Catholic schools receive high marks in 2011-12

Local Carson Scholars

The Carson Scholars Fund announced in March that 89 students in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area were named 2012 Carson Scholars. 

Each year, the fund recognizes a select group of high-achieving students in grades four through 11 who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and humanitarian qualities. Students receive a $1,000 college scholarship award and the honor of being named a Carson Scholar. 

In addition to the scholarship award, the students were honored at a banquet in April at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson delivered the keynote speech.

Additionally, 135 Pittsburgh students renewed their Carson Scholar status. The previous winners have maintained high academic standards and a strong commitment to their communities and were recognized for their continued efforts. 

The local first-time Carson Scholars attending Catholic schools were: Terrence Ahlin, St. Katharine Drexel; Cassandra Barone, St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin; Jacob Brooks, St. Margaret of Scotland; Katelyn Cole, Holy Redeemer; Kevin Costantino, St. Philip; Marlena Darr, Serra Catholic; James Dlugos, Bishop Canevin; Emma Doerfler, Oakland Catholic; Regina Dongilli, St. Mary of the Assumption; Elisabeth Duer, Quigley Catholic; Luke Giannetta, St. Irenaeus; Claudia Hebert, Sacred Heart; Kassandra Hill, St. Therese;

Also, Michelle Karpinsky, St. Joseph Regional; Lily Kondrich, Word of God; Julia Myron, St. Alphonsus; Jamison Nee, Christ the Divine Teacher; Natalie Olivo, St. Louise de Marillac; Samantha Olszewski, Divine Mercy; Mackenzie Oravec, St. Agnes; Katherine Quigley, Brookline Regional; Megan Rosenberger, St. Joseph High; Rachael Sarnowski, Holy Child; Alex Senchak, Central Catholic; Taylor Smydo, Madonna Catholic; Kaitlyn Sweeney, St. Raphael; Anna Tassari, St. Bartholomew; and Mae Twyman, St. Margaret of Scotland.  

The Carson Scholars Fund is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 by Carson and his wife, Candy. The Carson Scholars Fund has active chapters in Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and selected areas in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. 

This year, 402 students from across the nation were named 2012 Carson Scholars. In addition, 730 students renewed their Carson Scholar status.   

For information, visit the Carson Scholars Fund website at www.carsonscholars.org.

Seton-LaSalle High

St. Francis Academy in Whitehall has a long and rich history. The first class from the all-girls' high school to celebrate its graduation was in 1935. Sadly, due to declining enrollment and budget constraints, the doors of this prestigious school closed after the Class of 1991 graduated.

The ladies who boast St. Francis Academy as their alma mater have taken that disappointment and converted it into a wonderful opportunity for eighth-grade students to realize their dream of a Catholic high school education at Seton-LaSalle High School. This tuition assistance is known as the St. Francis Academy Alumnae Legacy Scholarship. It is a $1,000 per year grant that is renewable for each of the four years of a young woman's or young man's secondary education.

The endowment is made possible through the fund-raising efforts of the St. Francis Academy Alumnae Association, as well as generous donations from the alumnae, families and friends.

The scholarship program was started in 2010 with the intention to award one scholarship per year. Over the past two years, special donations were made by St. Francis alumnae that has allowed the association to award four scholarships in 2011 and two scholarships in 2012.

For the 2012-2013 school year, scholarships have been awarded to seven outstanding youths who are currently enrolled at Seton-LaSalle. The recipients are Helen Nee, Olivia Caragein, John Kist, Alina Fencik, Mark Williamson, Bridget Sigg and Kelsey Reiser. They were selected after having demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, service to church and community, and admiration for the examples of St. Francis of Assisi.

Eighth-graders who want to pursue their education at Seton-LaSalle High School can obtain a scholarship application by contacting the SFA Alumnae Association at: P.O. Box 14590, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15234, or e-mail Jan Hayes, Legacy Scholarship chairwoman, at janhayes@verizon.net.

St. Joseph High

Gabe Schroeder, a junior at St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, was the 10th grade runner-up of the 2011-12 International Essay Contest as announced by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, New Haven, Conn.

Schroeder is the son of Edward and MaryEllen Schroder and member of Holy Martyrs Parish in Tarentum.

He received a cash award and a certificate for his essay on the theme "The Responsibility of the Catholic Citizen in a Free Society." The essay stressed the importance of religious freedom and advanced to the international level after winning the local Knights of Columbus contest sponsored by Allegheny-Kiski Assembly 928 and the Pennsylvania State competition.

The Knights of Columbus receive nearly 30,000 entries each year for this contest. Schroeder is a Columbian Squire of the St. Joseph High School Circle.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila School in Perrysville was recently awarded accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The association is a non-profit organization that fosters school improvement through self-study, evaluation and accreditation. St. Teresa was one of only 200 schools honored with accreditation in March 2012, selected from across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

With students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, St. Teresa was accredited by the MSA Commission on Elementary Schools.

MSA accreditation signifies that the educational community of St. Teresa School has engaged in a rigorous process of developing self-knowledge, has hosted an evaluation team of independently appointed educators and has created an ongoing strategic plan to move school improvement initiatives forward. This two-year process involved many members of the St. Teresa community, including faculty, staff, parents and students.

The accreditation also signifies that St. Teresa has met the stringent Middle States standards for a quality school. These standards reflect current research and best practices from across the educational profession. During the 2012-2019 accreditation term, the St. Teresa School community will continue to engage in MSA-directed reports and site visits to maintain its high level of educational quality.