SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP The first-ever recipient of the St. Pauline Visintainer Scholarship is James Lesko. Jimmy has earned the honor by exhibiting the qualities set forth by the scholarship committee. He has participated in athletics during his four years at MCA, and has set himself apart by showing strong Christian Leadership and by participating in some type of church-related activity. Lesko is a senior student-athlete at Mount Carmel Area and currently ranks in the top 10 of his class. He actively pursues the AP courses offered at the school and will have earned 12 college credits before his graduation in June. His current 4.0 GPA has placed him on the Distinguished Honor Roll throughout his time in high school and is a member of the Junior and Senior National Honor Societies. He has been chosen to receive the Junior High Pride Award in both 7th and 8th grade and has been named the Rotary Student of the Month for January. Lesko was chosen as a sophomore to attend a National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. That experience gave him the opportunity to prove too himself and his peers that he could – and would – become a leader in whatever path he chose to pursue. Jimmy is currently vice-president of Student Council and has been a writer for “Tornado Times” for 3 years. He is an anchor for WKMC in the morning and is a co-anchor of “The Red Zone”, MCA’s newest addition to WKMC’s line-up. He has earned two state championships in the Odyssey of the Mind on the state level and was a finalist in the world competition. James has served as an altar server at Divine Redeemer Church since 6th grade and is a Divine Redeemer picnic volunteer. He has helped to serve dinners at Divine Redeemer during lent and also volunteers as a St Pauline Visintainer picnic worker. As an athlete Jim has been a four-year member of the MCA baseball team and will serve as a captain for the 2008 season. His speed and quickness have made him one of the best outfielders in the Schuylkill League. His two spectacular defensive plays in a game against Tamaqua last season helped to preserve Ty Klusman’s no hitter. He also helps out as an assistant in the Mt Carmel Area Junior Baseball League. Jimmy resides in Kulpmont with his parents Corrine and James Lesko and will continue his education at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland to major in philosophy with the hope of becoming an attorney.

JAMES M. BACH SCHOLAR ATHLETE The first-ever recipient of the James M. Bach Scholar Athlete Award is Chris Johnson. Chris is a senior at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School and has been a four-year standout in basketball, football, and baseball. Johnson’s hard work and determination has allowed him to become a four-year starter for Coach Pete Long’s Red Raider basketball team as a point guard and shooting guard. Chris has consistently been among the region’s top scorers and has been named to the News-Item All Area team as a first team guard. Chris’s play has helped the Raiders to a third place finish in District IV Playoffs in 2005 and 2006 and eventually into the state playoffs. Johnson’s leadership helped the Raiders win the Division III crown of the Schuylkill League in 2008 with a 17-7 regular season record. The Raiders took North Schuylkill, the Div II champions to the buzzer before losing by a 28-34 score in the Schuylkill League semi finals. The Raiders would eventually lose the District IV Championship game to North Penn with Chris leading the way with 11 points. They would finish at 19-10 with Johnson averaging 10.9 pts per game. In addition to basketball, Chris also takes to the gridiron for Coach Mike Klembara and the Red Raider football team. He was a three-year starter at linebacker and wide receiver. He has been an area leader in receptions and has paced the Raiders from the defensive side of the ball. He was named to the first team of the All-American Football Conference as a wide receiver and linebacker following the 2007 season.. Johnson has been a starter for the Raider baseball team since his freshman year and has won the award for highest batting average for two consecutive seasons,In addition to his success in the athletic area, Chris currently ranks #1 in his class of 50 at Our Lady Of Lourdes Regional High School. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has been an active part of Student Council throughout his high school career. He also takes part in the Respect for Life Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the Business Club, Boys Service Club, as well as, many others. He is also an active member of Divine Redeemer Parish in Mount Carmel. Chris is the son of Ed and Colleen Johnson of Wilburton and plans to attend Penn State University to begin pursuit of a medical degree with an emphasis in anesthesiology.

JOSEPH D. WASILEWSKI FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE Holly Ibanez was this year’s runaway choice as the Ed Romance Chapter’s Joseph B. Wasilewski Female Scholar Athlete. Ibanez earned the distinction by her performance on the field and in the classroom. Ibanez has helped to establish the girl’s soccer program as one of the elite in the region. They have won 70 games over the past four years, including 37 consecutive games at home. The Tornadoes have won two consecutive Schuylkill League Division Titles , as well as, two consecutive Schuylkill League Crowns. She also helped the Lady Tornadoes into State play during her freshman and sophomore seasons. Ibanez finished her career as MCA’s all-time leading scorer with 105 goals. She led the Schuylkill League in scoring with 28 goals and 4 assists for a total of 60 points. She is a 2-time Schuylkill League all-star and was the Pottsville Republican Player of the year in 2006 and News-Item Player of the Year in 2007. She was also named the Schuylkill League’s All State Player following the 2007 season. Only 60 girls state-wide are fortunate enough to receive this honor. Holly served as a team captain in 2006 and 2007. She has also played Club Soccer with the Bloomsburg Teal Wave and Bloomsburg Tornadoes for 6 years. Holly also excels on the track, running the 100, 200, 400, 400 meter relay and 1600 meter relay, She has qualified for the state meet in 2006 as a member of the 4 x 100 meter relay team with Hannah Kolody, Elyse Johnson and Alecia Nolter in a best time of 51.3. Ibanez, along with Sarah Novack, Karrisa Tocyloski, and Danielle Lawler sprinted to an excellent 4:13.02 in the 4 x 400 meter relay in the 2007 District IV meet. She has been named a News Item all star. It is in the class room where Ibanez really stands out. She currently ranks second in a class of 111 with a GPA in the neighborhood of 99.8. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, and was the September Merit Award winner. She is also a News Anchor for WKMC TV, and is a News Staff Editor and Tornado Times Editor. She is a member of the Interact Club, Science Club, Spanish Club, SADD, and Future Teachers of America.. Holly plans to attend the Florida Institute of Technology in Melboune, Florida to major in engineering and to play women’s soccer. She is the daughter of David Fetter and Marcy and Kevin Kelly.

JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE This year’s Joseph Jazz Diminick Male Scholar Athlete is a prime example of perseverance in trying to find your niche, Wally Watkins has participated in 6 varsity sports during his career as a Mount Carmel Area student athlete. As he grew up, everyone was sure that he would become a high school baseball player. But soon after his freshman season, Wally turned to track and found the place where he would have the most success. As an 800 meter runner, Watkins would run to a 4th place finish in the District IV meet in 2007. He, along with, Mike Fletcher, Andrew Graeger, and Matt Kozloski, would finish 2nd at the Distict IV meet in the 4 x 800 meter relay in a time of 8:14.79. At the state meet, the same foursome ran an 8:10.64 in the preliminaries, qualifying for the state finals, but would finish out of the money for the 2nd consecutive year with a 12th place finish. The 8:10.64 ranks in the top 3 all-time at Mount Carmel Area. Wally would be chosen captain of the Cross Country team in 2007 and would be recognized as a Divison II all-star. Also a three-year letter-winner in soccer, Wally would be recognized as the Schuylkill County Scholar Athlete in 2007. Wally jumped into the pool for Coach John Backes.during his 9th, 10th, and 11th years. He, along with, Bill Joraskie, Colin Menapace, and Dan Betz would be the only swimmers on the MCA boys team, but would do enough to finish 6th at the League Meet as a team. The quartet would place 5th in the free relay and 6th in the medley relay. The same group would come up with a 7th place finish at the District IV meet in the 200 freestyle relay in the time of 1:45.96, and an 8th place finish in the Medley relay in 2:03.40. Watkins has also managed to rank 9th in his class of 111 with a 98.6 GPA and over 1450 on his SAT’s. He is a member of both the 700 and 1300 Clubs at MCA. He has been chosen as Class President as freshman, sophomore, and junior; and Student Council president in his junior and senior years. He has been involved with Odyssey of the Mind, winning the state championship with his team as a sophomore. He is involved in many community service organizations, especially with Relay for Life. He has also managed to work at Wal Mart and Lazarski’s.. Walter is the son of Amy Watkins and Walter Watkins and plans on continuing his education at Bucknell Univeristy to major in history and economics, and eventually attend Law School.