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Students from region honored at annual dinner

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Outstanding Senior of the Year and Textbook Scholarship winner Brandon Ranck, left, with Williamsport Sun-Gazette Executive Editor David Troisi, right, at the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce 16th annual Education Celebration at the Williamsport Country Club on Thursday evening.

The Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce honored 18 students and educators, a local business and two college alumni at its Education Celebration on Thursday at the Williamsport Country Club.

For the past 16 years, the chamber has celebrated the critical link between business and education in the community, said Vince Matteo, president and CEO of the chamber.

Nine students, one from each school district and St. John Neumann Regional Academy, were selected by the chamber’s education committee. The students submitted a transcript, resume and essay about the most important thing they have learned through volunteering or work, according to Andree Phillip, committee chairwoman.

Brandon Ranck, of Jersey Shore Area High School, received the Outstanding Senior Award for his work with Relay for Life, the Technology Student Association and as a school board student representative.

He won $250 in cash from M&T Bank and a $500 textbook scholarship from the Sun-Gazette. He plans to save the money and use the scholarship to pay for his books to attend Mansfield University in the fall.

“I want to thank Jersey Shore for making me the person I am today,” Ranck said.

Going to Jersey Shore has been a great learning environment for him where the teachers and administrators play an important role in the students’ futures.

The school means a lot to him, he said. He is proud to tell people he is from Jersey Shore because it is a wonderful place.

Each student received a $50 charitable gift certificate from the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania to give to a non-profit organization of their choice; Ranck chose the Jersey Shore Education Foundation.

The eight students recognized were: Elise Sherman, of Hughesville High School; Andrew Malone, of Loyalsock Township High School; Kelly Kratzer, of Montgomery Area High School; Marlene Bassett, of Montoursville Area High School.

Justin Kramer, of Muncy High School; Anna Plotnikova, of South Williamsport Area High School; Bridget Foresman, of St. John Neumann Regional Academy; and Ryan Niklaus, of Williamsport Area High School.

There also were nine teachers selected by their districts for the Outstanding Educator Awards.

Aegina Leidhecker, music and band teacher at Donald E. Schick Elementary School, said she is honored, surprised and humbled to receive the award.

“This is my last year after 27 years of teaching,” she said. “It’s a really nice way to culminate the end of my career.”

Carina McNear, music and communications teacher at Montgomery Area High School, said when she found out she received the award, she thought about her students over the years.

“It’s an honor for every student that made me who I am,” she said. “It’s an awesome way to acknowledge every student I’ve had in 17 years.”

The following awarded educators were: Cindy Shaner, of East Lycoming School District; Barbara Fedele, of Jersey Shore Area School District; Amy Tucker, of Montoursville Area School District. Woodrow Fry, Muncy School District; Keith Cremer, of South Williamsport Area School District; Susan Miller, of St. John Neumann Regional Academy; and Kristin Takach, of Williamsport Area School District.

Alabaster Coffee Roaster and Tea Co. received the Business Partner in Education Award for its partnership with Williamsport Area High School. There is a coffee cart at the high school where students can purchase drinks crafted by 12th-grader Tymir James.

“We want to see the city made better and use business as a vehicle for positive impact in the city,” Karl Fisher, Alabaster owner, said.

The cart provides vocational training for students and is designed to act as a model for other businesses to get involved in the schools.

The two winners of the Alumni of the Year Award were Ruth Croyle, Lycoming College 1972 graduate, and John Yogodzinski, Pennsylvania College of Technology 2007 graduate.

The award is given to alumni of the local colleges who stayed in the community and have been successful.

Croyle owns East End Lumber Co., is devoted to different organizations and gives up her time and resources to the community.

John Yogodzinski owns the Graphic Hive and Converge Gallery and uses those businesses to provide Penn College students with hands-on experience.

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