The promise of big things to come binds the 10 winners of the Tribune-Review's Outstanding Young Citizens Award gold medals presented Tuesday night - a group that included four students from the Mid-Mon Valley.
As they pursue dreams ranging from winning the Nobel Prize for physics to becoming a roller-coaster designer at Disney World, the 10 gold medalists also find time to help others.
They were among 163 students honored during a banquet at the Four Points Sheraton near Greensburg. The winners were chosen from 230 nominees from 27 schools.
"We believe it is time to recognize our young people for all the good they do in our community," said Trish Hooper, marketing division manager for Trib Total Media in welcoming the honorees and their families. "We are here to honor the achievements of the area's young citizens. Among us are Scouts, class officers, artists, athletes and volunteers, to name a few."
Erin Estell, manager of animal programs at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, was the keynote speaker and brought a friend, Simon, an African penguin. As Estell discussed penguins and what it takes to train them, she spoke of the need to develop personal relationships with them. But she said that also extends to working with people, and the honorees will find that is what they will need to do to be successful.
"Remember, it's all about relationships, whether it's people or penguins," Estell told the honorees.
Judges for the medals were Laurie Corbett, vice president of operations and manager of the Westmoreland Athletic Club; Lisa Kendi, vice president of education finance at Academic Finance Corp., and Wendy Mackall, director of media relations and community affairs at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.
The 2006 winners are:
- Jocelyn Gruskiewicz: A Yough High School high honor freshman, Gruskiewicz, 15, is a two-time Model U.N. commended speaker and a cheerleader. She was involved in a drive that sent 7,000 items to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Stefan Sabo: He is a senior at Charleroi Area High School, a U.S. Senate Youth Program finalist and an Eagle Scout. Sabo, 17, attended the Governor's School for the Sciences, was a member of the golf and track teams, and was a Salvation Army kettle volunteer. He aspires to be a researcher and win the Nobel Prize for physics.
- Shawn Dilmore: A senior National Honor Society member at Belle Vernon High School, Dilmore, 17, is a National English Merit Award winner and four-year gifted program student who plans to attend law school. A three-sport letterman, he volunteers for highway cleanup projects and Toys for Tots.
- Thomas Gregg Jr.: A concert band musician and field conductor for the Belle Vernon High School marching band, Gregg, 17, was chosen to the Pennsylvania Lions All-State Band. A junior and member of the National Honor Society and the National Society for High School Scholars, he collected 11,000 eyeglasses for the Beacon Lodge. He plans to attend Harvard University.
The other winners comprised: Steven Solochier: 14, Greensburg Salem Middle School eighth-grader; Elizabeth Stein: 17, Indiana Senior High School junior; Garnet Fryling, 14, Indiana Junior High School freshman; Christopher Stem, 18, Greensburg Catholic High School senior; Irene Pien, 17, Franklin Regional High School junior, and Andrew Knapp, 17, Norwin High School senior.
