Phoenixville, PA, — Samantha DiMarcello from the Center for Arts & Technology Pickering Campus has been named a 2009 Keystone Shining Star Award recipient by the Keystone Federal Credit Union (FCU).
Now in its second year, the Keystone Shining Star Award program recognizes students who have shown marked improvement in academic performance, extra-curricular involvement and attendance. According to her teachers, Samantha DiMarcello has worked very hard this year to do better in all of these areas.
“Among all of my students this year, Samantha stands out as being one of the hardest workers,” said Rachel Knipe. “She has been giving 110% in everything she does. She is really going above and beyond and is very compliant of anything we ask of her.”
As a result of Knipe’s nomination, DiMarcello was named the high school level award winner for the Chester County Intermediate Unit. The intermediate unit operates the CAT Pickering on behalf of Chester County’s 12 school districts.
The admiration between teacher and student is mutual. According to DiMarcello, teachers like Knipe make striving to improve oneself easier.
“Ms. Knipe is my favorite teacher,” she said. “I work especially hard in her class because of how great she is to me.
“I have been trying very, very hard to improve myself so this award means a lot because it shows that people are actually noticing how hard I have been working.”
DiMarcello’s efforts have not gone unnoticed: “Samantha has improved herself across the board: academically, socially, and with her involvement in extra-curricular activities,” said Knipe. “She values herself and is realizing just how great of a person she really is.”
Michelle Merkley, director of marketing and business development for the Keystone Federal Credit Union, presented the award to DiMarcello during a ceremony on May 7.
According to Merkley, the Keystone Shining Star Award began as a goal of former Keystone FCU President and CEO Judith Supplee. “She (Supplee) knew that ‘A’ students receive recognition for their academic efforts,” said Merkley. “However, she found it important to recognize the efforts of those who may not be the ‘A’ students, but who are still putting forth exceptional effort to improve themselves.”
Winning students receive a $200 share certificate of deposit and a trophy from Keystone FCU, teachers of winning students receive a $200 gift card to Staples for classroom supplies, and all nominated students receive a certificate of achievement.
