IN Cranberry Spring 2018 | Page 54

seneca valley TWO SV STUDENTS NAMED 2018 CARSON SCHOLARS Tanya Gupta Scholars honored at Annual Carson Scholar Awards Banquet Seneca Valley School District has two students out of 62 in the Pittsburgh area who have recently been announced as 2018 Carson Scholars. Seneca Valley Middle School eighth grade student Tanya Gupta and Seneca Valley Senior High School junior Hiruni Herat both received a $1,000 college scholarship award and the coveted honor of being named a Carson Scholar. To date, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Carson Scholars Fund has awarded 1,310 scholarships to students who epitomize academic excellence and commitment to their community. To celebrate their accomplishments, the Pittsburgh scholars were honored at the annual awards banquet on Saturday, April 7, at Heinz Field at 11:30 a.m. The public was invited to attend the Annual Awards Banquet and to be a part of this inspirational day. For more information on any of the seven regional banquets or to purchase tickets, visit the Carson Scholars Fund website at carsonscholars.org. The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4 through 11 who must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and display humanitarian qualities through community service. Heruni Herat PURPOSEFUL PROSE Seneca Valley Sophomore Claire Williams recently won first place for her short story in the Fairchild Challenge at Phipps Conservatory. Students were challenged to be a nature activist by creating a short story that drew attention to an environmental issue. Miss Williams chose to write about a beautiful place that she had visited, the cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. Her story described the impacts of humans and tourism on these fragile, unique aquatic resources, and was described by the judges as being “very relatable and well-written.” Administered by Phipps Conservatory, the Fairchild Challenge offers creative challenges to secondary students to foster interest in the environment, to empower them to engage in civic life and to become energetic and knowledgeable members of their communities. Claire Williams 52 C RANBERRY