South Fayette Township School District Annual Report 2024-25
Dr. Michelle Miller Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Matt Callison Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Dr. Erin Crimone Middle School Principal
Dr. Natasha Dirda High School Principal
Jennifer Donovan Director of Communications
Tyler Geist Elementary School Principal
Dr. Chuck Herring Director of Student and Community Engagement
Pharlan Ives Elementary School Assistant Principal
School Board 2024-25
Joseph Welch President
William Gray Vice President
Rebecca Bruce
Teresa Burroughs
Esther Cardillo
Leonard Fornella
Thomas Iagnemma
Jennifer Iriti
Prajakta Patankar
Susan Vasalani Board Secretary
Dr. Kristin Deichler Assistant Superintendent
Kristen Johnson
Intermediate School Assistant Principal PBIS Coordinator
Tom Kaminski
Intermediate School Principal World of Work Coordinator
Mark Keener Director of Athletics
Dr. Kevin Maurer Middle School Associate Principal Esports Program Director
Ryan Neely Director of Finance
Dr. Kellee Oliver Director of Student Support Services
Nicolle Bazant Pleil Director of Food Services
Michael Radage Director of Human Resources
Thomas J. “T.J.” Salopek High School Assistant Principal
Brandon Soubie Director of Transportation
Steve Timmins Facilities Director
Cristine Wagner-Deitch Director of Curriculum
Rob Warfield Director of Technology
New Faces in Lion Leadership
The district was pleased to welcome three new members to the administrative team throughout the 2024-25 academic year. Mr. Michael Radage took over the responsibilities of Director of Human Resources, and Dr. Kellee Oliver stepped into the role of Director of Student Services. Hired at the end of the school year, Mrs. Tonya O'Brien will be joining the High School administrative team as Assistant Principal in the fall. New, strong leaders with innovative ideas are helping to keep South Fayette at the forefront of academic excellence.
Mr. Michael Radage Director of Human Resources
Dr. Kellee Oliver Director of Student Services
Mrs. Tonya O’Brien High School Assistant Principal
South Fayette's YEAR IN REVIEW
Our 2024-2025 Annual Report is a celebration of our students, staff, and community. I believe it is the perfect reflection of a year filled with growth, achievement, and meaningful impact.
At South Fayette Township School District, we remain steadfast in our commitment to tradition, pride, and excellence. These values are the foundation of our work, guiding us as we prepare students for a dynamic future. Once a small, farming-based community, we have been able to honor that legacy while booming into the student-centered, future-focused, and innovationdriven district that we are today. I could not be more proud of the environment we have created where Lion Learners are empowered, inspired, and supported through every step of their social, emotional, academic, artistic, and athletic development.
Throughout the year, student leadership has flourished across every grade level. Whether through academic clubs, athletic teams, service initiatives, or creative endeavors, our students continue to rise as changemakers — leading with integrity, purpose, and heart. They’ve not only represented our district with distinction at local, state, and national events, but they’ve also given back generously, reminding us all of the power of compassion and civic responsibility.
Innovation continues to be a defining feature of the South Fayette experience. From STEAM labs to real-world learning partnerships, from digital literacy to inclusive programs that bridge differences, we are proud to offer forward-thinking opportunities that prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. Additionally, this year has included multiple occasions to showcase our district on regional and national levels. We have served as a beacon of excellence and exhibited our strengths across the country, even breaking onto the international scene when guests from outside of the U.S. attended our first Future-Focused Summit.
This year, we specifically concentrated on creating lasting and meaningful moments, memories, and connections for every Lion on campus, whether a student, faculty, or a member of our amazing staff. This report serves as a yearbook to so many of those moments—and we know there are countless more. The unique thing about moments is that what may seem small to one person can be incredibly impactful for someone else. I hope that each of our Lions is creating their own story filled with unforgettable memories from their time in this district.
As you turn these pages, you will find evidence of a vibrant, united district—one that celebrates accomplishments, embraces progress, and never loses sight of the importance of community. I want to thank every member of Lion Country for your continued partnership in shaping a school system where every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Senior Nandana Menon earned national recognition when she won the SXSW EDU Student Impact Challenge after pitching her app called Spark. Spark provides engaging activities for children with autism and equips caregivers with collaborative monitoring and configuration tools. Nandana, who also runs a non-profit called Autism Unity Initiative (AUI), competed against five finalists from Nigeria, Brazil, and Canada as well as Virginia and Washington. The Student Impact Challenge lets youth leaders showcase their talents and solutions aimed at improving society.
Senior Sparks National Spotlight
Lion LEADERS
Students throughout the district continued the tradition of excellence in 2024-25.
Carly Garrubba, Class of 2025 “
Life allows us to rearrange, try again, view things from different perspectives, and to grow.”
97th Annual Commencement Speakers
The Class of 2025 chose three graduates to speak during their commencement ceremony. Their selections, and each individual’s topic, were: Carly Garrubba, “Putting the Pieces Together,” Ryan Baldigowski, “Drama,” and Raneem Shedeed, “The Burnt Toast Theory.”
Ryan Baldigowski speaking at commencement.
High School
Senior Bedirhan Bircan and junior Aanya Angadi spoke on behalf of their peers at the PA Teen Mental Health Coalition in Harrisburg. Aanya also spoke about the importance of youth representation in our state government.
Teammates Luke Miller, Derek Heistand, Hannah Luo, Dan Mano, Avanish Manthena, Ishan Polimetla, Max Zuckett, and Tanishka Thakkar were Varsity Quiz Bowl Tournament champs after dominating five rounds of competition.
Brianna Benson and Cody Widmer were recognized with the South Hills Area School Districts Association (SHASDA) Achievement Award.
Sophomore Monish Polimetla, enrolled in the Cybersecurity 2 course, is the first SF student to pass the CompTIA Network+ exam, normally obtained in college.
Akshath Giridhar won the Best Delegate Award for Outer Space Affairs at the Duquesne Model UN Conference.
Middle School
This year’s Bridgeville Rotary Award winners include sixth graders Sophia Cuthbertson and Speransina Zebo; seventh graders Rory Melville and Advai Shyam, and eighth graders Sohum Paranjpe and Anna Rynn.
Diya Thirumurugan finished in fourth place in the annual Scripps Spelling Bee competition at Point Park University.
At the Pittsburgh National History Day, Molly Grella, Sana Motlankunta, and Devika Naijin earned 1st place in the Group Website category and were King Award recipients. Achutya Atreya, Vid Mares, Yaseen Saeed, and Muhil Suresh took first in Group Documentary and also earned King Awards. Zayna Khan and Rithanya Sasikumar, and the group of Maddux Chang, Ayush Kathale, Neil Sarin, and JR Smith earned 2nd place finishes in the Group Website and Group Documentary categories, respectively.
At the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Abrar Alkamel, Ayyoub Alkamel, Achutya Atreya, Atharva Krishna, Anay Namdev, Rithvik Praveenkumar, and Muhil Suresh earned the Excellence in Presentation Award. Anushka Joshi and Laalitya Sagi placed second in the Junior Division of the Behavioral and Consumer Science category, and Vedhamsh Erukula and Hriday Shah placed second in the Junior Division of the Physical Science and Engineering category.
Eighth grader Rocco Matusic received the Joan Jarrett Student Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education (PAMLE) for his leadership abilities, good citizenship, and positive contributions to his school and community. Rocco also received the American Legion Award, along with classmate Lainey Kuglar, which recognizes character, courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service.
Junior Achievement
Since the Junior Achievement of Western PA 18 Under Eighteen program began four years ago, South Fayette has had at least two representatives in each group of 18 students. This year, we celebrated seniors Nandana Menon and Caroline Praveen. Nandana is a campus leader who has been recognized as a Disney Dreamer and Bank of America Student Leader. Dedicated to making advancements in autism, she launched an app along with CGI Autism Development project, started a nonprofit organization called the Autism Unity Initiative (AUI), and worked with local government leaders to co-create the Blue Envelope Program to improve autism-law enforcement interactions.
Captain of South Fayette High School’s debate team, Caroline graduated in the Top 10 of SF’s Class of 2025. Active in TSA and president of SFHS’s HOSA chapter, she is a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program and a Presidential Scholar through the U.S. Department of Education. An author, EMT, and accomplished biomedical researcher, Caroline runs a non-profit, the Fluency Forward Foundation, to increase education and English skills in underdeveloped regions.
“
These young leaders are actively shaping a brighter future and setting new standards for innovation and leadership.”
Junior Achievement of Western PA 2.12.25 Event Release
Homecoming King and Queen
During halftime of the Lion’s 38 - 0 victory over the Baldwin Highlanders, André Rondon and Philipa AddaeMensah were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Both are honor roll students and members of SHOUT and Student Government. Andre is also an Eagle Scout, and Philipa participates in track and tennis.
National Merit
Seniors Andrew Carson, Rohith Galla, Dhruv Kithany, and Srishti Swaminathan all advanced from semifinalist to the finalist stage in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Additionally, Ryan Baldigowski, Mark Baumcratz, Bedirhan Bircan, Pavithra Dantu, Joseph Gubinsky, Dharini Maruthu Pandian, Luke Miller, Adit Patel, Caroline Praveen, Samihah Saleem, and Raneem Shedeed were recognized by the College Board as Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise.
CAREER-ORIENTED CHAMPIONS
Arya, Rushil, Ansh, Avanish, and Arnav after winning first place at the National TSA Conference.
Club participation and competition offer SF students the opportunity to develop impressive leadership and career-focused skills. The following are state-level awards unless otherwise noted.
FBLA
Maryam Khan, Client Service – 1st
Ananya Soundararaja, Job Interview – 1st, National Conference finalist
Ishi Gupta, Shrita Machineni, and Pari
Sainani, Visual Design – 3rd
Twisha Trivedi, Public Speaking – 7th
Meena Narkeeran, Introduction to Business Concepts – 8th
Aarav Shah, Securities and Investments – 8th
HOSA
Neha Nambiar, Prepared Speaking – 3rd
Ananya Soundararajan, Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking – 3rd, 2nd place at International Leadership Conference
Pranav Vaidyapu, Barbara James Service Award winner for community volunteer service
Ishaan Chahande, Health Literacy Ambassador
Shrita Machineni was recognized at the state conference for designing the Penn HOSA pin which was available for purchase and used in a pin exchange at the International Leadership Conference.
TSA
Nearly 100 SFHS students attended the PA TSA State Conference in April, and 88% finished as state finalists (Top 10 of their category). Thirty-one SFHS students
qualified for the National TSA Conference by finishing in the top three of their category.
The Technology Bowl Team of Alex Lou, Hannah Luo, and Dan Mano finished 8th on the national stage.
Hannah Luo and Dan Mano, Coding – 1st
Rushil Bajaj, Zayan Karim, Avanish Manthena, Arnav Mehta, Arya Pamecha, and Ansh Ukani, Digital Video Production – 1st, 1st place at National Conference
Nehanth Dirisala and Anirudh Yuvaraj, Webmaster – 1st
Ishi Gupta, Rishi Kakadiya, Shrita Machineni, Jhivyasaili (Pearl) Sahu, Anagha Sreejith, and Sruthi Sundaram, Board Game Design – 2nd, 7th place at National Conference
Nikhil Amalraj, Ishaan Chahande, Sanika Kulkarni, Yaashna Praveenkumar, Sophi Sebastian, and Ria Sijo, Medical Technology – 3rd
Hitting the Right Notes
Senior double bassist CJ Inkenhaus performed as part of the National Association for Music Education AllEastern Orchestra and was selected to be part of the 2025 National Youth Orchestra. Following graduation, he spent a month traveling with a full ensemble, joined by conductor
Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Honors
The PMEA Honors Orchestra festival featured four SF musicians.
Junior Jay Reddy played tenor saxophone with PMEA Honors Jazz.
Junior Lily Shuey played viola in the PMEA District Orchestra and qualified for Region Orchestra.
District Band included three SF musicians.
Five SFHS singers were included in District Chorus.
Jr. High orchestra was attended by four students
Jr. High Chorus was attended by three students.
Jr. High Band also featured three SF students.
Two SF fifth graders were accepted to perform at Elementary Band. Ten fifth and sixth grade students joined in the Elementary String Fest.
The 2024-25 school year included several phenomenal theatrical productions.
The fourth grade Performing Arts Club performed an abridged version of the beloved, timeless musical, “The Wizard of Oz!” and the fifth graders took to the stage with “Twice Upon a Time,” in which they brought a collection of fractured fairy tales to life as narrated by a quirky grandmother telling bedtime stories to her grandchildren.
The Middle School’s annual musical was “Willy Wonka, Jr.” featuring a colorful cast of Oompa Loompas and a Willy Wonka with all the dance moves.
For their annual spring musical, the High School showcased “Mamma Mia!” with all the glitz and splendor to be expected of a show based on the music of the 1970s chart toppers, Abba. They even included the grand finale reprise with bright, Abba-inspired costumes that thrilled audiences after each performance.
Note Worthy
Eight high schoolers joined nearly 300 singers from 22 regional schools for the second annual Allegheny County Chorus.
WAMS (Western Area Middle School Honors Band), featured 13 SF Middle School students performing with peers from other schools.
Through the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus Singing Saturday event, 12 fifth graders were selected to join hundreds of singers from school districts all over the Pittsburgh Region.
Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra, Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, and South Hills Children’s Choir all feature SF student-musicians.
Art Awards
The artwork of fifth grader Yaara Bilal was selected to be featured as one of the 12 months in the Attorney General of Pennsylvania’s 2025 Drug-Free Calendar.
Seventh grader Fatima Erkinova’s design received an honorable mention in Pitsco Education’s nationwide holiday card competition. She was one of ten finalists selected from well over 1,000 submitted designs.
Allegheny County held an “I Voted” Sticker Contest for a new design to the traditional “I Voted” stickers that individuals receive at the polls. Junior Pranita Chakkingal’s submission was
Voter Registration
South Fayette earned the Gold Governor’s Civic Engagement Award for our students’ efforts in registering 85% of eligible peers to vote. Ava Cardone, Maria Gabriel, Kylie Rumberger, Braedyn Stites, and Mary Walsh coordinated the voter drive this year. South Fayette continues to be one of the top two Allegheny County districts with the highest percentage of 18-yearolds registered to vote, per the Civics Center.
Media Arts
At the Digital Media Arts Consortium (DMAC) Festival at Robert Morris University, South Fayette High School proudly won awards for Photo Illustration, Sports Photojournalism, Feature Package, News Package, and Public Service Announcement. For the second year in a row, the Founders Award for outstanding media work by a senior went to South Fayette. Congratulations, Presley Vennum!
STUDENT EFFORTS REGISTERED
85% OF ELIGIBLE PEERS TO VOTE
Student Government
At the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC) State Leadership Convention, the SFHS Student Government earned the PASC Distinguished Keystone Council award, the highest award that PASC can give to a council. Later in the school year, the Student Government also received recognition as a National Gold Council of Excellence (NCOE) for the seventh consecutive year!
Science
The team of Kevin Wang, Rohith Galla, Luke Miller (captain), Alex Lou, and Shaurya Khajanchi (shown with advisor Mr. Seybert) finished 2nd of 32 teams at the Western PA Regional Science Bowl competition hosted by the US Dept. of Energy, earning $900 for the SFHS science department.
District and School Achievements
High School Awarded AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award
The College Board has awarded the High School its AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A (CSA). SFTSD integrates computer science and computational thinking into its curriculum for all grade levels, offering a variety of opportunities for students to learn CS, including afterschool programs and partnerships with local organizations. In the AP Computer Science A course, students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society.
Ms. Lortz and I are thankful for the pathways that are in place for our students and for the full support of our administration/leadership team. All of that allows females to embrace CS knowing they are fully capable of excelling in CS courses.”
Mrs. Dawn McCullough, AP CSA teacher
The South West Regional Chamber of Commerce named South Fayette the winner in the School District category at their 5th Annual Excellence Awards.
SFMS: School to Watch
The Middle School earned its third consecutive redesignation as a PA Don Eichhorn Schools: “Schools to Watch” (PA STW) based on Academic Excellence, Developmental Responsiveness, Social Equity, and Organizational Structures and Processes. The award also acknowledges strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and a commitment to assessment and accountability to bring about continuous improvement.
SFHS: So Wise
The High School was recognized by Working in Support of Education (w!se), a New York City-based, national educational nonprofit, as one of its “100 Best w!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance.” The award-winning program provides teachers with a curriculum and instructional resources to teach personal finance and measure students’ financial literacy through w!se’s Certification Test.
147
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
RANKED SFTSD
LANGUAGES SPOKEN 24 MIDDLE SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ETHNICITY
65% White/Not Hispanic
25% Asian
5% Multi-Racial
3% Hispanic
2% Black or African American
<1% American Indian/Alaskan Native
<1% Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander
*Includes students enrolled in in-house Cyber Academy and outside placements.
RANKED SFTSD 14 36 PLACING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS IN TOP 0.5% IN PENNSYLVANIA
PLACING THIRD-FIFTH GRADERS IN TOP 1% IN PENNSYLVANIA OUT OF 2,387 OUT OF 3,216
13% SPECIAL EDUCATION 19% LOW-INCOME STUDENTS
RANKED SFTSD 5 IN REGION 7 IN STATE*
Class of 2025 AFTER HIGH SCHOOL
79% Four-year College
9% Two-year College
7.5% Workforce
3% Decision Pending 1.5% Military Service
AVG. SAT SCORE:
1197 8% HIGHER THAN STATE AVG. 17% HIGHER THAN NAT’L AVG.
AVG. ACT SCORE:
26.6 9% HIGHER THAN STATE AVG. 37% HIGHER THAN NAT’L AVG.
151 STUDENTS TOOK AT LEAST ONE AP EXAM
311 SFHS STUDENTS TOOK
703 AP EXAMS IN 28 SUBJECTS
82.5% OF EXAM SCORES WERE 3 OR HIGHER
34 STUDENTS TOOK AT LEAST 5 AP EXAMS BEGINNING IN GRADE 9 OR 10
*based on PSSA and Keystone exam scores.
STUDENT-CENTERED, FUTURE-FOCUSED, AND
InnovationDriven...
BUILDING VIRTUAL WORLDS
Utlizing the CAVERN classroom, students design immersive experiences and games that foster empathy, enhance storytelling, and open new pathways in digital media careers. By transforming their visions into accessible worlds, they are shaping the future of interactive entertainment, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
DATA SCIENCE
Students learn to tell a story through the exploration of big data sets and are introduced to the fundamentals of data analysis, computational thinking, and computer programming. An honors option with a capstone project is also available.
DRONE CERTIFICATION AND AERIAL INNOVATION
Spurred by the success of the Fly Like A Girl (FLAG) program, interested students learn about aerial technology including foundational knowledge in drone technology, practical flying skills, and preparation for the federal aviation administration (FAA) part 107 exam.
ESPORTS
Students learn the dynamic world of competitive gaming and its surrounding industries by exploring digital media design, nutrition and health for peak performance, streaming essentials, audio/ video production, business development, and event management through handson projects. The course concludes with hosting and facilitating a live esports tournament (shown above).
FORENSIC SCIENCE
A real-world approach to teaching science and math, students use lab experiments, mock crime scenes, and case studies to explore how basic scientific concepts and technologies are related to solving crimes. They develop observation and critical thinking skills through evidence collection and crime scene analysis and reconstruction.
INTRODUCTION TO WEB 3
Growing up in a Web 2.0 world, students receive a foundational glimpse into Web 3, including cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, NFTs, and how these innovations impact various industries.
Roar Rally
The High School held its first ever ROAR Rally in February as part of the newly launched PBIS/student engagement efforts. A special, studentcentered school day absent of traditional classwork, the event was designed to celebrate students, foster school spirit, and create meaningful connections within the school community. The Engagement Team of faculty and administrators kicked off the day with a school-wide, high-energy pep assembly that included a series of performances and recognitions. After a break for study hall and lunch, students participated in pre-selected break-out sessions designed from a survey of student interest. Topics included yoga, board games, coloring, Esports, basketball, watching a movie, taking a walk, and so much more. These sessions gave students a chance to build relationships with peers, teachers, and staff in meaningful ways. …IN STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
…IN CAREER DEVELOPMENT
World of Work
The World of Work framework, now in its second year at South Fayette, was expanded to include all grades K-8 in the 2024–25 school year. Developed in partnership with schools from Elizabeth Forward, Avonworth, and Duquesne City, the program is based on the RIASEC Code (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional) and helps students identify their strengths and interests to align with potential career paths. Teachers coordinated “Meet the Pro” sessions in which guest speakers explained their careers to students and answered questions. Guests included military service members, a veterinarian, a canine police officer, a firefighter, musicians, a journalist/ newscaster, legal professionals, and many others.
South Fayette has become a regional leader in implementing and training educators on the World of Work framework, hosting workshops and classroom observations for dozens of teachers this year. Through handson, interest-based projects—such as designing theme park rides, creating brochures, and analyzing poetry— students remain highly engaged while developing real-world skills, reinforcing the district’s commitment to preparing learners for future
...IN CREATING A POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
THE SOUTH FAYETTE WAY
This year, South Fayette launched a districtwide initiative called the “South Fayette Way,” rooted in the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework, to promote behavioral excellence alongside our strong traditions in academics, athletics, and the arts. PBIS focuses on creating a positive school environment through consistent expectations, positive reinforcement, and proactive strategies.
Each of the four school buildings implemented age-appropriate systems to acknowledge positive behavior, offering both tangible rewards and special
privileges. Staff across the district— including teachers, aides, and bus drivers—are using shared language and practices to reinforce core values of being safe, kind, and responsible.
The High School incorporated an extended launch of the South Fayette Way by first gathering input from students, staff, and families to blend with student engagement efforts. School-wide and grade-level celebrations were introduced to recognize collective achievement and to reinforce the values of the South Fayette Way by creating lasting, positive experiences for students.
...IN INCLUSIVE COLLABORATION
At SFTSD, we strive to create meaningful opportunities for neurodiverse and neurotypical students to connect, collaborate, and thrive together. Through unified sports, clubs, and inclusive academic courses, the district fosters a sense of belonging, understanding, and mutual respect. This year, Unified Bocce expanded to the Middle School, and the district launched unified programming in robotics and Esports. Clubs like Lion Hearts and Best Buddies build community through shared experiences and service. In the classroom, Partners in Art and PE courses allow students to support one another’s growth and success, both academically and socially. These efforts enrich the school culture and stress empathy, collaboration, and leadership.
“Meet the Pro” speakers representing military careers.
PBIS dance party
YEAR IN REVIEW 2024-25
Fans
Thanks to the fans who show their support throughout the seasons. Lion Fans were named the #1 Student Section by WPIAL Insider during the first week of high school football action.
Football
Starting the season with a six-game winning streak, the varsity team qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. Drew Welhorsky was named Athlete of the Week and Breakout Player of the HalfYear. The 8th grade team finished their season undefeated for the second consecutive year.
Tennis
In the fall, Mia DeRoss and Divya Paluri were selected for the WPIAL Section Singles Tennis Tournament as well as the Doubles Tournament with teammates Aesha Mehta, Navya Palluri, and Anisha Srivastava Ani Garimella competed at the WPIAL Section Singles Tournament in the spring.
Basketball
Girls Varsity fell to Peters Township in what would have been their fourth consecutive WPIAL championship but beat them in the PIAA semi-finals and ultimately captured their first state championship. Juliette Leroux earned both Athlete and Player of the Week honors, Ryan Oldaker was Player of the Year, and Coach Bennett earned Coach of the Year. Boys varsity hosted the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. Both 7th and 8th grade girls teams were undefeated with 13 and 12 wins,
Esports
Valorant Team took first in the state for the Fall 2024 Season and Rocket League Team was runner-up. Overwatch 2 Team Green captured the PIEA state title in the spring and Valorant Team White finished second in the conference. In their inaugural season, Unified Esports Team Mario Kart Green won the PlayVS Spring 2025 Unified Esports Championship.
Competitive Cheer
The ladies won their first WPIAL AAA Championship, took second in this year’s PIAA competition, and third in the country.
Cross Country
The girls team were undefeated section champions, finished third at WPIALs, and qualified for states. From the boys team, Griffin Martin qualified for states as an individual after finishing 7th of 215 runners at WPIALs. Freshman Angela Zeng placed first of 166 female 5K runners at the Legends Meet and was voted PA Athlete of the Week for PennTrackXC.
Baseball
The Varsity Baseball Team finished the season with 9 wins and 10 losses.
Soccer
The girls finished as Section III Champs with a 10-0-0 Section record and 15-3-0 overall regular season then went on to win the WPIAL Class 3A Champions for the second year in a row.
Indoor Track
Nine female runners qualified for the PA Championship with their 4x800m relay finishing second. Twelve SF runners competed at the National Championships.
Track and Field
The girls finished fourth in the WPIAL Team Finals. At the WPIAL AAA Individual Track and Field Championships, the girls 4x800 meter relay team of Emily Sinton, Angela Zeng, Siya Joshi, and Nina DiMartini grabbed gold, as did Delaney Schumaker in both the 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles. Top three medals were also earned in the girls 4x400 meter relay (Paige Deklewa, Ellena Gibbs, Micaella Schuler Mary Claire Walsh), boys pole vault (Jenson Gregorich), and girls 1,600 meter run (Angela Zeng). At states, Delaney earned fifth and seventh in the girls 100 and 300 meter hurdles, respectively, and the girls 4x800 meter relay placed fifth. Jenson finished 8th in the boys pole vault.
Swimming
The boys team finished seventh at the WPIAL Championship and had top ten finishes in seven events. Josh Grimenstein was the Class 2A top seed for the 100 Backstroke and finished fourth. Josh and Dan Grimenstein, Grant Logan, Alex Lou, and DJ Poe all
Unified Bocce
In its third season, this co-ed team finished third in the playoffs.
Local newspapers, The Almanac and The Observer-Reporter, issued their Best of Sports special section in June 2025 that featured numerous Lion athletes as regional MVPs for their sports:
Boys Cross Country: Griffin Martin
Boys Lacrosse: Drew Welhorsky
Girls Cross Country: Angela Zeng
Girls Soccer: Mia Deramo
Girls Track and Field (co-MVP): Delaney Schumaker
Hockey: Robert Chiappetta
SF earned the Competitive Spirit Team of the Year recognition, and our Girls Varsity Basketball Team earned the overall title of Team of the Year.
Hockey
The boys fell in the PIHL Penguins Cup Championship in the third overtime.
Goaltender Jackson Ankrum set a title game record stopping 61 shots, including 25 in OT. Five SF female players were on the Varsity West Team that took the PIHL Championship.
Golf
The boys team won their section and finished runner up in the WPIAL and state for Class 3A. Sam Bishop had nine birdies in the PIAA Team Championships and made it to the individual state championship. Five members of the girls team were eligible to compete in the WPIAL Section Individual Qualifiers.
Softball
The Varsity Softball Team earned a WPIAL playoff berth for Class 5A Section 3.
Lacrosse
The boys team earned first seed for the WPIAL Class 2A Section 1 playoffs, ultimately falling in the championship
Wrestling
It was the first year for girls wrestling with two Lions competing through a cooperative agreement with the team at
The girls team progressed to the WPIAL quarterfinals in the fall, and the boys team made it to the semifinals in the spring, earning a chance at the state Dilsher Goraya was named one of the Western PA Volleyball Coaches Association Class 2A players of the week, and Quinn Leroux was named a Class 2A Player of the Week Tribune-Review
Raising Funds and Supporting Others
Lion Learners work throughout the year on behalf of various organizations.
• The Seventh Grade MiniTeams supported the Light of Life Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Basket Opportunity which provides Thanksgiving dinner baskets to those in need, including everything from turkey to pie. With a goal of collecting 984 cans (1 more than last year), all seventh grade homerooms participated for a final total of 1,712 cans of corn.
• This year’s volunteer Salvation Army bell ringers raised a total of $3,244.49 during the holiday season.
• Mrs. Hoffman’s 7th graders partnered with Mrs. Shimkoski’s ELA students to sort and box 265 pairs of shoes that they collected for Soles4Souls. This is a nearly 30% increase over last year!
• Third graders, with the help and guidance of Tree Pittsburgh, planted trees to enhance the Intermediate School landscape.
Mini-THON Does It Again!
For the third consecutive year, South Fayette beat the national record for most funds raised by a Mini-THON! The district had gone three days without electricity due to storms, but it was restored just four hours before Mini-THON was scheduled to start. At approximately 5:50 am on Saturday, May 3, the grand total of $350,492.58 was revealed to a tired, but still enthusiastic, crowd. This surpassed last year’s total by more than $12,000! All funds benefit Four Diamonds in the fight against pediatric cancer.
Monies are collected year-round from donations and fundraisers including the annual Stall Day in which students pay to delay the start of classes. This year’s Stall Day raised $11,000. This was the 13th annual Mini-THON at South Fayette, and the total raised over these years has now exceeded $2 million!
Presidential Recognition
As a certifying organization, South Fayette was pleased to recognize 34 High School students and two Middle School students in the fall of 2024 with the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). Collectively, they performed approximately 5,000 hours of community service between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024. In the spring, 17 additional talented SF students were honored with PSVAs.
Athletes Give Back
When Mark Keener became Athletic Director in 2014, he proposed that the District’s athletes, together as teams, each do something to give back to the community. That suggestion has taken off in many ways.
Last fall, volunteers from throughout South Fayette gathered at the Intermediate School to pack more than 101,000 meals in support of the nonprofit organization Feed My Starving Children. Volunteers included members of South Fayette High School’s boys basketball team and boys and girls golf teams, who, in two hours, produced the most completed packed meals that day.
The baseball team volunteered with the Pack the Park event at Fairview Park this fall to benefit the Miracle League. The boys and girls cross country team helps younger South Fayette Lions train in the Kids of Steel program then volunteers with the Pittsburgh Marathon. The Esports team combined community service and gaming by “streaming for a cause.” Each player chose a charity to promote during their match by advertising how to donate throughout the live-stream and using social media.
“
Ultimately, our high school athletes are role models, and through these various volunteer initiatives, they can show that being part of a team extends beyond the game.”
Mark Keener, Athletic Director
Combining School and Community
As school districts seek creative ways to involve parents in learning, South Fayette is inviting family involvement as Key Communicators and to unique events like Retro Recess and a Cricket Clinic.
Unified Esports Levels the Playing Field
The first Unified Esports league in the state of Pennsylvania includes South Fayette and four other regional schools. Dr. Kevin Maurer, Middle School associate principal and Esports Director, discussed how the sport is bringing students together building skills and friendships that may not have previously existed.
"Teach Me Tuesday"
Event to Combat Hate
Both Mrs. Jessica Shirey and Mrs. Rebecca Colangelo were featured on the “Teach Me Tuesday” segment of KDKA-TV’s Talk Pittsburgh to share what’s happening in their classrooms.
Kindergarten “Signing Day”
During registration and screenings for incoming kindergartners, South Fayette set up a special booth to simulate “signing” with the district similar to how student-athletes announce their college selections.
As part of the city’s Eradicate Hate Student Summit, students from South Fayette play an important role in combating anti-semitism starting in schools. Senior Pranamya Rangaraju spoke about successful cultural events hosted at SFTSD including Dress Like Your Culture Day and the Uncommon Conference.
Double Duty
Intermediate School teacher Mr. Scott Sundgren coached High and Middle school girls volleyball in the fall and, this year, was asked to take on duties coaching High School boys as well. With a few weeks of overlap between MS girls and HS boys seasons, Sundgren focused on finding the best role for each athlete.
How Schools are Teaching About the Election
Taught by Mr. Keven Gregg, ninth graders in Honors Civics classes took unique approaches last fall to learning about the upcoming election and important issues. Mr. Gregg also led his classes in finding reliable information and sources.
Future Careers and Black History
KDKA-TV’s Chilekasi Adele visited South Fayette High School to report on the SHOUT organization’s celebration of Black History Month with an educational career assembly for Middle and High schoolers featuring a panel of black legal professionals.
Mr. Bass Man
South Fayette senior CJ Inkenhaus’s marvelous musical journey began with South Fayette’s elementary introductory program and is taking him to Asia for an orchestra tour of Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
The Wright Stuff
With lots of coverage surrounding the SF Girls Varsity Basketball team’s state championship win, an article was dedicated to sophomore Lailah Wright’s contributions at point guard.
18-year-old Indian American wins prestigious SXSW EDU Student Impact Challenge
Recognizing her heritage as well as her talents, Indica News featured Nandana Menon’s win in the Student Impact Challenge at the SXSW Edu Expo. She was selected for her pitch of an autismcentered app called Spark.
Here’s How Pittsburgh-Area Schools are Preparing for Pa.’s Standardized Tests Moving Online
Director of Curriculum Mrs. Cristine Wagner-Deitch explained the district’s steps in transitioning to online standardized tests including preparations in assessing the district’s technology infrastructure and the relevance of each test for district evaluations.
Robots Bringing Students Together
Students from across Western PA met at SFMS for the school's first Unified Robotics Tournament during which students with and without intellectual disabilities collaborate, create and compete with robots for a friendly competition.
EDUCATORS AND COACHES
Demonstrate Excellence
The Lion Educators and Coaches at South Fayette set positive examples for our Lion Learners by continually striving for excellence. This year, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Harris, and Mrs. Crapis-Breth became newly certified by the National Board of Certified Teachers.
Dr. Yerace became a Certified Master in The Leadership Challenge and was accepted to the 2024 Peace Teachers Program at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). He also earned a Social, Emotional and Behavioral Wellness PK-12 endorsement.
Mr. West received the Lincoln Investment Promising Practitioners Award through the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education (PAMLE).
Dr. Yeager was chosen by the AIU to participate in an AI Fellows program. With a deep interest in AI, he attended multiple workshops, implemented AI into his classroom environment, and presented findings from action research he performed throughout the school year to other districts and representatives from PDE.
Dr. Herring was recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier as one of the 2024 Men of Excellence.
Chosen as the Senior Tribute Faculty Speaker by the Class of 2025, Mr. G. Smith spoke at commencement about the importance of brevity.
Mr. Schoenberger tried his hand at spinning the wheel and solving the puzzles during Teacher Week on Wheel of Fortune.
Coach Leydig was selected by the PIAA Board of Directors as the 2023-2024 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)/Pennsylvania Boys’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
Girls Basketball Coach Bennett was named by the Tribune-Review as their HSSN Head of the Class for Class 5A and the Pittsburgh Union Progress named him Coach of the Year.
Mrs. Colangelo was recognized nationwide with an Up and Coming Award from ISTE+ASCD for exemplified excellence through her elementary STEAM projects that other educators can replicate.
TEACHERS
“
He proved that good guys still do exist in high school coaching — and now he’s getting recognized nationally for it.”
Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Mislan was honored on a national stage with a 2024 Musial Award for what he considered to be a simple game-time decision that anyone would make. His award-winning display of sportsmanship occurred during the 2023-24 basketball season when he and his team of Lions ensured that an opposing player achieved and celebrated his 1,000th career point in his last high school game, which happened to occur just six seconds after one of the Lions scored his 1,000th career point.
Future-Focused Learning Summit
The district’s inaugural Future-Focused Learning Summit featured presentations by college professors, computer scientists, edtech consultants, and others focused on artificial intelligence. “We wanted to lead the critical conversations that need to occur between educators, leaders, and companies,” said Dr. Callison. “AI isn’t going away, and by bringing together these great minds we can plan how to move teaching and learning forward with the students at the center.”
Visit from the League of Innovative Schools
School leaders from across the nation, as part of the League of Innovative Schools, were shown SF’s dynamic learning environments, cutting-edge programs, and modern teaching techniques by poised and passionate student tour guides. Dr. Miller said, “Our guests were absolutely blown away by the incredible opportunities our students have and, more importantly, by our students themselves.”
Uncommon Conference
At this year’s annual conference, more than 450 students from nearly 30 schools participated in a day of joy that celebrated the bonds that unite them. The event featured cultural dance performances, a Religions of the World panel, a therapy pony, learning hands-only CPR and restorative circles, and a fun, impactful keynote speech by five-time Emmy Award-winner Emmai Alaquiva.
2024 Summer Programming
Summer STEAM Camps engaged learners in aerodynamics, electrical circuitry, natural disasters, and more. The AHN Chill Project Summer Program at SF was a four-day program combining an exciting curriculum with emotional wellness concepts for children entering grades 1-6, and was offered for five weeks with a different theme each week.
Happening on Campus
SHOUT Career Panels
Providing valuable career information, the students of SHOUT hosted two professional panels. Coinciding with Black History Month, two judges and two attorneys explored the legal profession with students. Then, with a nod toward Women’s History Month, five accomplished female business professionals provided valuable insights into their profession. Both times, students were inspired to ask questions, create connections, and seek
Srushti Ramaprasad and Sumedha Bhimavarapu participated in the district STEAM Camp 2024.
Parents as Allies
The Parents as Allies committee at SF hosted two new events this year. Retro Recess brought families together for old-school playground games like foursquare, Limbo, and parachute, plus retro snacks including a pennycandy buffet. A free clinic invited the community to learn to play cricket. Children and their caregivers practiced with SF PE teachers and expert players.
Thula Sizwe, a traveling South African Zulu troupe, performed at all four schools in their first trip to America since 2012. They also offered Q&A sessions and a choral workshop.
Eric McElvenny, a former Marine Corps officer, amputee, and Ironman triathlete brought his story of grit and perseverance to Lion Learners with an initial presentation on Veteran’s Day. He enforced the spirit of tenacity and endurance at the high school’s first Roar Rally, and he worked with 8th graders to help them with their transition to high school.
2024 HALL OF FAME
INDUCTEES
The third annual induction ceremony welcomed seven new members to SF's Hall of Fame including alumni admired for their academic excellence, athleticism, and theatrical talent during their school days and their continued achievement in their professional careers. The Class of 2024 inductees into the Hall of Fame were:
Christian Brumbaugh (2011), Nick Carr (2011), Andrew DiDonato (2006), Michael Greer (2001), Niel Loebig (2000), Dr. Frank Thomas Slovick (1969), and Gerald Zeman (1960).
Biographies for each of the 2025 inductees are available on the SFTSD website at www.southfayette.org/ 2024Inductees.aspx. With the inclusion of the Class of 2024, the South Fayette Hall of Fame has 22 members.
Parkway West CTC 2025
SFTSD works with the Parkway West Career and Technology Center to offer career-minded high school students with opportunities for hands-on, real-world experience and training in the skills and knowledge necessary for their desired career path. Graduates in the Class of 2025 included students who had successfully completed the following programs at Parkway.
Automotive Technology: Dominic Loyç
Carpentry: Kevin Claytonu, Noah Homolek
Cosmetology: Ava Hindmanu, Grace Naglev, Ava Selvav, Paige Vollev
Culinary Arts: Riley McManus, Paige Millerç
Graphic Arts: Luke Leonard, Jorrin Williamsv
Public Safety: Luke Prevadeç
Sports Medicine & Rehab: Aidan Garland, Cody Widmer
Welding: Nicholas Bernardini, Karston Burleson, Dominic Fincham, Grevil Garcia Ardon, Samuel Wilbournv
Veterinary Assistant: Christopher Aitken, Carah Leadbitter and Maeve Vega-Kaczmareku
At Parkway’s Senior Recognition Ceremony, Kevin Clayton received the “Outstanding Senior” award for the Carpentry program.
Growing With Our Lions
To address immediate space needs, especially in grades 3–5, the district has launched a major expansion of the Intermediate School. As students prepared to wrap up the school year, preparation was being made for a new three-story wing as well as the addition of new corner classrooms dedicated for special education. Additionally, the upper level patio space is being converted into an orchestra room. All of these changes have been designed in collaboration with teachers and staff to meet evolving instructional needs. Construction is expected to be completed by the start of the 2026–2027 school year, with the corner classrooms and orchestra space to be ready for occupancy in January 2026.
In parallel, planning and design, also with the input of faculty and staff, is underway
Over the past 20 years, South Fayette Township School District has more than doubled in size. While the pace of growth is beginning to level, new families continue to join the community, driving the need for expanded facilities and learning spaces. In response, the district took significant steps this year with advancing building projects that reflect both current demands and long-term vision.
for a new state-of-the-art Elementary School for Kindergarten through Grade 2. The current elementary building, while still functional, is no longer cost-effective to renovate. A new facility will be built on the current bus garage site, enabling the district to maintain a unified campus. To support this transition, transportation and maintenance operations will be relocated to property owned by the district across Old Oakdale Road from the Middle School.
Plans for the elementary facility also include tennis courts and an additional turf field to satisfy athletic programs districtwide. Completion of construction on the elementary school is anticipated for the start of the 2028-29 school year, while the transportation and maintenance facilities are expected to be ready in the fall of 2027.
These strategic expansions reflect the district’s commitment to providing safe, modern, and collaborative learning environments for all students—from Little Lions to graduating seniors—and position South Fayette for continued success in the years ahead.
All interested community members are encouraged to follow the progress of these projects on the district website where monthly summaries, design plans, and progress photos are available and will be updated throughout the length of the three projects.
District Administrative Offices
3680 Old Oakdale Road
McDonald, PA 15057-2580
South
McDonald, PA 15057
South Fayette Intermediate School (3-5)
McDonald, PA 15057
Vision
South Fayette Township School District will radiate excellence through future-focused, innovative, diverse, and high quality learning opportunities.
Mission
In partnership with the community, the mission of the South Fayette Township School District, a leader in innovation, is to elevate academic, artistic, and athletic excellence of the whole learner by inspiring the strength to be dynamic, ethical, and empathetic citizens who flourish in a global society.
South Fayette Middle School (6-8) 3700 Old Oakdale Road
