SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT Full scholarship to Ohio State University! What more needs to be said about Jon Skinner’s ability on the football field. At 6’5″ and 280 pounds, Jon’s service were sought by a number of Division I schools, but it was coach Jim Trestle who convinced Jon to become a Buckeye. Jon first broke into the starting lineup as a freshman near the end of the 2000 season. That experience helped him to become a three year starter at offensive tackle for the Big Red. A devastating pass blocker and a superb run blocker, Jon helped the Tornadoes to a 47-7 record during his four years at MCA. He helped the offenses gain over 18,000 yards for an average of 342 yards per game. His teams also averaged 32.4 points per game while setting a new MCA record with 26 consecutive wins. He was part of two State Championship teams in 2000 and 2002 and an Eastern Conference Championship in 2001. For his efforts, Jon was recognized as a first team offensive lineman on the Patriot News Platinum 33 team, as well as being named first team all-state by the Associated Press. Jon also picked up first team honors by the Pennsylvania Football News and as a member of the WNEP – 16 Dream Team. Skinner ranks 3rd in a class of 128 with a 100.15 average and 1230 SAT. He is the son of Judy and John Skinner, Mount Carmel.

JOSEPH D. WASILEWSKI FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Each year since 1979, competition for becoming the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete has been intense. So much so, that the Hall decided to award a male and female award in 2000. In order to be named, students found that they had to distinguish themselves in some way to stand above the rest. This year’s female scholar athlete, Roxana Guerra, did something that none of the other previous winners had done – score a perfect 800 on her verbal SAT. Roxana is truly a scholar with her 100.78 average ranking first in a class of 128 students. In addition to the 800, Guerra scored a 680 in math for a total of 1480. Roxana was recognized as the Rotary Student of the Month for November and was named a 2004 Horatio Alger Association Pennsylvania Scholar. She placed third in the 2002 Northeast Science Olympiad and in the 2002 Voice of Democracy contest. She won the 2000 American Legion Auxiliary Americanist School Award and attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s School in the summer of 2003. She was also one of MCA’s representatives at the Bloom Math Contest. In addition to her studies, Roxana is very active at Mount Carmel Area, serving as a typist and “on air” anchor for WKMC-TV. She is the assistant editor of “The Watch” – Mount Carmel Area’s school newspaper. She is the President and past Historian of the French Club and Secretary of the Interact Club. Roxana is also a member of the marching and concert bands at MCA and serves presently as treasurer. Athletically Roxana has earned two varsity letters in her three years with coach John Backes and the Tornado swim team. She has also lettered in cross country, where she was a member of the All News Item Team following her sophomore season. Roxana has also served as the statistician for the Mount Carmel Area track team for the last three years. Roxana is involved in her community as a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program and has participated in the Annual Crop Walks. She helped organize a Halloween Children’s Festival in October of 2002 and is currently working on her senior project – a peace-themed garden. Guerra is the daughter of Mrs. Mirend Matukaitis of Mount Carmel and plans to attend a four-year university, majoring in history, with hopes of entering medical school. Her life goal is to work with the Red Cross and be able to help people who need assistance.

JOSEPH JAZZ DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE GPA – 100.4, Class Rank – 2 out of 128, SAT – 1290 , Sports participation – 12 varsity letters in three sports and captain of 2, Extra curriculars – enough to fill two pages – Community service – plenty! This year’s scholar athlete, Matt Demczko, certainly fits the mold of previous recipients of this prestigious Romance Chapter award. In 2000, Matt found himself on the first-ever soccer team at Mount Carmel Area. He has the distinction of scoring the first goal in Mount Carmel Area soccer history against Northern Lehigh. That team went 1 and 19, with its first win coming in game 19 vs Lourdes Regional. As a result of his play, Demczko was named a co captain following his freshman season and has held the title for all four varsity seasons. During the last two years as a mid-fielder, Matt has scored 33 goals in addition to 11 assists while helping the Tornadoes to a 9-10-1 record in only their 4th year of play. Matt received News Item first team honors in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and was given Schuylkill League honorable mention in 2002 and 2003. Matt has also been a four- year letter winner as a member of the Tornado basketball team, where he has played both the point guard and shooting guard positions. Matt has averaged 8 points and 4 assists over his career in helping the Tornadoes into post season play on 2 different occasions including this past year. Demczko has also lettered for four seasons with the Tornado track team as a hurdler and high jumper, receiving News Item honors as a junior. Demczko was named Rotary student of the month for September and was named the School Board Merit Award winner for February. He is a member of the National Honor Society and is listed among “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.” Matt’s leadership qualities continue as President of the Art Club, Vice President of SADD, and Vice President of Student Government. He is involved with the Yearbook Committee, Spanish Club, Tornado Times – MCA’s feature magazine – is a reporter and cameraman for MCA Live – MCA’s morning news broadcast, and will take on the role of Nathan Detroit in this year’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” Matt’s community service includes volunteering as a referee for Mount Carmel’s Youth Soccer Program, as an altar server in his church, as a member of the Interact Club and as peer tutor and mediator. Demczko has received the John Marshall Scholarship from Franklin and Marshall College and will enroll in the fall as a Biochemistry major with an interest in pre-med. Marshall scholars are chosen for having demonstrated a passion for learning, an intense interest in probing specific areas of study, and for superior academic achievement. His is the son of Mrs Ann Demczko, Kulpmont.