Community

Kayla Gensel, Plymouth, has been named a United States National Leadership and Service Award winner by the United States Achievement Academy. She will appear in the academy’s official yearbook that is published nationally. Gensel, a student in the Wyoming Valley West School District, is the daughter of Joseph and Suzanne Gensel, Plymouth. She is the granddaughter of Casey and Jackie Dimmick, Plymouth, and Lewis and Arline Gensel, Springbrook Township.

click image to enlarge

Shovlin

Raschkovsky

click image to enlarge

Elward

Additional Photos Below

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

Leeanne Griffith, Trucksville, received an Honors with Distinction award from the Pennoni Honors College of Drexel University in Philadelphia. Griffith graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She maintained a cumulative 3.8 grade-point average at the College of Arts and Sciences. She has accepted a position at the Thomas Jefferson University Medical College in the Center for Translational Medicine. Griffith is the daughter of Ann Griffith, Trucksville, and the granddaughter of the late Sophie Chmelewski.

Alexander Shovlin and Ilan Raschkovsky, from Crestwood High School, performed with the 2009 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State ensembles. Shovlin performed with the All-State Concert Band and Raschkovsky performed with the All-State Orchestra. The students qualified based on their success at the district and regional levels. The All-State ensembles consist of the best student musicians from across the state.

Jennifer Elward, Wilkes-Barre, received the American Chemical Society Outstanding Graduating Chemistry Major Award during Misericordia University’s Honors Award Banquet. Elward, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Elward, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. The award is presented by the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society to the graduating student who has shown excellence in scholarship and academics as selected by chemistry faculty. Elward will pursue her doctoral degree in physical chemistry and biochemistry at Temple University. She plans to enter the pharmaceutical and medical research industry.

Cole Rosner, 12, a student in the gifted program at Rice Elementary in the Crestwood School District, will be attending the 2009 Junior National Young Leaders Conference to be held this summer in Washington, D.C. During the six-day program, students take part in educational activities and presentations and meet with elected officials and key Congressional staff members on Capitol Hill. They also visit relevant historical sites. Rosner was nominated for the program by his teacher, Ms. Klem.

Lauren Skudalski, Wyoming, a rising junior at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, was the recipient of the 20th Annual Charlene Lisa Chung Memorial Scholarship. The $3000 scholarship honors the memory of Charlene Chung, a 1987 graduate of Wyoming Seminary, who was a pre-med student at the University of Scranton at the time of her untimely death in 1989. It was established in 1990 as a memorial by her parents, Dr. Hiyoung and Helen Chung, Dunedin, Fla., and Wilkes-Barre, and by friends of the Chung family. It is granted annually to the student who demonstrates outstanding academic ability and leadership in extracurricular activities.