The Elk Lake Forensics Team began its 2011-12 season by dominating debate at the Allentown and Scranton Dioceses Tournament at Southern Lehigh High School on November 5.

Three of Elk Lake’s debaters placed at the tournament, which brought together schools from the Scranton and Allentown areas.

Pictured (l-r) above, EL place-winners at Scranton/Allentown Catholic Forensics League Tournament: LaAnna Farnelli, 3rd place in Novice LD Debate; Richard Guiton, 1st place in Varsity LD Debate; Austin Cohen, 2nd place in Varsity LD Debate.

Richard Guiton led Elk Lake in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate by compiling an undefeated 4 win and 0 loss record during the preliminary rounds by defeating debaters from EL Meyers, Dallas and Danville High Schools.

EL junior Austin Cohen put together a 3 win and 1 loss record in Varsity LD Debate by defeating debaters from EL Meyers, Oley Valley and Danville High Schools. His only loss came to Tyler Martin from Southern Lehigh High School.

As a result of their records, Guiton and Cohen were seeded 1st and 2nd after the preliminary rounds and, once again, closed out the final round of LD. Guiton placed 1st in the tournament and Cohen placed second.

In Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate, 8th grader LaAnna Farnelli, in the first tournament of her career, compiled a 2 win and 2 loss record and placed 3rd in the tournament. Her two victories came over debaters from North Schuykill and Abington Heights High Schools.

“This is a very good start for the team this year. Ricky (Guiton) and Austin (Cohen) picked up where they left off last year. But we are really excited about the progress of our novice debaters so far,” commented EL Forensics Director Keith Brosious.

Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D., Elk Lake High School Principal, is pleased to announce the following students who were selected as September 2011 “Students of the Month.”

Pictured (l-r) above: front - Melissa Copes, Curtis Whitney; back - Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D, High School Principal, Brandon Carter, Kelsey Mitchell, Tracey Johnson; absent - Allexa Schneider, Catie Farnelli.

Students of the month are selected by nominations of any student in grades 10-12 by a teacher for outstanding achievement. The student must show individual effort, community and school wide effort, as well as effort in the classroom.

Other important criteria includes: a showing of personal growth, skill development, dedication, leadership, academic growth and improvement, school service and community service.

GETTYSBURG, PA - Jeffrey Horvath of Meshoppen, a first-year student at Gettysburg College, was awarded a Presidential Scholarship by the College. Gettysburg College recognizes students' academic achievement in high school by awarding merit scholarships. The Presidential Scholarship goes to top-ranking applicants based upon their grade-point average, class rank, and SAT or ACT scores.

LOCK HAVEN, PA - Lock Haven University held its 51st annual Science Convocation in Ulmer Planetarium on Friday, October 28. Students received awards for academic achievement in biological sciences, chemistry, geology, physics and nanotechnology. Twenty-eight students received new or continuing nanotechnology scholarships funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Michael Schell of New Milford was presented with the Nanoscience Scholarship.

The tradition began in 1961 when the departments of biological sciences, chemistry and geology and physics met for the inaugural Annual Science Majors Mixer. In 1971, the name of this annual event was changed to the Science Convocation and it grew to recognize both student and faculty achievement and to celebrate the rapport among faculty and students.

Rob Presley, Mountain View Elementary Principal, is proud to announce the October 2011 Students of the Month for PreK through 6th grade.

PreK - 2nd Grade

Pictured (l-r) above: front - Madison Supancik, Kinsey Catalfamo, Alexis Turner; middle - Megan Zipprich, Mikaela Stout, Lauren Dick, Carissa Flynn, Katelyn Diaz; back - Ciara Hundley, Delaney Hollenbeck, Kayla Kasa, Sierra Rogankamp, Rob Presley (Principal); absent - Riley Jagger.

3rd - 6th Grade

Pictured (l-r) above: front - Tyler Henke, Reagan White, Emory Bewley, Sofie Swetter, Katie Glover; middle - Nicholas Wilmarth, Sarah Carpenetti, Tyler Zech, Christopher Master; back - Alexus Wilbur, Kyle Streich, Jacob Andzulis, Kelsey Murphy, Rob Presley (Principal).

Highest Honors (93 -100): 12th Grade - Elizabeth Acosta, Courtney Arthur, Kayla Coleman, Tiffani Colwell, Emily Conroy, Karlene Cottrell, Ashley Craig, Brandon Deakin, Alexandria Dominick, David Hansen, Heather Hedrick, Justin Kerber, Vincent Matta, Jr., Sierra McConnell, Kristy Monks, Morgan Ofsharick, Austin Sampson, Stephanie Skurski, Corey Towers, Jeffrey Wayman; 11th Grade - Emily Carmody, Emily Day, Lindsey Glidden, Coleman Hansen, Melissa Kukowski, Raymond Polak, Ryan Swanson, Andrzej Tomczyk; 10th Grade - Sydney Avery, John DeLaPlaine, Joseph DeLaPlaine, Jonathan Felter, Rachel Hubal, Alyssa Jacobs, Ashley Miller, Millie Mroz, Micaela Rhone, Sarah Serfilippi, Emily Staros; 9th Grade - Brianna Burlingame, Ivy Christensen, Willard Cobb, Austin Felter, Ashley Fisk, Ariana Hagopian, Clayton Hansen, Felicia Hines, Keith Hubal, William Reddon, Dale Reid, Olivia Rockwell, Justin Stanford, Emily Staros, Taryn Tross; 8th Grade - Michael Armitage, Baily Barnes, Daniel Braun, Breanna Bushong, Cori Glidden, Kaitlyn Gow, Miranda Groover, Alyssa Hubal, Jessica Plutino-Gilleran, Miranda Rhone, Alyssa Rockwell, Rachel Serfilippi; 7th Grade - John Abruzzo, Madison Canfield, Evan Cantone, Hannah Day, Annabelle DiNoto, Garret Grausgruber, Jessica Lamb, Chad Lee, Saige Perry Karina Polak, Lauren Soden, Tyler Williams, Kathryn Woodruff.

Honor Roll (90-92.99): 12th Grade - Timothy Flanagan, Autumn Hadlick, Brittany Herold, Matthew Hilling; 11th Grade - Ana Alvidrez, Brianne Bianco, Douglas Bishop, Derek Case, Kyleigh Fiske, Amanda Marco, Ashley Sweeney, Zachary Vaughn, Amberly Warner, Casey Williams; 10th Grade - Chelsea Ayres, Chastity Carvin, Dylan Cohen, Amber Dubanowitz, Jonathan Haines, Nicholas Hall, Mashawna Hargett, Cheryl Hendrickson, Macie Karhnak, Kyle MacDonald, Kaelin Payne, Alexis Roe, Cody Towers; 9th Grade - Nicole Barnes, Kasey Burdick, Susan Chamberlain, Luke Falletta, Brianna Graves, Jerry Hallisey, Mikayhla Hargett, Brendan Lamb, Adam MacDonald, Tyler Petriello, Allison Ryder, Brad Sherman, Daniel Staros, Abigail Stumbo, Kayla Swartz; 8th Grade - Haley Aldrich, John Ball, Jr., Abby Burdick, Kristine Callahan, Taylor Cook-Kelly, Donna Jo Decker, Sean Elliott, Ashley Hallisey, Marissa McConnell, Kendra Papocchia, Michael Pelicci, Tyler Seidel; 7th Grade - Brittany Burlingame, Briana Ferrante, Gabrielle Glover, Myra Hargett, Robert Murphy, Jonathan Teribury, Taylor Williams, Yong Yang.

Merit Roll (85-91.99): 12th Grade - Aaron Arthur, Daphne Barnes, Tabitha Bibalo, Andrew Burdick, Austin Cowperthwait, Rex Fullam, V, Benjamin Gall, Ashley Kapcsandi, Thomas Maby, Alexx Nelson, Dillian Rivenburg, Lindsay Way; 11th Grade - Brett Archambault, Danielle Barnes, Daniel Biegert, Jagr Briar, Daniel Cordner, Alycia Cuevas, Brandon DeRose, Britney Glover, Dylan Haynes, Sydney Larsen, Chelsea Matta, Caitlynn O’Dell, Patricia Pauswinski, Chelsea Sparks; 10th Grade - Lindsey Burdick, Nathan Carpenter, Richard Pelicci, Brandon Rafferty, Cody Rockwell, Howard Weibel; 9th Grade - William Archambault, Lucas Brinton, Abigail Day, Katie Greene, Sarah Heath, Nicole Hines, Tiara Leonard, Christian Miller, Sara Perry, Anthony Petronaci, Alisha Sanborn, Nicole Shay, Anastasia Smith, Brady Towner, Shirlynne Wademan; 8th Grade - Gabrielle Cina, Allison Hampton, Joshua Harhut, John Krieg, Ashley McKinney, Codi O’Dell, Nathanyl Smith, Lewis Sparks, Jessica Staros, Dylan Stout; 7th Grade - Brandy Baker, Taylor Bennett, Austin Chisek, Kendra Cole, Marisa Conklin, August Cotter, Jonathan Edwards, Shania Fox, Kassandra Hall, Lyndsey Mroz, Haley Rhone, Austin Rumola, Beenie Samsair, Shayna Slocum, Tyler Towers, Skyler Voege, Alexandria Warring.