Pitt-Bradford Honors 'Women of Promise'

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford honored three high school students at ‘Women of Promise’ for their achievements in athletics, community service and the creative and performing arts at a luncheon this week.

Dr. Leslie Rhinehart, director of counseling services at Pitt-Bradford, gave the keynote address titled “Thank You for Being a Star.”

Being honored were Alexa Campbell of Portville (N.Y.) Central School for creative and performing arts; Kayla Hoohuli of St. Marys Area High School for athletics; and Samantha Whiteman of Archbishop Walsh Academy in Olean, N.Y., for community service.

Campbell, the daughter of David and Darla Campbell, already has an impressive resume in the arts. Now 17, she began performing at the age of 7 as Gretl in the Broadway national tour of “The Sound of Music.”

She toured the United States and Canada for 10 months as Max with “Dragon Tales Live” and spent three months touring the United Kingdom with Disney’s “Bear in the Big Blue House.” At age 12, she performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall at the American Choral Directors Association’s Eastern Division Conference.

In addition to singing, she’s danced for Mattel Industrial in New York City.

Locally and regional, Campbell has performed with Olean Community Theatre, Chautauqua Opera, Lancaster Opera House, Struthers Library Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse and the Buffalo Ballet.

She plans to attend college to earn a Bachelor of Music degree in performance and eventually perform with an opera company.

Hoohuli is the daughter of Daniel and Leona Hoohuli of St. Marys. A point guard for Dutch basketball, Hoohuli reached the career 2,000-point mark during this season, her senior year.

During her junior year, she was named to the Associated Press of Pennsylvania’s AAA First team, was Tri-County Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player for District 9 and the ESPN Rise Regional Girls Basketball Player of the Week from the East.

Last year, she averaged 30.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. She reached the 1,000-point plateau in 43 games during her sophomore season.

In addition, she was a standout soccer player her sophomore year and volleyball player her junior and senior year, becoming the school’s all-time leader in hits.

“Not only does her talent lead the team to many winning seasons, but her leadership and encouragement pulls out the best in each individual player,” wrote Shelbie Benjamin, Hoohuli’s guidance counselor.

Hoohouli will play for Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., next year.

Whiteman is the daughter of Denise and Robert Whiteman of Eldred. She attends Archbishop Walsh Academy in Olean, N.Y. She was honored in the community service area for her work with the Erie Zoo since the summer of 2007.

For the past two summers, she has been the only teen volunteer to work more than 200 hours. In 2009, the zoo director nominated her for JET TV’s “Good Kids Award,” and she was featured on the station’s newscast.

Other volunteer activities include working with younger dance students and dancing for HomeCare and Hospice patients.

This is the 15th year that the Pitt-Bradford Staff Association and the Women’s History Celebration Committee have recognized area “Women of Promise.” Guidance counselors from local high schools are asked to nominate eligible seniors for the awards. A selection committee at Pitt-Bradford then reviews those nominations.

Other young women nominated by their counselor for the creative and performing arts award were Lynzy Wheaton of Bradford Area High School, Alexandra Streich of Cameron County High School; Allison Martin of Cattaraugus-Little Valley (N.Y.) Central School; Alissa Class of Corry Area Middle-High School; Olivia Harris of Ellicottville (N.Y.) Central School; Kaylie Fitch of Johnsonburg Area High School; Amber Delaney of North Clarion Junior-Senior High School; Jenna Martin of Northern Potter High School; Ashley Downs of Oswayo Valley High School; Julia Collver of Port Allegany High School; Felicia Alfieri of Smethport Area High School; Natalie Schwer of St. Marys Area High School and Laura Walton of Wellsville (N.Y.) High School.

Other young women nominated by their counselor in the area of athletics were Janette McDade of Archbishop Walsh; Alice Chen of Bradford; Emily Greer of Corry; Samantha Wooden of Ellicottville; Cody Anderson of Johnsonburg; Sarah Gatesman of North Clarion; Olivia Martin of Northern Potter; Krystina George of Oswayo Valley; Bryanna Evans of Port Allegany; Kristie Steffan of Sheffield Area Junior-Senior High School; Tracy Woodring of Smethport; and Brooke Gustin of Wellsville.

Other young women nominated by their counselor in the area of community service were Krista Geelen of Cameron County; Lori Wilkinson of Corry; Melissa Mack-Beardsley of Ellicottville Lauren Stahli of Johnsonburg; Shelby Lander of North Clarion; Kristen Potter of Northern Potter; Kimberly Anne Harley of Oswayo Valley; Anna McJunkin of Port Allegany; Tayler Clark of Portville; Lisa Master of Smethport; and Danielle Williams of Wellsville.

Pictured, from left, Alexa Campbell of Portville, N.Y.; Kayla Hoohuli of St. Marys; and Samantha Whiteman of Eldred.
Photo courtesy of Pitt-Bradford