SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

News from Around Campus

Third grade teacher Mrs. Christine Englert was named as a regional winner in the “My Teacher for President Contest.” Inspired by the book, “My Teacher for President,” the contest was sponsored by the Pennsylvania PTA, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), Barnes and Noble Booksellers, and PBS 39 in Bethlehem. Mrs. Englert was nominated by her student, Maxwell Hanich.
On January 6, 32 students from 7th and 8th grade represented South Fayette Middle School at a mock MATHCOUNTS Competition, held at Robert Morris University. Students from South Fayette, Moon, Mount Lebanon, and Peters Township spent the day solving challenging, multi-step problems as individual competitors and in teams. Ben Long (8th grade) shared 10th place overall, Amanda Walasik (8th grade) came in 9th, and Kent Nixon (8th grade) came in 5th place overall.
Junior Nick Brozack is a winner of the 2005 Young Artists Auditions and will receive a $500 Anna and Benjamin Perlow Scholarship from the Pittsburgh Concert Society. The auditions were held on January 8, 2005 at Carnegie Mellon University. They were open to instrumentalists under the age of 19 and vocalists under 22 studying within a 75 mile radius of Pittsburgh. Nick performed with three other winners on March 6 at CMU. Earlier this year, Brozack also earned the honor of playing with the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra in another competition with local artists.
Six graduates of South Fayette High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams taken throughout their high school careers. Dillon Collins qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Additionally, R. J. Bendis and Eric Kaupinis qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Laura Martinelli, Sara Schuchert, and Karin Steinbock qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher.
Juniors Tom Baker and Nick Brozack were selected to participate in the PMEA Region/State Chorus Festival on March 17-19, 2005 at Norwin Senior High School. Junior Caitlin Havers was also selected as an alternate for the Festival.
Senior Brian Gray received the distinction of first chair euphonium at the District Band event in January, earning him the opportunity to take part in the Region/State Band Festival on February 17-19. Brian also performed in the PMEA District I Honors Band at Carnegie Music Hall with the most talented high school musicians in Western Pennsylvania. Sophomore oboist Alyssa DeYoung was also selected to participate in this year’s PMEA District Band. Eighth grade bass clarinetist Zach Weiss was selected to represent South Fayette at the Jr. High District Band Festival.
On January 12 students from many local school districts to compete in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s annual Science Bowl, hosted by the Carnegie Science Center. Teams of four students competed in four rounds that challenged their scientific knowledge and creativity: Drop It (capsules were built to keep eggs from breaking when dropped one story), Skyscrapers, Sink or Float, and a Titanic Scavenger Hunt. Members of the South Fayette Middle School teams were: Cassidy Toole, Jessica Barton, Mallory Vetter, Katie Boehmer, Christine Biearman, Aditya Muralidharan, Kevin Hitlan, Eyan George, Stephanie Boehmer, Trent Kulus, Lauren Sekelik, Jennifer Welch, Alex Speidel, Adam Benton, and Sayanti Saha.
Junior Eric Sharrow has been selected to the Class “A” All-WPIAL Boys Soccer Team. Sharrow has been a member of the varsity soccer team for 3 years.
Fifth grader Tyler Manion won the 2004 Pine-Richland Rams Wrestling Tournament in the 10 & Under, 75 pound class. This win also qualified him for the 2005 Ohio Tournament of Champions National Championships in Columbus, Ohio on April 23rd. In January, Tyler also placed 3rd in the 10 & Under, 75 pound class at the 31st Annual Waynesburg Wrestling Tournament.