JEFFERSON HILLS, Pa.; June 12, 2024 – More than 160 of Thomas Jefferson High School's recent graduates were recognized for academic excellence and community service at TJ's annual Senior Honors Ceremony.
A total of 161 students were recognized in the TJ Theater. The 161 honors students represented 66.5 percent of Thomas Jefferson's 242 seniors who graduated June 4. A total of 69 seniors earned Highest Honors (4.0 GPA or higher), an increase of 11 over the past two years.
TJ Principal Pete Murphy and Assistant Principals Adam Knaresborough and Erikka Kuhse presented several awards. The officers of TJ's National Honor Society chapter – Joanna Aceto, Zoe Krizan, Caraline Sommer and Kaitlyn Sukal - also introduced several awards and presenters.
The highlight of the evening was the awarding of 28 different scholarships, totaling more than $50,000, which were won by more than 35 different TJ seniors (listed in order presented). There were two new scholarships presented for the first time, the Charles H. Bakewell "CHB" Scholarship and the Mary Gail Lautner Memorial Scholarship.
Robert Good Memorial Scholarship – Zoe Krizan, Charlotte Rockwell
Robert P. Wrobleski Heart & Soul Scholarship – Gage Derrick
Charles H. Bakewell "CHB" Scholarship – Brayden Haskins
Robert F. Brown Memorial Scholarship – Jason Siemon
Eric Holzworth Memorial Scholarship – Laekyn Flinn, Connor McCann
Kyle S. Liebold Memorial Scholarship – Brayden Haskins
John "Hoppy" Mitruski Heart & Effort Scholarship – Zoe Krizan, Emma DeSimone
Albert Breisinger Memorial Scholarship – Kaitlyn Sukal
Harry A. Anton Memorial Scholarship – Joanna Aceto
Edward Z. and Florence G. Bartolomeo Memorial Scholarship – Grace Vogtsberger
Kim Fierst Memorial Scholarship – Kaitlyn Sukal
Mary Gail Lautner Memorial Scholarship – Gabriella DeSalvo
TJ Class of 1975 Scholarship – Mia Fox, Kaitlyn Sukal
Jefferson Hills Recreational Scholarship – Evan Como, Grace Vogtsberger
West Jefferson Hills Chamber of Commerce Scholarship – Evan Como, Tyler Harrington
Rotary Club of Pleasant Hills Service Above Self Scholarship - Tirli Abercrombie, McKenna Haggerty, Kaitlyn Sukal
TJ Arts Board Scholarship – Corrin Budday, Anaiah Champo, Kayla Fentzel, Eli Fisher, Isabelle Richter
Matteo Music Scholarship – Darby Sandrock
Margie Liberati Memorial Music Scholarship – Eli Fisher
Kathy Cecotti Memorial Scholarship – Brady Bandik
TJ Arts Class of 1982 Scholarship – Brady Bandik
Society of Women Engineers of Pittsburgh Award – Joyce Xu
Synthomer Foundation Scholarship – Olivia Hall
G. Kenneth and Margaret B. Crawford Memorial Scholarship – Julie Evanchak, Jaylen Hocker, Charlotte Rockwell
Jefferson Hills Intermediate PTA Scholarship – Celia Mather, Connor McCann, Matthew Peterson
Beth Israel Center Charitable Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Scholarship – Charlotte Rockwell
TJ Faculty Scholarship – Joanna Aceto, Karolyn Day, Abigail Gallaher, Vincent Heller, Eliah Lippincott
Coffee Tree Roasters Scholarship – Abby Mahan, Lillyan Safran, Grace Vogtsberger
SHASDA Awards – Douglas Martinez, Kamala Subedi
Principal's Leadership Award – Aaron DeNardo
Principal's Vocational Awards – Josiah Moore, Dylan Saffer, Nick Vargo
Principal's Outstanding Progress Award – Garrett Bell
Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Awards – Grace Fluhme, Alexis Marcinko
WPIAL Scholar-Athlete Nominees – Brody Evans, Zoe Krizan
Stephan Mirtchev was recognized as a National Merit Scholarship commended student.
Numerous additional awards were presented and Jaguars who are National Honor Society members, AP Scholars or own a cumulative 3.2 grade point average also were among the students recognized. A school record 44 TJ students earned AP Scholars distinction this year.
During the ceremony, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy advisor Jennifer McHugh and students Kate Patterson and Jacob Palmer presented recent graduate Cassidy Hummer with a check for $10,879.32 raised at the Leader Academy's 5K. Hummer is battling brain cancer. The club's goal was to raise $5,000 at the 5K, which drew more than 300 runners and walkers.
Thomas Jefferson is the high school that serves the West Jefferson Hills SD community.
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