Mahanoy Area
Mahanoy Area High School seniors Kristina McCarthy and John Brill were named students of the month for December by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.
Kristina is a member of student council, choir, Choirdaires, Schuylkill County Chorus, Nutrition Advisory Council, cross country and track and field. She is also Theatre Arts president.
Kristina was a homecoming queen candidate and had participated in the Spanish Club for two years. In the community, she is a member of St. Paul's UCC, where she is an acolyte, choir member, greeter, lector and usher and had been a youth group member, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a volunteer worker at American Hose Company, Mahanoy Plane.
She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCarthy, Mahanoy City. Her future plans are to attend college.
John is a member of the National Honor Society, Bloomsburg Math Contest team, Envirothon, Nutrition Advisory Council, SADD, basketball team and Upward Bound. He had previously been a member of the French/German Club.
He is a Red Cross Blood Drive volunteer and food drive volunteer for United Methodist Church, Mahanoy City. He has also received recognition from the U.S. Achievement Academy.
John is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Brill, Mahanoy City. Upon graduation, he plans to attend Bloomsburg University and major in exercise science/physical therapy.
Minersville Area
Minersville Area High School seniors Kayla DeStefano and Brandon Whiteash were named students of the month for January.
Kayla is a member of the National Honor Society, band, drama club, prom committee and SADD. In the community, she is a member of the Leo Club and a soup kitchen volunteer at church. She works at Dr. Graves' office.
A daughter of Teri Revelette, Kayla plans to work as an interpreter for the NSA and travel the world.
Brandon is a member of the National Honor Society, German Club and SADD. He has received Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, Distinguished Honors Awards and German Academic Awards.
He is a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, Minersville and volunteers at local fire departments and with the American Red Cross blood drive. He is also a drum student at Jazzie Music Studio.
He is a son of David and Beth Whiteash, West West Terrace, and plans to attend Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, to major in pharmacy.
Frackville Rotary
Danielle Maria Yeselski, daughter of David and Anneliese Yeselski, Frackville, and a senior at North Schuylkill High School, was honored as Frackville Rotary student of the month for January at a recent meeting held at Cracker Barrel restaurant, Frackville.
Danielle is a member of the National Honor Society and has served as captain of North Schuylkill High School marching band color guard for three years. She is a member of the varsity swimming team and track and field team.
She participates in powder puff football and is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions and Teens Against Tobacco. Her senior project consisted of collecting more than 500 coats for the Salvation Army. Danielle also works part-time at B&R Farms, Ringtown.
She has been accepted by Penn State University, Hazleton campus, and has won a Penn State Chancellor Award. Her future plans are to become a math or science teacher.
Pine Grove Area
Ty Lehman and Rachel Troxell were chosen as seniors of the month for January at Pine Grove Area High School.
Ty is enrolled in the college prep curriculum. His future plans are to continue his education in the environmental sciences field.
During his high school years, he was football team captain and wrestling co-captain. He received All-Conference honors and was named to the All-State Academic Team and was an FBLA state qualifier. He is also a member of the recycling club and is a woodshop helper.
His community activities are a member of Schuylkill Church of the Brethren and Youth Group, Troop 650 Eagle Scout candidate and volunteering with the Scleroderma Foundation and Operation Shoebox.
He is a son of Mike and Shannon Lehman, Pine Grove.
Rachel is enrolled in the college prep/advanced placement curriculum. Her future plans are to attend either Villanova University or St. Joseph University, Philadelphia, to major in chemistry and then attend medical school to become a pediatrician.
During her high school years, Rachel was in the marching, concert and jazz bands and served as drum major her senior year. She was also selected to perform in the Schuylkill County Band and District 10 Band.
Rachel is a chorus accompanist and National Honor Society vice president. Her other activities include school musical, volleyball, Varsity Club, SADD, history club, chemistry club, physics club, Literary Arts Society and yearbook committee.
A distinguished honor student, she is a scholar athlete and All-Division Team for Division II and Academic All-American in volleyball.
Her community activities include Schuylkill County Youth Conference and St. Paul's Teens. She is a junior volunteer at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street and a pianist and substitute organist at St. John's Lutheran Church. She also takes piano and flute lessons.
She is a daughter of Mike and Marlene Troxell, Pine Grove.
Pottsville Rotary
Pottsville Area High School seniors Brittany DeColli and Jacob Jones and Nativity BVM High School seniors Sarah E. McDonald and Dominic Chiplonia were named students of the month for December by the Pottsville Rotary Club.
Brittany is a daughter of Christine and Robert DeColli, Pottsville. She is treasurer of the National honor Society and SADD and president of the Leo Club. She is an officer and four-year member of Teens Against Tobacco, vice president and four-year member of the French Club and treasurer and four-year member of band.
Brittany is also involved with the diversity club, a three-year member of the volleyball team and a three-year member of French Honor Society. She also won the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award.
Brittany plans to attend Philadelphia University and major in fashion industry management.
Jacob is a son of Donna Jones, Pottsville. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society and the marching and concert bands, drama club, Spanish Club and Interact.
Jacob plans to study international relations, Spanish, screenwriting and playwriting.
Sarah is a daughter of James and Cheryl McDonald, Tamaqua. She attends Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, New Philadelphia.
Sarah has received several awards for highest achievement and outstanding effort in academics, and was named student of the month in January 2011. She is a varsity cheerleader and a member of the yearbook club, campus ministry, Spanish Club and Student Ambassador.
Sarah plans to major in history and secondary education with a minor in Spanish.
Dominic is a son of Julian and Nora Chiplonia, Pottsville, where he attends St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church and is an alter server. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Academic Team, math club, campus ministry and drama club.
Dominic also plays football and basketball and runs track. He plans to attend an area university in the fall.
Shen Elementary
The following students were named students of the month for January at Shenandoah Valley Elementary School:
Kindergarten-1 - Hannah DeAngelo; K-2 - Emma Aftuk; K-3 - Estuardo Salguero; K-4 - Teresa Yodis; Grade 1-1 - Dylan Wayde; 1-2 - Sophia Lozada-Delzell; 1-3 - Ryan Crawley; 1-4 - Jasmyn Camaroto; Grade 2-1 - Angelena Donovan; 2-2 - Krysta Welna; 2-3 - Logan Miscannon; 2-4 - Raider Stevens; Grade 3-1 - Lena Bell; 3-2 - Educ Zamudio; 3-3 - Joshua Chowansky; 3-4 - Haley Gilroy; Grade 4-1 - Avery Dombrosky; 4-2 - Kayla Perrong, Amaya Aftuk and Tara Deesing; 4-3 - Jade Barlow; Garde 5-1 - Gabe Hepler and Ernesto Tovar; 5-2 - Kathy Selbi; 5-3 - Kaylin Najda; Grade 6-1 - Brenna Hancock and Craig Rich; 6-2 - Carrissa Pietkiewicz and Eddie Conapitski; 6-3 - Lauren Petritsch; Lifeskills - Christopher Rovinsky.