Forget flowers. After the rush of activity and full calendar of events that May is always sure to promise, the slower-paced warmth of summer is a welcome respite for many diligent students across the county. Summer got even sweeter, though, for three Carmichaels Area School District’s major scholarship winners who received a great surprise in the form of college funds at the 2026 Graduation ceremony.
Halupka-Marinoff scholarship winner and Salutatorian Sophia Carter was awarded $5,000 dollars amongst other scholarships for her high academic scores and her in-school and extracurricular activities, including her work as a veterinary technician at Dr. Kerr’s animal hospital. She plans to further her education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the pre-Veterinary program to eventually work in that capacity.
This year’s Jazwa-Lavins awardees were Kaylee Dickey and Mandy Zhang, both of whom proudly graduated in the Top Ten of their class. The audience seemed to hold its breath as the announcement for the tandem winners of both $20,000 scholarships were announced. This distinction is given to two seniors annually who would most appreciate the financial support, and who demonstrate a hunger for learning well beyond the classroom into their personal lives within their future studies and careers.
Both winners were ecstatic that they had been given this award. “I am honored to be one of the recipients,” Mandy Zhang stated. “Going into senior year, a key piece of advice I was given was to apply to as many scholarships as possible, regardless of the amount given.” She continued, “The advice that has always been helpful to me throughout my high school career was to try my best and that hard work pays off in the long run.”
Zhang plans to attend The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown to obtain her certification in Early Childhood Education and become an elementary mathematics teacher. Meanwhile, Dickey is looking forward to her studies at PennWest California, where she will major in psychology for a career as a Childhood Psychologist.
Each of the 67 graduates brought something different to the table, with 70% of students planning to further their education in a myriad of ways– 4-year universities, 2-year associates degrees, and trade, technical, and nursing schools to advance in their chosen fields.
The other 30% of the class decided to jump directly into the workforce using the skills they gained at Carmichaels, at the Greene County Career and Technology Center, and in their own previous work experience.
These graduates are ready for whatever comes next.
