Geibel to hold commencement Wednesday
Geibel Catholic Middle-High School in Connellsville will hold its annual commencement exercises at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the school gymnasium. Valedictorian of this year’s graduating class is Julia Vidonish. Salutatorian of the Class of 2008 is Marissa Anne Soisson.
Vidonish, daughter of Michael and Amelia Vidonish, is a member of St. Therese de Lisieux in Uniontown.
She plans to attend the University of Chicago, where she will major in biological sciences and later pursue a career in medical research.
While attending Geibel, Vidonish was involved in numerous activities and was president of student council and editor of the school’s newspaper and yearbook.
Vidonish was the secretary of the Spanish National Honor Society for two years and the two-year leader of the Geibel Book Club.
She also was a member of the National Honor Society, Academic Quiz League, Math League, Peer Ministry, Eucharistic Ministry, Music Ministry, Gator Entertainers, Chamber Ensemble, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the spring musical and the soccer team.
Outside of school, Vidonish was an altar server for her church and volunteered at the Uniontown Public Library. She also has studied classical piano for 12 years.
In the summer of 2007, Vidonish participated in biological research on freshwater clams and salamanders at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
Vidonish was awarded a full scholarship to Seton Hill University, in addition to receiving the university’s Women in Science Award and Scholarship for Biology.
The Fayette Chamber of Commerce and the Connellsville Elks Lodge 503 honored Vidonish by naming her student of the month.
She also was honored by being given the Challenge Program’s 2007 and 2008 Best GPA (grade-point average) Award, the PA CareerLink’s Intern of the Month Award, the Allegheny Energy Scholarship, the Chamber of Commerce Education Works Scholarship, the Sam Walton Community Scholarship, the AMVETS Martin Fagler Memorial Scholarship and the Highlands Hospital Scholarship.
Vidonish also was featured in the Tribune-Review’s Student Spotlights and was a U.S. Achievement Academy National Honor Student. In 2007 and 2008, Vidonish was a National Youth Leadership Forum nominee of medicine and in 2008 was a nominee on national security.
Soisson, daughter of Harry and Laurita J. Soisson III, plans to attend Duquesne University and major in pre-medicine. Afterwards Soisson plans to pursue a career in optometry or psychiatry.
While attending Geibel, Soisson was involved in numerous activities. She was a member of the Geibel Book Club, SADD and newspaper staff. She also participated in Peer Ministry and Music Ministry, in addition to being a chemistry tutor and a library volunteer.
Soisson also volunteered at St. Vincent DePaul and at summer Bible school. In addition, she was a lector at her parish and helped with fund raising.
In addition, Soisson was a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and was honored by being named student of the month by both the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and Connellsville Elks Lodge 503.
Soisson received highest honors all four years and was listed on the National Honor Roll.
Soisson was awarded the USAA National Science Merit Award and was named the Connellsville Business and Professional Women’s Club “Girl of the Year.”
She received the Bernard Gorman Memorial Scholarship and the Duquesne Academic Scholarship and was a nominee to the National Youth Leadership Forum.
The keynote speaker for the evening will be Courtney Davis, a 1997 Geibel graduate.
Originally from Uniontown, Davis now resides in New York City and is manager of corporate events for NBC Universal.
She graduated cum laude from Miami University of Ohio and is active in the college’s New York City Alumni Chapter.
She began her career with the NBC page program in 2001, holding assignments with the Rosie O’Donnell Show, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and in the corporate communications department.
She is an avid runner and remains active in her parish community.