achievement in the · award of artistic merit” presented by the greensburg area cultural council,...

ACHIEVEMENTIN THE

2020 AWARDS OF ARTISTIC MERITSUPPLEMENT TO THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW

2 • THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020 • ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS

Achievement in the Arts Sponsors

Chandler BarchisArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Carrie Hoff-mann, Shawn Barchis, and Robert FinniganFuture plans: College for music technology

Burrell

Maddy BodickArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParent: Shari JablonowskiFuture plans: Forensic science at Seton Hill

Mason CiesielskiArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Matthew and Jennifer CiesielskiFuture plans: Youngstown State University to pursue a degree in jazz saxophone performance

Nick GrabigelArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Jeff and Kathy GrabigelFuture plans: Youngstown State University for music performance

AWARDS OFARTISTIC MERIT

Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s 22nd AnnualAchievement in the Arts Awards Celebration goes virtual

For more than 20 years, Westmoreland Cultural Trust has been honoring the artistic merit of graduating seniors throughout Westmo-reland County. As always, the show must go on!

This year, the recipients of the 22nd Annual Achieve-ment in the Arts Awards will be recognized in a video awards ceremony. The showcase will be on Sunday, June 7, beginning at 5 p.m.

“During our current world health crisis, celebrat-ing those who excel in the arts is more important than ever,” according to April Kopas, CEO, Westmoreland Cultural Trust. “We need to recognize our future art-ists.”

This year’s ceremony honors students from 17 Westmoreland County high schools in the categories of instrumental performance, visual art, vocal perfor-mance and theatre perfor-mance.

Students will be present-ed their awards by cultural leaders via a series of per-sonal video messages.

The presentations will be accompanied by samples of students’ work and messag-es from their families that

will be produced into a full-length, video ceremony.

“This graduating class of 2020 has had to sacrifice a great deal for the safety of our community,” states Adam Seifert, manager of corporate and community engagement for WCT.

“Our organization is committed to publicly honoring the amazing talents and artistic achieve-

ments of these students.” The awards will be pre-

sented in each category by cultural leaders including Endicott Reindl, executive director of The Westmore-land Symphony Orchestra; Joan McGarry, director of education & visitor engage-ment for The Westmoreland Museum of American Art; Tony Marino, founder and artistic director, Stage Right!

School for the Performing Arts; and Susan Mahady, business manager for West-moreland Choral Society.

The Achievement in the Arts Awards have evolved since their inception in 1999. Originating as the “Judg-es McCormick and Pezze Award of Artistic Merit” presented by the Greensburg Area Cultural Council, the awards banquet was held at St. Vincent College for many years.

With time, the awards were hosted by Seton Hill University, Westmoreland County Community College and Greensburg Garden & Civic Center before finding a home in Westmoreland County’s preeminent the-atre, The Palace.

The 2020 awards will mark another evolution in honor-ing excellence in the arts as the awards will be presented virtually, allowing WCT to continue the tradition of shining a light on emerging artists in the community be-cause the show must go on.

The video awards ceremo-ny will be released across online digital platforms in-cluding Facebook, YouTube, and Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s website.

ACHIEVEMENT IN ARTS • THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020 • 3

Jimmy CribbsArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Jane and Mike CribbsFuture plans: Study kinetic imaging at Virginia Commonwealth University

GreensburgCentral Catholic

Connor PetrunakArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParent: Ronald PetrunakFuture plans: Attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Maura RyggArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Sandy and Steve RyggFuture plans: BFA in drama at NYU Tisch

Kelsey GearyArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParent: Jeanette GearyFuture plans: Point Park University for sports, arts, and entertainment management, specializing in arts

DerryArea

Morgan JellisonArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Mark and Mary JellisonFuture plans: Pursue bachelor’s degree in graphic design

Isaac KottArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Joe and Mary KottFuture plans: Rochester Institute of Technology to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Alyssa MainArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParent: Jessica StofkoFuture plans: Attend UPG for biology

Courtney CampbellArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Nora Berkey and Tom CampbellFuture plans: Pennsylva-nia State University for elementary and mid-level math education

Franklin Regional

Jo-Michelle HuczkoArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Jo-Ann and Rog-er HuczkoFuture plans: Carnegie Mellon University for po-litical science

Joseph LasherArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Andy and Trish LasherFuture plans: Youngstown State University for music education

Vishal PandeyArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Vinod and Radha PandeyFuture plans: Pursue acting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Drama

Christopher CoxArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Anita and Mark CoxFuture plans: Duquesne University for trumpet performance

Greater Latrobe

Cecilia LongArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Anne Levri and Michael LongFuture plans: Major in health and rehabilitation sciences at Pittsburgh at Greensburg

Renee MeyersArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Danielle Meyers and Mark AnthonyFuture plans: Four years at Point Park University

Ben TakitchArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: David and Molly TakitchFuture plans: Earning a PharmD from University of Pittsburgh



KiskiArea

GreensburgSalem

HempfieldArea Jeannette

Jocelyn BentleyArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Mike and Vicky BentleyFuture plans: Music therapy at Slippery Rock University

Morgan KastelicArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Donald and Dawn KastelicFuture plans: West Virginia University to study forensic biology

Isabella MercurioArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Michele Mercurio and Frank Mercurio Jr.Future plans: Gannon University for mechanical engineering

Ashley NeffArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Jared and Tracey NeffFuture plans: West Virginia University to major in nursing with a minor in theatre

Taylor HussArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Elizabeth and Robert HussFuture plans: To study art at Seton Hill and work toward becoming a teacher

Benjamin PetroArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Roxanne and Timothy PetroFuture plans: Carnegie Mellon University, majoring in international relations

Alexander PodolinskiArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Mike and Leslie PodolinskiFuture plans: Westmoreland County Community College for regular academics

Madison WoodArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Chris and Eva WoodFuture plans: Westmoreland County Community College for dental hygenist program and pursue musical theater

Ryan DzurkoArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParent: Susan DzurkoFuture plans: Music education

Elenore KentArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Chris and Colleen KentFuture plans: Seton Hill University for art education

Grace RusnicaArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Edward and Lynn RusnicaFuture plans: University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music to earn a BFA in musical theatre

Madison SanoArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Jeff and Jennifer SanoFuture plans: College

Logan HarshellArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: James and Lori HarshellFuture plans: Saint Vincent majoring in finance

Abigail HostetlerArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: David and Michelle LintFuture plans: College

Jenna PainterArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Sheri and Eric PainterFuture plans: Cook Honors College at IUP for English/literature and culture to be a college English professor

Alana WintersArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Ty Daniels and Nicole WintersFuture plans: Plan to either be a special effects makeup artist or a tattoo artist



NorwinLigonierValley Monessen Mt. Pleasant

Area

Chelsea BiehlArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Timothy and Tricia BiehlFuture plans: Seton Hill University for Music Therapy

Kailee ScaliseArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Bill and Kristi ScaliseFuture plans: University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business to pursue a degree in supply chain management

Em TaylorArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Bob and Tammy TaylorFuture plans: Missions in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Jaelyn TaylorArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Jerry and Ginger TaylorFuture plans: Chatham University to double major in interior architecture and vocal performance

Harrington LutherArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Robb and Laurie LutherFuture plans: Berklee College of Music to major in songwriting

Grace MaustArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParent: Melissa MaustFuture plans: Either Parsons School of Design or Edinboro University to pursue a career in illustration

Tyler PickupArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Tom and Monica PickupFuture plans: California University of Pennsylva-nia for commercial music technology

Dirk WynnArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Aaron and Michelle BouchFuture plans: Chatham University for music education and arts management

Joshua AndersonArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Jeff and Nicole AndersonFuture plans: Waynesburg University majoring in pre-med

Zane LakinArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Zane and Kristin LakinFuture plans: Going to school for truck driving

Milana SaccoArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: John Sacco and Marissa Scarvel SaccoFuture plans: Case Western Reserve University to pursue a dual major in business and theatre

Rayna WinstonArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParent: Joy BlystoneFuture plans: Cal U for multimedia and police academy

Sarah EtlingArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Jeff Etling and Susan BorkFuture plans: University for environmental science with the hopes of becoming an environmental lawyer

Jeremiah HutterArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Christy and Chad HutterFuture plans: California University of PA for commercial music technology

Wheeler WhittenArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Lisa Clark and Thomas WhittenFuture plans: Point Park University as an undecided major

Elijah WilsonArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Toni and Leslie WilsonFuture plans: College at Point Park or IUP



YoughPenn-Trafford Southmoreland Valley

Peyton AujayArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Mike and Rita AujayFuture plans: Westminster College to pursue a degree in music education

Morgan CarpenterArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParent: Richele AugustineFuture plans: X-ray tech-nician and continue doing art on the side

Alexa CipraArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Kelly and Bill CipraFuture plans: Study elementary education and special education at California University

Renee PatricioArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Rhonda and Allan PatricioFuture plans: University of Pittsburgh to major in accounting

Morgan BruniArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParent: Janine HribalFuture plans: Indiana University of Pennsylvania to major in nursing

Aaron JonesArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Holly and Michael Andrews, Dan JonesFuture plans: Slippery Rock University to study civil engineering

Jordan SappArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Melissa Slifkey, Joseph Sapp and Bernard RobinsonFuture plans: Undecided

Julia VisloskyArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Shari and Phil VisloskyFuture plans: IUP for Spanish education K-12

Joselyn BusatoArtistic merit in: Visual ArtParents: Michael and Jennifer BusatoFuture plans: Major in English at Bucknell University

Brianna DemagallArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParent: Russ BerresfordFuture plans: Psychology major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Cameron HoakArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParent: Melina MitchellFuture plans: Cal U for design, entertainment and technology

Abigail WhitlatchArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Beverly and Keith WhitlatchFuture plans: Study music therapy at Seton Hill University

Morgan PattonArtistic merit in: Instrumental PerformanceParents: Harold and Rachael PattonFuture plans: Special education teacher

Adam RichardsonArtistic merit in: Theatre PerformanceParents: Carrie and Eric OroszFuture plans: Major in musical theatre at AMDA college

Joshua ShelkeyArtistic merit in: Vocal PerformanceParents: Patricia and David ShelkeyFuture plans: Study psychology at Westmoreland County Community College



LOOKING BACKScenes from the 2019 Achievement in the Arts Awards Celebration

Westmoreland Cultural Trust sponsors

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS AWARDEESThe Trust was created as a community response to preserve the arts. Whether on the stage or on a canvas, art has the power to bring people together across boundaries and enrich the lives of those we touch through music and visual arts.

In these unique times, our team is working tirelessly to bring live music and art from our stage to your home. Daily, we feature local musicians on our social media sites and are focusing on a quality virtual platform for all cultural organizations to utilize in the short-term and in the future. In addition, the Trust is working on a strategic safety and marketing plan for short and long-term programming. We have also set up the Feed the Soul campaign to give back to the community and help those most vulnerable. To learn more, visit our website at www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org.

Thank you for your continued support. Please continue to stay safe and healthy. We can’t wait to come together when this is all over.

achievement in the · award of artistic merit” presented by the greensburg area cultural council,...

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