Student news: Dean's list, music awards, community service and more

Ohio University dean’s list

Several students from the Lower Valley were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester 2020 at Ohio University.

They include: Dom Davido in the College of Arts and Sciences, Justin Rowe in the College of Arts and Sciences, Alan Shtrahman in the College of Arts and Sciences and Nicole Cavlovich in the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

Because of covid-19, students who earned 12 semester hours of credit, including at least six hours attempted for letter grades, with a minimum grade-point average of at least 3.5 achieved this distinction.

RIT dean’s list

Several local residents made the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the 2020 fall semester.

Undergraduate students are eligible for the dean’s list if their GPA is 3.4 or higher. They include: Jessica Klein, who is in the supply chain management program; Joe Kirklewski, who is in the civil engineering technology program; Ty Konopasek, who is in the management information systems program; Jacob Klein, who is in the applied statistics and actuarial science program; and Jacob Lewis, who is in the civil engineering technology program.

Young artist wins national award

Fox Chapel Area senior Jessica Jing McCann earned a Silver Award in the Design Arts category of the National YoungArts Foundation competition.

McCann said she creates jewelry to help tackle the stigma of anxiety and that her statement pieces are designed to communicate how stress takes a toll on health.

McCann was among 142 of the most accomplished young visual artists honored across the country. She won $5,000 for her work.

“I want to bring awareness to society about mental health disorder as I experience it,” McCann said.

“I hope I can help others who are experiencing this so that they know they are not alone in this battle and they shouldn’t have to feel embarrassed or guilty for experiencing anxiety and depression.”

McCann’s jewelry, or wearable art, is “physically and conceptually restrictive, communicating the feeling of being trapped and caged while, at the same time, incorporating the beauty of nature found in butterflies.”

As a finalist, McCann was invited to participate in National YoungArts week, typically presented in Miami, Fla., but hosted virtually this year because of covid-19 restrictions.

Her work can be viewed at 2021youngartsweek.org/exhibition-of-works.

FCA students chosen to high honors bands

Thirteen Fox Chapel Area School District students were selected by video audition for the 2021 Allegheny Valley senior and junior high honors bands.

A total of 197 seventh through 12th grade student-musicians from the Avonworth, Fox Chapel Area, Hampton, North Allegheny, Northgate, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Riverview and Shaler Area school districts auditioned for the groups, and 117 students were selected.

District students chosen are senior Nathaniel Kisslinger; sophomores Lawrence Liu, Silas Owens and Lans Taylor; freshmen Claire Heary and Chloe Kim; eighth graders Malik Choset, Moonyoung Hwang, Alex Kim, Varad Sant and Timothy Ye; and seventh graders Joanna Li and Joshua Shah.

Although a concert was unable to be held this year due to the pandemic, all of the students selected were mentioned in a special recognition program and received medals and certificates.

SSA club member help decorate Ronald McDonald House

Shady Side Academy Senior School Service Learning Club members designed butterfly magnets to decorate the Ronald McDonald House in Lawrenceville on Feb. 18.

The magnets will be hung on the doors of people staying in the house while their family member receives treatment at UPMC Children’s Hospital next door.

The club also sponsored a pizza party for house residents since club members are unable to go in person to prepare meals as in years past.

The faculty advisor for the service learning club is Lindsey Myers.

Fox Chapel Area musician recognized

Fox Chapel Area High School senior Joey Wang was chosen for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) 2020 All-National Honor Ensembles (ANHE) Concert Band event.

Wang, a clarinet player, joined 120 band students from across the United States and military base schools overseas who are considered to be the “best of the best” in a virtual event. The first-ever ANHE Concert Band virtual event included rehearsals with Dr. Rodney Dorsey from Indiana University Bloomington, as well as workshops with renowned clinicians.

In addition to the concert band, the other NAfME honor ensembles included a symphony orchestra, a mixed choir, a guitar ensemble, a jazz ensemble and a modern band. Each ensemble created a final, recorded performance that will be premiered during NAfME’s Music in our Schools Month in March 2021.

Shady Side Academy club makes, donates masks

For two weeks in February, the Shady Side Academy Senior School Public Health Club collected and made 30 face masks to donate to UPMC to help ensure that all UPMC patients, visitors and non-clinical personnel have access to masks at all times.

The club’s faculty adviser is Kelsey Williams.