Veteran receives high school diploma
Just months away from graduation, Nick Sabatini of Uniontown left his classroom and headed off to war without the chance to finish his senior year.
Nearly 70 years later, the 86-year-old World War II army medic added his high school diploma to his list of achievements after he was recognized Monday during Uniontown Area School Board’s meeting.
Dr. Charles Machesky, district superintendent, presented Sabatini with his honorary diploma through a state law that allows public school districts to do so if the veteran meets certain criteria.
“It means a lot,” Sabatini said. “I did this mostly for my daughter.”
Sabatini’s daughter, Arlene Sabatini-Hughes, and his son, Jim Sabatini, and their families attended the event along with his wife, Opal.
“I’m honored to present this high school diploma to Sgt. Nick Sabatini, whose education was interrupted to serve our country,” Machesky said.
Sabatini served from 1943-1946 and would have graduated in 1944. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart Medal with one Bronze Star and the Victory Medal World War II.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Sabatini spent 13 years working two jobs to support his family.
World War II veterans are eligible to receive an honorary Uniontown high school diploma if they were honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States and served in the military between Sept. 16, 1940, and Dec. 31, 1946. The veteran must have attended Uniontown Area High School between 1937 and 1946 and would have been a member of the school’s graduating class during 1941 through 1950 but did not graduate due to entry into military service.
Also on Monday, the board approved the following additions to the professional substitute list at $80 per day pending receipt of proper clearances and certificates: Candace Adams, animal bioscience; Heather Caldwell, elementary K-6, library science K-12, family and consumer sciences K-12, English 7-12, communications 7-12 and mid-level mathematics 7-9; Julie Frazee, elementary K-6; Logan Howard, mathematics 7-12; Cori Snyder, elementary K-6; Lindsey Weimer, music; Charles Yasechko, elementary, school program specialist, elementary/secondary principal.
In other personnel moves, the board also approved the transfer of Kimberly Croci from an aide position to a clerk typist position in the district cafeterias and hired Gerald Shimko as a volunteer coach for the girls high school varsity basketball team and an assistant coach for the girls basketball team at Ben Franklin and Lafayette schools for a salary of $1,931.67. The board also hired Timothy Karpiak as head boys junior high football coach at Ben Franklin and Lafayette schools at $2,980.29, Ron Lewis as assistant boys junior high football coach at Ben Franklin and Lafayette for $2.097.24, and Alison Gearing as assistant high school varsity girls volleyball coach at $1,324.58.