Seneca Valley senior Sara Ahlgren recently competed in the singles division at the State Bowling Tournament held in Ephrata. She placed among the top 12 girls from the Western PA regionals who qualified for states. Twenty-four girls, 12 from both eastern and western PA, competed in six games for the top five seats of the finals rounds held March 15.  Sara ended the day in the first round of the finals, earning her fifth place.  2012 was the first year for bowling teams at Seneca Valley. Sara was the only girl on the girls team who qualified in the singles individual championship. The team is …

Seneca Valley juniors Dhruv Kohli and Michael Glatz, who both take advanced placement chemistry, recently were selected to attend a two-week residential program at BASF Science Academy. The event takes place July 16-26 at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. Dubbed “From Molecules to Marketplace,” the program is fully funded by the BASF Corporation and will allow students to use advanced chemistry to create their own products, develop a marketing plan and package and present their products to a team of BASF business leaders.  Students who graduate from the program receive two …

These Raiders are thinking champions—and they have the awards to prove it. Several Seneca Valley students recently earned honors, including two national championship titles, at the National Academic Games competition in Wheeling, W.Va. Alex Garcia, a sixth grader at Haine Middle School, was named the Academic Games On-Sets Individual National Champion for his age level. Ryan Stelitano, also a sixth grader at Haine Middle School, was named the Academic Games Equations Individual National Champion The national third place team for on-sets included five students from Haine Middle School. They …

The Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV’s executive director recently honored William Price, a fourth-grade student at Rowan Elementary, with the Creativity Award for his painting, “Warhol Cow Wallpaper.” William’s work was selected at the organization’s 2012 Very Special Arts Exhibit. The award was initiated four years ago to celebrate the creativity of area students. Each year, one piece is selected from the Very Special Arts Exhibit for this honor. William’s painting was chosen from more than 600 entries. For his effort, William received $50, a certificate of recognition and the distinction of…

On Monday, Seneca Valley officials recognized volunteer firefighters—who also happen to still be in high school. The following volunteers were honored Monday at the Seneca Valley School Board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Tracy Vitale also presented each firefighter with a certificate of recognition. Evans City Area Fire Department Danielle Green: 11th grade  (junior firefighter) Richard Wilbert: 11th grade (junior firefighter) Harmony Volunteer Fire Company Rachel Beck: 11th grade (junior firefighter) Brandon Andrews: 12th grade (senior firefighter) Nicholas Donatelli: 12th grade (senior …

Four Seneca Valley students recently were recognized as top performers in U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire’s district for the 31st annual Congressional Art Competition. Senior Taylor Lantz was chosen as the winner of the contest, which is sponsored by the Congressional Art Caucus. Her classmates Bria Davis, Tyler Dorsch and Deanna Magiske all were finalists. Students from Altmire’s district were invited to submit original works of art to be judged for the exhibition. A total of 53 pieces were evaluated on behalf of Altmire by a panel of local art experts. The 15 finalists, including Lantz, also …

Seneca Valley sophomore Emily Clark has been chosen as the junior representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. She is one of just two students chosen from across the state to be a member of the board. To earn the spot, Emily participated in a rigorous selection process. She now will spend the 2012-13 school year representing 1.8 million Pennsylvania students as a board member in a non-voting capacity. In addition, she will chair a student summit on educational issues facing Pennsylvania students on the house floor of the State Capital next February. The state board works …

Seneca Valley senior Cara Lucas has been named a 2012 National Merit Finalist. Cara now waits to hear if she has won a National Merit Scholarship, which will earn her the elite title of National Merit Scholar. National Merit finalists are selected on the basis of their academic skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Cara is the daughter of John and Patricia of Cranberry Township. -- Photos and information submitted by Seneca Valley School District. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Editor Jessica Sinichak …

The season might have ended for girls varsity basketball players at St. Gregory Catholic School in Zelienople, but the team still is celebrating Bella Marra’s amazing half-court shot in a recent victory over Glenshaw's St. Mary of the Assumption. During the quarterfinals of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh's Class A playoffs, the 14-year-old sunk the three-pointer just as the buzzer rang to end the game March 2. Thanks to the Cranberry teen’s skilled shot, the Lady Wolves won the game, 34-33. “We are very proud,” said Debi Allen, secretary at St. Gregory. The varsity team’s season …

Name: Michael Kolor School: Seneca Valley Middle School Whiz Kid Accomplishments:  Johns Hopkins University  recently honored Michael, an eighth-grader, for his performance on the SAT, which he took in seventh grade. After receiving a high score on the math portion of the exam, he was one of 700 U.S. and international middle school students that the university’s Center for Talented Youth honored. Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: At the encouragement of a math teacher, Michael last spring participated in a talent search through Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth, which supports …

Susan Francino, Daniel Willard and Kelly Cotton all were celebrated as Patch Whiz Kids in February after they were named finalists in the Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. All three students have since earned the title of National Merit Scholars.  "We are so excited and hopeful for all of them," said Sharon Shoaf, Kelly's mom. Below is the orginal article on the Whiz Kids' accomplishments. If you know of Whiz Kid who you think should be featured on the site, email editor Jessica Sinichak at jessica.sinichak@patch.com. Congratulations! Names: Susan Francino, Daniel Willard and Kelly …

Name: Josh Stickle Age: Just turned 7 School: Connoquenessing Valley Elementary Whiz Kid Accomplishment: The kindergartner was the top fundraiser this year at his school. Things started off when he donated $20 of his own money to Jump Rope for Heart, which raises funds for the American Heart Association. So far he has raised $564. Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: When Josh asked his mom, Jen Stickle, if he could get a Mohawk-style haircut, she gave him the green light but with two conditions. “I told him he could get one if he used it to raise awareness for the American Heart Association,” she …

Whiz Kid's Name: Daniel Lowery  Whiz Kid's Age: 15 Whiz Kid's School: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Daniel built an entire outdoor classroom for the students at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School. He also is in process of beautifying the north entrance to the school’s lobby for another project. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Kelly McCarron, a member of the Cranberry Patch Moms Council, nominated Daniel as this week’s Whiz Kid. McCarron, who is the landscape chairwomen at Conoquenessing Valley, said Daniel, an Eagle Scout candidate, built three …

Name: Allison Jansto Age: 17 School: Seneca Valley Senior High School Whiz Kid Accomplishment: Allison is one of five students selected for the Bayer Scholar Program at Duquesne University. As a Bayer Scholar, she will receive a full-tuition scholarship to the school and receive mentoring from both Duquesne faculty and Bayer professionals. She also will participate in two summers of paid research at Duquesne. The Bayer Corp. also will offer her two summers of internships. Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: This is one busy senior student. Along with playing the oboe in Seneca’s symphonic band, …

Name: James Fetterman Age: 18 School: Seneca Valley Senior High School Whiz Kid Accomplishment: James won first place for his web page, “Calvin Coolidge: Voice for Liberty” at the National History Day regional competition March 31 at Westminster College. He advances to the state competition May 11 at Millersville University. Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: While he already had an interest in history, James, a Boy Scout, entered the National History Day competition at the urging of Dale Wagner, his gifted support teacher. “He was really encouraging me to do it,” James said. James, who plans to …

Name: Alexys Smith Age: 12 School: Evans City Middle School Whiz Kid Accomplishments: A sixth-grader, Lexi has been accepted to attend a law program for students with visual impairments in Washington D.C. She is one of only 24 kids chosen from across the country to attend the April event. While there, she will tour the Capitol building and the White House. Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: Born with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, a condition where the optic nerves didn’t fully form, Lexi has been blind in both eyes since birth. Heather Williams, Lexi’s mom, said her daughter never let her condition stop …

Name:  Haley Loesch Age:  12 School: 6th grade at Haine Middle School Whiz Kid Accomplishments: A competitive dancer with Star-Styled Dance Center who has won numerous awards, Haley took the lead in making get-well cards for Cranberry Township police Cpl. Dan Hahn. Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: Haley, whose mother is a police officer with the Evans City department, went to her teachers at the middle school and asked for permission to allow her fellow setudents to make cards for Hahn. The Cranberry Township officer was seriously injured last month after he fell more than 20 feet from a highway …

Name: Aly Eagle Year: Sophomore School: Penn State Behrend Whiz Kid Accomplishments: This eagle takes flight on the courts. A player on the Penn State Behrend women’s basketball team, Eagle scored 22 of her career-high 27 points to spark her team’s comeback and eventual victory over Marywood University in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday Whiz Kid Key to Awesomeness: A 2009 graduate of Seneca Valley, Eagle, 20, is leading her conference in three-point shots. Rick Eagle, the attendance officer for the Seneca Valley School District, said his …

Hailie Sandor ○      Whiz Kid's Age: 16 ○      Whiz Kid's School: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School ○      Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: She's a leader. Hailie was chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. For six days, Hailie will join high school peers with diverse backgrounds and with different viewpoints who, like her, were selected from across the nation to join the program. ○      Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: As an NYLC National Scholar, Hailie -- who hopes to one day become a secondary history teacher -- will witness the public process in action, …

Miranda Wack ○      Whiz Kid's Age: 17 ○      Whiz Kid's School: Seneca Valley Senior High School ○      Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: A senior at the high school, Miranda was named an honorable-mention winner in the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh Essay Contest. The contest included essays from high school students in a 70-county area. For Miranda's achievement, she was awarded a $200 savings bond.  ○      Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Miranda wrote her essay about one of the hottest topics in Western Pennsylvania right now, Marcellus Shale. While writing the essay was a …