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Scholastic Superstars: Schuylkill County's best and brightest

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Mia Artz had been told there was little chance of getting into an Ivy League university, given that she attended a high school that graduated only about 70 students a year. Still, the Tri-Valley High School student set her academic sights high, and was accepted to Brown University. Tri-Valley's Mia Artz speaks during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Though she has chosen a different path, and will attend The University of Pittsburgh in the fall, Mia hopes her acceptance to a prestigious school like Brown will inspire other students. 'I want those with big dreams at small schools to know that anything is possible through hard work and a persistent belief in what you offer the world,' she said Wednesday in accepting a Scholastic Superstar Medal at Penn State-Schuylkill campus. 'I want to show the kids that come after me that they can do great things and achieve their dreams.' Mia was one of 15 outstanding scholars from Schuylkill County high schools whose academic achievements were recognized at the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars ceremony in the John E. Morgan Auditorium. Corey Scherer, Penn State Schuylkill interim chancellor, welcomed the students and their families. 'This honor is not just for what you did in the classroom, but for the things you do in the community that make you role models for other students,' he said. 'I'm excited for you all in terms of what's going to happen from here on out.' Terry Purcell, president of Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill and LVHN Northwest Region, said the superstars are among the best Schuylkill has to offer. 'It goes to show that hard work pays off,' Purcell said. 'Your futures are bright, and we wish you well.' Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill, part of Jefferson Health, was the prime sponsor of Scholastic Superstars. Ryan Sharp, Pottsville Republican Herald news editor and Scholastic Superstars coordinator, introduced each of the award recipients. Larry Holeva, executive editor of the Scranton Times-Tribune, Citizens' Voice and Hazleton Standard-Speaker, and Purcell presented the Scholastic Superstar medals. PROUD MOMENTS In his introduction, Sharp said he had no doubt the students would make the world a better place. 'They're all straight-A students, but they have all been called to serve in some capacity,' he said. 'They've already served their home communities, and will move on to serve the state as doctors, the courts as lawyers and their country in the military.' After receiving their medals, students explained what scholastic accomplishments or community service projects they were most proud of. Samuel Spolski, who received the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award and was captain of Nativity's football team, said he was inspired to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Nativity's Nolan Daynorowicz, recipient of the president's award for educational excellence, plans to attend Penn State University and major in nuclear engineering. Inspired by his parents, both of whom are teachers, Pine Grove's Shane Hall will attend Penn State Schuylkill Campus and major in education. * Tri-Valley's Mia Artz speaks during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Tamaqua's Bradyn Brothers speaks during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Nativity BVM's Miranda Burkot accepts her award during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * North Schuylkill's Joseph Campbell IV takes a photo with Terry Purcell, President of Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill, during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * North Schuylkill's Christopher Dambrosia speaks during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Natvity BVM's Nolan Daynorowicz answers a question during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Pine Grove's Alexander Dubbs answers a question during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Pine Grove's Shane Hall explains his desire to be an educator during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Mahanoy Area's Victor Hanley shakes hands with Terry Purcell, President of Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill, during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Schuylkill Haven's Anna Schaeffer answers a question during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Williams Valley's Sage Smeltz answers a question during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Nativity BVM's Samuel Spolski answers a question during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Blue Mountain's Leah Walasavage speaks on stage during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Front row: Leah Walasavage, Bradyn Brothers, Miranda Burkot, Nolan Daynorowicz, Samuel Spolski, Mia Artz and Joseph Campbell. Back row: Anna Schaeffer, Christopher Dambrosia, Victor Hanley, Alexander Dubbs, Shane Hall and Sage Smeltz. The Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony took place at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption 1 of 14 Tri-Valley's Mia Artz speaks during the Republican Herald Scholastic Superstars medal ceremony at Penn State Schuylkill, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: Scholastic Superstars receive medals Bradyn Brothers, Tamaqua's Scholastic Superstar, said she plans to attend Auburn University and major in engineering. 'I've been able to get a well-balanced education,' she said, 'not just because of my core classes but also because of my music classes.' Anna Schaeffer, Schuylkill Haven's female scholar-athlete and recipient of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award, spoke of plans to major in political science and become a lawyer. Sage Smeltz, Schuylkill County's first female football scholar-athlete and senior class president at Williams Valley, will pursue a double major in history and religious studies at Lycoming College. Blue Mountain's Leah Walasavage, tennis team captain and a student-teacher at an Orwigsburg dance studio, has enrolled in the 3+1 masters program in accounting at Quinnipiac University. North Schuylkill's Christopher Dambrosia's explanation of why he's attending Carnegie Mellon University to major in business analytics elicited laughter from the audience. 'I like math,' he said, 'and I like money.' Miranda Burkot, a member of the Spanish Honor Society at Nativity BVM High School, cited a hygiene drive for the Servants To All homeless shelter in Pottsville as her most rewarding community service event.