Open Today Sales: 9 AM-7 PM
To learn more about the requirements for Teacher Nomination and Student Nomination, click here to be directed to the Indiana County School Districts website for detailed information on the nomination process and requirements.
2025 Excellence in Education Winners
At the third annual Indiana County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education banquet held Monday, April 21, organizations and community leaders recognized the accomplishments of both educators and students. For the third year in a row, a teacher and student within the county received a new vehicle for academic prowess and community leadership.
This year, Michael Dolges, Indiana Area Junior High technology teacher, and Giavanna Previte, Indiana County Technology Center Culinary Arts student, won the grand prize of a new car supplied by Colonial Auto Group. CJ Spadafora, Colonial’s Dealer Principal presented the winning Toyota and Mitsubishi to the winners.
After graduation, Giavanna Previte plans to pursue culinary arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania as her next step to becoming a professional chef with her own business.
Michael Dolges is one of the co-founders of the Southwest Combat Bots Middle School League Competition. He commented “What we have developed with our combat robotics program has just been a catalyst for students. It really sparks an interest in them to want to pursue careers — to want to practice all the skills they need moving forward.”
Other nominees for teacher of the year included Timothy Bash, ICTC; Karen Conrad, Purchase Line School District; Desiree Fuqua, Marion Center Area School District; Jessica George, River Valley School District; Matthew Grata, United School District; Cathleen Hays, Homer-Center School District; and Melissa Horn, Penns Manor School District.
For each school district in Indiana County, seven students were nominated as students of the month. Out of those students, one per district was selected as a finalist for student of the year. Finalists include Riley Miscik, Homer-Center; Elizabeth Kinneer, Indiana Area; Collin Anderson, Marion Center; Elizabeth Diehl, Penns Manor; Jakob Mountain, Purchase Line; Holden Fridley, River Valley; and Hannah Rudnik, United. Each finalist received a $500 scholarship from the United Way of Indiana County.
Finally, KDKA-TV | CBS Pittsburgh News Anchor Lindsay Ward IUP and Penns Manor alumna, in a keynote address, stressed to students that all it takes in a sea of “no,” all it takes is one “yes” to put them on the path to success.
This special event, made possible through the generous support and collaboration through the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, and our devoted community partners, continues to bring us together to honor those who go above and beyond in shaping the future of education.
United Way of Indiana County | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | The Reschini Group | S&T Bank | IRMC | First Commonwealth Bank | Rosebud Mining | YMCA of Indiana County | Small Town Home Services LLC | B & G Brothers Rentals | Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
A heartfelt thank you to Kris Mellinger – Photos By Miss Kris for capturing the joy, pride, and spirit of the evening so beautifully.
Colonial Auto Group is filled with pride and gratitude to be part of the Indiana County Excellence in Education Awards.
Photos courtesy of: Kris Mellinger Dupont; Comments courtesy of Indiana Gazette
2024 EDUCATION IN EXCELLENCE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The 2nd Annual Excellence in Education Awards was a resounding success, thanks to the tireless efforts of our students, parents, guests, and sponsors.
Colonial Auto Group in partnership with The Indiana County Chamber of Commerce began this program in 2022-2023 school year, as an initiative to recognize the excellent work being done by both Indiana County teachers and students.
This program highlights various students and teachers from each of the seven-county public school districts as well as Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC) throughout this school year.
Fifty-seven students were chosen on a month-by-month basis by the ICTC and each school district (eight from the Indiana Area, seven from each of the others). In addition to the students, one teacher in each school district, grades Kindergarten through Grade 12 was chosen as that district’s Teacher of the Year.
The second Indiana County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony banquet was held on May 12th where one student and one teacher were awarded as the winners for this initiative and each was presented with a new car donated by CJ Spadafora and the Colonial Auto Group of Indiana.
Christine Yurky, Teacher-Homer-Center School District, and Anna Layden, Student – Purchase Line School District, became second Teacher and Student of the Year at the 2024 Indiana County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Awards.
Yurky, who taught at Homer-Center for 32 years and coached the quiz bowl team that competed at the National Academic Quiz Tournamentsʼ Small School National Championship Tournament in Rosemont, Ill., in April, was shocked the committee chose her out of seven other educators across each school district plus ICTC. She won a 2024 Toyota Camry. “Iʼm honored and humbled,” she said, “I plan to continue to do a job that I love and feel blessed to do for a school district that supports all my crazy ideas.
Anna Layden, who received the Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania 18 Under Eighteen Award for her nonprofit crisis training program Think Quick, was selected as this yearʼs Student of the Year, winning her a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage. “Iʼm just so honored,” she said. “I can’t even believe it right now.” Layden plans to attend Villanova University to study biology on a pre-medical school track.
Photos courtesy of: Kris Mellinger Dupont; Comments courtesy of Indiana Gazette
Colonial Auto Group in partnership with The Indiana County Chamber of Commerce announced a new annual initiative to recognize the excellent work being done by both Indiana County teachers and students.
This program highlights various students and teachers from each of the seven-county public school districts as well as Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC) throughout this school year.
Fifty-seven students were chosen on a month-by-month basis by the ICTC and each school district (eight from Indiana Area, seven from each of the others).
In addition to the students, one teacher in each school district, grades Kindergarten through Grade 12 were chosen as that district’s Teacher of the Year.
The first Indiana County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony banquet was held on May 8, where one student and one teacher were awarded as the winners for this initiative and each presented with a new car donated of CJ Spadafora and the Colonial Auto Group of Indiana.
The winners were Kristy Hopper, a teacher in the Marion Center Area School District, who received a 2023 Toyota Corolla from Colonial Toyota, and Andrew Beer, a student at Purchase Line Area High School, who received a 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage from Colonial Motor Mart.
Eight student finalists were chosen from those 57 nominees: Justley Sharp from Homer-Center, Maura Knepper from Indiana Area, Rylie Miller from ICTC, Maggie Shadle from Marion Center Area, Kathleen Dixon from Penns Manor Area, Cheyenne Weimer from River Valley, Emily Mack from United, and Beer.
Teachers Kristy Hopper was nominated along with Kirstin Curci of Homer-Center School District, Melissa Milanak of River Valley School District, Sean Moran of Indiana Area School District, Adelle Dolney of Penns Manor Area School District, Michael Thom of Purchase Line School District and Sandra Zulcik of Indiana County Technology Center.
Indiana County Chamber of Commerce President Mark Hilliard recalled how the idea of presenting cars came about.
“It’s about two years ago that C.J. Spadafora, the owner of Colonial Motor Mart and Colonial Toyota, came to me with an idea, and usually when C.J. comes with an idea, you listen,” the chamber president said, “but then when he tells you he wants to give away a brand-new car, really listen to him.”
“You are here because you are raising the bar in our public schools,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a recorded message sent along with his regrets for not being able to attend the event 520 others attended Monday night, honoring outstanding teachers and students from throughout the county.
Shapiro was introduced by state Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana, who urged the student nominees from seven districts as well as Indiana County Technology Center to “dream big,” to “reach big and you’ll go far in this life.”
Hilliard, Struzzi’s successor as president of the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, was master of ceremonies, while Struzzi’s predecessor as a state legislator, Dave Reed, now Pennsylvania State President for First Commonwealth Bank and chairman of the Indiana County Chamber’s board of directors, opened the event.
“Workforce development is one of our core areas of focus as we walk toward the future of Indiana County,” Reed said, “and the development of career readiness for our students has a priority in helping us train and grow our workforce for future employers right here at home in our community.”
Involved in the organizing committee for the Excellence in Education Awards were IUP Director of Strategic Partnerships Christina Koren and Vice President for University Advancement Khatmeh Osseiran-Hanna, Indiana Area School District’s outgoing Superintendent Michael J. Vuckovich, River Valley School District Career Transition Consultant Dr. Jeffrey Geesey, First Commonwealth Bank Executive Vice President for Human Resources Carrie Riggle, and Indiana Regional Medical Cenger Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. James “Jim” Kinneer.
This year’s event has sparked a lot of excitement for this program for the coming years for both teachers and students of the Indiana County area. We are looking forward to future programs and to see our students succeed in all their future endeavors.
Sponsors of Monday’s event included Colonial Motor Mart, The Reschini Grouip, Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Delaney Automobile Group, B&G Brothers Rentals, state Sen. Joe Pittman, The Indiana Gazette and the Northern Appalachian Folk Festival Inc.
Photos courtesy of: Kris Mellinger Dupont; Comments courtesy of Indiana Gazette
