Fox Chapel Area High School senior Luca Poli and junior Laila Golla were named 2024-2025 High School All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The honor recognizes high school athletes whose accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength and conditioning. The athletes are also recognized for their academic accomplishments, as well as their integrity as student-athletes and for being role models for their peers. Luca was recognized for football, but also participates on the Unified bocce and track teams. Laila was recognized as a multi-sport athlete and participates on the girls tennis and crew teams.
Luca and Laila were nominated by Fox Chapel Area High School social studies teacher and interscholastic strength and conditioning head coach Brandon Peifer. According to Peifer, Luca and Laila are both team leaders who are well-respected by others.
“Luca embodies all the qualities that we look for in our student-athletes. Over the years, he has won numerous awards for football, and his dedication to physical preparation throughout his high school career has been exceptional,” Peifer said. “In addition to being a scholar-athlete, Laila has a strong passion for community service. She also has a commitment to public health and she serves as a Youth Advisory Council Member for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and she contributes to youth-centered health policies at Penn State University.”
Fox Chapel Area High School junior Ulyana Kubini was named a 2025 Carson Scholar, and junior Joanna Li had her status as a Carson Scholar renewed and was named a Recognized Carson Scholar. Both students were invited to attend the Carson Scholars Fund’s Annual Pittsburgh Awards Banquet on April 6 at Acrisure Stadium, where they were honored for their accomplishments.
Each year, the fund awards $1,000 college scholarships and the coveted honor of being named a Carson Scholar to a select group of high-achieving students in grades 4-11 who not only demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, maintaining at least a 3.75 GPA, but also display strong humanitarian qualities. The students also receive an Olympic-sized medal.
Fox Chapel Area High School junior Mariana Ramirez has been named one of two winners of the 2025 Luminari Award. As a 2025 Luminari Award Scholar, Mariana will receive a scholarship worth more than $1,200 to attend Luminari’s “I Want to be an Ambassador!” camp June 10-18 in Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. The camp will welcome 20 students, two from the Pittsburgh area, and will allow participants to engage with diplomats, visit embassies and tackle real-world challenges – all while learning innovative strategies to foster mutual respect and collaboration.
Luminari Award Scholars are selected based on an annual essay competition that challenges teens in grades 7-11 to explore what diplomacy means to them. This year’s essay competition highlighted the importance diplomacy plays in our daily lives, and, according to Luminari, the winners truly embody this spirit.
Mariana’s essay reflected on navigating cultural differences with empathy and understanding.
“This program will give me the opportunity to gain new skills, expand my knowledge and show that immigrants can succeed,” Mariana said.
As a Colombian immigrant, she passionately described her journey to challenge stereotypes and inspire others to pursue their dreams. Mariana plans to use these lessons to grow as a leader and pursue a career in nursing. With a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives, she hopes to use diplomacy to build connections, foster mutual respect and honor her parents’ sacrifices.
Mariana is already making a positive impact at Fox Chapel Area High School, according to her teachers.
“Mariana approaches every challenge with perseverance, supports her peers with genuine compassion, and consistently puts in the effort to achieve her best,” said English as a Second Language teacher Kathy Rombach. “Her dedication and positive attitude make her a joy to teach and an inspiration to those around her.”
Science teacher Jennell Wolfe said, “Mari’s genuine desire to learn, confidence, and leadership qualities have earned her this well-deserved award. Her dedication and resilience throughout high school have truly set her apart.”
“Mariana is a dedicated student who consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a positive attitude,” said math teacher Gail Hetu. “Her commitment goes beyond simply completing assignments – she shows a genuine drive to understand the concepts behind the math. Her determination and thoughtful approach to learning make her a standout in the classroom.”
Several Dorseyville Middle School students earned high scores in the annual Pennsylvania Math League Contest. The students are seventh graders Brian Xu, who attained a perfect score and earned first place in both the state and local (encompassing the greater Pittsburgh area) competitions, and Shengfeng Fei, who placed second in the state and local contests; eighth-grader Rishabh Krishnamurthy, who earned fourth place locally and 17th in the state; and sixth-grader Ellie Huh, who placed third in the local competition. Eighth-graders Ario Homayoun, Zoe Liu and
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Additionally, the Dorseyville Middle School eighth-grade team placed second locally and fifth in the state, the seventh-grade team placed third locally and 12th in the state, and the sixth-grade team placed second locally and 15th in the state.
The annual PAML Contest is a mathematics competition offered to students in grades 4-12. The students have a limited amount of time to answer 35 high-level math questions. The purpose of the competition is to give students the opportunity to challenge themselves and build problem-solving skills.
All placed in the top 30 in the state.