May 29, 2007 By The 3 min read

Carmichaels Area High School will hold its annual commencement ceremony at 7:15 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium. Class valedictorians are Lauren E. Duran and Kimberly J. Zavage.

Salutatorian is Drew Michael Cubic Jr., who also is class president. He will address the class and call roll.

Duran, daughter of Rosanne Yesenosky of Carmichaels, plans to attend Kenyon College in Ohio and study liberal arts. She is undecided as to her major.

While in high school, Duran received several awards, honors and received an academic scholarship.

She was captain of the academic league debate team; participated in concert choir, ladies’ ensemble and band; and was a member of the French Club, PULSE Club, Upward Bound, Drama Club and Envirothon Team.

Duran also was a member of the National Honor Society and served as captain of the high school’s KDKA Hometown High-Q Team. She also was a chemistry lab assistant.

Outside of school, Duran was involved with Contemporary Choir, the local food bank and Daughters of Grace.

Zavage, daughter of Michael and Joan Zavage of Carmichaels, plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh and major in pharmacy.

While in high school, Zavage received several honors and awards and was named to the Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

She was a member of the academic league, debate team and named to the National Honor Society. Zavage also was participated in chorus and county chorus and was a member of the PULSE Club, SADD and EMT Class.

Outside of school, Zavage was an organist/singer at St. Marcellus Catholic Church, an altar server at St. Hugh Catholic Church, a volunteer at Southwest Regional Medical Center and a Bible School helper at St. Hugh Catholic Church. She also was involved with the youth group at St. Hugh Catholic Church.

Cubic, son of Drew and Ellen Cubic of Nemacolin, plans to attend Waynesburg College and major in nursing.

While in school, Cubic received several honors and scholarships, including the Waynesburg Presidential Scholarship, the Monongahela General Hospital Scholarship and the Wheeling Jesuit University Magis Scholarship.

In addition to being class president, Cubic also was president of the National Honor Society and an elementary school basketball coach.

He also was a member of the Senior Standing Committee and was drum major of the marching band and played an instrument in concert and jazz bands.

Cubic also was involved with the stage crew, Upward Bound, Environmental Science Envirothon Team and was an EMT aid/instructor.

Outside of school, Cubic was an emergency medical technician at Nemacolin fire hall, a volunteer firefighters, and was involved with a local youth group, Boy Scouts and a taps player for Sons of American Legion Post 400 Honor Guard.

The keynote speaker for the evening will be Susan Aspey, a 1990 Carmichaels Area High School alumnus.

Aspey serves as the director of communications for the Federal Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding, which was created by President Bush in November 2005 to coordinate the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina.

Aspey previously served as the press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education and was one of the president’s primary spokesmen on educational issues.