College news
Jessie Huff graduated magna cum laude with high honors from Grove City College, where she earned a degree in international business. She was president of business initiative for Leadership Development, vice president of International Business Association, chaplain of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and member of Delta Mu Delta Business Honorary. Huff is director of marketing, account development and training at Hovis Inc. A 2011 graduate of Trinity High School, her parents are Jim and Karen Huff.
Amanda Rae Kaste of Burgettstown was named to the dean’s list at Gettysburg College, where she is majoring in religious studies and anthropology. She is a member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society, Global Leaders of Gettysburg College, Gettysburg College Honor Commission, the Gettysburg College Sunderman Conservatory of Music’s Symphony Band and Bullets Marching Band and Concert Choir. Kaste has been a David Wills Scholar for six consecutive semesters. She was selected as a 2015 Mellon Summer Scholar and will receive a grant to conduct research including fieldwork during the summer, with her chosen topic of The Influential Role of Religion in the American Civil Rights Movement. Kaste will also participate in the Break Away Workshop held at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. In her senior year this fall, she will be the program coordinator for immersion projects with the Center for Public Service at Gettysburg College. A 2012 graduate of Avella Junior-Senior High School, she is a religious and spiritual life office associate for the Office of the Chaplain and Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Gettysburg College. Her parents are James and Lorraine Kaste of Burgettstown.
Zachary Naser of Washington graduated from Drexel University, where he earned a master of science degree. Naser is a 2012 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. He is pursuing a doctor of medicine degree at St. George’s University. A 2008 graduate of Trinity High School, his parents are James and Lori Naser of Washington.
Dr. Michael Shimko graduated from West Virginia University, where he earned a doctorate of pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences degree. He was the chairman of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences, WVU Student Chapter; member of the Content Advisory Committee for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Science News Magazine and was invited to present at the Molecular Biology and Medicine of the Lung conference held in Giessen, Germany. His research was focused on investigating Nerve Growth Factors (NGF) effects on airway epithelial cells to better understand NGF’s role in pulmonary disease progression. A 2004 graduate of Burgettstown Jr./Sr. High School, he is as a scientist at Mylan Pharmaceuticals in Morgantown, W.Va. His parents are Michael and Mary Kay Shimko of Burgettstown.
Whitney Waters of Washington was named to the dean’s list at Waynesburg University, where she is majoring in digital design. She was a contributer to the Mad Anthony yearbook, member of The Yellow Jacket newspaper, AIGA Pittsburgh chapter and Varsity women’s soccer team. A 2012 graduate of Trinity High School, her parents are Matt and Lisa Waters of Washington.
Amanda Wylie of McMurray graduated from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she earned a master of science degree in public health. She earned a bachelor of science degree in 2013 at Penn State University. While earning her graduate degree, Wylie was a research assistant at Johns Hopkins and completed internships at the National Institutes of Health and the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities. Her master’s thesis earned the 2015 Population, Family and Reproductive Health Department’s Master’s Essay of Distinction Award. A 2009 graduate of Peters Township High School, she is employed by RTI International, Raleigh, N.C. Her parents are David and Barbara Wylie of McMurray.