- Last Updated on Saturday, 02 July 2016 19:43
The Toast To Our Stars of North Charleroi recently hosted its 66th Annual Achievement Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 30th at the Charleroi Elks. The annual event recognizes and promotes the participation, achievements and success of high school students from the community in academics, arts and athletics.
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| Featured guest speaker, former professional ice hockey player and actor, Dave Hanson. |
This year’s featured guest speaker was former professional ice hockey player and actor, Dave Hanson.
During his 10-year professional career, Hanson played for the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League and the New England Whalers, Minnesota Fighting Saints and Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. He is best known for his appearance with legendary actor Paul Newman in the 1977 feature film classic “Slap Shot,”staring as Jack Hanson, one of the outrageous Hanson brothers.
This year’s list of student honorees included:
- Freshmen
◦ Ian Williams - Football; Tristan Lantz - Baseball and Band; Liz Muchesko - Band
- Sophomores
◦ Caleb Carson - Soccer and Basketball; Sean Kwasney - Soccer and Track; Katelyn Valla - Volleyball; Hannah McCurdy - Basketball and Track; Ezra Guty - Basketball; Marley Yerkey - Track and Cheerleading
- Juniors
◦ Chad Melenyzer - Soccer; Jesse Andrechak - Baseball; Vanessa Labryer – Softball; Adam Ulens – Baseball; Kalee Hughes - Cheerleading; Jacob Comer - Basketball; Becca Nuzzo - Volleyball and Band
- Seniors
◦ David Nuzzo - Football and Track; Sam Pager - Football; Basketball and Baseball; Jesse McQuillis - Football; Jocelyn Diess - Cheerleading
In addition to the 20 honorees recognized for their participation in arts and athletics, two athletes were selected as this year’s outstanding athletes:
- John Arnold – Football and Basketball All-Conference Team
- Brian Eckles – Football All-Conference Team
Also recognized was retiring Charleroi Girls Soccer Coach Jim Rue, who led the team to the WPIAL finals and state playoffs in his final year along with compiling a 78-31-7 record while at Charleroi and a career coaching record of 215-87-23.
The evening concluded with the presentation of scholarships and stipends to the following graduating students:
- Jocelyn Diess - Alfred “Aggie” Agamedi Memorial Award, John Buberniak Memorial Scholarship
- Sam Pager - Richard “Frenchy” Pireaux Citizenship Award, Alfred “Aggie” Agamedi Memorial Award, Dorothy & Emil Hyk Memorial Scholarship
