Mapletown valedictorian, salutatorian named
Mapletown High School will hold its annual commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium. Valedictorian of this year’s graduating class is Samantha Anne Cossick, daughter of Sam and Diane Cossick of Bobtown and granddaughter of Mary Daly of Uniontown.
Salutatorian of the Class of 2007 is Megan Dulik, daughter of John and Nikki Dulik of Greensboro and granddaughter of Janet Dulik and her late husband, Rudy Dulik, of Masontown.
Cossick will deliver the valedictorian’s address titled “Learn From the Past as We Step Into the Future” following remarks from school officials and Bethany Ross, the senior class president, who will deliver the welcoming address.
Cossick plans to attend either the University of Texas or Pennsylvania State University to study journalism.
She recently completed two college credit classes as a dual enrollment student during the spring semester at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, where she earned a 4.0 grade-point average.
While in high school, Cossick was treasurer of the senior class, vice president of Students Against Destructive Decisions and senior editor of the yearbook.
She was an active member of the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Interact Club, Youth Anti-Tobacco Leadership Program and the varsity Academic League.
In addition, Cossick received the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award from the University of Rochester, as well as the Principal’s Leadership Award.
The Carmichaels’ Lions Club also honored Cossick as the Student of the Month for May.
Outside of school, Cossick is a four-year staff member of the Washington Observer-Reporter’s monthly youth magazine, Flipside. She also is a member of the alumni staff for the Western Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Seminar, held at California University of Pennsylvania. She studied dance for 11 years and is a former student of the Tricia Ricco Dance Studio in Carmichaels, where she studied for six years.
Cossick also served as Mapletown High School’s Coal Queen representative.
Dulik will deliver the salutatorian address titled “The Beginning of Your Life.” She plans to attend Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va., and major in accounting.
She was enrolled as a dual enrollment student a Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, during her senior year.
While in high school, Dulik was vice president of the senior class, co-captain of the varsity cheerleading squad, a varsity cheerleader for four years and a volleyball player for one year.
She was an active member of the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Interact Club, Student Council and Academic League.
Dulik was a member of the homecoming court during her junior year and was selected for the National Honor Roll and was a National Honor Student.
She received the Susan B. Anthony Humanities and Social Sciences Award and was chosen as the January Student of the Month by the Carmichaels Lions Club. In addition, Dulik was received the USAA National Cheerleading Award as well as the Mapletown Varsity Boosters Academic Award for Cheerleading in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She received the Varsity Boosters Academic Award for volleyball in 2005.
During her senior year, Dulik also received the United States National Leadership and Service Award. She placed third at the FBLA Regional Competition this spring and competed in the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Conference. Dulik also received a first place at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition this year.
Ross, daughter of Sheri Smotzer of Greensboro and granddaughter of Nelson and Sharon Smith also of Greensboro, plans to study nursing at Wheeling Jesuit University.
In addition to being senior class president, Ross also was president of the National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decision, Student Council and PULSE.
She also was an active member of the Academic League, FBLA, Envirothon and Interact Club, in addition as serving as the student voice to the school board.
While in high school, Ross was a member of the varsity basketball team for four years, for which she served as captain; a varsity cheerleader for one year; a volleyball player for one year; and a member of the varsity softball team for two years.
As for honors, Ross received the Presidential Academic Excellence Award, U.S. Army’s Scholar Athlete Award, Wheeling Jesuit’s Magis Scholarship, Alderson Broaddus’ Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship and Waynesburg College’s Presidential Honor Scholarship. She also was named to the National Honor Roll and the National Honor Society.