The academic merits of St. John Neumann Regional School students continue to abound.

Further proof of that was evident when the students were recognized recently for their excellence in various competitions.Several students participated in the annual Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition at Easton High School.Students who took first place were Jake Martinez, Maximum Heart rate Output Test (Biology); Madison Martinez, Soccer Field Science (Physics); Hannah Sarmir, How long will Jack last (Biology); and Caitlene Santos, Bugs be Gone! (Microbiology).Other students who turned in impressive showings were Gabe Bauer, second place, Battle of the Batteries (Chemistry); Tim Hillanbrand, second place, Marshmallows Fling (Physics); and Tom Zukowski, third place, The Dentist Bill (Chemistry).All first- and second-place students will be participating in the two-day statewide competition at Penn State University in May.Additionally, Zukowski has been awarded the 2015 Nicholas Caldarelli Scholarship from Allentown Central High School, while Jake Martinez won first place in the Catholic War Veterans Spelling Bee.In the American Legion "Americanism Essay" contest, students Mary Sarmir, Lindsay Rohlfing and Natalie Matsko each received a monetary award, and will be honored May 9 at the American Legion Post 899 in Walnutport.