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Crestwood students create peace posters

Crestwood Middle School students participated in a recent peace poster contest sponsored by the JLW Mountain Laurel Lions Club. The theme of the contest was ‘Bringing Peace To the World, Through One Child at a Time.’ Students expressed the theme by creating a poster without words. Participating students, first row, are Zach Taney, Kelli Mickowski, Marissa Surdy and Nicole Jankowski. Second row: Kira Hoch, Kristi Bowman, Taylor Dean and Jessica Clifford. Third row: Olivia Jankowski, Stephanie Maichin and Christine Maichin.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES: Helping others is anything but forgein for Brenholts

French and Spanish and Latin, too — with American Sign Language thrown in for good measure. Mary Jeanne Brenholts has studied them all, and loved every minute of it. With award-winning language skills and a desire to teach her native tongue after she leaves Holy Redeemer High School, Brenholts is Best & Brightest in Foreign Languages.
Foreign languages are Baran’s forte
Habersky takes global approach to learning
The study of Spanish extends beyond the
Anastasia R. Baran
Mary Jeanne Brenholts
Elena M. Habersky
Jennifer Perillo

ENGLISH & LITERATURE: Sabatini finds perfect environment for success

Gina Sabatini’s writing proficiency isn’t heralded by essay contest wins and awards. It shows in the way she expresses herself and the way she intends to use her abilities when she leaves Wyoming Area Secondary Center. For recognizing the power of the written word, Sabatini is Best & Brightest in English & Literature.
Heil’s tale of success is pure poetry
Van Leuven writing her own success story
Chellsie Heil
Gina Sabatini
Holly Van Leuven

COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY: Waskie has designs on engineering field

“My favorite quote is: ‘Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one’,” said Crestwood High School’s David Waskie. “I like this quote (from Bill Gates) because I feel that the stereotypical nerd is no longer so, rather today’s ‘nerds’ are the highly educated, intellectual leaders of tomorrow’s business and industry.” By that definition, Waskie will soon be the nerd for whom others labor. With great grades and his passion for designing things that work, Waskie engineered status as Best & Brightest in the Computers & Technology category.
Diefenderfer gears career towards robotics
Webmaster Wood excels
Philip Diefenderfer
David Waskie
Ryan Wood

CIVICS: Lisman epitome of model citizen

School: E.L. Meyers High School
Gilligan wants to lead through politics and teaching
Junior leader Carlson has a White House wish
Merryman’s got a passion for peace
Ziobro prepares for historical career
Eric Bella
Erik Carlson
Jillian Casey
Kathryn Corgan
Mary Kathryn (Molly) Gilligan
Claire Gothreau
CIVICS: Lisman epitome of model citizen
Alexandra Mazaleski
Juliann Merryman
Justin Michael Pierce
Bryan Poepperling
Leann Ziobro

ART: Nowakowski's got the perfect perspective

A first-grader’s picture was the earliest clue to Jacqueline Nowakowski’s talent and passion. The picture featured a rooster in the foreground and a small, bright red barn in the background with a long winding road between the two. From her first days in the Wyoming Area School District, Nowakowski drew in perspective, and her perspective and passion made her Best & Brightest in Art.
Lange finds beauty in every moment
Taylor draws closer to her goal
Erica Lange
Ryan Jeffrey Leas
Jacqueline Nowakowski
Stephanie Price
Emily Taylor

BUSINESS: Aufiere has a sound business plan

The Entrepreneur — that’s what Linnae Aufiere’s Wyoming Area Secondary Center classmates call her. They’ve seen her working her own business, keeping the books for another and enthusiastically taking on the kind of accounting and business classes from which many kids run. Aufiere isn’t just planning for a career in business, she’s already started one, and the complete and enthusiastic way she’s setting the stage for her future made Aufiere Best & Brightest in Business Skills.
Dzugan has broken into the business world
Star business pupil Kocher shines brightly
Sacco profits from real-world experience
Langan makes hard work her business
Linnae Marita Aufiere
Jessica Dzugan
Amanda Kocher
Maria Langan
Carly Sacco

ATHLETICS: O'Hara swims to win

When Joseph O’Hara was just 8 years old, he went to Wyoming Valley West’s swimming pool for practice. Stuck to the locker room door was this quote: “Success requires the VISION to see, the FAITH to believe, and the COURAGE to do.” With vision, faith and courage, O’Hara went from the little boy at swim practice to a standout in the pool and Best & Brightest in Athletics.
Amy’s got a stick-to-it attitude
Kolojejchick taking her best shot
McGuiness melds academics, athletics
Perseverance pays off for McGinley
Kelsey Taylor Amy
Jessica Anderson
Candice Bittner
Eric Bogumil
James Bresnahan
Jordan Britt
Amy Cheesman
Tyler Cowman
Alyssa Flanagan
Shane Gavrish
Kyley Henry
Katrina Heintz
Bruno Iriarte
Jill Jackson
Kelsey Kolojejchick
Amanda Kuhl
Jill Kushner
Elyse Laneski
Jacob Lehnowsky
Rebecca Lipski
Thomas Lisofsky
Katrina Ashley Lynn
Gabriele Malishchak
Lauren McGinley
William McGuiness
Robert Micikas
Joseph O’Hara
Shauna Phillips
Alena Polenska
Grant Rowlands
Kayla Marie Rutkoski
Allison Scalzo
Kevin Sochovka
Laura Wingert
Rachel Zomerfeld

Justin Roote

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Alana Rizzo

School: Hazleton Area High School

Shonk serves community one peaceful act at a time

Amanda Shonk has been a bear for peace — literally. Part of her volunteer efforts with the children’s Peace Camp called for her to don a huge, furry Corduroy the Bear costume in the heat of summer and allow herself to be patted and petted by the young campers. It was a task she gladly performed and just one example of the efforts that made her a finalist in Service to the Community.

Emily Jean Baut

School: Dallas High School

Joshua Emory Gallagher

School: Berwick, Area Senior High School

Jennifer Naro

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Bhumi Patel

School: Crestwood High School

Brady turns adversity to his advantage

George Brady had one of the toughest possible introductions to science: he’s had to confront not one but two life-altering, chronic health issues. But the Wyoming Valley West standout took what others might have seen as handicaps and turned them into an impetus for learning, and he did it so well that he’s a finalist in Science & Environment.

Andrea Butchko

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Bassett brings music’s message to students

Many seniors want to be teachers, but not many know for a fact that they will love it and be good at it. Thomas Bassett does. That’s because he’s spent his time at Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School not just making music but teaching it as well. The way he’s improved his own abilities and those of his students made Bassett a finalist in Music.

Good journalists are usually thought of

Good journalists are usually thought of as strong writers, but Jennifer Naro knows there’s more to putting out a publication than writing. The behind-the-scenes work is what makes the writers’ work look good, and the level of responsibility she’s taken on for production of Wyoming Valley West’s school newspaper and yearbook made Naro Best & Brightest in Journalism.

Lauren Bilski

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Celia Hottenstein

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Paige Wasilewski

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Katherine Farias

School: Wyoming Seminary

Pierson makes headlines at Pittston Area

She’s a published poet and the winner of several essay contests, but for Nicole Pierson, it was Pittston Area High School’s Patriot Press that really gave her writing skills a work out. As president of the journalism club, it’s been her job to keep the paper running, something she’s done well enough to become a finalist in Journalism.

Nicole Molino

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Joshua David Niznik

School: Holy Redeemer High School

Derek Kopen

School: Wyoming Seminary

Catherine Sullivan

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Molly Beatrice Murphy

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Viti discovers a love for journalism

Katilyn Viti really likes math and numbers. But once she gave journalism a chance, she found a new way to express herself — and a new area of expertise. In less than two years, she’s won honors for her skills with Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School’s newspaper and its yearbook and made herself a finalist in Journalism.

Shelby Whitebread

School: Berwick Area Senior High School

Michael Radzwilla

School: Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School

Nicholas Guesto

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Jonas Weigert

School: Wyoming Seminary

Math confuses some people, but never Bri

Math confuses some people, but never Brian Miller. In his time at James M. Coughlin High School, he’s learned to count on it.

Katilyn Viti

School: Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School

Amy Lynn Robacheski

School: Greater Nanticoke Area High School

Nicole Jezewski

School: Greater Nanticoke Area High School

Schall leads teams to victory in academic competitions

He’s been the captain of a number of high school teams, but Jonathan Schall and his teammates don’t lift weights to practice, they crack open their books. And under Schall’s leadership, his Wyoming Area Secondary Center teammates have racked up awards in challenging academic competitions across the region, the state and the nation. For leading his team to victory in dozens of science competitions over the last four years, Schall is a finalist in Science & Environment.

Maria Rose LoBrutto

School: Pittston Area High School

Challenges no problem for math finalist Zafia

Julie Zafia loves a challenge. That’s why she likes math. But it’s the way she’s taken on challenges in so many areas that made the G.A.R. Memorial High School senior a finalist in Mathematics.

John F. Prater

School: Dallas High School

Emily Wallitsch

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Jillian Dunn

School: Hanover Area Junior Senior High School

Brittany Gada

School: Crestwood High School

Julian follows formula for success

In Nickolas Julian’s book, dedication + hard work = success. It’s a formula that led to success in so much of his Marian Catholic High School career, from academics to athletics to volunteering. He’s excelled in many things, but it was his exemplary efforts in math class that made him a finalist in Mathematics.

Love of life and animals sets future for Cross

Science is both fun and the future for Geralyn Cross. After mastering all James M. Coughlin High School’s science courses in outstanding fashion, she’s planning a career that will make the pursuit of the sciences her life.

Karalyn Carter

School: Berwick Area Senior High School

Patrick Michael Rosengrant

School: E.L. Meyers High School

In black and white or color, Wilkie stands out

For almost half her life, Stephanie Wilkie’s teachers have told her she’s a good writer. For the last six years, she’s put that talent to use on her school newspaper. Along the way, she’s racked up great grades and left her mark on James M. Coughlin High School in other ways as well. But her contributions to the school’s paper were groundbreaking and made her a finalist in Journalism.

Amy Malischak

School: Northwest Area High School

Anna Cannon

School: Marian Catholic High School

Jennifer L. Kelly

School: West Side Career and Technology Center

Rachel Gavin

School: Greater Nanticoke Area High School

Bernadette Mick

School: Marian Catholic High School

Nathan M. Hill

School: Tunkhannock Area High School

Nickolas Julian

School: Marian Catholic High School

Alexis Kuzma wanted everyone at Dallas H

Alexis Kuzma wanted everyone at Dallas High School to enjoy dancing as much as she does. To that end, she drew on her nine years of dance lessons and established a dance team at the school. It’s just one of the accomplishments that made her Best & Brightest in Performing Arts.

Gallagher sets the stage for the future

Joshua Gallagher has been acting since he was in fifth grade. So when he learned Berwick Area Senior High School didn’t have a drama club, Gallagher got to work. Within a year, the school had a club — with Gallagher himself serving as a lead actor and director.

Erin Litsch

School: Marian Catholic High School

Brozena dove into life of service early on

When a fidgety, restless Christopher Brozena couldn’t sit still, his first-grade teacher put him to work cleaning up the classroom and passing out papers. Now in the last days of his academic career at Wyoming Valley West High School, he still spends his free time usefully and earned a spot among the finalists in Service to the Community.

Dancer Bilski has dreams of Broadway

Just reading about Lauren Bilski’s week of dance lessons and practices is enough to make legs ache. She spends close to nine hours a week in dance lessons, not counting the classes she teaches. Then there’s an hour each morning with the E. L. Meyers High School marching band color guard, and twice a week rehearsals for Without Walls Modern Dance and the practice, practice, practice it takes to make all those routines perfect. With all those hours devoted to her passion, Bilski danced her way to finalist in Performing Arts.

Brooke Lynne Matza

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Amanda Nudo

School: Tunkhannock Area High School

Leo Feng

School: Wyoming Seminary

Brooke McMichael

School: Northwest Area High School

CIVICS: Lisman epitome of model citizen

He’s a forensics champion, captain of the E.L. Meyers golf team and class president. His excellence in these activities will serve John Lisman well in a future career in law, but it’s his participation in organizations such as Junior Leadership Wilkes-Barre and the Wilkes-Barre Junior City Council that made Lisman a finalist in the Civics category.
Gilligan wants to lead through politics and teaching
Junior leader Carlson has a White House wish
Merryman’s got a passion for peace
Ziobro prepares for historical career
CIVICS: Lisman epitome of model citizen
Erik Carlson
Juliann Merryman
Leann Ziobro

From the Coordinator

The Times Leader Best & Brightest awards event marks its 15th anniversary this year, celebrating the academic and community accomplishments of area high school seniors. Local students ranked within the top 10 percent of their schools compete for a Best & Brightest trophy as well as a $1,000 scholarship from the Times Leader within the following categories: Arts, Athletics, Business Skills, Civics, Computers & Technology, English & Literature, Mathematics, Music, Foreign Languages, Journalism, Performing Arts, Science & Environment, Service to the Community, and Vocational & Technical Skills. These students are our area’s finest, excelling within the classroom, as well as with senior projects, volunteer efforts in the community and in extra-curricular activities. They are honored for their achievements at an annual awards ceremony and within the pages of The Times Leader’s Best & Brightest special edition. The Times Leader is proud to present NEPA’s Best & Brightest area high school seniors of 2009.

Kelly’s work at West Side CTC needs no editing

Jennifer Kelly loves her school and wants others to love it, too. That’s why she worked hard on a recruiting video to show potential students all that West Side Career and Technology Center has to offer. Her dedication to documenting school life on film made her a finalist in Vocational & Technical Skills.

Elizabeth Howey

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Rachael Clark

School: Berwick Area Senior High School

Casey Hampsey

School: Tunkhannock Area High School

Sarah E. Flannery

School: Dallas High School

Arielle Burger

School: Hazleton Area High School

Stephanie Metzger

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Victor Schleich

School: Berwick Area Senior High School

Nicole Najaka

School: Greater Nanticoke Area High School

Alyson Hoegg

School: Weatherly Area High School

Amanda Moorhead

School: James M. Coughlin High School

Leah Conklin

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Prater shares his gift to benefit all

Musicians and non-musicians alike know the prestige of playing in Carnegie Hall. John Prater did it — when he was 8 years old.

ART

Timothy Accurso

School: Greater Nanticoke Area High School

Kayla Baloga

School: Wyoming Area High School

Stephen Knooren

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Kristina Marie Toussaint

School: Dallas High School

Nicole Pierson

School: Pittston Area High School

Christopher Brozena

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Nicholas Welki

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Brian Miller

School: James M. Coughlin High School

Stephanie Boyer

School: E.L.Meyers High School

Anyone who thinks learning can’t b

Anyone who thinks learning can’t be fun never worked with Amy Malishchak. In her years with Northwest Area High School’s Odyssey of the Mind team, she’s made a 20-foot castle and a mechanical cow that makes milkshakes. In a society that constantly seeks to be shocked or awed, Malishchak’s creative talents can take her far and made her Best & Brightest in the Vocational & Technical Skills category.

Katie Godek

School: Riverside Junior Senior High School

Sarah Gzemski

School: Crestwood High School

Kathryn Gavlick

School: Hanover Area Junior Senior High School

Geralyn Cross

School: James M. Coughlin High School

John Michael Sweeney

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Stephanie Wilkie

School: James M. Coughlin High School

Timothy Accurso recalls the day he learn

Timothy Accurso recalls the day he learned he would represent Greater Nanticoke Area High School at the Pennsylvania Music Educators District Chorus for the first time. Not only had he made it as a piano accompanist, he had scored high enough on his audition to sing with the chorus as well. It wasn’t the last time his talent took him to districts and beyond, and now Accurso can add another note to his chorus of accomplishments: Best & Brightest in Music.

Hannah Biskup

School: Crestwood High School

Neepa Patel

School: Crestwood High School

Niznik’s name linked with music

When people hear Joshua Niznik’s name, they immediately think of music. He’s been involved in music at Holy Redeemer High School in just about every way possible, and he’s excelled at it. From singing to playing an instrument to acting in school musicals, Niznik’s mastery made him a finalist in Music.

Scott Ashford

School: Crestwood High School

Alison Marie Duda

School: Elmer L. Meyers High School

She’s presented papers on bleach,

She’s presented papers on bleach, adrenaline and twins. She’s studied genetics and heredity and taken tests to prove her mastery of those subjects. She’s scrubbed up to witness the birth of a baby by C-section and put mice on glucose pumps. And she’s done all this before she’s even graduated from Crestwood High School.

Nicole Klingler

School: Crestwood High School

Clark finds challenge in physics

It was an 11th grade physics class that stole Rachael Clark’s heart. While others might run from advanced math classes, Clark intends to make them part of her future. Her enthusiasm for the subject made the Berwick Area Senior High student a finalist in Mathematics.

Thomas Bassett

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Boyle found the perfect place for his talents

Matthew Boyle was leaving Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School with a piece of furniture when a teacher stopped him and asked where he got it. Boyle told her he built the Amish-style cabinet but had done such a good job that the teacher didn’t believe him. The woodworking skills Boyle perfected have filled his home with beautiful projects and made him a finalist in Vocational & Technical Skills.

Jaclyn Witko

School: Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School

the program

The Times Leader launched the Best & Brightest program in 1994 to recognize high school seniors who have excelled academically and contributed to the community. Here’s a look at how the program works:

Kelly Medico

School: Weatherly Area High School

Dahlia Dixon

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Curiosity proves the answer for Pretko

He’s scored a perfect 800 on the math and physics portions of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and won a full scholarship for his problem-solving ability. But perhaps the main reason Wyoming Valley West’s Michael Pretko is a finalist in Mathematics is this: he solves problems even when he doesn’t have to.

Tyler Ryan

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Hottenstein performs to perfection

Celia Hottenstein can act. She can sing. She can play the cello, too. She’s represented Wyoming Valley West High School well at numerous prestigious competitions, but she’s also used her talents to help educate teens about the tragedy of suicide.

Katelyn Confer

School: Dallas High School

Matthew Manarski

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Roote hits a high note

At some point during his days at Wyoming Valley West, Justin Roote discovered he was a jack-of-all-trades — good at math, good at science, good at just about anything he tried.

Krysta Humphrey

School: Berwick Area Senior High School

Sean Dickinson

School: Wyoming Seminary

Katherine Levandoski

School: Wyoming Seminary

Nathan Simpson

School: Crestwood High School

Sophia Quinodoz

School: Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Moorhead is good news for school paper

Becoming the co-editor-in-chief of the longest continually published high school newspaper could have been intimidating. Instead, Amanda Moorhead stepped up to the challenge and helped make James M. Coughlin High School’s Journal the best it’s been in it’s more than 110- year history. For her publishing leadership, Moorhead is a finalist in Journalism.

Kayla Costello

School: Pittston Area High School

Yahan Derby

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Michael Pretko

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Kallie Root

School: Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School

Christopher D. Boyle

School: Lake-Lehman Junior/Senior High School

Amanda Shonk

School: E.L. Meyers High School

Lael Hoegen

School: Holy Redeemer High School

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Christian Aponte

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

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Megan Chan

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

George Patrick Brady IV

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Katherine "Katie" Finkelstein

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Alexis Kuzma

School: Dallas Area High School

Hannah Frantz

School: Wyoming Seminary

Julia Zafia

School: G.A.R. Memorial High School

Gabriel A. Rosa

School: G.A.R. Memorial High School

Sarah Gurgal

School: Wyoming Valley West High School

Meghan Pietraccini

School: Dallas High School

Kayla Milewski

School: Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School

Dunn steps up to challenge of helping others

Jillian Dunn has been an Irish step dancer most of her life and worked hard enough at it that, for the last four years, she’s taught others. And when one of her fellow dancers and friends fell seriously ill, Dunn organized a benefit performance, dedicating months of work to the project. It was just one of the many volunteer efforts that made Dunn a finalist in Service to the Community.