December 2024 and January 2025 LSHS Students of the Month
December 2024 and January 2025 LSHS Students of the Month
Congratulations to the December and January LSHS Pioneer Superlatives and Students of the Month!
Over the past two months, Lampeter-Strasburg High School teachers recognized eight students - three seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, and one freshmen - for their achievements in December and January.
Pioneer Superlatives
Emma Williams (December) - Emma is a senior and the daughter of Randy and Lisa Williams of West Lampeter Township. At school, she is a member of Mini-THON, L-S Sisterhood, Scrubs Club, Student Council, Varsity Club, High School Heroes, National Honor Society, Interact Club, and the girls' tennis team. Emma also works as a pharmacy technician at CVS and as a retail associate at Aerie and enjoys spending her free time skiing, reading, working out, modeling, shopping and spending time with family and friends. She plans to attend a four-year university to study nursing and will continue schooling to pursue a career as an aesthetic nurse.
“Emma has shown leadership and dedication to her extracurricular activities this year. She has taken a leading role in the Sisterhood Club and is willing to put in the time needed to ensure the club is successful this year. She has really impressed her teachers this year. Emma is excelling in her coursework in the building and her college courses”
James Appelgrijn (December) - James is a senior and the son of Rhiannon and Coenraad Appelgrijn of Strasburg. His LSHS extracurricular activities include Drama Club, Spring Musical (Mamma Mia), Fellowship of Christian Students, Concert Choir, Madrigals, Inter-club Council, Pioneer Page Turners, WLSH Morning Announcements, Afternoon Announcements, National Honor Society, High School Heroes, and Link Crew. James has been recognized as a Burrowes Scholar in English as a junior and this year with the DAR Good Citizen Award. He volunteers outside of school as a member of the Ephrata First Church worship team and tech crew and spends his free time reading, writing, acting, singing (both in a choir and for fun), and playing electric bass. After graduation, James will be furthering his studies in English and film with the goal of becoming an author, director, or English professor.
“James is a standout candidate for December's Pioneer Superlative. Known as the "Ted Lasso of Lampeter-Strasburg," James embodies unrelenting kindness and genuine care for others. When he asks how you’re doing, he truly wants to know, making everyone feel valued and appreciated. In the classroom, James exudes positivity. He is quick to praise any activity, calling it “awesome” with heartfelt enthusiasm. His encouragement is infectious, inspiring both peers and teachers alike. James is also a vital contributor to WLSH, serving as both a news anchor and the director of the program. Beyond WLSH, he is actively involved in the school play, musical, and afternoon announcements, showcasing his dedication and school spirit. James’s consistent excellence, leadership, and positivity make him the perfect choice for this month’s Pioneer Superlative!”
Amelia Knarr (January) - Amelia is a junior and the daughter of Dustin and Monica Knarr of Willow Street. She is the secretary of the LSHS environmental club, the team manager and statistician for the boy's lacrosse team, and is active in the chorus, the fall play and spring musical, Madrigals, the Interact Club, the Drama Club, the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Amelia is active in her church, serving on the youth high council, and helping with morning Bible study. She also volunteers with Blessings of Hope and Feed My Starving Children. When Amelia has time for herself, she enjoys anything to do with the arts: singing, painting, sewing, crocheting, and makeup/nail art. She also loves to read, bake, and work with children. After Amelia graduates in 2026, she plans to attend college and major in early childhood education to become an elementary school teacher.
“Ameila is consistently at the top of the class on assessments. She works hard to prepare for assessments and demonstrates effective use of time in class. She is involved in several extracurricular activities yet continues to manage time effectively and not let the quality of her work slip.”
Jackson Allison (January) - Jackson is a sophomore and the son of Todd and Amanda Allison of Strasburg. He stays busy at school as a member of the Jazz Band, Concert Band, Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS), and the baseball team. Jackson is active at his church, where he has taken mission trips to Florida and West Virginia. He can also be found helping out at youth baseball camps. Outside of school, Jackson enjoys spending time hunting, camping, practicing archery, fishing, playing baseball, and spending time with friends and family. At the moment, his career aspirations include engineering and woodworking.
“Jackson is an excellent student and a versatile young man. He completes all assignments with excellent effort, works well with others, and participates in class. Outside of the classroom, he is a member of the concert band, the Blue Jazz Band, and the baseball team. He is dedicated, kind, and cooperative in all areas. I think he also has 1,000,000 community service hours, although that is obviously an exaggeration."
Students of the Month
Brooke Rubincam (December) - Brooke is a junior and the daughter of Doug and Kim Rubincam of Strasburg. At school, she’s an active member of the Garden Spot FFA, and recently was part of the Agricultural Issues team that placed third in the state. Brooke likes to spend time doing anything agriculture-related, including raising livestock for the West Lampeter Fair, and she’s planning to pursue a career in the animal science field after graduation.
“Brooke is a quiet student but also produces such high-quality work. I'd like to see her become more vocal in class, but it's clear she understands course content very well based on the work she produces. She is a leader by example within her classes”
Falcon Garabo (December) - Falcon is a freshman and the son of Ryan Garabo and Charmaine Gaudet of West Lampeter Township. He is a member of the FFA, Interact Club, and track and field team at LSHS and was the winner of multiple awards in middle school, including Student of the Month. Falcon helps out with altar services at his church and spends his free time running, watching movies, playing video games, and doing hands-on projects. He plans to pursue a career as a plumber after high school.
“Falcon is such a fun student to have in class. He is a class leader and has taken it upon himself to find the mistakes his Algebra teachers make, which they find humorous. He is also quick to help his classmates. He helped serve Chicken BBQ at the beginning of the school year and was a reliable salesman for the FFA produce sale.”
Brooke Bettinsoli (January) - Brooke is a junior and the daughter of Ammie and Tony Bettisoli of Willow Street. She is a member of the LSHS Ski and Snowboard Club. Brooke has been on the honor roll so far this year at the CTC, where she is the ambassador for the metal manufacturing class. She works part-time at Kirkland's Home and spends summers working at Dumser’s Ice Cream on the boardwalk. Brooke also enjoys snowboarding, going to the gym, welding, and boating. After graduation, she plans to become a welder and move out west to work on pipeline construction projects.
“Brooke has been working hard the entire semester. She has completed assignments on time, contributed to class discussions, supported other students in the classroom, and sought support when needed. She is also excelling in her half-day CTC Introduction to Manufacturing Careers program. Keep up the great work.”
Evan Girdharry (January) - Evan is a senior and the son of Dexter and Heather Girdharry of West Lampeter Township. At LSHS, he is the Interact Club treasurer and a member of the STEM Club and boys tennis team. Evan volunteers at UPMC Lititz, plays club tennis with RCW, and likes to spend his free time running and playing tennis. He plans to continue his education with the goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
"Evan has had remarkable improvement in science this month. Through hard work and dedication, he has shown significant progress in understanding complex concepts and applying them to both classwork and assessments. Evan has demonstrated a strong commitment to learning, seeking help when needed, and consistently pushing himself to do better. This impressive growth reflects his resilience and determination, and I am confident he will continue to build on this success in the future. His peers have even commented on his improvement!"
Board Recognition
The December 2024 and January 2025 Students of the Month received recognition at the February 3 meeting of the Board of School Directors. Board member Mr. Andrew Welk presented their certificates.