Italian-American society to award scholarships
Mikayla DeMarino
Cheyenne Fine
Emile Harris
Jakob Locante
Laine Mosco
Morgan Namie
Carl Nicolella
Nicole Ray
Sydney Scandale
Adriana Sciulli
Paul Seraly
The Italian-American Cultural & Heritage Society of Washington County will award 11 scholarships to area students at a dinner May 17 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe.
The scholarships, worth $3,000 each, are awarded through application of criteria that includes a one-page essay expressing their insights as a member of an Italian-American family; high academic achievement with at least a 3.5 quality-point average in a rigorous college-bound curriculum; participation and evidence of leadership in co-curricular activities; and a strong recommendation by a school staff member or official.
With this year’s awards, the organization will have presented 142 scholarships to Washington County residents since 1992. Tickets are available by calling Jack Barcelona at 724-483-2380
Recipients are:
Mikayla Kimise DeMarino, Trinity Area High School – DeMarino is in the top 10 percent of her graduating class, and carries a 4.34 quality-point average in an academic program that includes Advanced Placement calculus, English, psychology and statistics. She is a member of the orchestra, Student Council, Principal Advisory Committee, softball team, Ski Club, National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society.
DeMarino placed second in the WPIAL and second in the PIAA rifle championships. Her parents are Kyle and Dana DeMarino.
Cheyenne Rose Fine, Ringgold High School – Fine is in the top 10 percent of her graduating class, having earned a 3.93 quality-point average. Her honors and Advanced Placement courses include English 11 and English 12. Fine is a member of the marching and jazz bands, Pennsylvania Math League, Interact Club, tennis team, percussion team, Ringgold Stream Camp and Spanish Club.
She has accumulated 120 volunteer hours at Monongahela Valley Hospital, is a Salvation Army bell ringer, participates in Relay for Life and is a youth volunteer for Options Pregnancy Resource Center. Her parents are Roger and Rosemarie Gioia Fine.
Emile Ann Harris, Washington High School – Harris ranks second in her class of 83 students with a 4.33 quality-point average. Her studies include college-in-high school chemistry, calculus and computer programming visual, as well as Advanced Placement English, biology and College Academy. She is a member of the National Honor Society, math competition team, and marching, symphonic, steel drum and jazz bands.
Harris has been selected to be a member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association’s county band for the past three years. Harris has devoted many hours to service projects, including working with mentally challenged adults, participating in her hometown March Against Violence and joining in cleanup efforts at two local parks. Her parents are Jeffrey and Judy Sorice Harris.
Jakob Blaser Locante, Washington High School – Locante maintains a 3.82 quality-point average while being enrolled in many advanced classes, as well as college-in-high school computer programming visual and Advanced Placement English. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Ski Club and tennis, soccer and lacrosse teams.
Locante has been a volunteer and trainer at Washington Hospital for the past five years, organized a campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence and participated in a local March Against Violence. His parents are Louis and Kelly Locante.
Laine Allison Mosco, Char-leroi Area High School – Mosco ranks first in her class of 99 students, maintaining a 4.55 quality-point average in honors courses and Advanced Placement biology and English. She is president of Student Council and Future Business Leaders of America. Mosco is secretary of the National Honor Society, a Student Forum representative and a member of the class executive committee and cheerleading squad.
Mosco also received the Rensselar Medal, Bausch & Lomb Medal and Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Award. She placed first the in the state FBLA Word Processing competition and first in regional FBLA Business Procedures. Mosco chairs a Relay for Life, team, participates in Charleroi Cleanup Days and is a student helper for blood drives. Her parents are Raymond and Tracy Ann Mosco.
Morgan Elizabeth Namie, Trinity Area High School – Namie has a 4.25 quality-point average while being enrolled in Advanced Placement English 11, English 12, calculus, environmental science and psychology. She is a member of the National Honor Society, soccer and lacrosse teams, serving as captain of the lacrosse team, Ski Club and leadership committee.
Namie volunteers for Stockings-for-Soldiers, the American Cancer Society Ball and National Make a Difference Day, and is an assistant in the guidance office.Her parents are Michael and Cindy Ann Cimino Namie.
Carl Peter Nicolella, Peters Township High School – Nicolella has a 4.35 quality-point average while being enrolled in honors courses and Advanced Placement statistics. He is a keyboardist with the jazz band and volunteers for Washington Pet Search and Peters Township Public Library, where he taught computer skills to senior citizens and assisted in setting up computer and email accounts.
Nicolella has been employed as a bag-room attendant and caddie at St. Clair Country Club and sales associate at Simmons Farm. His parents are Carl and Dina West Nicolella.
Nicole Dominique Ray, Canon-McMillan High School – Ray ranks among the top 10 percent of her class with a 4.19 quality-point average inhonors classes and Advanced Placement psychology. She is a member of the marching, concert and symphonic bands, and has qualified for district and county band. Ray is a member of the volleyball and track teams, Spanish Club, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Her parents are Michael and Elizabeth DeNardo Ray.
Sydney Marie Scandale, Washington High School – Scandale ranks among the top 10 percent of her class with a 3.85 quality-point average in advanced classes, Advanced Placement English and college-in-high school web design and computer programming. She has been a member of the softball and track teams, and is a sales associate for American Eagle Outfitters.
Scandale has had to limit her activities since she is the primary caregiver for her single-parent father, who sustained a serious job-related injury. Her parents are Michael Scandale and Tonya Everhart.
Adriana Isabella Sciulli, Canon-McMillan High School – Sciulli ranks among the top 10 percent of her class with a 4.24 quality-point average in honors classes and Advanced Placement classes in psychology, literature and composition and Spanish. Sciulli is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, drama club, Newcomers Club and newsletter committee, and serves as a peer mentor.
She also is a Challenge Award Winner, which is given to the student who achieved the highest number of community service hours in the class, for volunteering at a nursing home and public library. Her parents are Mario and Altea DeFelice Sciulli.
Paul Anthony Seraly, Peters Township High School – Seraly has a 4.61 quality-point average in honors classes and Advanced Placement psychology and chemistry. He has been a member of the wrestling team and Students Against Destructive Behavior. Seraly also is a natural body-building competitor and is employed at Anytime Fitness. His parents are Mark and Loretta Graziani Seraly.