Seneca Valley High School
The Seneca Valley Senior High School’s commencement ceremony was scheduled for May 26 at NexTier Stadium.
The student speakers were Nicholas Nedzesky, co-valedictorian; Daniel Spear, co-valedictorian; Julia Lingenfelter, salutatorian; and Ava Katzenell, speaker-at-large.
Nick is the son of Michael and Amy Nedzesky of Cranberry Township. He was a student researcher in the Seneca Valley Center for Biotechnology Research, won multiple awards at the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair for his research, was a leader of the Science Honor Society, a committee chair in Youth and Government and a former president of the Seneca Valley Academic Decathlon team.
He plans to attend the University of Michigan Honors Program to study molecular, cellular and developmental biology.
Daniel is the child of Kathryn and Richard Spear. He has participated in the Seneca Valley Gender and Sexuality Advocacy club since sophomore year, running the club's social media accounts for the past two years. He is also a member of the Seneca Valley Marching band, in which he plays flute and piccolo.
Daniel plans to attend Purdue University next year, majoring in computer science. He hopes to use his passion for advocacy and his knowledge of programming to make computing more accessible and representative.
Julia is the daughter of Holly and Thor Lingenfelter. She participated in the YMCA Youth and Government program all four years of high school and served as state Editor-in-Chief her senior year. She was also a member of the cross-country team and National Honor Society and was a manager for the wrestling team.
She will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall where she plans on major in comparative literature and journalism.
Ava is the daughter of Scott Katzenell and Jeanine Van Fossan. Ava is most passionate about politics, law and advocacy with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ rights. She is the president of Seneca Valley's Gender and Sexuality Advocacy Club, placed first in the state as an attorney in Youth and Government, participates in mock trial, as well as various other school and community organizations.
She will be attending American University next year in its politics, policy and law scholars program majoring in legal studies and gender/sexuality studies.
Class officers are Dawson Ward, president; Tanush Nelikil, vice president; Zoe Simpson, secretary; and Luke Simpson, treasurer.
