Viswanathan to speak at Geibel commencement
Dr. Akila Viswanathan, Harvard Medical School assistant professor of radiation oncology and 1987 Geibel Catholic High School valedictorian, will serve as keynote speaker at Geibel-Catholic High School commencement ceremonies on Wednesday. The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the high school gym.
Anna Palumbo-Opacic is the 2010 graduating class valedictorian. Kelsey Guest was named salutatorian.
Viswanathan is director of gynecologic radiation oncology at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston. Her expertise is in the area of gynecologic cancers and their treatment.
She attended Harvard University for her undergraduate studies and received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Harvard’s Joint Center for Radiation Therapy in 2002 and earned both a master’s degree in public health and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.
She holds leadership positions in the American Brachytherapy Society and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and serves on the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup and the Gynecologic Cancer Task Force for the National Cancer Institute, which reviews clinical trials in gynecologic cancer.
She has served on the Women’s Institute for Housing and Development board of directors in Boston and has lectured through Inspire, an organization that promotes young women to pursue their dreams.
Palumbo-Opacic, daughter of Lee Ann Palumbo of Monongahela and Mark Steven Opacic of Allison Park, is a member of St. Anthony Church in Monongahela.
She was a member of both the National Honor Society (NHS) and the Spanish Honor Society and danced in the last four school musicals. She was a dance captain during her senior year and an assistant dance captain during her junior year.
Outside of school, she volunteered at Monongahela Valley Hospital, the Mon Valley YMCA, St. Sebastian Church, Dormition of the Theotokos Church, Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery and the annual Animal Friends Biscuits Bingo.
The Challenge Program granted Palumbo-Opacic the academic excellence award and the best overall average award during her senior year and the highest grade-point average (GPA) award during her junior year. The Connellsville Elks Club and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce both honored her as a Student of the Month.
She also received the Father Geibel Memorial Scholarship, the Davies Ford Scholarship, the Hospital Club of Connellsville Award and the Presidential Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.
Palumbo-Opacic chose to attend the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh to study pharmacy after being accepted into the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and Ohio Northern University.
Guest, daughter of Brad and Lisa Guest of Dawson, is a member of Tyrone Presbyterian Church.
She is a member of the NHS, peer ministry and the chamber ensemble. She has participated in school musicals and this year served as a dance captain. She was a member of the Geibel girls soccer team and earned two letters for her involvement with the team.
Outside of school, she volunteered to be a group leader for Vacation Bible School and to work at her local grange fair.
She is a recipient of the Women in Science Award/Scholarship in biology through Seton Hill University, the J.K.’s County Market Scholastic Award Scholarship and the Presidential Education Award for Academic Excellence.
The Connellsville Elks Club and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce both honored her as a Student of the Month. The Community Foundation of Fayette County recognized her as a Fayette County Community All-Star.
In the fall, Guest plans to attend Duquesne University, where she received an academic scholarship to major in forensic science/law.