Recently, a group of students from Penn State University visited the Starrucca Viaduct in Lanesboro, Pennsylvania on a Field trip as part of a course on Structures and Society taught by Harry H. West, Ph.D., and Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering. The course focuses on structural history ranging from Stonehenge to cathedrals. The Starrucca Viaduct was built to be used for the Erie Railroad in the 1800s. The looming structure is well preserved and impressive to see in person.

Betty Smith, from the Susquehanna County Historical Society met the group at the Viaduct and introduced students, faculty members, and chaperones to William S. Young, author of “Starrucca: Bridge of Stone.” Mr. Young led the discussion with Professor West.

The trip was greatly enjoyed, not only because of the visit to a structure of this magnitude but also because of the excellent instruction on the history of the Viaduct. The group also visited the Nicholson bridge and the Martin’s Creek Viaduct in Kingsley but it was agreed upon that the visit to the Viaduct in Lanesboro was the most enjoyable aspect of the trip.

The Elk Lake Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society held its Induction Ceremony on February 28th, 2012 at the Elk Lake Auditorium. During the Candlelight Service, Megyn Stevens, Kyrston Swingle, Lauren Vermeulen, and Haley Skinner described the characteristics of the society. Remarks were given by Mrs. Marie Michalek and Elk Lake Junior High School Principal Mr. Brian Mallery. Ms. Karen Krakosky is the adviser for the organization.

Pictured Above: Back- Rebecca Warholic, Rachel Sprout, Jourdan Aten, LaAnna Farnelli, Desiree Tucker, Kevin Burns, Sean Smith, Seth Tewksbury, Rebecca Phillips, Mikayla Smith, Shelby Valvano, Randi Teed; Middle- Kayla Mosier, Elizabeth Hinkley, Rebecca Sisson, Julia Doyle, Allison Teel, Elizabeth Wright, Katlyn Bennett, Austin Graham; Front- Ty Moon, Jordan Clark, Chris Cook, Tyler Brewer. Absent from photo: Shayla Griffiths.

Mrs. Christine Acevedo, high school principal, announces the honor roll for the 3rd marking period of the 2011-12 SCHOOL YEAR:

Grade 7 High Honors - Caitlyn Bonham, Jeffrey Burrell, Sebastian Cimoch, Alexandra Fitzsimmons, Kayla Jonas, Ryan Kelleher, Michael Kelly, Nicholas Megivern, Wolfgang Parente, Jared Paulin, Joseph Piotrowski, Grace Ross, Mikaylah Rutledge, Mahala Sampson.

Grade 7 Honor Roll - Heather Agentovich, Kendra Bendyk , Ryan Butler, Jaycen Fick, Cody Jensen, Matthew Keller, Robert Kuruts, Emily Lewis, Allison Lipko, Maria Montauredes, Lucas Nevins, Don Nguyen, Dayna Pace, Riley Peterson, Joel Smith, Gianna Tammero.

Grade 8 High Honors - Neil Albright, Julia Bailey, Kayla Bebla, Anna Congdon, Courtney Daniels, Larissa Grigaitis, Mary Ligus, James Lipko, Alexander O’Neill, Macy Phillips, David Pollak.

GRADE 8 Honor Roll - Joseph Baron, Monique Barrese, Mitchell Blake, Shannon Doerwald, Krya Fortuner, Mary Hall, Miranda McCartney, Dylan O’Dell, Katrina Ondrako, Tazzera Rousseau, Sarah Stephens, Matthew Taylor, Shelby Weber.

Grade 9 - High Honors - Sonny Albright, Cody Barrese, Alan Brucher, Tyler Butler, Patrick Coles, Cassidy Congdon, John Darrenkamp, Noah Fedak, Morgan Gasper, Scott Giles, Lucas Johns, Elizabeth Kelly, Katelyn Kernoschak, Sean McCormick, Matthew Nevins, , Nicholas Rutledge, Emily Statkun, Solana Stratford, Tyler Trichilo, Abbigail Westgate, Nicole Williams, Katelyn Zembrzycki.

Grade 9 - Honor Roll - Emily Carney, Tyler DeBrino, Sarah Gorton, Madison McGraw, Daniel Nysenbaum, Steven Ramos, Andrew Trotter.

Grade 10 - High Honors - Jennifer Baron, Cassandra Bendyk, Rachel DeLucy, Megan Demcevski, Carly Erdmann, Meagan Goben, Will Jonas, MackKenzie Keller, Michaela Konzman, Nicholas Kovaleski, Michaela Martines, Logan McHale, Doria Miller, Katie O’Neill, Frank Piotrowski , John Stueber, Kelsey Twilley.

Grade 10 - Honor Roll - Jenna Baron, Jenna Burrell, Victoria Corey, Michael Fortuner, Jon-Paul Hernandez, Matthew Kackos, Gregory Kowalewski, Ryan Long, Wayde Loomis, Christian Retana, Evan Smith, Jolyn Zawisky.

Grade 11 - High Honors - Kirsten Bailey, Kylie Besz, Kylie Borick, Samantha Carey, Michael Eustis, Jacob Fedak, Gavin Herman, Zachary Johns, Megan Marcinkus, Katherine Pecko, Stephanie Ramos, Morgan Saul, Drew Stark, Benjamin Terry.

Grade 11 - Honor Roll - Vincent DeLucy, Brittany Rutledge.

Grade 12 - High Honors - Courtney Andrews, Brian Carpenter, Katherine DeMark, Kelsey Glavich, Sarah Kubus, Amber Leary, Jennifer Natishak, Michael Palmer, Tania A. Pollard, Anthony Vadala, Katie Zefran, Kara A. Zerby.

Grade 12 Honor Roll - Maria Bostjancic, Rose Campbell, Sonja Campbell, Faith Conklin, Brigitte Davies, Sylvia Evans, James Logan Fitzsimmons, Kristine Kuriger, Jenna Lucchesi, Amanda Marchese, Brian Nebzydoski, Yulia Raulerson, Tabatha Rettberg, Dana Statkun, Taylor-Ray Tammero, Seth Thomas.

Mountain View’s Comprehensive Planning Committee, formerly known as the Strategic Planning Committee, has been working diligently since its first meeting in September. The committee is composed of faculty, parents, retired teachers, community persons, and district administration. Their work has involved a review of the district’s mission statement, vision statement, and the past 6-year plan. As a Phase I school district, Mountain View will complete its plan encompassing safe/supportive schools, student achievement, and stewardship by November, 2012.

Pictured Above: Karen Voigt, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, talks with Gary, Hlavinka, Regional Operations Manager for the North Region for Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, and James Zick, president of the board of education, at the Comprehensive Planning Meeting at the Mountain View Elementary School.

The committee is presently reviewing the graduation requirements, class offerings, electives, and the school’s curriculum needs. In addition to taking these factors into account, the committee must also work within the extreme reduction of state funding to school districts as well as the loss in numbers of the student population.

In order to make informed decisions for Mountain View with respect to the gas industry, president of the school board member, James Zick, contacted Cabot requesting a representative to make a presentation to the committee which would give an overview of the gas industry. Mr. Gary Hlavinka, Regional Operations Manager for Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation in the North Region, came from Pittsburgh to attend the Mountain View meeting on March 20, 2012. His responsibilities as an engineer are to see that the wells are maintained following the initial drilling and fracking. He stated that this is a “world-class accumulation and they have never seen anything like it.” He also said that the industry is here to stay. His focus was to help the committee members understand the opportunities and risks associated with the growing industry. He also talked about ways the schools can prepare the students for the variety of job opportunities which the industry has brought to the area. Having twenty-nine years experience with the company and living in Texas, Colorado, and West Virginia with his family, his views on the industry and education were invaluable. A question and answer period at the end provided members of the committee with even more specific information so they in turn can make informed decisions as they create the six-year plan for the Mountain View School District.

Elk Lake High School is pleased to announce the following students who were selected as March, 2012 “Students of the Month”.

Pictured above: front row- Sonya Griffiths, Tia Visavati, Lydia Watkins; back row: Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D, High School Principal, Dan Addice, Megan Oliver, Matt Cuomo, Jesse Gruver. Absent:  Lucas Myers, Jamie DeBonis.

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.  Academic growth and improvement are also part of these criteria.

Following is the Mt. View Elementary School list for the Third Marking Period of the 2011-2012 School Year.

Fourth Grade: Olivia Ainey, Hailey Andrews, Alyssa Bollard, Kristofer Boswell, Christopher DeManicor, Kaylee Evans, Michael Fanelli, Tyler Henke,

Brianna Hildebrand, Jacob Housel, Heather Johnson, Josef Kuhar, Bethany Latwinski, KayLee LeMaster, Bryce Norman, Andrea Ofalt,

Grace Rosecrans, Caden Scott, Tosha Shay, Kevin Sheridan, Hunter Sunbury, Sofie Swetter, Katie Tracy, Shayla VanVleck, Kayla Ward,

Mackenzie Wilbur, Emma Zipprich.

Fifth Grade: Alexandria DeWolfe, Jacob Andzulis, Devin Burney, Miranda Button, Scarlett Catalfamo, Cameron DeManicor, Josephine Evans, Alyssa Evans,

Cameron Ferguson, Travis Getz, Robert Gray III, Madysen Hall, Madison Hegedty, Alan Kielar, Selena Knowlton, Brian Kozloski, Ethan Mack,

Christopher Master, Abigayle Mazzocchi, James Penny, Hope Perez, Payton Rosecrans, Leah Saam, Katelyn Satunas, Madison Schermerhorn,

Kailee Schlegel, Matthew Schwarztrauber, Jason Seamans, Aidan Sekely, Tyler Striefsky, Daniel Tran, Tia Ubaldini, Lily Virbitsky,

Aaron Weida, Alexus Wilbur, Brooke Wilder, Caitlyn Williams, Abigail Wormuth.

Sixth Grade: Hunter Bomersheim, Sarah Carpenetti, Emma DeMark, Sophie Ficarro, Briana Frankovsky, Matthew Gates, John George, Delaney Heller,

Samantha Jones, Alesha Kazmierski, Kerstin Kupiec, Alexander MacDonald, Genavieve Maloney, William Margarido, Ryan Martin, Kelsey Murphy,

Holly O'Brien, Austin Rudock, Gerald Rusek, Courtney Russell, Alexander Showalter, Kyle Streich, Samantha Valentine, Denise Vonada,

Ashley Weidow, Nicholas Wilmarth.

Highest Honors 93 -100

12th Grade - Elizabeth Acosta, Courtney Arthur, Kayla Coleman, Brandon Deakin, Alexandria Dominick, Timothy Flanagan, Heather Hedrick, Justin Kerber, Sierra McConnell, Kristy Monks, Morgan Ofsharick, Stephanie Skurski, Lindsay Way, Jeffrey Wayman.

11th Grade - Brianne Bianco, Emily Carmody, Derek Case, Emily Day, Elizabeth Fink, Lindsey Glidden, Coleman Hansen, Melissa Kukowski, Raymond Polak, Ryan Swanson, Andrzej Tomczyk, Zachary Vaughn, Casey Williams.

10th Grade - Sydney Avery, Chastity Carvin, Nicholas Chamberlain, John DeLaPlaine, Joseph DeLaPlaine, Amber Dubanowitz, Jonathan Felter, Mashawna Hargett, Rachel Hubal, Alyssa Jacobs, Ashley Miller, Mollie Mroz, Kaelin Payne, Micaela Rhone, Sarah Serfilippi, Emily Staros.

9th Grade - Brianna Burlingame, Ivy Christensen, Willard Cobb, Austin Felter, Ariana Hagopian, Clayton Hansen, Felicia Hines, Keith Hubal, Brendan Lamb, Dale Reid, Olivia Rockwell, Justin Stanford, Emily Stark, Abigail Stumbo.

8th Grade - Breanna Bushong, Cori Glidden, Alyssa Hubal. Kendra Papocchia, Miranda Rhone.

7th Grade - Madison Canfield, Evan Cantone, Hannah Day, Garret Grausgruber, Jessica Lamb, Saige Perry, Lauren Soden

Honor Roll 90-92.99

12th Grade - Daphne Barnes, Tiffani Colwell, Rex Fullam V, David Hansen, Brittany Herold, Matthew Hilling, Ashley Kapcsandi, Thomas Maby, Zachary Stanford.

11th Grade - Daniel Biegert, Kyleigh Fiske, Britney Glover, Amanda Marco, Chelsea Matta.

10th Grade - Alexis Roe.

9th Grade - Nicole Barnes, Kasey Burdick, Mikayla Hargett, Nicole Hines, William Reddon, Brad Sherman.

8th Grade - Baily Barnes, Daniel Braun, Sean Elliott, Kaitlyn Gow, Miranda Groover, Michael Pelicci, Jessica Plutino-Gilleran, Rachel Serfilippi.

7th Grade - John Abruzzo, Robert Murphy, Karina Polak, Skyler Voege, Tyler Williams, Kathryn Woodruff

Merit Roll 85-91.99

12th Grade - Aaron Arthur, Tabitha Bibalo, Jamie Boerner, Emily Conroy, Austin Cowperthwait, Brett Deakin, Autumn Hadlick, Mary Kemmerer, Vincent Matta Jr., Dillian Rivenburg, Corey Towers, Stephanie Zappe.

11th Grade - Ana Alvidrez, Brett Archambault, Danielle Barnes, Devin Breese, Jagr Briar, Brandon DeRose, Dylan Krall, Sydney Larsen, Caitlynn O’Dell, Patricia Pauswinski, Chelsea Sparks, Ashley Sweeney, William Terpstra

10th Grade - Chelsea Ayres, Cameron Barnes, Lindsey Burdick, Nathan Carpenter, Dylan Cohen, Richard Delaney, Jonathan Haines, Nicholas Hall, Macie Karhnak, Kyle MacDonald, Richard Pellicci, Brandon Rafferty, Adam Rhone, Brittany Swank, Cody Towers.

9th Grade - William Archambault III, Susan Chamberlain, Abigail Day, Luke Falletta, Brianna Graves, Katie Greene, Jerry Hallisey, Jonathan Hilling, Tiara Leonard, Adam MacDonald, Christian Miller, Sara Perry, Tyler Petriello, Anastasia Smith, Daniel Staros, Kayla Swartz, Taryn Tross.

8th Grade - Haley Aldrich, Michael Armitage, Kristine Callahan, Donna Jo Decker, Allison Hampton, Joshua Harhut, Benedict Kane, Marissa McConnell, Trevor Passetti, Alyssa Rockwell, Tyler Seidel.

7th Grade - Taylor Bennett, Brittany Burlingame, Annabell DiNoto, Kassandra Hall, Myra Hargett, Chad Lee, Shayna Slocum, Jonathan Teribury, Alexandria Warring, Taylor Williams.

In “Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders” Contest Clark Fuller, 17, a student at Elk Lake High School has been selected as the seventh weekly winner of Susquehanna County’s “Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders” contest, a partnership among Chesapeake Energy Corp., several local nonprofits and regional media.

Clark is a current Life Scout with the Boy Scouts and is pursuing his Eagle Scout Award. Clark volunteers at Camp Brule and will be a camp counselor this year. He is also the chief of his local chapter of the Order of the Arrow. Clark is the caretaker of Dimock Cemetery and an altar server at his church. He is also an active member of the 4H. Clark participates in soccer, track and wrestling at Elk Lake High School and demonstrates consideration, leadership and respect on and off the field.

“Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders” gives residents the opportunity to nominate Susquehanna County students who have displayed outstanding leadership qualities within the 4-H or any other student volunteer organization. One young leader, nominated by the community, will be selected each week for eight consecutive weeks through May. A refurbished computer will be donated to each winner’s school. In May, two lucky winners will be selected from all honorees to win a personal laptop computer.

Partnering with Chesapeake Energy in the “Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders” contest are the Susquehanna County 4-H, the Rotary Club of Montrose, New Milford and Forest City, The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, Gem 104 Radio, The Forest City Regional News, The Susquehanna Independent Weekender and The Susquehanna Transcript.

Alice M. Davis, Ph.D., Administrative Director of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center (SCCTC) is proud to announce the SCCTC’s “Students of the Month” for March 2012.

Pictured Above: (L to R) - Ryan Jenks, Wendy Tinna, Justin Kerber, Brittany Adams, Heather Hedrick, Tiara Visavati, Abby Spear, Alicia Smith, Matt Pascoe, Carley Bennett, Korey Travis, Dr. Alice M. Davis and Adam Stickler. Absent: Aaron Lott, Shae-lynd Swingle, Kristin Allen, Hannah Cave, and James Burnside.