Pleasant Valley High School held its Decision Day ceremony on May 15 to honor not only athletes and the schools where they have agreed to play a sport, but also students choosing to enter the military and other academic pursuits.

“We wanted to see decision day become more inclusive,” said PVHS Principal Brian Boylan. “The idea to include academics, the military, and other paths came from a desire to recognize and celebrate all students’ accomplishments and future plans, not just athletes. Every postgraduation path takes dedication and hard work, whether it’s college, the armed forces, or entering a trade or workforce. By honoring everyone, we’re reinforcing the message that all of these choices are valuable and worth celebrating.”

The event was organized by Carley Hartzell, a counselor at the high school.

“Our School Counseling Department is a wonderful team of individuals who have sought out opportunities to recognize our students while working together as a department,” Boylan said.

Any student who wanted to share his or her postsecondary plans was welcome to participate in the event held in the gymnasium, Boylan said. Family members, college representatives, military recruiters, and scholarship donors were invited to share in the celebration.

The students who attended Decision Day, the schools they plan to attend, their majors, and sports they will play for the college include: Anayah Accilien, Yale University, global affairs and political science; Laura Ballek, Penn State University — Hazleton Campus, physical therapy, volleyball; Sysali Banks, University of the District of Columbia, criminal justice, lacrosse; Laurie Barnave, Montclair State University, diagnostic medical sonography, track and field.

Lillian Battaglino, Delaware Valley University, biology and botany; Danielle Boland, DeSales University, physician assistant program, cross-country and track and field; Anden Bordick, Marywood University, financial planning and investments, baseball; Abygail Borger, Penn State University — Berks Campus, agricultural science.

Allison Borger, Delaware Valley University, animal science; Lydia Borger, Delaware Valley University, animal science, softball; Nyia Brown, East Stroudsburg University, computer science; Devon Bush, East Stroudsburg University, nursing and lacrosse; Michaela Clement-St. Louis, Juniata College, neuroscience, field hockey; Dominico Corbo, Delaware Valley University, pre-veterinary science; Katelyn Crawford, Lafayette College, economics and government/law; Lily Decker, Cedar Crest College, pre-medicine and biochemistry, wrestling.

Jack Deemer, East Stroudsburg University, chemistry with a concentration in secondary education; Noah Dolan, University of Notre Dame, applied mathematics; Abigail Dominick, Wilkes University, pharmacy; Elizabeth Engle, Northampton Community College, ultrasound technician; Lillian Erhardt, Wilkes University, environmental science; Nicholas Esposito, Berks Technical Institute, commercial driver’s license training and lineman certification; Autumn Gilham, Culinary Institute of America, baking and pastry arts.

Mira Giunta, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, aerospace engineering with a rocket propulsion concentration; Aaron Gottfried, Northampton Community College, cyber security; Remi Grave de Peralta, Kutztown University, commercial music; Martin Green, East Stroudsburg University, mechanical engineering, cross-country, track and field; Kole Henry, Pennsylvania College of Technology, automotive technician, baseball.

Sofia Kulynych, East Stroudsburg University, computer science; Sarah Larregui, Temple University, broadcast journalism and digital media; Sara Lesnik, Bridgewater College, health and exercise science, field hockey; Aiden Lollis, Mansfield University, psychology, football; Owen Long, East Stroudsburg University, exercise science; Sophia Lopez, East Stroudsburg University, early childhood education.

Victoria Lopez, Temple University, legal studies; Anthony Manges, Northampton Community College, engineering; Layla McDermott, Kutztown University, information technology; Sarah McGraw, Moravian University, marketing management; Trista Meckes, Kutztown University, fine arts; Frank Megna, East Stroudsburg University.

Aisha Oelrich, Arcadia University, graphic design; Ashley Palmieri, Marywood University, nursing, lacrosse; Briana Palmieri, Stevens Institute of Technology, quantitative finance, lacrosse; Lydon Patascher, Rocky Mountain College, aviation management, golf; Matthew Phelps, Lehigh University, architecture.

Zachary Prator, nuclear engineering, Penn State University Berks Campus, basketball; Emma Procita, Metro Beauty Academy, aesthetics; Darianna Rizvik, Northampton Community College, global business; Isabella Ruzicka, East Stroudsburg University, nursing, cheerleadin.

Logan Santiago, Maine Maritime Academy, marine biology, swimming; Angelina Simoncelli, Montclair State University, fashion design and merchandising; Genevieve Stewart-King, East Stroudsburg University, criminal justice and pre-law; Phoebe Stone, Syracuse University, illustration; Jayneida Vale, Penn State University Main Campus, biology; Jovie Valenzuela, Bloomsburg University, business management, softball; and Jonathan Yang, University of Pennsylvania, biochemistry.

Those in attendance who plan to enter the military include: Camilo Cappelletti, Victor Custodio and Emily Whisenhunt, all United States Army; and Benjamin De La Cruz III, Lorenzo DeMaio and Emmanuel Nieto, all United States Air Force.

The recipients of the scholarships noted at Decision Day included:

• American Red Cross Student Scholarship Award — Katelyn Crawford;

• Dave Fleetwood Scholarship — Abygail Borger and Zachary Prator;

• Howard W Drake III Memorial Scholarship — Jack Deemer;

• Iron Valley Real Estate Scholarship — Phoebe Stone;

• Mattioli Foundation Scholarship — Emma Procita and Jake Smith;

• Norman A. Burger Scholarship — Anthony Manges, Nicholas Esposito, Nyia Brown and Sofia Kulynych;

• Pocono Mountain Women’s Club Scholarship — Danielle Boland;

• Pocono Mountain Arts Council Legacy Scholarship — Phoebe Stone;

• SRP Love and Light Memorial Scholarship — Danielle Boland and Jovie Valenzuela.

• St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Outreach Scholarship — Katelyn Crawford;

• West End Fair Scholarship — Abygail Borger and Lydia Borger;

• Western Pocono Memorial Park Scholarship — Allison Borger, and;

• Western Pocono Women’s Club scholarships — Lillian Erhardt and Phoebe Stone.