In our day-to-day lives, we all may need assistance from a wide range of people. We may have a medical issue checked out by a nurse or doctor, or we may have a vehicle problem diagnosed by a technician. We may need business consultants, or a person to handle our personal finances. We may need assistance from a police officer, or the services of a lawyer.

Chances are, in our day-to-day lives a few years from now, that wide range of people we might need could be some of the students whose accomplishments were recognized during the Tamaqua Area School District's 57th Academic Achievement Ceremony on Monday night. During the ceremony, 42 scholarships totaling $162,000 were awarded to Tamaqua students.Many awards weren't based solely on classroom achievements. The $5,000 Fenstermacher Prize was awarded to Jillian Franko for her "personal integrity, intellectual curiosity, social responsibility and excellence in the classroom and outside the classroom."Ernest Scheller II, who presented the Ernest Scheller III Memorial Scholarship (a four-year, $3,000 per year award) said beyond academics "one applicant stood out from many" because of the essay which was part of the application."This is what was written, and I quote, 'I help tutor those who need a better understanding in a particular study,'" said Scheller, as he presented the award to Madelyn Dolinsky."I read that and I thought, this is a person who definitely stands out, who reaches out to help others."In his closing remarks, District Assistant Superintendent Raymond Kinder had some words of advice to the graduating seniors."Over the next couple weeks, you'll be thanking a lot of people," Kinder said. "Make an effort to find the teachers, parents, relatives and others who have supported you over the years, and thank them."