The Western PA Rising Stars awards are presented annually to 21 local young professionals (ages 21-30) in the non-profit, business, and governmental sectors who dedicate their time and talent to community organizations and who are making a positive difference in the region.
Class of 2017: Adonna Anderson, Jenna Baron, Emily Brown, Thomas Bryant, Curt Conrad, Brae Geary, Cara Mia Grassi, Brittany Huffman, Shenay Jeffrey, Harry Johnson II, Jose Miguel Juarez, Daniel Lampmann, Kylie LaSota, Wesley Lyons, Mandy McNabb, Representative Jason Ortitay, Joe Ortman, Ryan O’Shea, Lisa Philipp, Samone Riddle, Jenny Sabol, Victoria Snyder, Ben Stoviak, Aster Teclay, Shanon Williams, Robbie Zaremberg
Class of 2016: Heidi Allison, Katie Blackburn, Michelle Buczkowski, Matthew Chase, Matt Collins, Justin Dandoy, Megan Frisco, Ryan Gayman, Katie Gittlen, Sharnay Hearn, Jamilia Kamara, Julian McClain, Emily Morse, Senator Guy Reschenthaler, Jenny Schaeffer, Lauren Schieb, Rounida Shwaish, Emily Slopek, Abby Stark, Hillary Tamski, Nikita Zook
Class of 2015: Marisa C. Bartley, Matt Burnett, Tom Duer, Maria Gerardi, Mike Herald, Jessica Hickman, Toshua Jarrett, Brianna Kiesel, Suzanne Kerlin, Rebecca Lane, Justin Matase, Anna Phillips, Christine Pietryga, Kari Shaffer, Kelsey Smith, Laura Smith, Liz Smith, Zach Smith, Marcus Thompson, Anne Marie Toccket, Nick Varischetti, Joshua Werkmeister
Class of 2014: Laura Amster, Becca Burns, Kayla Bowyer, Megan Carlton, John Cordier, Brandi Cox, Doug Foster, Maggie Gabos, Jackie Hunter, Joe Kleppick, Paul Matthews, Kyshira Moffett, Krish Mohan, Laura Pollanen, Jonathan Raso, Leah Scott, Ryan Scott, Lindsey Smith, Kate Stoltzfus, Quincy Swatson, Julie Wadlinger, and J Wester
Class of 2013: Matthew Arch, Branden Ballard, Olivia Benson, Mark Bezilla, Brandon Blache-Cohen, Joseph Breems, Gina Carl, Chris Cavendish, Annie Clough, Jeremy Edge, Dennis Hazenstab, Carrie Hucker, Emily Kolek, LaTrenda Leonard, Lauren Mahoney-Yohman, Mary Parker, Robin Rectenwald, Jordan Shoup, Stephanie Sikora, Mahogany Thaxton, Frank Tigano, and Abby Sadowsky Bolton
Class of 2012: Michele Cahill, Becky Cech, Tim Cook, Becky Dowling, Emily Ecker, Kristina Elias, State Representative Eli Evankovich, Justin Forzano, Maggie Graham, Kim Hanson, Eric Junstrom, Ashley Kunkle, Dawn Meling, Tom Menditto, Campbell Minister, Councilman Corey O’Connor, Lee Anne Pontis, Doug Smith, Britaini Watterson, Colin White, and Katherine Young
Class of 2011: Pam Coudriet, Raquel Davila, Marissa Doyle, Megan Good, Judy Feldman, Kelsey Halling, Raymar Hampshire, Alexa Jennings, Katelyn King, David Landes, Chris Metz, Mike Palcsey, Jordan Pallitto, Alma Roberts, Les Scales, David Slusarick, Abe Taleb, RJ Thompson, Danielle Tyson, Andy Walz, and Sarah Welch
Class of 2010: Ricky Burgess, Miss Pennsylvania Gina Cerilli, Rebecca Cheung, Representative Jim Christiana, Matthew Dowling, James Doyle, Mayor Casey Durdines, Benjamin Holland, Chaz Kellem, Misti McKeehen, Mike Rethage, Trisha Ross, Daniel Soltesz, Royce Woods, and Steve Zumbrun