Seventy-six high school students, representing 40 local high schools, received Women in Science Awards from Seton Hill University at its twentieth annual Women in Science Day on May 19, 2008. The students honored also received Women in Science Scholarships worth $60,000 (or $15,000 annually) to Seton Hill University. Each award recipient was nominated by a teacher at her high school. Nominating teachers, as well as the families of the awardees, attended Women in Science Day.

Sister Margaret Burns, SC, former physics and mathematics faculty member at Seton Hill, coordinated the first Women in Science Day in 1989. The 2008 Women in Science Day event marks the twentieth anniversary of Seton Hill’s acknowledgment of talented female high school students in its community. In addition to being honored at the awards luncheon, 2008 Women in Science Day attendees participated in “science in action” activities directed by Seton Hill faculty members in the University’s biology, chemistry, computer science, forensic science, mathematics, and physician assistant labs. Chris Arrotti (SHU ’81), laboratory manager of the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab in Greensburg, presented the keynote address.

Women in Science 2008 Biology Award recipients are: Erica Billick, Monessen High School; Dani Rae Block, Bishop McCort High School; Christine Brun, Geibel Catholic Middle-High School; Jennifer Cyktor, Yough Senior High School;Felicia Domasky, Mt. Pleasant Jr./Sr. High School; Lana Gamble, Jeannette Senior High School; Emily Grenen, Fox Chapel Area High School; MaKena Kirich, Gateway High School; Kristine Kreshalk, Bishop Carroll High School; Meghan Mack, Indiana Area Senior High School; Kayla MacLennan, Greensburg Salem High School; Jacquelyn Mershon, Vincentian Academy; Ashley Pavetti, Apollo-Ridge High School; Angela Russell, Shade-Central City High School; Marla Sacks, Greater Latrobe Senior High School; Kristen Salava, Greensburg Central Catholic High School; Dani Schaut, St. Marys Area High School; Rebecca Skovira, Southmoreland High School; Stephanie Smith, Somerset Area Senior High School; Jennifer St. John, Saltsburg Middle/High School; Tamara Younes, Quigley Catholic High School.

Women in Science 2008 Chemistry Award recipients are: Rebecca Alt, Shade-Central City High School; Jenna Bailey, Bishop McCort High School; Marissa Berkley, Belle Vernon Area High School; Amy Bouch, Saltsburg Middle/High School; Tessa Buhler, Blairsville High School; Renee Cardella, Yough Senior High School, Alexandra Chop, Mt. Pleasant Jr./Sr. High School; Jessica Covelli, Fox Chapel Area High School; Carly Dibas, Kiski Area High School; Caitlin Figg, Southmoreland High School; Julie Fink, Somerset Area Senior High School; Kim Grant, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School; Kelly Hancock, Apollo-Ridge High School; Kaitlyn Hlebechuk, Jeannette Senior High School; Katie Lucy, Monessen High School; Noelle Kummant, Serra Catholic High School; LaTasha Marshall, Penn Hills Senior High School; Cassie McBride, McKeesport Area High School; Miranda McCoy, Hempfield Area High School; Sara Perez, Greensburg Central Catholic High School; Nicole Rieg, Bishop Carroll High School; Christine Rothrauff, Penn-Trafford High School; Danielle Sheppard, Derry Area High School; Cassandra Skittle, Chartiers Valley High School; Emily Solan, Geibel Catholic Middle-High School; Breanna Starinsky, South Allegheny High School; Jenny Tharp, Charleroi Area High School; Victoria Zufelt, Greensburg Salem High School.

Women in Science 2008 Mathematics Award recipients are: Emily Amond, Derry Area High School; Shanna Beichner, Greensburg Salem High School; Alexandria Cisowski, Hempfield Area High School; Marissa Corradini, Shade-Central City High School; Rebekah Cratsa, Penn Hills Senior High School; BreAnne DeMarco, Elizabeth Forward Senior High School; Jamie Desak, Monessen High School; Amanda Forkey, South Allegheny High School; Natalie Glinsky, Indiana Area Senior High School; Heidi Goeller, Fox Chapel Area High School; Amanda Kasardo, East Allegheny High School; Bethany Kelley, Southmoreland High School; Ashley King, Jeannette Senior High School; Angela Litvin, Bishop McCort High School; Kathleen Long, Franklin Regional High School; Aubreylyn Mathews, Baldwin High School; Tabatha McCormick, North Star High School; Jessica McKetta, Mt. Pleasant Area Jr/Sr High School; Bradley Ogline, Berlin Brothersvalley High School; Caitlin Sawyer, Belle Vernon Area High School; Marina Seminatore, Vincentian Academy; Dianna Stuckey, Butler Senior High School; Kathryn Supko, Greater Latrobe Senior High School; Teresa Tickle, Kiski Area High School; Christi Weber, Yough Senior High School; Mara Weinzierl, Bishop Carroll High School; Jennifer Zatezalo, Norwin High School.