JAMES M. BACH SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD The 2010 recipient of the James M. Bach Scholar Athlete Award is Joseph Gownley. Joey is a senior at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School and has been a member of the football, basketball, and baseball teams throughout his four years in high school. He has started for the past two seasons for Coach Mike Klembara’s Red Raider football team, and this past season helped them win the All-American Football Conference Championship and earn a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. He was one of the leaders in receptions during the 2009 season. He was named 2nd team All Conference at tight end and linebacker following the 2008 season and would move up to the 1st team at both positions in 2009. In addition to football, Joe has started at center for Coach Pete Long’s Red Raider basketball team. His play has helped OLOL secure a spot in the District IV Single A playoffs in 2009 and 2010. Though undersized for his position, his hard work and determination have enabled him to lead the team in rebounding. He was also named captain for the 2010 season. Gownley has also been a three-year starter for Coach Dave Olsheskie’s Red Raider baseball team, both at first base and in the outfield. As a first baseman, he received the highest fielding percentage award following the 2009 campaign. In addition to athletics, Joe also excels in the classroom where he has been an honor roll student throughout his high school career. He has served as a Student Ambassador and has also been a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions and the Boys Service Club. He is an active member of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel where he has been an altar server for eight years. Joe is the son of Ted and Debbie Gownley of Mount Carmel and plans to attend Bloomsburg University to pursue a degree in engineering.

SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP Mother Pauline, the namesake of this scholarship, was a person who spent her life devoted to God and the teachings of the church. She also had serious health problems due to complications of diabetes and eventually became blind. Despite these problems, Mother Pauline continued to persevere and continued to help others. This year’s recipient, Seth Scicchitano, has also had to overcome terrific obstacles, but has used Mother Pauline as an inspiration in his own life. Seth was born with severe hemophilia, a blood clotting disorder that causes painful joints and muscle bleeds, which can cause swelling and restricted movement in the affected area. In order to compete, Seth treats himself three times per week in the hope of preventing bleeding episodes from occurring. Because he has chosen to compete in basketball, complications occur with every fall, bump and bruise. Despite the pain, he has always given 100% to his sport and refuses to let it make him a spectator. Not only does he compete, he is recognized as one of the best point guards to play for the Red Tornadoes in a number of years. Seth has led the Tornadoes into District IV play in each of his three years as a starter. This season, he has averaged close to 14 points per game, scoring in doubles in all but three starts. Even more impressive is that he averages only 1.8 turnovers per game while handling the basketball most of the time. Scicchitano is also very active in his school, serving as president of Student Council, vice president of SADD, vice president of the Tech Ed Club, treasurer of Peer Mediation, and a member of Future Teachers of America. Seth is also the sports editor and anchor for WKMC-TV. He has been recognized as a Junior High Pride Award winner, Elks Student of the Month, the Rotary Student of the Month and the Presidential Award. Academically he is a distinguished honor roll student and is a member of the National Honor Society. Outside of school, Seth is a devoted altar server at Divine Redeemer Parish and has volunteered at church picnics and functions. He is also a lifeguard at the Mount Carmel pool in the summer, where he also teaches swim lessons to youngsters. Seth would like to pursue a career in news and broadcasting, even though he would love to stay involved with basketball as a coach. His future plans are to attend Bloomsburg or Kutztown to major in Communications. Seth is the son of Jolene and Sam Scicchitano of Mount Carmel.

SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP Another of the deserving Pauline Visintainer Scholars is Carissa Zimmerman, a senior at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School. Carissa has attained the award after handling a number of difficult situations regarding her athletic career. She injured her right knee on different occasions while playing basketball, tearing her ACL and both meniscus during her freshman year with 7 games remaining in the season. She then tore the medical meniscus in the first summer league game heading into her senior season. Surgeries, followed by long and tedious rehabilitation, helped to make her a stronger person and better athlete. Zimmerman has been an integral part of the success of the Lady Raiders during her four years on the court. Her unselfish play helped the Raiders back into District IV play as a sophomore, where they would finish as District IV runners-up. As a junior, the Raiders took it all the way to the top by winning the Class A District IV championship, The Raiders would repeat their District IV Championship in 2010 with a 50-25 win over Cowanesue Valley. Carissa also made her way to the court for the Raider volleyball team and has been named to the Schuylkill League and Twin Valley League first team all stars. She has also found time to be involved with the Library Club, Spanish Club, SADD, GAL, Respect Life Club, Pep Club, Business Club, Lourdes Spring Musical stage crew, and homecoming committee. She has also been inducted into the Spanish National Honor Society and the National Honor Society, and has served as a Student Ambassador. As a senior, she has been elected class Secretary, been a member of the Homecoming Court, and chosen as a captain for both basketball and volleyball. She is an active member of Holy Angels Parish and is a volunteer at Serenity Gardens Assisted Living Community. Carissa has been accepted to a number of schools, including Susquehanna, Shippensburg, University of Scranton, Marywood, Duquesne, and Penn State, and will pursue a degree in Biology with a future in the medical field. She is a daughter of George and Karen Zimmerman of Kulpmont.

SAINT PAULINE VISINTAINER SCHOLARSHIP In addition to fulfilling all of the traits needed for the Visintainer Scholarship, Jen Kalinowski is one heck of a basketball player. She has been a four0year letter winner and three-year starter for Coach Mike Klembara’s Red Raider basketball team. She has been the “go to” player during the last two seasons, leading the Raiders to the District IV A Championship as a junior and to a repeat title in 2010. Jen was named to the second team Pottsville Republican and honorable mention by the Sunbury Item as a junior, following her 26 point effort in the District IV Championship game. This year, she met one of her goals in helping the Raiders defeat Marion Catholic twice – something that hasn’t happened in at least 8 years. She is currently the top foul shooter in the Schuylkill League, making 87.5% of her shots. She has been named the “Player of the Week” by the Pottsville Republican on at least one occasion. Jen has also contributed to Lourdes athletics as a four-year letter winner and three-year starter with the volleyball team. She has been named to the Twin Valley Conference All Star team for three years and is a two-time selection to the Schuylkill League all star team. She was an invitee to the 3rd Annual Schuylkill League Volleyball All Star Game at Martz Hall. She is a two-time letter winner in softball and last year tried her hand with the MCA track team as part of the very successful co-op. Kalinowski has also played in the Keystone State Games and also in the USA Junior Nationals at Penn State in the summer of her freshman year. She was then chosen to play in the International Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Jen has managed her success even though she had to overcome a number of injuries including an unstable left shoulder and broken foot during her volleyball career. She also broke her foot playing AAU Basketball, suffered other assorted sprains and strains, including an Achilles tendon sprain. The latest injury was a fractured and dislocated radius, which kept her out of 6 games as a senior. Jen also fins time to volunteer with her church picnic and Easter egg hunt, as well as, at Serenity Gardens Assisted Living Center. She has participated in the Pregnancy Care Center Walk for Life, Birthright of Sunbury Baby Showers, and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. She has been the Junior and Senior Class Vice President, a Lourdes Student Ambassador, a National Honor Society member, and a Spanish Honor Society member. She has been accepted to a number of schools, but is leaning towards King’s College or Shippensburg to major in Elementary Education or Exercise Science. She is the daughter of Andy and Doris Kalinowski of Coal Township.

JOSEPH D. WASILEWSKI FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLERE Emily Skonecki is another fine student athlete at Mount Carmel Area who has managed to juggle athletics with academics at a very high level. Emily will have earned 8 varsity letters during her career at MCA by the time she graduates this June. She has been a four-year starter as a defender for Coach Rich Miller and his fine Tornado Girls Soccer program. Skonecki has been a main cog in the teams’ success over the course of her career in which the Tornadoes have posted a fine 55-20-4 record. They have qualified for District IV play in each of those years and were the Schuylkill League champions in 2007. Emily was elected captain during the 2009 season where the team put up a terrific 11-7-1 record. Skonecki has also been an important member of the Tornado track team since her freshman year and has participated in the 400, 800, 4 x 400, and 4 x 800 meter relays. She has been a district qualified in the 800 for three years and as a member of the 4 x 800 meter relay in each of the last two. Emily, along with Rachel Fletcher, Cara Sinopoli, and Ali Singh, managed a 7th place finish in the 2009 District IV meet, as well as, the Coaches Invitational Meet in the 4 x 800 meter relay. As a student at Mount Carmel Area, Emily has participated in Student Government, serving as class treasurer during her sophomore and junior years. She is also a member of the Interact Club, Latin Club (Treasurer), and SADD. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has competed in the Odyssey of the Mind since 7th grade, going to states twice. She has scored over 1200 in the SAT’s and has totaled 1770 when including the writing portion. Emily has taken part in the school musicals, including Into the Woods, and has given time to participate in Mount Carmel’s Relay for Life. Emily is the daughter of Dan and Ruth Skonecki of Mount Carmel and plans to pursue a dgree in Biology from Penn State University.

JOSEPH “JAZZ” DIMINICK MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE T.J. Heromin is another in a long line of Joseph Jazz Diminick Scholar Athletes who have managed to balance athletics and academics at the highest level. #82 has been a four year letter winner for the Red Tornado football team under coaches Mike Brennan and Bob Chesney. As a free safety, T.J. was fourth on the team in tackles with 67, and also contributed 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and 7 pass break-ups. Hermoin was also a wide receiver who was recognized by receiver’s coach, Rob Varano, as tht best bloker – from the wide out spot – that he has seen in his 17 years with Tornado teams. T.J. also stepped into the kicking role and averaged 48.6 yards per kick with 6 touch backs. He nailed 18 of 26 extra points and punted 36 times for a 30.4 yard average. Heromin was recognized as the Joseph F. Greco Scholar Athlete at the annual Rotary Football banquet. Heromin has also worked his way into the starting line up for Coach John Lazicki’s Red Tornado basketball team this season and has responded as the team’s third leading scorer with over 9 points per game and a high of 22 in a game against rival Southern Columbia. T.J. has earned the Scholar Athlete award for the basketball team in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 and was also named the Heartland Conference Scholar Athlete in 2008 and 2009. While participating in two sports, Heromin has managed to attain the number one ranking in his class of 94 as of February. He has scored over 1200 on the standard SAT’s and has a weighted average of 102.11. He was named the Rotary Student of the Month for September and was this year’s Voice of Democracy winner. He is the President of the National Honor Society and Secretary of Student Council. T.J. is the son of Tom and Francine Heromin and plans to attend Penn State University in the fall of 2010 to pursue a career in civil engineering.