Jun 16, 2002 By Mike Ciarochi 3 min read

Tonight’s the night for 14 of Fayette County’s best and brightest student/athletes. The Davis & Davis Student/Athlete Scholarship Program will present its first awards.

Sponsored by Davis & Davis Law Firm and coordinated by the Herald-Standard, the program will award $500 each to the top male and female student/athletes from the graduating classes of each of Fayette County’s seven high schools.

A banquet, sponsored by the Herald-Standard, will be held at 5 p.m. at Becker’s Shady Side Inn. The program will be videotaped and shown on HSTV.

Formerly known as the Fayette County Student/Athlete Scholarship Program, this scholarship program was brought back to life by James and Samuel Davis, brothers and Fayette County natives who founded the law firm that bears their names.

Davis & Davis supplied $7,000 to the program, so each of the 14 student/athletes could receive $500 each. Also contributing was Uniontown native Jes Hutson, who committed $1,000 to the program.

The original program was sponsored by O.C. Cluss Lumber Co. and awarded over $100,000 in scholarship funds. After a year in which the program was recognition-only, Davis & Davis stepped forward to jump-start it.

“I always liked the program and was more than happy to get involved in it,” James Davis said. “I think the newspaper has done a great job of recognizing some of the outstanding student/athletes Fayette County has produced and continues to produce.”

Samuel Davis noted that he and his brother have connections – business and/or personal – to every participating school in the county.

“I’m glad that we are able to keep this program going,” Samuel Davis said. “We are always looking for ways to give back to the community and this is a perfect way for us to do that.”

Neither Davis & Davis nor the Herald-Standard had any input into the selections. Each participating school nominated the student/athletes it considered the best.

The student/athletes, listed alphabetically, are:

– Laura Campbell, daughter of Allen and Cheryl Campbell of Grindstone, representing Geibel Catholic High School.

– Christy Cesarino, daughter of Joseph and Linda Cesarino of Farmington, representing Uniontown High School.

– Nathan Forse, son of Ronald and Thekla Forse of Hopwood, representing Laurel Highlands High School.

– William Gabonay, son of William and Christina Gabonay of New Salem, representing Geibel Catholic High School.

– Ryan Jenkins, son of Jeff and Debbie Jenkins of Adah, representing Albert Gallatin High School.

– Ryan Mullaney, son of Thomas and Cheryl Mullaney of Connellsville, representing Connellsville High School.

– Jeff Pelehac, son of Mark and Valeria Pelehac of Republic, representing Brownsville High School.

– Holly Peters, daughter of Fred and Ann Peters of Brownsville, representing Brownsville High School.

– Sara Pockstaller, daughter of John and Cheryl Pockstaller of Dunbar, representing Connellsville High School.

– Lauren Slampak, daughter of Gerry and Connie Slampak of Uniontown, representing Laurel Highlands High School.

– Adam Souply, son of Mark and Rose Souply of Fayette City, representing Frazier High School.

– Carrie Sterdis, daughter of John and Debbie Sterdis of Fayette City, representing Frazier High School.

– Terrance Vaughns, son of Lisa Vaughns of Uniontown, representing Uniontown High School.

– Erin Wright, daughter of Kirk and Debora Wright of Masontown, representing Albert Gallatin High School.

They are the best of the best in Fayette County this year and tonight is their night.