With passions ranging from music to medicine and achievements already beyond their years, 10 North area students could be the leaders of the next generation. For the Post-Gazette’s All-Star Achiever contest, educators were invited to nominate three students from each high school, and winners were selected by Post-Gazette editors and reporters. Criteria included academic achievement, extracurricular and community activities and volunteer work.

In all, 71 seniors from the seven areas of the region were named winners, and all of them will be recognized at a reception May 4.

The 10 students profiled here are the winners in the North area, in alphabetical order:

Bender has put in 200 hours of community service for the March of Dimes, including lobbying legislators on Capitol Hill. While maintaining a rigorous schedule at his school and working at a part-time job, he also has taken several college-level courses at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the crew team, and has been a track team member. He also won first place this year in individual and team chess contests.

Csonka, ranked first in her class, has never received anything less than an "A" for a final grade. Even so, she’s lettered in basketball, volleyball and softball, and has been a cheerleader since ninth grade -- even while suffering a stress fracture in her lower back. Csonka, who wants to be a doctor, has been a volunteer at Citizens General Hospital in New Kensington and was a peer tutor while taking an advanced chemistry course at Penn State.

Deeds is enrolled in all honors and advanced placement courses, and is a member of the Cum Laude Honor Society. She has spent hundreds of hours working at the North Side Men’s shelter, a soup kitchen and the Rotary spina bifada camp. She also teaches vacation Bible school at her church and is a cheerleader captain. Deeds, who has overcome severe dyslexia, plans to attend Geneva College and become a teacher, possibly in special education.

Glendenning, a member of the National Honor Society, has made the high honor roll each year since ninth grade. Also for the past four years, she has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, an executive member of the school’s student council and has worked on the school literary magazine. She has lettered for four years in lacrosse, and works part-time at a pet grooming shop. Glendenning wants to work in a government-related field after college.

Lynam is enrolled in a law apprenticeship program sponsored by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and the University of Pittsburgh. Her career plans include entering corporate law after attending Georgetown University. Lynam is active in debate and recently placed first in policy debate at a statewide speech tournament. She’s played softball for four years, has a part-time job, and was an organizer for a school fund-raiser that netted more than $21,000.

Oweida is president of the National Honor Society, the senior class and the Junior Classical League. His 4.28 average includes several advanced placement and honors courses. Oweida, who plans a career in international business and finance, has been a volunteer with Special Olympics, Benedictine Place shelter for single mothers and Northland Public Library. His athletic activities include golf, tennis, skiing and weightlifting, and he’s played piano for 10 years.

Patil, who plans a career in medicine, has been a member of the Children’s Hospital Committee and a junior volunteer at Allegheny Valley Hospital. He has participated in several academic teams since his freshman year, including the Pennsylvania Academic Competition Team and the IUP Mathematics Competition Team. President of the senior class, Patil also is a tennis and track team member and a school newspaper reporter.

Stock has maintained perfect attendance and been named to the highest honors honor roll throughout her high school career. An active member at her church, she teaches a children’s choir and Bible school. Her parents, both Presbyterian ministers, work in St. Louis while Stock lives here with her sister. She has used this time to letter in basketball and volleyball, and has been a piano student for 13 years. Stock plans a career in music education.

Taiclet, ranked No. 1 in her class, has won several essay and writing awards, including the Penn State University English Department Writing Award and several Pennsylvania School Press Association awards. A member of the National Honor Society, she was an apprentice this year in veterinary science. She lettered three years in soccer and was this year’s winner of the coaches’ award. Taiclet, who wants to work for a magazine, will attend Penn State.