It's that time of year when the academic stars of Pleasant Valley High School come out to shine. Many students were recognized for their hard work at the 31st Annual Academic Awards Program held in the new high school auditorium.

"It is the night we recognize the accomplishments of your sons and daughters," said Mr. John Gress, PVHS principal in his welcome to all."It is exciting, uplifting and satisfying to recognize our students for their accomplisments," Dr. Douglas Arnold, PVSD superintendent said.He gave his heartfelt thanks to the families for their support of their children, the district's administrative team, faculty and the school board."Students get a great education at PV because of you," he said.The Valedictorian and Salutatorian were named for the Class of 2012. They are: Valedictorian is Lauren Heckleman and the Salutatorian is Marissa Gray. They each were awarded an A. Mattioli Scholarship with Heckleman receiving $6,000 and Gray receiving $4,000.Here is a list of the seniors who were recognized for their outstanding academic accomplishments.*Top 3: Lauren Heckelman; Alexander Yanovich; Brian Schoonmaker.*Top 10: Nicholas Stanovick; Alexander Yanovich; Anthony Reyes; Sarah Schillinger; Brian Schoonmaker; Samantha Frable; Marissa Gray; Lauren Heckelman; Shirley Hochhouser; Adam Parham. These 10 students will have their names inscribed on the Wall of Fame plaque in the high school.*Other: Sarah Agosta-Family and Consumer Science; Thomas Agosta-Yearbook; Uniqua Allen-Family and Consumer Science; Paige Band-Physical Education; Jessica Bentzoni-MCTI Highest Academic Average (cosmetology); Hannah Bernier-Yearbook; Lyndsay Buonforte-Journalism; Nicole Chouljian-Visual Media; Danielle DiLeoner-Art, FBLA; Gina Dispensa-Yearbook; Shannen Donaghue-Yearbook; Erin Dougherty-Yearbook; Melissa Ejk-Perfect Attendance; Alyssa Fama-Journalism; Kathleen Forte-Yearbook; Samantha Frable-Anatomy & Physiology; Andrea Giardina-Yearbook, Visual Production II; Marissa Gray-Math, Perfect Attendance; John Guadagna-Yearbook; Miranda-Yearbook; Patrick Jurczyk-FBLA; Diane Klapatch-Yearbook; Jessica Klippel-MCTI Highest Academic Average (cosmetology); Amanda Kuzman-Business; Tim Landes-Physical Education; Darian McGowan-FBLA; Sean Mullins-National Merit Scholarship; Adam Parham- English, Social Studies, AP Spanish; Brandon Ramos-Art; Nicole Regan-Journalism; Anthony Reyes-FBLA; Sarah Schillinger-Chorus; Brian Schoonmaker-Math, Physics, Social Studies; McKenna Sickels-Art; Sofia Soares-Music Fundamentals II; Alice Spina-Family and consumer Science; Nicholas Stanovick-English, Yearbook; Rebekah Stem-Family and consumer Science; Daniel Supple-Metal Working; Bao Nuong Tran-Spanish I; Vincent Voulo-Journalism; Kiram Woodruff-Yearbook; Alexander Yanovich-Math; Cody Zahoroiko-Band.*National Merit Scholarships-Sean Mullins and Cody Zahoroiko, letters of commendation. Mr. Hines, who presented the awards said there were 1.5 million students who took the National Merit Scholarship test and only 34,000 received letters of commendation.*National Achievement Scholarship-Adam Parham.*David G. Argall Good Citizenship Award-Adam Parham, Nicholas Stanovick.*National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution-Lauren Heckelman.*Beth Paul Scholarship-Kristi Dixon.*Ray Kroc McDonald's Recognition Award-Lauren Heckelman.*Principal's Award-Lauren Heckleman, Kelsey Lazicki, Anthony Ruiz. Mr. Gress said that the criteria for this award is difficult and each must show leadership skills while making contributions to the school.*Envirothon-Evelyn Barone; Eric Greisback, Kris Whalen, Tom Wojy. Mr. Craig Todd from the Monroe County Conservation District awarded the Traveling Owl Award to Pleasant Valley's Environthon team for winning the competition this year with 409 points out of 500. This is the 12th year in a row that PV won this award.Seniors Melissa Ejk and Marissa Gray received recognition for four straight years of Perfect Attendance.Each department selected outstanding students in each grade level, based on this year's achievements.Grade 11 Top 3: Evan Shibley, Blake Quinn, Brandon Burger.Grade 11: Ashlee Anewalt-Physical Education; Kody Bell-Art; Brandon Burger-Chemistry, FBLA; Jordan Caffrey-Physical Education; Nicholas Chiumento-Wood II; Elliot Custred-Electricity; Cody DeTorres-Environmental Science, Ecology; Nicholas Donatelli-AMC-12; Christina Everett-Chorus; Robert Facella-Health; Bridget Fitzgerald-Social Studies; Jedidah Flores-Social Studies; Emily Foster-Social Studies; Kayla Gregson-German I, German II; Shadai Johnson-Family and Consumer Science; Michayla Kelsch-Art; Joseph King-Business; James Korcienski-Math; Samantha Leitch-MCTI Highest Academic Average (cosmetology); Ariel McDuffy-Journalism; Paul Nuzzo-Spanish IV; Blake Quinn-English, Bausch & Lomb; Victoria Romano-Envirothon; Stephanie Schmitt-German IV; Vada Schultheis-Science; Evan Shibley-English, Math, Social Studies; Kristina Selinski-Art; Danielle Strunk-Band, Music Fundamentals I; Seth Tanner-Journalism.Grade 10 Top 3: Maria Biery; Patrick Rimple; Eric Galante.Grade 10: Kristina Adams-Spanish III; Antoni Alvarado-AMC-10, Chorus; Jeremiah Boeman-Band; Mackenzie Dorney-Health; Sierra Frink-Spanish II; Marvin Homeyer-Wood I; Dzana Krcic-Physical Education (Exchange student from Germany); Laura Kreyssig-Family and Consumer Science; Dana McAllister-Math; Andrea Nale-German III; Hailey Parks-FBLA; Laurel Perweiler-Business; Patrick Rimple-English, Math, Biology; Cassidy Schuma-Social Studies; Janae Valliere-MCTI Highest Academic Average (health profession); Aracelis Velez-Spanish III; Besnik Vukaj-Social Studies; Joshua Weidenbaum-FBLA; Trevor Wilson-English; Kenneth Yanovich-Physical Education.Grade 9 Top 3: Jennifer Braddock; Nathaniel Rhoades; Kayla Wolf.Grade 9: Samantha Bartholomew-Chorus; Jennifer Braddock-English, Math, German II; Lisa Bretzger-Good Citizenship; Emerson Bunsee-Spanish I; Ben Conklin-Physical Education; Mickey Davidson-Family and Consumer Science; Theodore Graham-Band; Kristy Hansen-Physical Education, German I; Madison Olexson-Health, Spanish II; Joseph Phillips-Good Citizenship; Nathaniel Rhoadees-Health; Christopher Schwenck-Social Studies; Anthony Taldone-Math, Science; Kayla Wolf-Business, English.Mr. Bob Hollinger of Jostens Yearbook said there were 619 school districts in Pennsylvania and Jostens works with over 400 of them and he represents 30 districts. He said Pleasant Valley High School has the finest year book advisor, Philomena Reduzzi and yearbook staff in the state."Congratulations to all our senior and undergraduate winners. You all have challenges ahead but I am confident you will meet those challenges. And please, thank your moms and dads," Mr. Gress said in closing.