The Schuylkill County Women’s Athletic Association will hold its 31st annual Schuylkill County Female Scholar-Athlete Banquet at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Pine View Acres, Mill Creek.
The banquet will honor 15 female scholar-athletes from Schuylkill County and the surrounding area. Lynn Connelly DiCasimirro, a former softball standout at Minersville Area High School and a current faculty member in the Saint Clair Area School District, will be the guest speaker. Rosemary Porembo is scheduled to receive the Marie Murphy Award.
This year’s Female Scholar-Athletes are:
Aubrey Abel
Blue Mountain
An accomplished tennis player and athlete on the track and field team, Abel compiled a career record of 83-12 and was a four-year captain of the tennis team, qualifying and medaling at the District 11 championships each year she competed.
As a member of the 3,200-meter relay team, Abel helped set a school record.
Abel is a member of several honor societies and serves as vice president of student government. She is a member of Varsity Club, International Club, Prom Committee and Senior Planning Committee as well as an organizer of the 2014 Powder Puff football game, which raised more than $4,000 for the Average Joe Scholarship Fund.
The daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Abel, Aubrey ranks 12th in her class. She plans to continue her education at either Cornell University or Penn State University to pursue a career in hospitality management.
Jacqueline Pitts
Mahanoy Area
A four-year member of the cross country, swimming and track and field teams, Pitts has won 10 varsity letters. She was named a Division II All-Star in cross country as a junior and senior.
Pitts is a two-year member of the National Honor Society, serving as vice president this year, and was named Elks Student of the Month for September. She serves as president of student council, vice president of Interact Club, captain of the cheerleading squad, treasurer for the Nutrition Advisory Council and is a member of SADD and Theatre Arts Club.
The daughter of Jon Pitts and Christine Holman and Champ Holman, Jacqueline ranks first in her class. She plans to attend either Temple University or Penn State University to major in accounting.
Ashley Fannick
Marian
A letterwinner in golf and basketball, Fannick finished third in the Schuylkill League Girls’ Golf Championships in the fall. She injured her ACL in the first game of basketball season and continued to serve as a team captain.
Fannick serves as treasurer of student council and was president of her class as a freshman and sophomore. She is a member of National Honor Society, chorus, Rock Music Ministry Group, Future Business Leaders of America and serves as an ambassador to Schuylkill County Youth Conference and as a student ambassador for Marian. She volunteers as St. John the Baptist throughout the summer as well as the Salvation Army and Frackville Food Bank.
Ranking in the top five percent of her class, Fannick intends to attend college to major in biology and eventually pursuing a career as a physician’s assistant.
Katie Glore
Minersville
Glore has collected eight varsity letters as a member of the cross country and track and field teams. She is also a member of the marching band, serving as drum major and has been a member of the pit band and tech crew for the annual musical.
Academically, Glore has maintained distinguished honor roll standing throughout high school, is a member of the National Honor Society and is a starter for the Academic League team. She volunteers for the American Red Cross.
The daughter of Maria and Michael Glore, Katie ranks fifth in her class. She plans to attend college to major in character animation.
Jennifer Bolick
Mount Carmel
A decorated soccer, cross country, basketball and track and field athlete for the Red Tornadoes, Bolick served as a captain for the soccer and basketball teams and won a state medal at the PIAA Track and Field Championships as a member of the 3,200-meter relay team.
Bolick also is a member of the Mount Carmel Area Big Red Marching Band and Symphonic Band. She has been a distinguished honor roll student for four years and serves as president of the National Honor Society and National Athletic Honor Society. She has served as vice president of her class for four years, president of Peer Mediation, treasurer of the Interact Club and is a member of Future Nurses of America and Spanish Club.
She volunteers for the American Cancer Society, Toys for Tots, SPCA Drive, Lions Club Meals on Wheels and Think Big Dance Marathon.
The daughter of Suzanne and Frank Bolick, Jennifer plans to attend Penn State or James Madison to study biology.
Kayla Prezelski
Nativity
A four-year member of the girls’ soccer and track and field teams, Prezelski was a captain of the soccer team and competes in the javelin, long jump and triple jump in track. She is also a member of the LA Dance Theatre, where she’s a five-year member of the competition team.
Prezelski is a student ambassador, a Schuylkill County Youth Ambassador and co-founder of the non-profit organization “Giving Our Gift,” which raises money to make donations to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, she is a winner of the Allentown Diocese “Stand Up For Life” essay contest. Prezelski is a National Honor Society tutor, class representative for Interact Club, holds leadership positions on student government and is a member of Math Club, Science Club, Art Club, Spanish Club and Campus Ministry.
The daughter of Richard and Allison Prezelski, Kayla ranks third in her class. She plans to attend college to major in biomedical engineering.
Carly Gregas
North Schuylkill
Gregas is a four-year member of the varsity volleyball, basketball and track and field teams, earning 11 letters. She is a three-time Schuylkill League and two-time District 11 Class AA champion in the high jump, qualifying for states her first three years of high school and earning a fifth-place medal and a third-place medal.
A volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Gregas has also raised money for the Rita R. Holman Breast Cancer Foundation, volunteered four summers at the Lady Spartan Basketball Camp, is an active member of Students Against Destructive Decisions and Teens Against Tobacco and participates in Spanish Club, Pep Club, Prom Committee, Diversity Club, President’s Club, Spartan Newscast and Spartan Spectrum newspaper.
Gregas, who ranks in the top three percent of her class, is vice president of the English Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Social Studies Honor Society and National Math Honor Society.
The daughter of Patricia and the late Anthony Gregas, Carly plans to attend East Stroudsburg University to major in speech pathology.
Amy Corby
Panther Valley
A four-year member of the girls’ basketball team, Corby helped lead the Panthers to a district playoff appearance during her sophomore season.
Corby ranks fourth in her class and is a member of the National Honor Society, student council and the scholastic scrimmage team. She is the vice president of the NHS and an active member of her church.
The daughter of Vernon and Wendy Corby, Amy plans to attend Duquesne University to major in nursing.
Marla Stoner
Pine Grove
A four-year member of the volleyball team, Stoner earned three varsity letters. She also played basketball as a freshman and sophomore.
Ranking 17th in a class of 116, Stoner is the president of the Art Club and Health Awareness Club and a member of Free Thinkers Science Club, History Club, Recycling Club and Envirothon team. She is also active in the community, volunteering in the PGA youth program and Schuylkill County Special Olympics.
The daughter of Brian Stoner and Carol Leiby of Pine Grove, Marla plans to attend either Wilkes or Susquehanna and major in engineering.
Sarah Lombel
Pottsville
An All-Area soccer player and league, district and state qualifier in track and field, Lombel is the school record-holder in the 100.
Lombel is a member of several clubs as well as service-oriented organizations. She serves as president of student council as well as volunteering at various local programs and remaining active in her church.
Lombel ranks fourth in a class of 267 and is a member of the National Honor Society.
The daughter of Patricia and Ron Lombel, Sarah plans to attend college and pursue a career in medicine.
Emma Schweigert
Schuylkill Haven
A four-year letterwinner in basketball and softball, Schweigert has earned Rookie of the Year, All-Area first team and All-State honors in softball for the past three years.
Schweigert is a member of the National Honor Society, serving as treasurer, and is a four-year class officer and class historian. She also participates in Biology Club, Prom Committee, honor guard, honors banquet, French Club and newspaper. She volunteers for SKIP Clean up, Make-A-Wish, youth softball, volleyball, Red Cross Blood Drive and the Schuylkill Haven Lions Club.
Ranking ninth in her class, Emma is the daughter of Tim and Kelly Schweigert. She will attend LaSalle University, where she will also continue her softball career.
Kristina Nieddu
Shenandoah Valley
Nieddu has earned 10 varsity letters as a member of the basketball, volleyball, softball and track and field teams, earning all-star honors several times in basketball and volleyball. She was also a league and District 11 qualifier in track and field.
A member of talent search, powder puff football, Halloween window painting and float and formal committee, Nieddu was also a spring queen and homecoming candidate, football team manager, hoops for heart participant and organized volleyball, basketball and dodge ball fundraisers.
Nieddu is a member of the National Honor Society and a three-year member of student council, serving as president. She served as Shenandoah Valley’s Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador.
Nieddu, the daughter of Frank and Janine Nieddu, ranks sixth in a class of 76. She plans to attend college to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and become a registered nurse.
Brianna Wittig
Tamaqua
A two-year starter for the girls’ basketball team and a second baseman and outfielder for the softball team, Wittig batted .327 and helped lead the Raiders to a district playoff berth as a junior. She has won five varsity letters.
Wittig is a member of the National, Science, Spanish, Math and English Honor societies. She is a member of the Tamaqua Area Student Advisory Board, World Language Club, Ski Club and the school newspaper, also volunteering at her church and political events.
Ranking third in her class, Wittig is the daughter of Larry and Karen Wittig. She plans to attend Bucknell, Villanova, Drexel or the University of Pennsylvania.
Kathryn Dietrich
Tri-Valley
Dietrich has earned 10 varsity letters, playing soccer, basketball and softball. She served as captain of the basketball team.
Ranking first in her class of 58 with a 100.6 GPA, Dietrich is co-historian of her class, treasurer of the National Honor Society and historian for the Tri-Valley Chapter of the FFA. She is a member of the marching and concert bands, serves as a “Big” in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and was a member of the 2014 Homecoming Court. Dietrich was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by her peers and is an active member and volunteer at her church.
The daughter of Mark and Diane Dietrich of Hegins, Katie has applied to Cornell and Penn State, intending to major in food science.
Vanessa Johns
Williams Valley
Johns has been a member of the archery team for the past six years, earning two varsity letters. She has competed at the state level on numerous occasions and was a part of the state championship team in 2011.
A member of the National Honor Society, Johns was the Rotary Club Student of the Month for January. She has held leadership positions such as vice president of the junior class, treasurer of Future Business Leaders of America and yearbook editor-in-chief. As a volunteer, Johns decorates the Williams Valley Pharmacy to raise awareness of community projects and events, and has helped raise money for charities such as the Nadine Miller Breast Cancer Fund, Ruth Steinert SPCA and Miles for Michael.
Ranking first in her class, Johns is the daughter of Tedd and Jill Johns. She plans to attend Penn State University Schuylkill Campus to major in a STEM field.