California Area High School seniors graduate
Three students at California Area High School shared valedictorian honors and two students served as salutatorians when the school held its graduation June 2.
Valedictorian Nathaniel James Luketich is a son of Kevin and Pamela Luketich of Scenery Hill. He received the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Scholarship.
Nathaniel was secretary of his class, vice president of the National Honors Society, and a member of Envirothon and the Leo Club. He also played on his school’s golf team and baseball team for four years, and its basketball team for one year.
He will be attending the University of Pittsburgh in the fall, where he will major in chemistry and engineering.
Valedictorian LeeAnna Roberts is a daughter of Anthony and Laurie Roberts of Coal Center.
She received the St. Timothy Award from the Pittsburgh Diocese for her service through the church, the Vulcan Merit Scholarship and the Mary Noss Scholarship given by California University of Pennsylvania, Binnstown Lowhill Lions Club Scholarship, Richard M. and Barbara M. Webb Scholarship, Rotary Student of the Month for October and the Penn State Fayette 4.0 Club.
At California Area High School, LeeAnna was secretary of the National Honor Society, secretary of Students Against Destructive Decisions Club, Interact Club Senior Class Representative, a member of Leo Club, and a former student council member.
LeeAnna will be attending California University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she will major in communications disorders. She will also minor in Spanish.
Valedictorian Dakota Jean Staley is a daughter of George Staley of Fairbank and Amy VanDivner of Brownsville.
Dakota received the John Phillip Sousa (Band) Award, the “Semper Fidelis” Award for Musical Excellence, the California Area Band Association Scholarship, Pamela J. Antonio Memorial Scholarship, Liberty Scholarship and Honors Program Scholarship — both from Robert Morris University, Roscoe Lions Club Scholarship, Andrew M. Bryner Memorial Scholarship, California Rotary Club Student of the Month for September, Old Trails Business and Professional Women’s Student of the Month for Music in October, Scholar Leader Award from Student Forum, Junior Scholar Athlete Award and the Zonta Leadership Representative.
During her school career, Dakota was in the marching band and was drum major during senior year. She was president of student council and the National Honor Society. She was also on the Peer Jury, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the Leo Club, and Student Forum.
In the fall, Dakota will be attending Robert Morris University where she will major in psychology while in the pre-law program.
Class salutatorians are Kristopher Bryce Hite and Joshua Hunter Peters.
Kristopher is a son of Kris Hite of Belle Vernon and Tammy Hite of Daisytown.
Kristopher received first place in the academic league. He also received the Academic League scholarship, BCR Lions scholarship, Patricia O’Neil Wilson Memorial Scholarship, and the Florida Institute of Technology Presidential Scholarship.
He was treasurer of the National Honor Society and a member of the Interact, the Leo Club, Academic League, BotsIQ captain, Relay for Life team captain, and statistician for the school basketball team. Also, Kristopher played on the varsity soccer and tennis teams.
In the fall he will be attending Florida Institute of Technology, where he will major in biomedical engineering with plans to work with prosthetics and artificial organs.
Salutatorian Joshua Hunter Peters is a son of Ronald and Kimberly Peters of Scenery Hill.
Joshua received first place at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Regional Level in 2014, 2016 and 2017. He also received first place at the State Science Competition at Penn State College in 2016, High Honors and the Penn State Presidential Scholarship. He was a member of the golf team, which was Section Champions in 2016.
Joshua was vice president of his class. Plus, he was president of Envirothon, president of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Club, vice president of the Student Forum, and a member of National Honor Society.
In the fall, Joshua will be attending Penn State University, where he will major in Mechanical Engineering.