SCRANTON, PA Alexander Barbolish of Nicholson was among the 39 sophomore students accepted into The University of Scranton's Honors Program.

The Jesuit university's Honors Program enforces the tradition of excellence and personal development by challenging exceptional students with independent work and intense engagement with facility and their peers. This prestigious program is designed to increase the student's intellectual skills, self-reliance and personal accountability. The program requires each student to complete yearlong comprehensive research, creative or independent project.

Barbolish is majoring in history at Scranton.

The Susquehanna County Conservation District is pleased to announce that the Blue Ridge High School team “Mighty Tines” has won this year’s Susquehanna County Envirothon. The winning score of 385 points will allow Envirothon Advisor Ed Price and co-advisor Trudi Hepler to take their winning team to University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown for the State Envirothon Competition.

Teammates Ethan Mansfield, Alex Dennis, Kevin McCarey, Mitchell Wages and Brett Hepler studied aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and the current issue; low impact development, throughout the school year to be so successful at this competition. The team dominated the individual disciplines with the high score in four out five categories. Blue Ridge also had the 2nd and 3rd place teams. The second place team, “Canus Lupus” finished 57 points behind the winners.

Pictured Left to Right: Co-advisor Trudi Hepler, Brett Hepler, Alex Dennis, Kevin McCarey, Mitchell Wages, team captain Ethan Mansfield and Advisor Ed Price.

This year’s County Envirothon was held at Camp Archbald on May 3rd and hosted 135 students from all six of the County’s High Schools. Representatives from the Fish & Boat Commission, DEP, NRCS, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and PA Game Commission help make this competition a success by working with the students throughout the school year and by giving out the exam the day of the Envirothon. Susquehanna County Conservation District sponsors the event and had a lunch and prizes for the students. Sen. Gene Yaw’s executive assistant “Arnie” Kriner and Rep. Tina Pickett’s assistant Justin Krise gave the teams their awards.

The 2012 County Envirothon was successful with the help of the following sponsors: Chesapeake Energy, Talisman Energy, PA Trappers Association, Peoples Neighborhood Bank, JHA Companies, Forest Lake Township, The Shelly Family in memory of Robert M. Shelly, The Susquehanna County Commissioners (Alan Hall, Mike Giangrieco and Maryann Warren), Hepler Beef, Susquehanna County Forest Landowners, Susquehanna County Farm Bureau, Hepco Quarries, The Florence Shelly Preserve, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, Andre & Son, Inc, Clauser Environmental, LLC, Bill Zick and Family, the Stuart Slocum Family, Lloyd Putt and Thomas Nebzydoski. Thank you all for the work you did to make the Susquehanna County Envirothon a success!

U.S. News and World Report awarded Susquehanna Community Jr. Sr. High School a Bronze Medal. As stated in their magazine, US News analyzed 21,776 public high schools in 49 states. Their ranking methodology is based on the key ideas that a great high school serves all its students and not just those that are college bound. Schools must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show it is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.

The bronze medal means that based on their analysis Susquehanna Community High School ranks among the top 13% of all public high schools in the nation. US News awarded 500 Gold, 1500 Silver and 2,869 Bronze medals.

Elk Lake Junior High School Principal Brain Mallery has announced the April 2012 Students of the Month for grades seven through nine.

Pictured: Front - Miranda Decker, Lydia Hunsinger, Vanessa Lopez-Ordaz, Garett Mowry, Steven Hinkley; Back - Kaylee Swart, Linsey Dudock, Jenny VanEtten, Junior High Principal Brian Mallery, Natalie Newhart, Richard Ploof. Absent from photo: Seth Acosta and Mykaela Kalinowski.

HERKIMER, NY Tanya M. Oleniacz of Montrose is a candidate for graduation in Business: Accounting (with honors) from Herkimer County Community College. Oleniacz is one of 727 candidates eligible to participate in the College's 44th annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 18.

Herkimer County Community College is a unit of the State University of New York, located in Herkimer, NY, about 20 miles east of Utica, NY. With an enrollment of approximately 3,600 students, Herkimer offers more than 40 associate degree and certificate programs, on-campus housing, an active co-curricular activities schedule and a national championship athletic program. For more information visit www.herkimer.edu.

MILLERSVILLE, PA - The following area residents were among the 1,128 students who graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania during the spring 2012 undergraduate commencement ceremony held on Saturday, May 12 in Millersville's Biemesderfer Stadium at Chryst Field:

Alison Elizabeth Kwader, of Montrose, Pa., graduated Cum Laude earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.

Eric Lloyd, of New Milford, Pa., graduated earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary & Early Childhood Education.

Gary Lee Smith, of Montrose, Pa., graduated earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography.

Millersville University of Pennsylvania is a top-ranked, public university located in the northeast region of the United States. It is committed to offering students a high quality, comprehensive university experience of exceptional value. Dedicated to providing nationally recognized programs that embrace the liberal arts, Millersville offers academic opportunities that are supported by outstanding faculty who are accomplished scholars and practitioners. Founded in 1855 as the first Normal School in Pennsylvania, Millersville University is one of 14 universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Principal Robert Presley announces Students of the Month for April 2012, at Mountain View Elementary School.

Pictured: PreK - 2nd - Front: Raven Richardson, Edmond Carroll, Regan Mellor; Middle - Maura Strickland, Wesley Anderson, Brandon Alvord, Leah Rippy, Victoria Pellew; Back - Nicole Baker, Bronson Kilmer, Leah Evans, James Bernosky, Elijah Kamensky, Mr. Robert Presley (principal).

Pictured: 3rd - 6th - Front: Angelina Mirra, Shayla VanVleck, Alyssa Bollard; Middle - Sydney Barhite, Katelyn Supancik, Lily Virbitsky, Anthony Neri; Back - Piper Clark, Kodi Zantowsky, Alexander Showalter, Alesha Kazmierski, Samantha Rickert, Mr. Robert Presley (principal). Absent from the photo: Allan Peterka.

Pictured are Pre-Kindergarten holding their Families & Reading Month Certificate & Reward. First Row: Emma Button, Riley Hayes, Logan Haley, Erin Klock, Owen Martin, Paul Michalski, Emma Piechocki, Katalin Grover; Second Row: Aubree Kupst, Lily Oldford, Alyse Sargent, Dawson Stepniak, Micah Reid, Alanna Thornton, Stacie Gardner, Troy Henke; Third Row: Jackson Donovan, Gehrig Dibble, Jaden Cokely, Isabella Shea, Alex Cisek, Hailie Carter, Brooke Kelly, Jaydon Barile. Absent: Max Ksenich, Micah Landis, Brandon Carpenetti.

Pictured are Fifth Grade Participants. First Row: Jerni Schell, Mary Kerr, Krystal Hepler, Karly Gudykunst, Daniel Tierney; Second Row: Ardine Stilloe, William Rudick, Dakota Stoddard, Autumn Perrington, Kasandra Brown; Third Row: Lauren Stepniak, Adam Roe, Chris McAndrew, Luis Tobon, Kimberly Bryden, Micah Mullen, Matt Glatzel. Absent: Bobby Reynolds.

All students at Blue Ridge Elementary were given the opportunity to participate in April is Families & Reading Month sponsored by the Keystone State Reading Association. KSRA is committed to developing a love of reading in all the students of Pennsylvania. The goal was to engage families in reading or reading activities for fifteen minutes each and every day during the month of April. 152 students and their families made reading a priority during the month of April and turned in their completed reading calendars! They were presented with a Certificate of Achievement along with special reward from Montrose Theatre, our local historic, hometown theatre. All the qualifying students and staff at Blue Ridge wish to express their gratitude to Ms. Rena Scroggins, Manager of Montrose Theatre, for the generous donation of movie coupons and for her support of students and their education. Please stop by and support this local business. Although the percentages were close, the grade with the most participation in the primary grades was Pre-Kindergarten with 45% of their enrollment and in the intermediate grades, it was fifth grade with 26% of their enrollment. Congratulations to all the readers and their families! 

Claire Williams O'Neil (1928-1980) was a teacher in the Susquehanna Community School District for over twenty years. Because of her dedication to education and the community, the Claire Williams O'Neil Foundation, a non-profit institution that sponsors educational and charitable initiatives on a community level , awards this scholarship to reflect her belief in the importance of education, both to the individual and to the community. The Scholarship is awarded to a Susquehanna Community High School student who has achieved a cumulative average of 90% at the end of eleventh grade, and who also possesses a sincere desire to pursue high quality university studies with the potential to contribute meaningfully to the community. The student can be awarded anything up to about $80,000 for four years. To date, this award has totaled over $355,000.

The Claire Williams O'Neil Scholarship has created an incentive for all seniors in our small, rural, and economically disadvantaged school district to look well beyond the typical college options by applying to America's best colleges and universities.

This year, one senior was awarded this scholarship in the amount of $40,000: Stephanie Skurski. Stephanie is the daughter of Mark Skurski and Stacy Mallery. During high school, Stephanie participated in many extra-curricular activities including Band, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Environthon. She was also president of student council during her junior and senior years. Stephanie plans on attending the University of Scranton in the fall majoring in Occupational Therapy.

Indiana, Pa. - Thomas Lewis, of Smith Drive, Hallstead, has been selected for a Board of Governors academic achievement scholarship at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Only five percent of the IUP freshman class is selected for these awards, which are offered on the basis of academic achievement and promise. The university also offers scholarships to members of the freshman class who are valedictorians. A total of 35 members of the 2011-2012 freshman class hold that honor.

Lewis, son of Tom and Sue Lewis, will graduate from Montrose Area High School.