United Student of the Year nominees

The Dispatch annually asks seven area high schools to each submit the names of two top seniors, one male and one female, based on academic excellence, extracurricular activities and community service. Of those nominees, one outstanding candidate is selected as The Dispatch Student of the Year and is awarded a $500 scholarship.

United nominee Brittany Kitzmiller was able to use something she loves--dancing--to help raise money for a good cause. Through her involvement with Dancer's With Heart & Sole, she helped produce a variety show with all proceeds going to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Indiana County.

"It meant a lot to me to know that by giving a few hours of my time I could help this worthwhile organization," she said.

The daughter of Linda Kitzmiller, of Clyde, and the late David Kitzmiller maintained a vigorous schedule as National Honor Society vice president, a member of Student Council, Tri-M Music Honor Society and varsity cheerleading She was a district newsletter intern and worked on the newspaper and yearbook staffs.

She was Weight Room Club secretary, sang with the senior chorus, women's chorus, and Disney chorus and completed a dual enrollment class at IUP.

Kitzmiller attends dance class at Sue Hewitt Dance Studio and goes to Grace United Methodist Church.

She is involved with Adopt-a-Highway, the local food bank and Operation Christmas Child. She caroled at nursing homes, assisted with the church nursery and blood drives and has raised money for Children's Hospital.

Kitzmiller also was a recipient of the David E. Griffith Scholarship, Wright-Knox Scholarship, Mary Hixson Scholarship, Presidential Excellence Award, Kim Stiles Academic Achievement Award, LeeAnn Cameron Award, Kiwanis Leadership Award and Principal's Choice Award.

Selected for the High Honor Roll, she was chosen as a Homecoming Princess and was named to Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Kitzmiller will begin the Stover Moral Leadership Program at Waynesburg College this fall, majoring in advertising and marketing with hopes of obtaining a master's degree in business administration. She would like to secure a job creating advertisements that help various charities and organizations.

Family values is one thing that Kitzmiller sees her generation lacking. "Young people search for something to replace a lack of family structure and seek a crutch in drugs and gangs, the result being crime and violence," she said. "Children need the support of their immediate and extended families to show that they are valued so that they will not make such destructive decisions."

The book "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire has been an inspiration for her: "This book has influenced me...to always stand up for what I believe in and do what I feel is right."

Doing away with her shyness is what Kitzmiller would change about herself. "I want to be more assertive in order to get my ideas across to others," she commented. "I think that this would help me to become a stronger leader."

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The novel "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom has shown United nominee John Moses that "some things in life are more important than money and a good job," he said. "It showed me that I should live my life to the fullest...that no matter how smart you think you are, there is always someone to put you in your place and put you back on a path of true happiness."

The son of Joan and Leo Moses already has started on that path by immersing himself in activities in school and the community. He was a member of the editorial staff for the school yearbook, National Honor Society, and the Drama Club. He was the marching band field conductor, vice president of Tri-M and captain of Scholastic Scrimmage.

He competed in the County Quiz Bowl and was a volunteer coach with the varsity and junior high girls soccer teams and a referee for junior high boys soccer. He participated in Showcase for Commerce, concert and county bands and performed with the men's, senior, Disney, county and district choruses.

He was involved with the IUP mentorship program, musical theater, AYSO and YCPP soccer programs and National Society for High School Scholars.

Moses was named Student of the Month and was listed on the High Honor Roll.

He involved himself in his community by working with food banks through Indiana County Community Action Program (ICCAP), as well as helping out at the organization's shelter and main office.

"Although all I did was sign people in, it made me feel good to know that those people would be helped by that one box of food," he said of working with the food banks.

Moses will head to the big city in the fall, entering his first year at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh to begin studies in marketing. After attaining a doctorate degree, he wants to either teach at a university or create advertising campaigns.

The chief challenge for his generation is peer pressure, according to Moses. "Many students all around the nation are pressured into doing things that they don't really want to do just because everyone else is," he remarked. "Others my age are being pushed into doing drugs, drinking and other illegal affairs. To solve this problem parents need to take a more active role in their children's lives...Parents need to ask their children questions and spend good quality time with them...so their kids know that no matter what the problem is, they will give them advice and help them to make the right decision."

Moses sees his personality quirk as being too impatient. "I tend to overwork myself in a situation that is truly not very stressful," he admitted. "I will stress myself out about something that can be easily fixed."