Geibel students set to graduate
Members of the Geibel Catholic High School Class of 2013 will receive their diplomas during graduation ceremonies set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the school’s gymnasium.
“The class of 2013 provided exceptional leadership to our student body in the two years that I have been their principal. These are young people of intellectual and spiritual substance. Many of them will be unstoppable in the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations after high school,” said Donald Favero, principal
Peyton McIntyre has been named the class valedictorian and Katherine Catanzarite and Olivia Rakas have been named co-salutatorians for the graduating class.
McIntyre, a daughter of Steve and Darlene McIntyre of Uniontown, has achieved highest academic honors all four years at Geibel Catholic, graduating with a 4.2 grade-point average. She has held offices in student government, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions. McIntyre was elected as a finalist for the Challenge Program Academic Excellence Award for three consecutive years and won the award her sophomore year. Among other awards, she has received the Highlands Hospital Scholarship, the County Market Academic Award, and the Hospital Club of Connellsville Scholarship. Geibel Catholic presented her with the Excellence in Music Award, Excellence in Spanish Award, the Science Department Award, and the Physics Award.
McIntyre is also a four-year member of the volleyball team and a two-year letter winner, a four-year member of the basketball team and a three-year letter winner, and a four-year member of the cheerleading squad and a three-year letter winner. She is also a member of the chamber ensemble and pep band and was named the 2012 Geibel Catholic Homecoming Queen.
Outside of school, McIntyre has volunteered to help with the senior games, is an assistant Sunday school teacher at St. Therese Little Flower Church. In her parish community, she has been an altar server and a helper with Vacation Bible School and a Catholic Youth Organization volleyball referee.
McIntyre is deciding between Duquesne University, Penn State University at University Park and St. Mary’s of Notre Dame for her college choice and plans to major in pre-med.
Katherine Catanzarite has been named a co-salutatorian for Geibel’s class of 2013. She is the daughter of Marcus and Susan Catanzarite of McClellandtown. She has been an honors student for four years at Geibel and graduates with a 4.23 grade-point average.
Catanzarite is president of both the National and Spanish honor societies. She was nominated for and received Silver and Gold Key Awards from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and has gone on to compete in the national competition, where she was awarded a Gold Medal for her short story. In addition, she was a finalist for the Challenge program’s academic excellence and perfect attendance award, received Seton Hill University’s Women in Science Award for Chemistry. From her teachers, Catanzarite received awards for overall music excellence and the 2013 Arlene Severin Memorial English Award.
Catanzarite has participated in the chamber choir, spring musical, pep band, Gator Entertainers and served as a Eucharistic Minister and cantor for school Masses.
Outside of school, Catanzarite volunteers for her parish Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Leckrone, is an altar server, cantor, choir member and is active in church functions such as the annual Lenten fish fries, summer bazaars and is the song leader for Vacation Bible School.
In the fall, Catanzarite will attend Seton Hill University (SHU), where she has received the SHU Rising Star Scholarship, the Community Service Scholarship, SHU Leadership Grant and the Elizabeth Seton Presidential Scholarship for her SAT score and GPA. She plans to major in creative writing and minor in music.
Olivia Rakas has also been named a co-salutatorian for the class of 2013. She is a daughter of Jane and Timothy Rakas of Uniontown. She is a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church.
Rakas has earned highest honors all four years of high school. She has held various offices in the National Honor Society and French National Honor Society. Among her academic honors she has earned the Geibel Catholic Alumni Award, a Mozart Music Club Student of the Month and recipient of the Mozart Music Club Scholarship, Challenge Program Academic Excellence Award, Seton Hill University Women in Science Award and Penn State University Annual Francophone Cultural French Day awards.
Rakas has been involved in many activities during her time at Geibel, including the Geibel Gazette Newspaper, musicals, morning announcer, yearbook staff, cantor, lector, eucharistic minister, Archives Club, Dead Poets Society, golf team, pep band, powder puff football, Fly Fishing Club, cheerleading, Calligraphy Club, Gator Entertainers and being named 2013 Prom Queen.
Outside of school, she enjoys playing guitar and piano, dance, traveling, reading, and photography. Rakas is active in her church, where she is an altar server, cantor, visitor of homebound and nursing home residents, Consolation Team, Bible School song Leader, youth leader and assistant to the sacristans.
Rakas will be attending Seton Hill University in the honors program to double-major in forensic science and music.