsay Begey and Joseph R. Blasko, East Allegheny; Meredith S. Shiels and Adam
Tarosky, Franklin Regional; Frederick Li and Molly Pope, Gateway; Elizabeth E. Achin and
Sharae M. Bryant, Greater Works Academy, Monroeville; Patrick Fitzgerald and Maura Murphy,
Greensburg Salem; Adam Johnston and John Krempecki, Hempfield Area; April Doratio,
Jeannette; Meghan Ford, Norwin; Katie R. Kikta and Matthew J. Miller, Plum; Brenna D.
Kelly, Riverview; Rachel Bergman, Lauren Hoover and Kristen M. Parker, Woodland Hills.
Penn-Trafford and Wilkinsburg did not participate.

Ryan M. Baum
Gateway
Ranked second in his class, Baum is president of the National Honor Society, attended
the Governors School for International Studies and finished first in the state in a
Latin competition. He was on the cross-country team, held the lead role in several high
school musicals and sings in two a cappella groups. He also volunteered at AUH Forbes
Regional and Sunrise Assisted Living Center
.
Kristin Fuchs
Hempfield Area
Fuchs placed first in the Mathletes competition, the Norwin Poetry Contest and the
Ligonier Valley Art competition, received the highest award in the National Latin Exam and
received a National Science Merit Award. She earned varsity letters in basketball, track
and volleyball. She volunteered at a hospital, with the March of Dimes and at the
Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival.

Ella M. Hereth
Riverview
Hereth is second in her class, won first place from the Pa. Junior Academy of Science
for a project on acid mine drainage and received the Brotherhood of Elks Competitive
Academic Award. She is a violist who has played with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and
numerous regional orchestras. She volunteered to help the AIDS Task Force, senior citizens
and Just Harvest.

Kristopher E. Howard
Riverview
Howard is class valedictorian and received the Williams College Book and the NAACP
Incentive awards. He attended a six-month Pa. Society of Engineers apprentice program,
played basketball and football and was president of the Spanish and Key clubs. He served
as a library aide, helped orient students of the high school and volunteered at a homeless
shelter and food bank.
Alexis McCune
Jeannette
McCune is tied for class valedictorian and attended the Governors School for
Agricultural Sciences and Westinghouse Science Honors Institute. She won the Bausch &
Lomb Science Award, the Xerox Award for Humanities and Sciences and the Seton Hill College
Women in Science Chemistry Award. She is an flutist and tennis player and volunteered at a
food bank, hospital and Special Olympics.

Ronald Moss
Greater Works Academy
Moss ranks third in his class despite a heavy schedule that includes starring on the
basketball and soccer teams. He is a talented saxophonist who has played in regional bands
and participated in the Association of Christian Schools International music festival. He
volunteers raising money for Meals on Wheels, is a docent at the Carnegie Museum of
Natural History and is a youth camp counselor.

Meghan Roe
Plum
Roe has received a Bausch & Lomb Science Award, attended a summer engineering
research program at Cornell University, won a National Science Merit Award and took first
place in the state in the Junior Academy of Science competition. She served as newspaper
editor and president of the Science Club, volunteered at a hospital and community festival
and taught cheerleading
.
Jonelle R. Oliverio
East Allegheny
Oliverio ranks first in her class and was nominated to attend the National Youth
leadership Forum on Medicine. She also plays in the band and participated in the
propaganda, equations, calcusolve and creative convention tournaments. She volunteered
with Project Bundle-Up and vision screening for the Blind Association, and represented the
local Knights of Columbus as queen.

Julia A. Polka
Greensburg Salem
Polka is a top student who attended the Governors School for Agricultural
Sciences and was the first junior named the Alex G. McKenna Scholar of Economics at St.
Vincent College. She tutors high school students and elementary pupils and is an assistant
Brownie Troop leader. She trains horses through the 4-H program and developed a school
program about the importance of agriculture.

Lauren L. Wagner
Jeannette
Wagner is tied for class valedictorian and received the Seton Hill College Women in
Math Award. At school, she is a cheerleader, a member of the marching and concert bands
and president of Students Against Drunk Driving. She has volunteered with Special Olympics
and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, tutored a child with attention deficit disorder, and worked
with Habitat for Humanity.

Wendy Herold (South
All-Star)
Serra Catholic
Ranked first in her class, Herold has never received a grade lower than 96 percent at
Serra. She is a member of the Electric Friars, a school liturgical music group; she
volunteers for the elderly, plays trumpet in the marching band, is a member of the soccer
and bowling teams, is an altar server and takes part in school campus ministry. She lives
in Monroeville.
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