California Area High School to graduate 74
California Area High School will hold its commencement ceremony for 74 graduates at 7 p.m. Friday in the school gymnasium.
The three valedictorians are Matthew Amber, Mario Tiberie and Rachel Wilkinson. Salutatorian is Deanna Hammitt.
Wilkinson’s parents are Thomas and Sherry Wilkinson or Roscoe. Wilkinson’s awards include the Girl Scout Gold Award, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Ambassador, Zonta Club of Washington County Excellence in Leadership and Service Award, Lions Young Ambassador of the 21st Century Award, Leo of the Year Award, Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award and the Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award.
She was the vice president of the class of 2015, Leo Club, Student Council and SADD Club, secretary of the Interact Club, a member of the National Honor Society, Student Forum, peer jury and school newspaper, and captain of the cheerleading squad and the softball team.
Wilkinson plans to attend Slippery Rock University to pursue a degree in exercise science and a doctorate of physical therapy.
Amber is a son of Eric and Lisa Amber of Coal Center.
Amber was awarded the WVU Academic Excellence Scholarship and the WVU Engineering Achievement Scholarship. He was vice president of the National Honor Society and Interact Club, a member of the Leo Club and Pennsylvania Academy of Science, was on the track and field team and cross country teams and was captain of the varsity golf team.
Amber will attend West Virginia University to pursue a degree in aerospace/mechanical engineering.
Tiberie is a son of Dale and Colleen Tiberie of Scenery Hill.
Tiberie was awarded the Gift of Life Scholarship, MacFann Family Scholarship, BCR Lions Scholarship, Consol Energy/National Merit Scholarship, Washington & Jefferson Presidential Scholarship and the U.S. Achievement Academy. He received a Challenge Program award for academic excellence.
Tiberie was the senior class president, vice president of student council and treasurer of National Honor Society and Leo Club. He was member of SADD, peer jury and the school newspaper. He was captain of the varsity tennis team and a member of the cross country team and soccer team. Tiberie plans to attend Washington & Jefferson College to pursue a degree in biology.
Hammitt is a daughter of William and Laura Hammitt of Coal Center.
Hammitt was awarded the Seton Hill Aloysia Lowe Scholarship and the California Area School District Foundation Scholarship. She was a member of the National Honor Society, SADD and was captain of the color guard.
Hammitt will attend Seton Hill University for three years to study biology and will attend the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for the last four years of her education.