The Mountain View School District Alumni Association was pleased to present its annual scholarship awards to three seniors at Mountain View High School at the Awards Assembly in the Norman J. Maza Auditorium on June 4, 2013.

Pictured (l-r) are Katie Valentine, Laura Moser, Mrs. Mary Ketterer, Caroline Miller.

The recipient of the Robert W. Klenk award to a student entering the field of education is Katie Valentine, daughter of Joe and Lisa Valentine of Uniondale. Katie will be attending Bloomsburg University to pursue a degree in special education. A recipient of the Alumni Association Scholarship is Caroline C. Miller, daughter of Mark and Laurie Miller of Clifford. Caroline will be attending Nazareth College of Rochester where she will study occupational therapy. Laura Jane Moser also received the Alumni Association Scholarship. Laura is the daughter of Richard and Charlene Moser of Harford, and she will be attending Cedar Crest College for a degree in business and dance.

The awards were presented by Mary Ketterer, Vice President and Scholarship chairman of the Mountain View School District Alumni Association. These awards are funded by contributions to the Mountain View School District Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

Class night for the graduates of 2013 was held at Susquehanna Community High School on Friday, May 31st. During this honorable occasion each student was recognized for their achievements and accomplishments which were presented by their fellow classmates. We also had several presenters who came to present their awards to these fine students. Every student was recognized for something during this ceremony and their future plans were revealed as well. Melissa Kukowski, 2013 Class President, welcomed parents, friends, and families. There were a total of 5 seniors that acted as Master of Ceremonies for this event: Raymond Polak,  Elizabeth Fink, Andrzej Tomczyk, Patricia Pauswinski, and Coleman Hansen. There were two students that performed musical entertainment: Derek Case and Lindsey Glidden.

Class Night Awards:

Tony Aliano Memorial Award – Emily Carmody; 4/$250.00 American Legion Post 6 Awards – Emily Carmody, Brett Metcalf, Andrzej Tomczyk, Zachary Vaughn; $500.00, American Legion Riders Art Design Award – Melissa Kukowski; Band Pin – Emily Day; $100.00 Benjamin J. Rockwell Awards – Brett Metcalf; $150.00 Jeanette and Clarence Brownell Memorial Scholarship – Coleman Hansen; $250.00 Canawacta Masonic Lodge #360 Scholarship Award – Mitchell Corse; $1,000.00 Canawacta Rod & Gun Lodge Award – Melissa Kukowski; Choir Pins – Derek Case, Coleman Hansen, $50.00 Choral Award – Derek Case; Cindi Conaty Memorial Scholarship – Melissa Kukowski; 2/$40,000 Claire Williams O’Neil Scholarship – Melissa Kukowski and Raymond Polak; 2/$1,000 Denise Reddon Memorial Scholarship – Danielle Barnes and Jagr Briar; District  P.I.A.A. Scholars Athlete Award – Melissa Kukowski and Andrzej Tomczyk; $650.00 Edwards/Napolitano Memorial Musical Scholarship –  Derek Case; Envirothon Certificates and Cords – Brianne Bianco, Troy Maby, Tyler Hines, and Mitchell Corse; Envirothon Certificates – Brandon DeRose, Alycia Cuevas, Donald Wilmot, Ashley Sweeney, Sydney Larsen, Kyleigh Fiske; $750.00 Frank Roia Memorial Scholarship – Brianne Bianco; $250.00 Friends of Susquehanna County 2012 Volunteer Award – Kyleigh Fiske; $200.00 Issobel and Edward Gordon Scholarship Award – Emily Carmody; $500.00 James Beebe Memorial Scholarship – Chelsea Matta; $250.00 Jane  B. Schneider Memorial Scholarship – Danielle Barnes, Devin Breese, Kayla Decker; $250.00 McDonald’s Ray A. Kroc Youth Achievement Award – Ashley Sweeney; $4,000.00 Mariano and Maria Lampazzi Fiaschi Nursing Scholarship – Brianne Bianco; $75.00 Music Booster Award; National Honor Society Pins – Emily Carmody, Emily Day, Elizabeth Fink, Kyleigh Fiske, Lindsey Glidden, Britney Glover, Coleman Hansen, Melissa Kukowski, Chelsea Matta, Raymond Polak, Ryan Swanson, Andrzej Tomczyk, Casey Williams, Zachary Vaughn; $100.00 Nellie Jane DeWitt Business Professional Women Vocational Award – Kayla Decker; $100.00 Nellie Jane DeWitt Business Professional Women Vocational Academic Award – Melissa Kukowski; $100.00 Nellie Jane DeWitt Business Professional Women Vocational Business Award – Emily Carmody; 2/$100.00 New Milford Rotary Club Award – Emily Day and Jagr Briar; 2/$100.00 Peoples Neighborhood Bank – Chelsea Sparks and Patricia Pauswinski       ; 2/$75.00 Pennstar Bank Award for academic achievement – Melissa Kukowski and Ryan Swanson; $300.00 Phillip R. Dantini Memorial Scholarship – Lindsey Glidden; PSSA Proficiency Certificates: $25.00 Rosalie Maxfield Memorial Award – Melissa Kukowski; $50.00 Sabers Football Boosters Participation Award – Brett Archambault, Jagr Briar, Dylan Krall, Cole Mallery, Ryan Swanson, Williams Terpstra, Zachary Vaughn, Derek Case, Alycia Cuevas, Antonella DelVecchio, Amanda Marco, Taylor Soules, Chelsea Sparks; Set of Music Theory and Composition tools – Derek Case; Scholastic Bowl Pin – Coleman Hansen, Melissa Kukowski, Raymond Polak, Andrzej Tomczyk; $250.00 Son of the American Legion Marty Wood Award – Lindsey Glidden; $1,000.00 St. John’s Pro Life Scholarship – Danielle Barnes; $1,000.00 Stone Bridge Lions Club Award – Kyleigh Fiske       ; $25.00 Stuart C. Button Memorial Scholarship Award – Melissa Kukowski  ; $25.00 Student Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Award – Alycia Cuevas, Sydney Larsen, Chelsea Sparks; Student Council Representatives Sash/ Certificate – Ashley Sweeney, Emily Carmody, Lindsey Glidden; 2/$300.00 Susquehanna Sabers Basketball Booster Club Award – Brianne Bianco, Daniel Biegert; 2/$1,500.00 Susquehanna Community Education Association  Scholarship – Kyleigh Fiske, Emily Day; $75.00 Susquehanna Community Fine Arts Award - Elizabeth Fink; $300.00 Susquehanna County Pomona Grange Scholarship – Sydney Larsen; $500.00 Susquehanna Elementary Faculty/Staff Memorial Scholarship Fund – Amanda Marco; $750.00 Susquehanna Fire Department Scholarship (Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains) – William Terpstra; $100.00 Susquehanna Monday Club – Emily Day; $250.00 Tri-Boro Little League Donnie Ayres Memorial Scholarship – Ashley Sweeney; 2/$125.00 William D. and Sara C. Iveson Memorial Scholarship – Kevin Bush, Troy Maby; U.S. Army National Scholar/Athlete Award – Britney Glover, Zachary Vaughn; U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award – Andrzej Tomczyk and Ashley Sweeney; U.S. Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award – Derek Case; U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award – Melissa Kukowski; $500.00 William Mess Award – Raymond Polak; $175.00 William J. Nagorny Social Studies Award – Britney Glover; $100.00 Wrestling Boosters Award – TroyMaby; 4/$25.00 Wrestling Boosters Award – Alycia Cuevas, Antonella DelVecchio, Kyleigh Fiske, Chelsea Sparks.

After a record breaking season that included a State Championship and a NCFL National Championship, Elk Lake senior Austin Cohen had one final goal: To place in the trophies in Lincoln-Douglas Debate at the National Forensics League National Championship.

Pictured are EL Forensics Director Keith Brosious and Austin Cohen – 9th Place in LD Debate at NFL Nationals in Birmingham, AL.

He not only reached that goal but came within two rounds of advancing to the final round of LD Debate at the NFL National Championship in Birmingham, AL on June 16-22.

The tournament’s format worked to Cohen’s advantage early on. All 6 of the preliminary rounds are randomly paired with two judges. In order to advance beyond the 6 preliminary rounds, debaters must receive wins from at least 8 judges.

Cohen picked up 11 of 12 judges ballots and advanced to the 7th round. At that point, the tournament turned into a double elimination tournament. Debaters continue in the field until they lose twice.

Surprisingly, Cohen dropped his 7th round on Tuesday afternoon. However, he won his 8th round and continued on to Wednesday morning. Cohen would win his 9th and 10th rounds on unanimous decisions.

He won a split decision in the 11th round and advanced to the 12th round against a debater from California. The field had now been narrowed to 14.

Cohen struggled during the middle of the debate and narrowly lost a split decision and dropped from the tournament.

Live online, after the NFL LD National Final Round, Cohen was awarded a trophy for placing 9th in the country in a field of 260 debaters.

“No one can dispute how strong his season was or how much he accomplished this year. He has placed in the top 10 at both national championship tournaments and ends his career with a tremendous record of accomplishments,” commented EL Forensics Director Keith Brosious.

No other debater from Pennsylvania has ever had top 10 finishes at both nationals and only a handful of other debaters have ever accomplished that feat.

He ended his career with Elk Lake with 332 wins. This season alone he won 96 debates against only 7 losses.

He was also awarded the status of Academic All-American by the NFL. The NFL also granted him the prestigious NFL All-State Award for Pennsylvania, which is given to the top competitor in all forensics events in each state every year.

“Over the past 6 years, what has amazed me most is his very relaxed and understated demeanor. If you didn’t know he accomplished all these things, he certainly wasn’t going to tell you,” continued Brosious.

As evidence of his character, the day after he was eliminated from NFL Nationals, he volunteered to give back to the activity that had given him so much by judging LD Debate at the National Junior High National Tournament which was also taking place in Birmingham.

Cohen will continue his studies in the fall at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Studies.

The Elk Lake Forensics Team will take 3 months off and begin practices again in October for their 2013-14 season.

The following are local Misericordia University students who applied and were eligible to participate in the winter commencement ceremony on Sunday, December 16, 2012.

Ashley Bush, Montrose, Social Work, BS.

Kent Corey, Uniondale, Health Care Management, BS.

Lacey DiGirolamo, Montrose, Social Work, BS.

Lenthel Drachler, Montrose, Psychology, BS.

Christopher Empett, New Milford, Health Care Management, BS.

Eleni Petronia Konstas, Montrose, Business Administration, MBA.

Lisa Staros, Thompson, Speech Language Pathology, MS.

Jeffrey Williams, Thompson, Medical Imaging, BS.

Alison Dombroski of Forest City, PA, has earned a Bachelor's of Art Degree in Communication/Sport Journalism from Springfield College (Mass.) for studies completed in 2013.

Elmira College held its 158th Commencement on Sunday, June 2nd at the First Arena, in Elmira, New York.

Gena Rapisardi, of Brackney, PA earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Accounting.

Hannah Price of Susquehanna, PA has graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Price earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.

Price was one of nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students who participated in the May 19, 2013 graduation ceremony at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

The following students from Susquehanna County have been named to the spring 2013 dean’s list at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Students achieve dean’s list status when they are full-time (12 or more credits) with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher.

Clifford Township: Nicole Elizabeth Bruce, Elkdale Road, B.S.Ed. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Great Bend: Jacquelynn Louise Formosa, B.S. in Nutrition.

Hallstead: Thomas Emory Lewis, Smith Drive, B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law.

Kingsley: Shannon L. Kavetski, Berg Hill Road, B.A. in Criminology.

Montrose: Kathryn Elizabeth Stranburg, Singer Road, B.S. in Nursing; John Glen Vandermark, Vandermark Road, B.A. in Theater.

New Milford: Sara-Jo Grover, Old Route 11, B.A. in Criminology/Pre-Law.

Susquehanna: Kaitlyn E. Krug, Hausbrook Heights Road, B.S. in Athletic Training; Lexa Lillian-Rose Smith, State Route 492, B.A. in Journalism; Briana Elyse Whitehead, Washington Street, B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations.

A total of 154 Mansfield University students have been named to to spring 2013 President's List.

To be named to the President's List, a student must attend the university full-time and attain at least a 4.0 QPA for the semester.

The following area students earned the honor: Amanda Cino of Union Dale; Christopher Fallon of Kingsley; Rachel Gulbin of Uniondale; Megan Jones of Forest City.

The following local residents made the Dean's List for the Spring, 2013 quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Thomas Mordovancey of Friendsville, Pa., is a fifth-year student in the mechanical engineering technology program in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology.

Christopher Stevens of Little Meadows, Pa., is a third-year student in the information technology program in RIT's B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

The following local residents have been named to Millersville University of Pennsylvania's Dean's List for the Spring 2013 semester: Susan Greene of Susquehanna, PA and Jamie Hoffman of Montrose, PA.

Mary Scheller of Forest City was among the students added to The University of Scranton Dean's List for the fall 2012 semester after publication of the list in January of 2013.

Nicole Farrell of Dimock graduated with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction on May 25, 2013, during the 143rd Commencement at McDaniel College.

Sarah Jean Zedar of Forest City, PA (18421) graduated from University of the Sciences. USciences recognized graduates during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, as part of the University's 192nd Commencement celebration in Philadelphia, Pa.

Zedar graduated with a doctor of physical therapy degree. She was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honor society. She was Philanthropic chairwoman and treasurer of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority and a member of the Physical Therapy Club. She is the daughter of Mary Ellen Zedar and Albert and Patsy Zedar.

Seven Susquehanna Community High School students received a 2013 United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set for obtaining perfect attendance for the 2012-2013 school year. Those students are: 12th grade – Derek Case and Dessine Herzog; 11th grade – Jonathan Felter, Alyssa Jacobs, 10th grade Willard Cobb, Austin Felter; 7th grade - Christian Good.

Students at Misericordia University qualify for the dean's list with a 3.55 grade point average or higher. The following local students were named to the dean's list for the spring 2013 semester: Sherri Arnold, Springville; Caren Bush, Susquehanna; Jennifer Fifth, Susquehanna; Anna Konstas, Montrose; Kaitlyn Molteni, Great Bend; Megan Phillips, Hallstead; Brandon Stone, Thompson; Carissa Stonier, New Milford; Jessica Strickland, Union Dale; Leann Terpstra, Susquehanna.

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has named 290 students to its Spring Dean's list.

Among those named to the Dean's list were Nicolette Fruehan, a senior biology student from Brackney, Pa. and Kristy Stankiewicz, a sophomore sport and recreation management student from Montrose, Pa.

Tessa Sheridan, of Lenoxville graduated from Gettysburg College on May 19, 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.