Mars High School Names 2016
Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Gabrielle Giglietti,
Salutatorian
Andrew Diefenbacher,
Valedictorian
Mars Area graduates Andrew Diefenbacher and Gabrielle Giglietti were named
valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2016.
Diefenbacher, 18, son of Gregg and Jennifer Diefenbacher of Mars, was a member of National
Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Orchestra and the Hometown High Q
Team at Mars Area High School. He was also a four-year member of the school’s Boys Varsity
Soccer and Track & Field teams. He is a recipient of the 2016 USG Corporation Scholarship, BASF
Science Scholarship, U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award, Woodmen of the World
Scholarship and Frank W. Preston Memorial Scholarship. In the community, he is a member of
Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra. Diefenbacher plans to attend the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, Ill.) as a chemical engineering major.
Giglietti, 18, daughter of Michael and Teresa Giglietti of Gibsonia, was a member of National Honor Society and
Class Council at Mars Area High School. She was also a member of the school’s Girls Varsity Soccer Team during her
freshman and sophomore years and Varsity Swimming & Diving Team in her junior and senior years. She plans to
attend the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.) as a biology major. For more information on the valedictorian,
salutatorian and honors selection process, visit the “Mars Area High School” page at marsk12.org, and click on the
“Class Rank Determination” link under “For Students” or call 724.625.1581.
Students Read More Than One Million Words
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Senio rs Awa r d ed
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Mem or ia l
Sch o l a r ships
Four Mars Area seniors were selected
to receive 2016 Jeff Danner Memorial
Scholarships.
Seniors Aaron Gruber, Alex Gruber,
Nathan Sablowski and Elise Sheehy
received the scholarship, which is awarded
to senior student-athletes who exemplify
courage, humility, a positive attitude and
pride in his/her accomplishments. All were
members of the school’s Girls and Boys
Varsity Basketball Teams, respectively.
For more information, call 724.625.1581.
Numerous students at Mars Area Centennial School read more than a million words as
part of a library challenge issued at the start of the 2015-2016 School Year.
The program, offered through the school’s library, encouraged students to read as much
as possible throughout the school year. Top readers are sixth-grader Ava Black and fifthgrader Alexander Vedernikov.
Other million word readers are sixth-graders Colin App, Andrew Bowie, Erin DaRe,
Matthew Detisch, John Dunn, Christopher Dvorak, Kambria Eldredge, Jordan Esswein,
Julia Fletcher, Kylee Fredericks, Audrey Gehm, Madalyn Henderson, Sarah Hooper,
Sophie Huff, Calli Jennings, Raghav
Kalbhor, Anuj Kaul, Cole Kemp, Alena
Kostial, Luke Luedy, Madison Mann,
Kayanne Marti, Eliza Matusek, Declan
Mayer, Lauren Miko, Abigail Miller, Audrey
Milk, Rohan Narasimhan, Edward Page,
Kelsie Patterson, Kaitlyn Pelaia, Gillian
Porter, Alexa Raabe, Olivia Revitsky, Julia
Rice, Olivia Rihs, Shane Smith, Danielle
Sticinski, Benjamin Sweeney, Angelina
Tsao, Rebecca Tumminello, Liam Volk-Klos,
Emily Walsh, Cam Weiland, Luke Weiland,
Noah White, Luke Whitworth, Alexis Wilson, Mason Wirtz, Katherine Wollerton and Rin
Yasoda; and fifth-graders Luke Baumgartel, Ryann Cifu, Ava Donnelly, Caden Empey,
Jamie Frantz, Julia Gagnon, Sawyer Garcia, Carla Genevro, Eden Gerlach, Vincent Gibbs,
Lindsey Gourash, Jonathan Grieco, Harrison Hannan, Kaylen Lindenberg, Alexa McDole,
Ainsley McGee, Jessica McNulty, Lucie Morlino, Kate Muchnok, Emma Prazer, Max
Prazer, Brandi Reynolds, Samuel Schultz, Nolan Scott, Mia Shterengarts, Owen Smith,
Cole Spirnock, Meredith Wawrzynski, Maxwell Wickland and Kole Yingling.
For more information, contact Krista Goodzinski, librarian/media specialist, at 724.625.2601.
Student Ac c ep t ed t o V e t e r i nar y , B i o m e d i cal S ci e nce s C amp
Incoming senior Olivia Barner was selected to attend
the Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural
Sciences’ Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences Camp, June
19 through 24.
Barner, 17, daughter of Jeff and Brenda Barner of
Valencia, will join high school juniors and seniors from
across the country in learning about the veterinary
and biomedical professions. She will join in tours of
veterinary practices and local wildlife centers as well as
in lectures on animal research, agriculture and zoonotic
diseases.
All participants will interact with veterinarians,
46 Mars Area
immunologists and toxicologists and participate
in laboratory exercises discussing surgical sutures,
microbiology, parasitology, immunology, avian
anatomy, equine health and management and imaging,
ultrasound and x-ray.
In addition, Barner will work at Seven Fields
Veterinary Hospital and will continue to serve as a Zoo
Teen summer volunteer at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG
Aquarium. She has also been offered a zoo internship in
Summer 2017.
For more information, contact Todd Kolson, principal,
at 724.625.1581 or visit vbs.psu.edu/youth/vbs-camp.