Pine Grove Area
Samantha Bertasavage and Corey Mutschler were named seniors of the month for November at Pine Grove Area High School.
Samantha, a daughter of Jon and Deb Bertasavage, Tremont, is enrolled in the college preparatory curriculum. Her high school activities include student council, varsity club, SADD, French club, recycling club, National Honor Society, health awareness club, basketball, volleyball and softball.
Samantha plans to attend college and major in chemistry and possibly play volleyball while in college.
Corey, a son of Mark and Kim Mutschler, Pine Grove, is enrolled in the college preparatory curriculum. He is class treasurer and a member of student council, art club, recycling club, Future Business Leaders of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the stage crew/set design of Cardinal Spotlight Theatre.
Corey plans to attend a four-year college and major in business administration.
Pine Grove Area seniors Meredith Lengel and Austin Brown were named seniors of the month for December.
Meredith, a daughter of Brenda and Donald Lengel, Pine Grove, is enrolled in the college preparatory and advanced placement curriculums. Her high school activities include marching, concert and jazz bands, Schuylkill County Band, cross country, Cardinal Spotlight Theatre, National Honor Society, church youth group, 4-H and Grange.
Meredith is also FBLA president and the school board student representative. She plans to attend a four-year college and major in secondary education/mathematics.
Austin, a son of Dale and Mary Jane Brown and Shelly Zimmerman, all of Pine Grove, is enrolled in the college preparatory and post-secondary curriculums. His high school activities include JROTC, of which he is the battalion commander, JROTC color guard, JROTC drill team, Boy Scouts, Lions Club and bowling.
Austin is an Eagle Scout, Lions Club cook and a junior assistant Scoutmaster. He plans to go to a culinary school and one day open his own restaurant.
Minersville Area
Minersville Area High School seniors Brett Polinsky and Breanne Bentz were named students of the month for November.
Brett is president of the senior class, SADD and National Honor Society. A four-year member of the football team, he is a peer tutor and mediator and a member of the Drug and Alcohol Task Force and Spanish and drama clubs.
In the community, Brett is an altar server at St. Matthew the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Minersville, and volunteers for the Minersville Little League, Minersville midget football and the annual Miners Fire Rescue golf tournament. He plans to attend college and major in biology/pre-med and play college football.
He is a son of Jeffrey and Christine Polinsky, Pottsville.
Breanne is a member of the National Honor Society, SADD, German Club, chemistry club, yearbook staff, softball team, Teens Against Tobacco and the athletic staff. In the community, she is an altar server at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, Minersville, and volunteers at the Moms Make-A-Wish softball tournament.
A daughter of Christopher and Nannette Bentz, Pottsville, Breanne plans to attend college and study physical therapy.
Mahanoy Area
Mahanoy Area High School seniors Anne Swokel and Michael W. Wirtz were named students of the month for October by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.
Anne is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Swokel, Barnesville. Upon graduation, she plans to attend Lebanon Valley College, Annville, Villanova University or Arcadia University, Glenside, and major in physical therapy.
Anne is student council treasurer and senior drum major. She is a member of the National Honor Society, marching band, high school concert band, jazz band, Cressona Community Band, choir, Chordaires, Interact Club, Literary Society, Spanish Club, SADD, Teens Against Tobacco and Theatre Arts Club. She participated in Bloomsburg Math Contest and was a homecoming candidate.
Anne participated in powder puff football her freshman year. As a sophomore, she was Mahanoy Area's Hugh O'Brian's youth ambassador and a participant in the Schuylkill County Youth Leadership Conference. She was involved with the Quiz Bowl and Bear Pride program her junior year.
Athletically, Anne was a member of the basketball and track and field teams her freshman through junior years, lettering as a sophomore and junior in both sports. She also participated in Schuylkill County Band her freshman through junior years. In the community, she volunteers for Meals on Wheels, is a member of ACTION Youth Group and a greeter at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City.
She helped set up and participated in the annual community Vacation Bible School in 2011 and this year. She is also involved with the Young Women's Futures Symposium, PSBA Student Delegate Program and Anti-Defamation League annual Youth Leadership Conference.
Michael, a son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Wirtz Jr., Mahanoy City, plans to attend Lebanon Valley College, Annville, and major in physical therapy. He is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, band, choir and Chordaires and Interact Club.
Michael is president of the Theatre Arts Club and served as class secretary his freshman year. He lettered in baseball, cross country and swimming during his high school career. His activities have also included basketball and Spanish Club.
In the community, Michael is a member of ACTION Youth Group and a church youth helper at Full Gospel Fellowship Church. He volunteers for Meals on Wheels and participated in the Anti-Defamation League annual Youth Leadership Conference and Young Men's Futures Symposium.
Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695 announced that Mahanoy Area High School seniors Holly Sofka and Eric Williamson were named students of the month for November.
Holly, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Sofka Jr., Barnesville, is a member of the National Honor Society, Upper Schuylkill Marching and Concert Band, Nutrition Advisory Council, SADD, Teens against Tobacco, Theatre Arts Club, Interact Club and peer mentoring. She is drum major of the high school band and served as band president her junior year.
Holly has also participated in Quiz Bowl, Bear Pride program, Schuylkill County Band, choir, French/German club and the Top 10 Percent in Financial Capability Challenge. She was also a PSBA Conference attendee and is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Holly is a member of the ACTION Youth Group and volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Upon graduation, she plans to attend college and major in biochemistry.
Eric is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Williamson, Barnesville. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Theatre Arts Club, Interact Club and track and field team. He served as class president his junior year and has also been involved with choir, Chordaires, French/German Club, cross country and the National Society of High School Scholars.
Eric volunteers for Meals on Wheels and is an acolyte and church lector at Faith United Church of Christ, Delano. He plans to attend college and major in exercise science.
Mahanoy Middle
Mahanoy Area Middle School students Jayda Byrne and Nolan Yanchuck were named students of the month for October by the faculty through a program sponsored by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695. The nominees are judged on the basis of multiple achievements, character, leadership, citizenship and scholastic aptitude.
Jayda is a daughter of James and May Byrne, Mahanoy City, and a member of First United Methodist Church, Mahanoy City. A distinguished honors student, she is National Junior Honor Society vice president and student council secretary.
Jayda is also a member of Paw Print, ski club, Theatre Arts, seventh- and eighth-grade girls basketball, Biddy basketball, seventh- and eighth-grade cheerleading, AAU Basketball, float committee, Biddy volleyball and track and field.
Her volunteer work includes coaching Biddy basketball and soccer and managing the high school girls basketball team. Her future plans are to attend college to become a pediatrician.
Nolan, a son of Greg and Beth Ann Yanchuck, Mahanoy City, is a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City. A distinguished honors student, Nolan in involved in seventh- and eighth-grade football, seventh- and eighth-grade basketball, Little League baseball, National Junior Honor Society, ski club, Theatre Arts stage crew and intramural basketball.
Nolan is student council vice president, and he achieved perfect attendance in seventh grade. He volunteers his time coaching Biddy basketball and Little League baseball.
In the future, Nolan plans to join the Army.