The Coronavirus Pandemic cancelled this year's Schuylkill County Female Scholar Athlete Banquet which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 3rd, 2020, at St. Nicholas' Hall, Primrose.
The event is sponsored by Schuylkill County Women’s Athletic Association.
Each of these athletes will receive a ring for earning the title for their school.
Dot Demmer, a former coach and teacher for Mahanoy Area, was also set to be award the Marie Murphy Memorial Award. Demmer will be awarded at next year's banquet.
Below is a list of this year's recipients.
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Rachel is the Daughter of Kim and Michael Lukacz.
SPORTS: Rachel excelled in volleyball, track and field and basketball during her Blue Mountain career.
SCHOOL WORK: The recipient of eight varsity letters, Lukacz ranks fourth in her graduating class and is a member of every honor society at Blue Mountain.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: Rachel is this year’s SAR Knight Essay Contest chapter winner. She has participated in International Club, Varsity Club, Leo Club and Mini THON. She also volunteered with the SPCA and Big Impact Group. Lukacz also works year-round as a lifeguard at area pools.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend either the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Duquesne or Thomas Jefferson University. She will major in Biology and intends to enter medical school.
SCHOOL WORK: The recipient of eight varsity letters, Lukacz ranks fourth in her graduating class and is a member of every honor society at Blue Mountain.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: Rachel is this year’s SAR Knight Essay Contest chapter winner. She has participated in International Club, Varsity Club, Leo Club and Mini THON. She also volunteered with the SPCA and Big Impact Group. Lukacz also works year-round as a lifeguard at area pools.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend either the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Duquesne or Thomas Jefferson University. She will major in Biology and intends to enter medical school.
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Jordan is the Daughter of Jamie and Steve Karmonick.
SPORTS: Jordan is captain of the Golden Bears’ basketball, softball and volleyball teams. 1,000 point career scorer, Karmonick was named to the All-State third team in 2018-19 and was a 2020 Republican-Herald All-Area first-team selection.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: President of the Class of 2020, co-president of Interact Club and vice president of Student Council. She also is a member of the National Honor Society, Students against Destructive Decisions and Future Business Leaders of America, in which she was a two-time state qualifier.
Jordan is also a member of the Bloomsburg Math Contest team, the Envirothon team, Homecoming court, Theater Arts, Area Scope and the St. Luke’s Health Network mentorship program. Selected as Mahanoy Area’s October Student of the Month, she also was a majorette for the marching band.
Her community service activities include Action Youth Group, Meals on Wheels volunteer, Mini THON committee and youth sports volunteer.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend Alvernia University and major in Nursing.
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Julia is the Daughter of Alexis and Henry Kreisl.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: has served as student ambassador for four years and is a member of the 600 Scholar Club. Her extracurricular activities include the Future Business Leaders of America, the COLTS Club, the Green Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions. She also participates in the CAN DO Student Action Committee in the greater Hazleton area and is a member of the National Honor Society.
SPORTS: A four-year member of the cross country, girls’ basketball and track and field teams, she served as captain of the cross country team last fall and in the same role in basketball for two years.
Julia has been a member of cross country and basketball teams that have either won District 11 championships or placed second in the district. She also was a member of Marian’s Schuylkill League Division II champion track and field team last spring.
FUTURE PLANS: enrolled this fall in the Villanova University School of Business.
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Kaylee is the Daughter of Erin and William Whalen.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: ranks sixth in her class and has maintained Distinguished Honor Roll status throughout high school.
A two-year member, she serves as vice president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter. In addition to being a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Teens Against Tobacco and Mini THON, she has been class secretary for four years.
In the community, Kaylee volunteers for the Minersville youth basketball program, the Minersville Youth Soccer League and the Allied Artists Block of Art and is a tour guide for the school district’s new student orientation program.
SPORTS: With 11 varsity letters, Kaylee was a four-year member of the soccer and basketball teams and a three-year track and field athlete. She has district gold medals in both basketball and soccer and a PIAA championship gold medal in basketball. She was a team captain in both basketball and soccer.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to major in Physical Therapy.
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Grace is the Daughter of Francine and David Menko.
A Distinguished Honors student throughout high school, she earned a 4.0 grade-point average last fall to earn Dean’s List mention. She attends Bloomsburg University through its Advanced College Experience program.
Ranked second in her class, she is the class’ vice president, was president of the National Junior Honor Society and is involved in student government.
Grace was voted by the faculty as the Elks’ Student of the Month and was involved in the developmental studies program. Her activities include Ski Club, Tech Ed Club, Future Teachers of America and Pep Club. She was the editor of the school’s yearbook and is a leader in Think BIG, which raises money for pediatric cancer research.
SPORTS: Grace was a member of the Red Tornadoes’ track and field team and was a manager of the girls’ soccer team. She has been a volunteer at track camp for three years. Menko also has volunteered at both Our Lady’s and Holy Angel’s church picnics.
FUTURE PLANS: Plans to study to become a nurse practitioner.
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Tori is the Daughter of Christine and Todd Hunyara.
A member of the National Honor Society since her sophomore year, Hunyara has also been a member of the National Science Honor Society since her junior year. She has received Highest Achievement awards in ecclesiology, consumer economics and Christian morality and Outstanding Effort certificates in Spanish 3 and physical education and as a student ambassador. Through Nativity’s first aid class, Hunyara has earned CPR and AED certification.
Tori is also involved in Campus Ministry, Interact Club, International Club, Green Club and yearbook. A volunteer with the Lady Lions Booster Club of Branchdale Memorial Day project, Hunyara has also volunteered at the Nativity carnival, bingos, basketball camps and junior high games.
SPORTS: Earning three letters each in soccer, basketball and softball, Hunyara is the current captain of the soccer and basketball teams and was recently named the school’s Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar Athlete. In soccer, she earned All-State honors in 2017 and ’18 and Republican-Herald All-Area honorable mention both seasons. She has also earned All-Area and All-State honors in softball.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to major in either Psychology or Speech and Language Pathology at either the University of Scranton, Misericordia University or Lebanon Valley College.
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Danielle is the Daughter of Pam and Bob Holmes.
Danielle is ranked fourth in her class.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: Her school activities include roles as president of the Social Studies Subject Honor Society and vice presidency of the Science Subject Honor Society. She also is a member of the mathematics, English and National Honor Societies chapters. Holmes is also a member of Think BIG, the academic team, chorus and Diversity Club.
SPORTS: Holmes participated in softball for six years, including four at the varsity level. A two-time team captain, she earned Republican-Herald All-Area mention several times after leading the Spartans to the Schuylkill League Division I and District 11 Class 3A titles in 2018.
Holmes also played girls’ soccer for three years and was captain in each season and an All-Area honoree. She played one year of basketball and was a captain of the girls’ cross country team last fall.
FUTURE PLANS: hopes to one day open her own clinic, plans to attend college and eventually earn her doctorate in Physical Therapy.
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Gianna is the Daughter of Gena and Joe Steber.
A volunteer for Toys for Tots and at local fire company breakfasts, Steber is also president of Panther Valley’s Student Council, treasurer of the senior class and secretary of the Future Business Leaders of America chapter.
She is also involved with the school’s Scholastic Scrimmage team, Envirothon team, STEP UP, Recycling Club and Prom Committee. She is also a student forum representative, participates in Harmony Scholars and was the school’s Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership representative as a sophomore.
SPORTS: A captain as a senior, Steber was a four-year member of the girls’ volleyball team that won four straight District 11 Class AA championships. She also played basketball for four years and was a team captain.
Steber also volunteers for Carbon County Special Olympics by training athletes and working at the local meet.
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PINE GROVE AREA - MACKENSIE KOCH
Mackensie is the Daughter of Michelle and Barry Koch.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: Mackensie ranks first in her class and is president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter.
Koch is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, in which she won first place as a junior in a regional FBLA competition. Holding offices in several clubs, she is a member of the History Club, the National History Honor Society, International Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Student Council, Travel Club and the yearbook staff.
A pianist for St. John’s Lutheran Church, Koch also participated in the Alzheimer’s Walk.
SPORTS: A four-year member of the girls’ volleyball team, Koch helped the Cardinals reach the District 11 Class AA playoffs in all four years.
FUTURE PLANS: Koch plans to attend college to major in Biology.
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Caleigh is the Daughter of Jeanette and Michael O’Pake.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: Ranking fourth in her class, O’Pake has excelled in honors and advanced placement courses and is a member of the National Honor Society and secretary of Student Council.
Caleigh has devoted her time to several service organizations, including AID, Guz’s Charitable Project and Wreaths Across America.
SPORTS: Caleigh was captain of the Crimson Tide girls’ volleyball team, which made the Schuylkill League and District 11 finals during her career.
She also competed in track and field, specializing in the 100-meter hurdles and the 400 relay.
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Delaney is the Daughter of Mary and Christopher George.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: ranked fourth in her class with achievement in several advanced placement courses, including four through Penn State Schuylkill.
The senior class president, she is treasurer of the school’s National Honor Society chapter. She also is a member of the Biology Club, Youth Leadership Committee and has participated in the preparation for the Junior/Senior Prom and Honors Cookout.
A Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership ambassador, George helped create the school’s Recycling Club. She recently received the Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship. George also has accrued 103 hours of community service in the Schuylkill Haven area.
SPORTS: four-year letterwinner in soccer and cross country, in which she was captain in both sports.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend college this fall.
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SHENANDOAH VALLEY - VICTORIA DONOVAN
Victoria is the Daughter of Michelle and Joseph Donovan.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: ranks fourth in her graduating class.
A three-year member of the National Honor Society, she is the chapter president. She also is president of the Student Council, where she has served for three years. She also has been the senior class president for three years and vice president in her other year.
Her other activities include Mini THON, float and yearbook committees. She has served as Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership ambassador and was named Spring Princess and Homecoming queen.
SPORTS: Victoria has earned 16 varsity letters through her participation in the school’s volleyball, cross country, basketball, softball and track and field programs. Her achievements athletically include selections to several All-Area teams in basketball and volleyball and the earning of league and district medals in track, including a District 11 gold in javelin. Donovan also became the 10th Shenandoah Valley girls’ basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend college to major in Biology with a minor in Pre-Medicine.
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TAMAQUA AREA - LOTTIE MATEYAK
Lottie is the Daughter of Amy and the late Chad Mateyak.
SPORTS: A cross country and track and field athlete for the Blue Raiders, Lottie was named the Del Rose Scholar-Athlete and is the recipient of the Regional American Legion essay contest scholarship and Lewis A. Boyer Memorial Scholarship.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: president of four National Honor Society chapters at Tamaqua — mathematics, Spanish, science, English — and is the president of the World Language Club, Biology Club, Chemistry Club, Gardening Committee, which she co-founded, and the senior class.
Lottie also is a member of the Tamaqua Area Student Government Association, Drama Club, Environmental Club, Honor Card Review Committee, BIGS Impact Group, Enrichment and Science Olympiad.
She also serves as the head librarian of the Tamaqua marching band, concert band and jazz band and volunteers at vacation Bible school.
A member of the 2019 Homecoming court, she attended the Penn State 2019 Medical Camp.
FUTURE PLANS: plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania or Allegheny College to major in Neuroscience.
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TRI-VALLEY - BROOKE ADAMS
Brooke is the Daughter of Stacy and Tori Miller.
SPORTS: involved in four varsity sports throughout her high school career, competing in volleyball for two seasons, basketball for three seasons, cross country for three seasons and track and field for four seasons.
She was a decorated runner, placing fifth at the District 11 Cross Country Championships and qualifying for the PIAA Championships as a junior. She helped Tri-Valley to runner-up team finishes at districts in 2018 and 2019.
In track and field, Adams competed through a co-op with Minersville and was a member of 3,200-meter relay teams that took second place at leagues and districts and placed eighth at states as a sophomore; was league and District 11 AA champions in 2018; and took third place in 2019.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: Brooke is the Class of 2020 president, president of Student Council, active in student government and a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and St. Andrews UMC Youth Group.
FUTURE PLANS: Brooke plans to attend Ursinus College to major in Biology/Pre-Health Professionals, compete in cross country and track and field, and participate in a fellowship with the Parlee Center of Science and the Common Good.
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WILLIAMS VALLEY - EMILY KRAMER
Emily is the Daughter of Jennifer and Adam Kramer.
EXTRA CURRICULAR: enrolled in the advanced placement/honors curriculum and is ranked first in her class.
She was recognized by the Williams Valley school directors in February for an SAT score of more than 1,200 and was the Tower City-Porter Rotary Club Female Student of the Month last September.
Kramer was a top-10 finalist in the U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship competition, a finalist in the Voice of Democracy essay competition and was recently awarded the Good Citizenship Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Kramer is president of Williams Valley’s National Honor Society chapter, the senior class president, was Homecoming queen as a junior, is treasurer of the Student Council and Future Business Leaders of America chapter. She also oversaw the prom committee as junior class president and a member of the National Business Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars.
She volunteers at a food pantry, Breakfasts with Santa, Field Day, Fun Day and fundraisers such as the Nadine Buggy Miller Softball Tournament and Mini Relay.
SPORTS: four-year member of the girls’ soccer and basketball teams, Kramer has received eight varsity letters. She was a team captain for the Vikings in both sports.
As a freshman, she was the girls’ soccer team’s Rookie of the Year before earning Unsung Hero as a sophomore and junior and Most Valuable Player as a senior.
Her involvement in soccer includes a role as referee in the Schuylkill County youth program.
In basketball, Kramer was MVP as a freshman and senior and Unsung Hero as a sophomore.
FUTURE PLANS: to attend Elizabethtown College to major in Actuarial Science and to play basketball.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE RECIPIENTS!