Pine Grove Area
Rachel Brown and Chris Rossi were named seniors of the month for November at Pine Grove Area High School.
Rachel is enrolled in the advanced placement and college prep curriculum. During her high school years, she was involved in or a member of the art, French and physics clubs, Cardinal Spotlight Theatre, Cardinal marching, concert and jazz bands, National Honor Society, track and field and cross country.
In the community, she is a member of Jacob's Lutheran Church and a Pine Grove Community Pool volunteer. She received the Girl Scout Silver and Gold awards and attended Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week. Rachel works at Dee's Flowers, Tre-mont.
A daughter of Donald and Babette Brown, Pine Grove, Rachel plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania to major in interior design and to someday own her own design firm.
Chris is enrolled in the advanced placement and college prep curriculum. During his high school years, he has been student council vice president and a class officer and a member of the National Honor Society, recycling, French, physics, ski and statistics clubs, basketball, football and soccer.
An active member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Friedensburg, and its youth group, Chris is a volunteer coach/counselor at the Pine Grove Area Skills Academy Basketball Camp and a Schuylkill YMCA volunteer. He is employed at Burke's Dairy Bar, Pine Grove, and Jersey Acres Farms, Friedensburg.
A son of David and Leisha Rossi, Pine Grove, Chris plans to attend Penn State University, University Park campus.
Pottsville Rotary
Pottsville Area High School seniors Brianna Englert and Charles Evans and Nativity BVM High School seniors Emily Kaledas and Ryan Palamar were named students of the month for November by the Pottsville Rotary Club.
Brianna, a daughter of James and Sandra Englert, Pottsville, is secretary of her class, a two-year National Honor Society member, Leo Club secretary and a member of SADD, Diversity club, Spanish club and Teens Against Tobacco. She lettered all four years on the soccer team, serving as captain this year, and lettered three years in track.
Brianna plans to attend college and major in engineering or biology or chemistry.
Charles, a son of Charles III and Maureen Evans, Pottsville, is a member of the National Honor Society and a volunteer at Golden Living Center York Terrace, Pottsville. He played football for four years, earning a letter twice.
He plans to major in accounting and minor in criminal justice at an area university.
Emily is a daughter of Thomas and Lisa Kaledas, Saint Clair, where she attends St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church and is a Eucharistic minister. She is currently ranked fourth in her class.
Emily plays volleyball and softball at Nativity and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a member of the science, knitting and math clubs and is a peer listener and student government vice president.
She plans to attend college and pursue a career in optometry.
Ryan, a son of Tom and Theresa Palamar, Pottsville, attends St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. At Nativity, he has achieved honors and perfect attendance his entire high school career.
He is captain of the football team, having played four years, and is also a four-year participant in track and field. Ryan is also a member of the mock trial and drama clubs and is a peer listener. As a member of the French Club, he had an opportunity to visit France.
Ryan plans to attend college to study political science and pre-law. His future goal is to become an attorney and focus on criminal law.
Minersville Area
Minersville Area High School seniors Shannon Kost and William Powanda were named students of the month for October.
A distinguished honor student, Shannon is a six-year member of the marching, concert and jazz bands, choir, concert choir and choral ensemble, the latter of which she is now president. She was selected to perform in Schuylkill County Band and Schuylkill County Chorus. In the band, she is drum major and section leader and serves as librarian and secretary.
She is involved in the annual musical and ensemble and was stage manager and a tech crew member. She is a member of the Junior Garland Group, senior class steering committee, yearbook staff and Spanish Club. Shannon also played varsity soccer for four years.
Shannon serves as president of the Leo Club, and was the recipient of the Gold Service Award from the Lions Club. She is a three-year member of the PA Lions All-State Band, principal clarinet for the Gabriel Youth Orchestra and was the recipient of the Zeswitz Award for musical excellence and leadership.
She is a daughter of Mary Lou Larkin, Pottsville, and Joseph J. Kost, Gordon, and plans to attend a four-year college or university.
William is a member of the football team, of which he was captain and a 1,000-yard rusher. He is a member of the basketball and track teams, German club, prom committee and student council.
He is an active board member of the Minersville Area Leo Club and participated in Relay for Life. He also completed "1,000 miles for a cure," participated in 24 hours for the homeless efforts twice and helps with the blood drive.
He is a son of William D. Powanda Sr., Pottsville, and Sonya Powanda and plans to attend college.
Mahanoy Middle
Madison Ansbach and Luke Holman were named students of the month for October by the faculty of Mahanoy Area Middle School. The program is sponsored by the Mahanoy City Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 695.
Madison is a daughter of Michael and Anita Ansbach, Mahanoy City. She is a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City, where she is a greeter.
An honor student, Madison is a member of the swim team, seventh- and eighth-grade cheerleading, biddy volleyball, Mahanoy Area marching and concert bands, jazz band, County Band, yearbook staff, Paw Print, student council, National Junior Honor Society, ski club, theater arts club and float committee.
Her future plans are to attend Penn State or Villanova and major in medicine.
Luke is a son of Fred and Patty Holman, Barnesville. He is a member of St. Richard Roman Catholic Church, Barnesville, where he is an altar server.
An honor student, Luke is student council president, National Junior Honor Society vice president and seventh- and eighth-grade football team captain. He is also a member of the yearbook and theatre arts clubs, biddy basketball, track and field, seventh- and eighth-grade wrestling team and ski club.
His future plans are to attend college or join the military.
Mahanoy Area
Mahanoy Area High School seniors Christina Scheeler and Jacob Holman were named students of the month for September by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.
Christina is vice president of her class, student council secretary, Nutrition Advisory Council secretary and theatre arts club secretary. She is also captain of the volleyball team and was a homecoming candidate.
She is a member of the National Honor Society, cheerleading squad, choir, Chordaires, Interact Club and Bloomsburg Math Contest team. She served as Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership ambassador her sophomore year, class vice president her junior year, class secretary her freshman and sophomore years and French/German club vice president her junior year.
Christina participated in the Schuylkill County Youth Leadership conference her sophomore and junior years and the Bear Pride program her junior year. Other activities in which she was involved during her high school career include band front, business club, Relay for Life team and youth volleyball volunteer.
Athletically, Christina participated in cross country her sophomore year and the swim team and track and field teams, in which she lettered her sophomore and junior years. She also lettered in volleyball her sophomore and junior years.
In the community, Christina is a member of ACTION Youth Group, a Meals on Wheels volunteer and an altar server at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City.
She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Scheeler, Mahanoy City, and plans to attend Lock Haven University or King's College, Wilkes-Barre, to become a physician assistant, or Penn State University to major in exercise science.
Jacob is president of the National Honor Society, the senior class, student council, Nutrition Advisory Council, SADD, Interact and Teens Against Tobacco. He is also vice president of the art club and theatre arts club.
A member of the Bloomsburg Math Contest Team, enrichment program, Bear Pride program and ski club, Jacob has also been a member of Envirothon and the French/German club, serving as president his sophomore and junior years. He participated in the Schuylkill County Youth Leadership conference as a freshman and junior.
Athletically, Jacob was a four-year member of the football team, lettering his freshman through junior years; a three-year baseball team member, lettering freshman through junior years and a three-year swim team member, serving as captain his junior year and lettering all three years.
In the community, Jacob is an altar server at St. Richard Roman Catholic Church, Barnesville, a Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He has volunteered for events for the Senator Rhoades Foundation and organized a fundraiser for the Lisa Van Horn Children's Fund.
A son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Holman, Barnesville, Jacob plans to attend Villanova University to major in business or Lehigh University, Bethlehem, to major in engineering.