Outstanding Young Citizens 2005

Megan Abbate

School, grade: Seneca Valley School District, 7 Age: 13 Parents: Dawn and Scott Abbate Academic achievements: Rotary Club student of the month, advanced algebra student, President's Award for Educational Excellence, essay about voting was quoted in a "Butler Eagle" editorial, Drugs Abuse Resistance Education essay contest winner. School activities: Chorus, yearbook, Student Council. Community contributions : Cadette Girl Scout, assistant for Junior Girl Scout Troop 879, Cranberry Community Uniting People Charity softball tournament volunteer, American Red Cross certified babysitter, national dance competitor, pianist. Goals: "I hope to become an author of children or teen novels and an elementary school teacher after attending college and getting my master's degree.

Ryan Alan

School, grade: Pine-Richland Middle School, 8 Age: 13 Parents: Greg Alan Academic achievements: Highest honor role, Honor Scholar Award, honorable mention in the 2003 Pennsylvania Statistics poster competition, President's Award for Educational Excellence, Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary Students. School activities: First-chair saxophone in band, Allegheny Valley Honors Band, Seton Hill Youth Honors Band, Student Council publicity director, cross-country, rocket club. Community contributions: Life Scout rank in Boy Scouts, assists fellow Boy Scouts with Eagle projects, Presents for Patients volunteer, garden volunteer at churches, North Park Nature Center grounds maintenance volunteer. Goals: "After high school I plan to join the Marines. I would like to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and train to become a marine aviator and I would like to pursue a degree in aeronautics or robotics."

Laura Amster

School, grade: Ingomar Middle School, 8 Age: 13 Parents: Marcie Gerson Academic achievements: Honor roll, gifted program, Junior National Young Leaders Conference nominee, Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary Students participant. School activities: Jazz band, public announcement manager, library aide. Community contributions: Collected donations for charity on Halloween, plans to donate 10 percent of gift money from her Bat Mitzvah to charity, Miriam's Women's Shelter volunteer, Hebrew School student, tennis player, starting a business to sell picture frames and paper products. Goals: "I plan to graduate high school in one of the top places in my class and proceed to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I plan on becoming a fashion designer and actress and design for people in Hollywood while having a madly successful boutique in New York."

Alana Anderson

School, grade: North Allegheny High School, 12 Age: 18 Parents: Bill and Linda Anderson Academic achievements: National Honor Society, perfect attendance, honor roll, President's Award for Educational Excellence. School activities: Leader of Student Council service committee, concert band, junior varsity volleyball, choir. Community contributions: Girl Scout Silver Award, tutor. Goals: "I plan to major in engineering while minoring in business."

Jillian Andrews

School, grade: Shaler Area Intermediate High School, 8 Age: 14 Parents: Ann Andrews Academic achievements: Honor roll, National Junior Honor Society. School activities: Violinist in the orchestra, Young String Players Club, Strings North, basketball, yearbook editor, Running Club, musical participant. Community contributions: Assistant basketball coach, slow-pitch softball league, Shaler North Hills Library volunteer, Memorial Park Church Summer Surge Bible Camp volunteer. Goals: "I plan to continue to play my violin and be active in various orchestras, softball and basketball. After high school, I want to go to college and then law school. Someday I would like to be a lawyer and a judge."

Nathaniel Isaac "Ike" Backstrom

School, grade: Butler Area Senior High School, 12 Age: 17 Parents: James and Susan Backstrom Academic achievements: National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Model United National delegate and judge, Academic Honor Award, Who's Who Among American High School Students, Armstrong Academic Challenge participant, KDKA Butler Academic Team alternate. School activities: Varsity tennis, Most Valuable Player Award; cross-country; "Skyliner" newspaper sports editor; French Club. Community contributions: Butler Veterans' Affairs Hospital volunteer, Armstrong Community Hospital volunteer, tennis coach, trained at Top Spin National Tennis Academy. Goals: "Attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in June."

Zach Ballew

School, grade: Shaler Area Intermediate High School, 8 Age: 14 Parents: Pamela Edelston Academic achievements: Honor roll, homework collector, achievement awards in English and Pennsylvania studies. School activities: Football team co-captain, talent show participant, third-place in Titan Decathelon, baseball, Youth Advocacy League. Community contributions: Flood clean-up crew in Millvale, Most Valuable Player of the Etna All-Star Baseball Team, bass player and lead singer in the band "Operation Meltdown." Goals: "Pursue football through high school and hopefully get a scholarship to a good college and study architectural science."

Lauren Balmert

School, grade: Seneca Valley, 9 Age: 14 Parents: Donna and Michael Balmert Academic achievements: Honorable Mention Letters About Literature, President's Award for Educational Excellence, Good Citizenship Award, gifted program, filming a video documentary about Civil War photographer James Brady for the National History Day Competition. School activities: Defense attorney for Pennsylvania mock trial competition, Student Council representative, saxophone player in the band, junior varsity volleyball. Community contributions: St. Ferdinand Youth Group, St. Ferdinand altar server, co-captain of Renaissance Volleyball, Cranberry Township girl's softball slow-pitch and fast-pitch leagues. Goals: "I don't know what career I will eventually choose because I have very diverse interests in my life at this time. I hope to continue playing volleyball in high school and college. My dream is to receive a volleyball scholarship."

Lauren Barber

School, grade: Ingomar Middle School, 8 Age: 14 Parents: Jan Barber Academic achievements: Published in "A Celebration of Young Poets," honor roll. School activities: Vice president of Family Career and Community Leaders of America, gold medalist at state. Community contributions: Girl Scout Troop 985, stagehand and makeup crew for Acts of God Drama at Ingomar United Methodist Church, church usher, Camp Allegheny camp participant. Goals: "I plan to go to college to study fashion design."

Lindsay Barbour

School, grade: Mars Area High School, 11 Age: 16 Parents: John and Lisa Barbour Academic achievements: Honor roll, Who's Who Among American High School Students. School activities: French Club, Student Council, class council, REACH, Ski Club, cheerleader. Community contributions: Mars United Presbyterian Church youth group, Student Council blood drive chair, student director of church Christmas play, competitive dancer at Star-Styled Dance Center. Goals: "I plan to attend a four-year university and major in business and finance."

Scott Baret

School, grade: Hampton High School, 12 Age: 18 Parents: Linda Baret Academic achievements: National Honors Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, Keystone gifted program. School activities: Band video producer, trombone player in marching band and wind, pit and jazz ensembles, participant in district and regional Pennsylvania Music Educators Association orchestras and bands, Technology Club, Video Production Club, Teenage Republicans Club. Community contributions: High school information technology department summer volunteer, Memorial Park Presbyterian Church computer class assistant teacher, church music ensemble, North Symphonic Band, River City Youth Brass Band, National Computer Camp participant. Goals: "Attend college and major in either education or communications and continue to participate in jazz music, church music ensembles and community bands."

Kristin Barna

School, grade: Seneca Valley High School, 12 Age: 18 Parents: John and Renee Barna Academic achievements: Member of the Presidential Classroom in Washington, D.C., Who's Who Among American High School Students, National Honors Society, highest honor roll, highest grade-point average on softball team. School activities: Key Club fund-raising chairman, softball team, newspaper staff, publication editor for literary magazine, middle school tutor, chorus. Community contributions: Pittsburgh Power traveling fast-pitch softball team, Bush-Cheney re-election campaign volunteer, published poems through Creative Communications, youth group. Goals: "I am ecstatic to begin my college education at James Madison University, majoring in English."

Kayla Barnoski

School, grade: Shaler Area Intermediate School, 8 Age: 14 Parents: Kim Barnoski Academic achievements: National Junior Honor Society, Titan of the Week, highest honor roll. School activities: Cheer squad, track, Ski Club, yearbook, cast member in the musical "One Magic Moment." Community contributions: Jeffery Elementary School volunteer, hospital volunteer, dancer, gymnast. Goals: "I plan on studying to be a doctor or something in the medical field. I hope to take after my mom who has a successful life with both a family and a career as a great nurse practitioner."

Megan Barrett

School, grade: Marshall Middle School, 7 Age: 13 Parents: Theresa Barrett Academic achievements: Scholastic Achievement Certificate, honor roll. School activities: Stop the Violence, orchestra, guidance office volunteer, Book Lover's Club, soccer, volleyball, attendance recorder, dance committee. Community contributions: Bell School of Irish Dance, youth group, senior center volunteer. Goals: "I plan to attend Princeton, Harvard or Duquesne law school. I would like to study to become a lawyer, and hopefully be elected judge of a small claims court."

Adam Bartos

School, grade: Seneca Valley, 9 Age: 15 Parents: Bob and Cheryl Bartos Academic achievements: Academic Achievement recognition from Sen. Jane Orie, President's Education Award , gifted program, honor roll. School activities: Inline hockey player. Community contributions: Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop 360, Order of the Arrow member, Arrow of Light recipient. Goals: "Go into a computer-oriented job, possibly computer engineering or programming."

Derek James Basehore

School, grade: Seneca Valley, 9

15 Parents: Sharon and Gary Basehore Academic achievements: High honor roll, outstanding pre-algebra student, gifted program, honors English, biology and algebra classes. School activities: Track, cross-country, Ski Club, saxophone player in band. Community contributions: Boy Scouts patrol leader, St. Peter's Episcopal Church acolyte, Stoneridge Junior Olympic Archery Development member, Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church youth group member, farm maintenance assistant. Goals: "I hope to attend a major engineering college, such as Carnegie Mellon University or California Institute of Technology, and earn degrees in various branches of engineering including robotics and aerospace. I hope to become an engineer for a private space program or become involved in the commercialization of space. Eventually, my hope is to go into space myself."

Jenna Basso

School, grade: Pine-Richland High School, 12 Age: 18 Parents: Ron and Tamara Basso Academic achievements: High honor roll. School activities: Women's Ensemble choir, Most Beautiful Voice award, participant in musicals, Key Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions. Community contributions: New Community Church worship team and student ministries, Pine Township Halloween Hayride volunteer, Placid Place Christian Outreach volunteer, President George W. Buth Youth Coalition. Goals: "I plan to attend Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., where I will major in commercial music. I also plan to continue to volunteer to help make the world a better place for people with special needs and the elderly."

Ryan Michael Bonazza

School, grade: Deer Lakes High School, 12 Age: 17 Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bonazza Academic achievements: Honor roll, Who's Who Among American High School Students. School activities: Student Council vice president, basketball team captain. Community contributions: Altar server, junior volunteer fireman at Frazer No. 1 and West Deer No. 1 fire departments, Holy Martyrs Parish youth group. Goals: "To attend Penn State and major in mechanical engineering."

Melissa N. Borza

School, grade: Vincentian Academy, 12 Age: 18 Parents: Katherine and John Borza Academic achievements: High honor roll, National Honor Society. School activities: Senior class vice president, yearbook business editor, newspaper editor, Students Against Destructive Decisions, campus ministry, field hockey, musical student choreographer. Community contributions: St. Richard Church lector, Vincentian Child Care Center volunteer, organized a care package program for military troops, women's shelter volunteer, Vincentian Home wheelchair dance volunteer. Goals: "Study law and psychology."

Dean Borza

School, grade: Deer Lakes Middle School, 7 Age: 13 Parents: Beth and Mick Borza Academic achievements: Student Council vice president, President's Award for Educational Excellence, awards in math, reading, language arts, science and social studies. School activities: Trumpet player in band, assistant cooking instructor in family and consumer science cass, Art Club, Red Ribbon Anti-Drugs Committee. Community contributions: Planning a Student Council volunteer visit to a nursing home. Goals: " I plan to go to England, France and Italy this summer. I plan to go to Carnegie Mellon University after I graduate from high school."

Rosanna Breaux

School, grade: North Allegheny Intermediate High School, 10 Age: 15 Parents: Anna Marie and Ed Breaux Academic achievements: Student Distinguished Achievement Award, Best Band Student Award, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Lecture Series attendee, Math League member, Allegheny Intermediate Unit dance apprenticeship. School activities: Student Council finance committee cabinet head, peer mediator, piccolo and flute player in band, class council, facilitator for Stop the Violence. Community contributions: Member of Michele's Dance Center, UPMC Passavant volunteer, Carnegie Science Center volunteer, neighborhood coordinator for Student Council Gobble for Cans project, St. Alexis Vacation Bible School volunteer. Goals: "I really enjoy working with children, so I see myself becoming a clinical child psychologist or an elementary education teacher. I could see myself continuing to dance or teach dance as an avocation."

Stacey Chen

School, grade: Carson Middle School, 8 Age: 13 Parents: Lucy and William Chen Academic achievements: National Academic League captain, gifted program, Carnegie Science Center Science Bowl participant, honor roll, first-prize in physics at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Fair. School activities: Violinist in orchestras, library aide, Student Council representative, talent show pianist, Shakespeare monologue contestant. Community contributions: Volunteer musician at nursing homes, first-place prize at Duquesne Young Artists competition, third-place prize in World Piano Competition, American Red Cross certified swimmer, Tang Soo Do karate red belt. Goals: "I want to get a degree in law or scientific research. I would also like to continue my studies in piano and violin and become more involved in community service."

William C. "Chip" Kirk III

School, grade: North Allegheny High School, 11 Age: 16 Parents: Bill and Cindy Kirk Academic achievements: Westinghouse Science Honors Institute, Kitty Hawk Honor Society, National Student Leadership Conference attendee, gifted program, Who's Who Among American High School Students. School activities: Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps captain, marching, wind and jazz bands, track, commander of All-American Rocketry Team Challenge, charter president of North Allegheny Teenage Republicans, musical stage crew. Community contributions: Eagle Scout, Silver Medal -- Congressional Medal for Recognition of Initiation, Achievement or Service, St. Alexis Church Lifeteen member and volunteer, Community Emergency Response Team instructor. Goals: "My main goal is to serve my country and God. I'm interested in attending the Naval Academy or entering as a Navy or Marine ROTC at a science-oriented college. I will probably major in systems engineering and then pursue a military career. I would like to become involved in our government and I also plan to devote time to my church and Boy Scout troops."

Michael J. Chips

School, grade: North Catholic High School, 11 Age: 16 Parents: John and Mary Beth Chips Academic achievements: Honor roll, honors courses, Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Agricultural Sciences. School activities: Cross-country, drama program, directed the play "Sorry, Wrong Number" by Lucille Fletcher, drum captain for marching band, percussion leader in symphony band. Community contributions: Life Scout rank in Boy Scouts, volunteering to set up bird trails at three elementary schools, drummer for Glade Run Presbyterian Church, altar server at Holy Sepulcher Catholic Church. Goals: "Go to Penn State University, Schryers Honors College, to study wildlife management. Go to grad school and become a college professor to share my passion for the outdoors."

Kelly Cressy

School, grade: Sewickley Academy, 11 Age: 16 Parents: Mark and Tracy Cressy Academic achievements: Studied abroad in Australia, John's Hopkins Talent Search participant, Who's Who in Future Business Leaders of America, highest honor roll, Scholar Athlete Award. School activities: Varsity field hockey, Model United Nations, Teen Leadership Council treasurer, Future Business Leaders of America, varsity softball. Community contributions: Silver Ring Thing abstinence program national traveling team member, Christ Church Senior High youth group, Operation Christmas Child volunteer. Goals: "I plan to attend a top-notch college, majoring in business. I intend to obtain a master's in business administration while still serving my community through the Silver Ring Thing program."

Bethany Davis

School, grade: Ingomar Middle School, 8 Age: 14 Parents: Carol and Greg Davis Academic achievements: Honor roll, High Scholastic Achievement Award, Extra Effort Award, Distinguished Achievement Award. School activities: Secretary of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Junior Classical League, chorus. Community contributions: Operation Save-a-Life volunteer, City of Pittsburgh Homeless Rally puppeteer, Girl Scouts, Act One Theatre School, Candy Lane Acres Riding Stables, Ss. John and Paul Church nursery volunteer. Goals: "I would like to be either an actress on Broadway or an ambassador for the United States."

Gerald S. "Jerry" Dickinson

School, grade: Shaler Area High School, 12 Age: 18 Parents: Robert and Judith Dickinson Academic achievements: Honor roll, outstanding academic achievement award. School activities: Senior class president, newspaper editor, school television anchor, soccer team captain, football team kicker, athlete of the year, WPIAL All-Star and Section II All-Star soccer player. Community contributions: Bible school teacher at St. Paul United Methodist Church, organized a free soccer training camp, runs a neighborhood lawn-cutting service. Goals: "I will study a combination of journalism, communications and political science. I plan to continue my involvement in church-related activities that provide an opportunity to teach and interact with young children. I plan to conduct the free summer soccer training camp in the future."

Rexhi Dollaku

School, grade: Carson Middle School, 8 Age: 14 Parents: Sado and Servete Dollaku Academic achievements: John Hopkins University Distinguished Achievement Award and certificate, young adolescent of the month award, McKnight Knight Award, gifted program, honor roll. School activities: Peer mediator, Student Council representatives, first-chair alto saxophone in bands, National Academic League, soccer. Community contributions: Teaching English to people in Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania, martial arts black belt, North Hills Junior Golf Academy tournament winner, fund-raising for National Alliance for Autism Research and the Midwest Athletic Association for the Deaf. Goals: "Besides gaining some inches in height, and losing some in the waist, I would like to continue my academic development and eventually attend one of the best medical schools."

Michael J. Druschel

School, grade: Seneca Valley Senior High School, 12 Age: 18 Parents: James and Kathleen Druschel Academic achievements: Pennsylvania Governor's School for Information Technology, National History Day state competitor, United States National Mathematics Award, highest honor roll, National Honor Society. School activities: Founder and Webmaster of Rock Climbing Club, actor and singer in musicals, cross-country team, chamber choir, Ecology Club. Community contributions: Coordinator and founder of Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church Youth Blood Drive, President's Volunteer Service Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Young Actor's Christian Kompany, church media operator and co-worship leader. Goals: "I plan to major in engineering. After undergraduate college, I hope to go on to more specialized graduate work. It is my goal to help improve people's lives with my research and development."

Aaron Dunmyre

School, grade: Freeport Area Senior High School, 11 Age: 16 Parents: Kathleen and Bruce Dunmyre Academic achievements: Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences regional and state awards. School activities: Future Business Leaders of America secretary, varsity soccer goalkeeper, actor in musicals, chorus, chamber singers, Armstrong County Chorus, track team. Community contributions: Rosebrook Assisted Living Home volunteer, St. Joseph Church altar server, church kindergarten aide and teacher, Vacation Bible School volunteer. Goals: "Major in business and finance or pursue a medical career as a radiologist. Would like to play college level soccer."

Brandon Dunmyre

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