Pleasant Hills Middle School students recognized by school board

For the MVI

Nearly 30 Pleasant Hills Middle School students were recognized by the West Jefferson Hills School District Board for a variety of academic, artistic and athletic achievements during Tuesday’s monthly meeting.

Student Council officers Tessa Obiero and Luca Slebrich read the district’s mission statement and introduced the PHMS honorees, who received certificates from Principal Dan Como and district Superintendent Dr. Janet Sardon.

Two PHMS Future Problem Solving teams, one in sixth-grade and one in seventh-grade, won their divisions at the Pennsylvania State Bowl and advanced to the International Future Problem Solving competition at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. from June 5-9.

Future Problem Solving State Champions are:

• Sixth-grade team: Mila Downs, Nora Graff, Bailey Merrell and Alexa Thomas.

• Seventh-grade team: Eli Doerfler, Austin Hinkle, Ollie Whitsel and Steven Wills.

The district also recognized the following students: • PMEA elementary district band members Gabriella Bernardi, Jayden Brinker, Gwendolynn Cantley, Evan Giliberto, Ian Luciew, Aislinn Verbanick.

• PMEA junior high district band members Cullen Kesser, Ava Lobaugh, Kaitlyn Luff and Isaac Stiteler.

• PMEA Elementary string fest members Leah Davis, Mya Schlott, Daniel Shin.

• PMEA junior high district orchestra members Gabriella Deleel and Alex Lauver.

• PMEA elementary sing fest members Savannah Bell, Amelia Dann, Leighton DePierre and Arya Tilford.

• PMEA junior high district chorus: Ainsley Dukes and Giuliana Ziegler.

School record-setting track and field team:

• Josh Charles (broke the PHMS record in 800 meters; previously set in 2019); Adam Wilson (broke the 110-meter hurdles mark; previously set in 2008);

• 4×100 meter relay team (Broke the school record three times this season, topped by :47.87: San Aung, Sonal Bhandari, Sam Grogan, Jason Pradhan, Mason Solomon. Jason Pradhan also broke the PHMS triple jump mark).

• Members of the WJH Council of PTAs announced they would be purchasing and donating a book to each of the five school libraries in recognition of the board and the work they do throughout the year on behalf of WJHSD students and administration.

Thomas Jefferson High School representatives Tyler Lautner, Alexis Marcinko and Jacob Palmer provided the board with an update on some of the activities, achievements and upcoming events at the high school.