School Movers & Shakers - July

Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley School District has been honored by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation with the prestigious Best Communities for Music Education designation, recognizing the district’s outstanding commitment to music education. This marks the fourth time Seneca Valley has earned this distinguished recognition.

Fox Chapel

Fox Chapel Area High School 2026 graduate Michael Costello was named a second-place national winner in the America’s Field Trip contest, a nationwide scholastic contest. More than 10,000 students in grades 3-12 from across the country submitted original artwork or writing responding to the prompt, “What Does America Mean to You?” 

Five Fox Chapel Area High School 2026 graduates swept first through fourth places in the high school division of the “America 250 and Counting!” Contest. Maxwell Farber won first place, Steven Li won second, Marin Airik and Joseph Shin were awarded third, and Samuel Troutman won fourth. As part of the contest, students from across the United States created public service announcements about the Declaration of Independence and its importance to the ideals of democracy today.

A team of Dorseyville Middle School students from the Fox Chapel Area School District won first place in the sixth- through eighth-grade division of the 2026 Allegheny County Envirothon.  The first-place team members were Zoey Guinn, Hugo Gutowski, Ellie Huh, Prisha Jhanji, and Christina Randtke. Additionally, Hugo and Ellie won the top score on the wildlife exam, and Prisha attained the highest score on the current environmental issues exam.

The Dorseyville Middle School Philharmonic Orchestra earned the highest rating possible at the Cedar Point Festival of Music. The orchestra was rated “Superior,” and was the only middle school orchestra to earn that rating. The group received a plaque for its performance. The festival was held May 15, at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. 

At Kerr Elementary in the Fox Chapel School District, a dedicated group of third-grade volunteers known as the JAM Students used creativity and kindness to support a meaningful cause. The program promotes collaboration, hands-on making, entrepreneurship, and community service by encouraging students to design and sell crafts. In keeping with their mission to give back, the JAM Students voted to donate all of this year’s profits to Aspinwall Meals on Wheels, raising $450.

Mars Area

Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Lacrosse Team earned its second State Championship Title with a 14-13 win over the Penncrest Lions in the final game of the 2026 PIAA Class 2A Boys Varsity Lacrosse Championship on June 13.

Mars Area High School freshman Parker Joseph earned the State Championship Title in the Greco Division at the 2026 PAUSAW State Wrestling Championships.

Mars Area High School students Addison Orehowsky, Makenna Weaver and Grace Nam were selected to receive Society of Women Engineers Pittsburgh Section certificates of merit.

Mars Area Middle School seventh-grader Tegan Butts earned the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) Martial Arts State Championship Title in Tae Kwon Do.

Sheryle Long has been elected as Butler County’s first female district attorney and has become the first appointment to Butler County Community College’s board of trustees in nearly six years.

Mars Area Middle School Seventh Grade Girls Volleyball Team ended the 2026 Season with a record of 13-0. In addition to being undefeated, the Lady Planets swept every match except one. Team members Annabelle Bombick, Carmia Erasmus, Makayla DaSilva, Rayleigh Edwards, Paige Graham, Ariana Grusca, Sienna Reilly, Kylie Rhea, Kate Sherwin, Bee Swanson, and Emily Weiner.