Student news from the Fox Chapel area

Eleven Fox Chapel Area High School students recently placed in the Pennsylvania High School Speech League’s state championship qualifying tournament.

First place awards went to the Policy Debate team of junior Adhitya Thirumala and sophomore Moonyoung Hwang; junior Lakshanya Rajaganapathi in Informative Speaking; junior Isabella White in Commentary; freshman Ulyana Kubini in Persuasive Speaking, and freshmen Joanna Li and Zachary Rubin in Duo Interpretation.

These students have qualified to participate in the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Championship Tournament March 17-18 at Bloomsburg University.

Four Fox Chapel Area High School students placed at the tournament and will serve as alternates for the state competition. Sophomore Swati Mylarappa won third place in Informative Speaking; freshman Varnujah Rengaramanujam Kanagaraj won third place in Poetry; freshman Madeline Urso won third place in Commentary, and senior Martin Stanton was awarded fifth place in the Senate.

The state championship qualifying tournament was held at Moon Area High School Feb. 25.

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Six Fox Chapel Area High School students will have their writing published as part of the Young Writers’ Twisted Tales contest.

The students are seniors Hassan Hamadi and Danel Hernandez; sophomore Martin Martinez; and freshmen Martin Puiseux, Benjamin Sun, and David Wang.

The students’ writing was judged on perception, imagination and creativity, expression, originality, and use of language. The Twisted Tales book is scheduled for publication May 31.

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Seven Fox Chapel Area High School students were selected by audition to perform with the 2023 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Band East.

The students are seniors Elijah Conklin (French horn) and Ethan Tan (clarinet); juniors Elijah Herzer (bass clarinet) and Chloe Kim (clarinet); and sophomores Marina Dunham (bassoon), Moonyoung Hwang (flute), and Varad Sant (French horn).

The PMEA District 1 Band East concert was Feb. 10 at Norwin High School. The band consisted of 130 of the best student-musicians from high schools from Allegheny, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties.