Jim Thorpe area school students took home a batch of awards for academic, scientific, computer and chess excellence at recent regional competitions. The winners and participants were announced at Monday night's Jim Thorpe Area School District board meeting.

The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science winners were: eighth graders Christian Gould and Alex Hauck; ninth graders Margaret Halloway and Stephanie Zemaitaitis; eleventh grader Lindsay Capper; and twelfth grader Haley Cope. They were coached by Nathan Donahue and Paul Eichelberger. The team will compete next at the state competition at Penn State University in May.A team of Jim Thorpe eighth grade students took first place at the Academic Challenge Eighth, described by Superintendent Barbara Conway as the "College Bowl of Eighth Grade." The winning team consisted of Nicholas Rosahac, Emelyn Shirley, Christian F. Gould, William Summers, Christopher Williams, and Trevor Keefer. The team was coached by Robert Lee and Amy Burkey.Three trophies were given at the High School Computer Fair to a Jim Thorpe High School team coached by Diane Gabrielle. Second place trophies were brought home by Monica Silney and Haley Cope; and a third place trophy went to Kyle Twesten and David Saunders.Two trophies were given at the Middle School Computer Fair to a team coached by Rose Strubinger. Emma Gavornik and Natalie Terpstra won first place, sending them to the state competition in May. Trinity Murphy, Ashley Hill and Sky Gould won second place.In addition, the Jim Thorpe Area School District Chess Team, coached by Eric Hill, took third place, out of 33 schools, at the Pennsylvania State Scholastic Chess Championships in Carlisle."We have a lot to be celebrating," said Conway of all the success by Jim Thorpe students.