Berks' Best 2025 overview: 418 students nominated for 11 awards
High schools across Berks County submitted 418 nominations for the 2025 Berks' Best Awards. The schools were invited to nominate up to two seniors in each of 11 categories.
There were 216 applications submitted by the students, who had to complete an online form with essay questions and have someone not related to them submit a letter of recommendation.
A panel of 33 judges divided by their expertise in each of the categories evaluated the applications and letters and gave each applicant a score. The applications receiving the three highest scores in each category were selected as finalists. There were 37 finalists named due to scoring ties.
The categories were Business, Career and Technical Education, Communications, Computer Science, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Science/Environment, Social Studies, Taylor Seitzinger Award for Community Service and Leadership, Visual Arts and World Languages.
Each category winner will receive a $500 check from the Berks County Community Foundation and will be honored at the 2025 Scholarship Luncheon on May 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading.
A special section will appear in the May 18 edition of the Sunday Reading Eagle.
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