Student news: Accolades from across the Lower Valley

Six Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh seniors and alumni were awarded AP Scholar awards for their success in taking College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Exams.

Recent graduate Helen Rothfus and seniors Genevieve Archer and Macrina Vollmer earned the AP Scholar award.

Senior Benjamin Stalder was awarded the AP Scholar with Honor award.

Graduates Anna Plazek and Samuel Schirra earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award.

SSA student wins art contest

Shady Side Academy sophomore Maria Schwendeman was one of nine winners of Pittsburgh International Airport’s first-ever student artwork contest, and her winning work is now on display as part of the airport’s Student Art Exhibit.

In the contest, students ages 6-18 were asked to submit original artwork with the theme “Nobody Owns the Sky,” the title of a children’s book about Bessie Coleman, who became the first African-American licensed aviator in 1921.

The submissions were judged by members of the Art in the Airport Advisory Committee and airport staff.

Winners are also displayed on the website FlyPittsburgh.com.

Schwendeman’s winning piece is entitled “The Sky Is Not the Limit” and features a trio of drawings of Bessie Coleman’s face.

FCA students place in forensic tournament

Three Fox Chapel Area High School students placed in the annual Upper St. Clair Novice Forensic Tournament.

In the Lincoln Douglas Debate, sophomore Silas Owens won fourth place and junior Daniel Thomas was sixth. In Impromptu Speaking, freshman Lilly Friedman was awarded fifth place.

The Upper St. Clair Novice Forensic Tournament was held virtually Oct. 31 with more than 230 students from 22 high schools participating.