Widener
Widener University, Chester, in partnership with WCAU-TV NBC10, announc-ed the winners of the Widener University High School Leadership Awards.
In its third year, the program recognized 134 students from high schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware who demonstrate courage and leadership within their communities. The students were selected for their abilities to stand up for what is right, address a wrong and make a difference in their communities or schools.
The following local students received the awards:
Kimberly Pimble, Coaldale, a junior at Carbon Career and Technical Institute, was recognized for dedicating her time to helping faculty recruit at evening events and volunteering to give new students a tour of the building and making them feel welcome. She also participates in the yearbook committee, Skills USA, DECA, drama club, student council and Panther Valley JROTC.
Grace Lescavage, Pottsville, a Minersville Area High School junior, was recognized for demonstrating her maturity and commitment to others when she dealt with an emergency situation. For her efforts, she received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Minersville Borough.
Kira Nelson, Pottsville, a Pottsville Area High School junior, was recognized for genuinely caring about others' needs. Her overwhelming acts of kindness make a significant impact on her school's community.
Michael Potts, Schuylkill Haven, a Schuylkill Haven Area High School junior, was recognized for displaying wisdom and courage in difficult situations. After his father was deployed to Iraq several years ago, Michael continued with pride and dedicated citizenship in his scouting endeavors by displaying selfless acts of volunteerism, devotion and loyalty while earning his Eagle Scout Award. He also earned the National Medal of Honor for saving his brother from choking while camping in the wilderness.
Kyle Weaver, Tamaqua, a Tamaqua Area High School junior, was recognized for being the driving force to resurrect a high school publication titled "The Blue and White." With no budget, he helped bring the publication back to life and helped expand it to cover the district's elementary schools.
Hannah Nestor, Lykens, a Williams Valley High School junior, was recognized for demonstrating leadership in the classroom and in athletics. She is actively involved in school, immersing herself in a variety of organizations while balancing participation on the soccer, basketball and softball teams. Her actions make a positive difference at school and she goes above and beyond to keep morale high.
For more information about Widener's High School Leadership Awards and to see a complete list of winners, visit http://bit.ly/1kAys0R.
Lebanon Valley
The following local residents are among 37 Lebanon Valley College students who are helping to encourage other younger students to enroll in college as well through the Lebanon Valley Education Partnership, a joint program between the college in Ann-ville and the Lebanon School District to financially and academically support bright students in city schools who might not otherwise be able to attend college.
The local mentors include Jordan E. Zelechoski, Ashland, a health science major and a North Schuylkill High School graduate; Tori E. Stramara, Pottsville, a health science major and a Blue Mountain High School graduate; and Renate A. Berger, Tremont, a Pine Grove Area High School graduate.
Susquehanna
Laura Walser, Tamaqua, a senior Spanish and education major, was among 24 members of the Susquehanna University community who spent Dec. 29 through Jan. 12 in Central America as part of the university's Susquehanna University Central America Service Adventure, or SU CASA, annual service-learning trip.
Program participants contributed to the communities they visited. While in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, they were divided into three teams: Vacation Bible school, construction and medical. The VBS team planned and conducted free vacation Bible school for children in various neighborhoods. The construction team helped with building projects at a children's center, library, church and hospital. The medical team traveled to different neighborhoods each day offering free medical clinics.
Laura, a 2010 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, is a daughter of Michael and Michelle Walser.
Pitt-Bradford
Ellen Goos, Orwigsburg, an inderdisciplinary arts and public relations major at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, had her paper collage, "Frank," selected for inclusion in the 2014 Baily's Beads literary magazine.
Baily's Beads has won two-dozen awards in the last decade from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, American Scholastic Press Association and Associated Collegiate Press. Its adviser is Dr. Nancy McCabe, associate professor of writing and director of the writing program at Pitt-Bradford.