102 graduating from Fort Cherry
Valedictorian Cheyenne Shankle
Salutatorian Hope Gillespie
Salutatorian Christopher Petricca
Fort Cherry High School will graduate 102 seniors at its commencement at 7 p.m. Friday at James Garry Stadium. Valedictorian is Cheyenne Shankle, and salutatorians are Hope Gillespie and Christopher Petricca. All three students will be speaking at the ceremony.
Shankle is a daughter of Ford and Kelly Shankle of McDonald.
Shankle achieved the Dr. Hughey Award, President’s Award, Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, and Jules Dubols Math Award. She received the First Commonwealth “Time to be First” Scholarship, Joseph Lauff Science Award Scholarship and Washington County Community Foundation Chapman Family Scholarship. She was one of the Washington County Mock Trial champions and regional runner-up, as well as a Youth Leadership Conference representative winner. Shankle also a served as captain of the varsity tennis team, vice president of the Foreign Language Club, president of National Honor Society, treasurer of Student Council, was a varsity track and field state qualifier and member of Ski Club, Mock Trial, Science Olympiad and Academic League. She volunteered at the Keystone Simulation and Education Center and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Beaver County.
She plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in business.
Gillespie is a daughter of Stacy Fazzolari and Brian Gillespie of McDonald.
Gillespie received the Presidential Education Award. She served as co-editor of the Pinnacle and was a member of chorus, Encore, Student Council and the Foreign Language Club. She also was an assistant stage manager/production assistant at Pittsburgh Musical Theater and a student at Richard E. Rauh Conservatory. Gillespie volunteered at World Vision and the Children’s Community Theater program.
Gillespie will attend George Washington University to pursue a degree in anthropology.
Petricca is a son of Joseph and Joyce Petricca of McDonald.
Petricca received the Presidential Education Award and was on the high honor roll. He received Top Company at Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, the Director’s Award for band and John Phillip Sousa Band Award and was named to the Honors Band. He attended district chorus and regional chorus. He was selected to participate in Washington County Music Educators Association County Chorus and Band Festival and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District Band. Petricca served as vice president of Science Club, chess club and marching band, secretary of Drama Club, was high scorer at Fort Cherry Academic League and a peer tutor and was a member of chorus, Encore, Strive, and Science Olympiad. He also volunteered at Heritage Public Library and retirement homes. He also is trombone section leader in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Petricca plans to perform in Eastern Europe with PYSO and then attend the Honors College at Duquesne University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in music education.