Oxford Area High School seniors recognized for citizenship, leadership

Oxford Area High School senior Meghan Harvey, daughter of Linda and James Harvey, was nominated by Principal Dr. David C. Madden for the 2012 Principal Leadership Award co-sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Herff Jones, Inc. One-hundred national winners will be chosen this spring to receive college scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $12,000.
 
High school principals from across the country nominate students for the award based on their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs; achievements in the arts and sciences; employment experience; and academic record. Nominees are also required to write an essay.

Meghan is Student Council treasurer and president of the high school’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America, as well as the Pennsylvania FBLA’s Region 9 secretary.

Meghan currently serves as the high school’s student representative to the Oxford Area Board of School Directors and is the high school’s representative on the 16th Congressional District Youth Advisory Council sponsored by U.S. Representative Joe Pitts.

Meghan is a member of the Helping Hands community service club, the LEOs Club of the Oxford Lions, and the varsity track and cross-country teams, qualifying for the PIAA state track and field championships held in November.

In June, Meghan organized “Eli’s Run,” a 5K run/walk and fun run to benefit the Eli Seth Matthews Leukemia Foundation. The event served as Meghan’s graduation project and she hopes to pass it down each year to another student as an annual event.

Oxford Area High School senior Joseph Gray, son of Donna and Joseph Gray, is the school’s recipient of the Chester County Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution 2012 Good Citizenship Award. Joseph is one of nine county high school students who will be honored by the chapter at a ceremony this spring.

The DAR Good Citizenship Award is presented to one student selected by his or her school’s staff based on the qualities of dependability (which includes personality, loyalty and punctuality), service (which includes cooperation, courtesy and consideration of others), leadership (which includes personality, self-control and willingness to assume responsibility); and patriotism (which includes unselfish interest in family, school, community and nation.)

Joseph is a four-year member of the basketball and football teams, playing varsity football for three years and varsity basketball for two years.

Joseph has been a member of Future Business Leaders of America for four years and currently serves as chapter vice president. He is vice president of the Class of 2012, a two-year National Honor Society member, a four-year member of Student Council and a three-year member of the Helping Hands Community Service Club.

In April, Joseph was one of four Philadelphia area high school students honored by the Princeton Prize in Race Relations program, receiving a Certificate of Accomplishment from the prize committee. Joseph was recognized for the leadership role he has taken as a founding member of the high school’s “Different But Equal” diversity committee, of which he currently serves as president.

After graduation Joseph plans to study engineering at Penn State University, Main Campus.

Oxford Area High School senior Michaela Quigley, daughter of Sarah and Bernard Quigley, is the school’s recipient of the 2012 Comcast Leaders and Achievers Award. The award, funded through The Comcast Foundation, recognizes high school seniors from Comcast communities for their commitment to community service, academic achievement and demonstrated leadership.

In recognition of her accomplishments Michaela will receive a one-time grant of $1,000 from Comcast.  After graduation Michaela plans to study secondary education at Washington College.

Michaela is president of Student Council and a member of National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America, serving as chapter historian and Region 9 President of the Pennsylvania State FBLA.

Michaela has played varsity field hockey for three years, two as captain, and is a member of the high school lacrosse club and the Horizon FHC travel field hockey team based in Delaware County. She works in the Oxford chiropractic office of Dr. Douglas Fasick and is a volunteer at the Ware Presbyterian Village senior community.