logo
Scholastic Superstars: Matthew Vecolitis, Tamaqua

Scholastic Superstars: Matthew Vecolitis, Tamaqua

Yahoo30-05-2025
What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
Being selected to 5 different honor societies and being the Tamaqua Class of 2025 Treasurer, because they are accomplishments that are a reflection of the hard work and dedication I have put in.
What were your most rewarding school or community activities?
Participating in the St. Luke's Miners Mentorship program and winning one of the scholarships in the program, because it was an opportunity that I was presented with and it paid off as I was rewarded. Also winning the 2024 Schuylkill League Baseball Championship, because our team reached our goal after working hard all season.
Matthew Vecolitis (SUBMITTED)
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to play and watch sports.
What are your plans after high school graduation?
I plan to attend Lebanon Valley College to major in Physical Therapy. I chose this path because of my interest in sports and the health sciences.
What do you see yourself doing and where do you see yourself living in 15 years?
I see myself working as a Physical Therapist with a sports team, and living somewhere in the eastern region of the United States.
Whom do you most admire and why?
My parents because they are great people and excellent role models, and I admire how they have raised my brother and I to be the best person we can be.
In a sentence, what is your philosophy of life?
To always take advantage of your opportunities and give your best effort because they will not always be around forever.
Finish this sentence: The most interesting thing about me is …
My knowledge of sports
A little about Matthew
Hometown: Nesquehoning, PA
Parents: Anthony and Linda Vecolitis
Some Honors Include: National Honor Society, Spanish National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, Math National Honors Society, English National Honors Society
Activities: Class Treasurer, Student Government, Schuylkill Youth Conference, FBLA, St. Luke's Mentorship Program
Athletics: Basketball and Baseball
Community Service: Youth Sports Camps, Tamaqua Little League, Helps organize the community Safe Trick-or-Treat night
His Nominator Said 'As a top-performing student, a dedicated athlete, and an engaged leader in his school and community, he exemplifies the qualities of a well-rounded and inspiring young man … He dedicates his time to volunteering with youth programs, mentoring and inspiring younger children, and serving as a positive role model. His ability to connect with and uplift others reflects his genuine care for his community and desire to make a lasting impact.'
Fifteen students were chosen by judges from the community to represent the most accomplished of Schuylkill County's graduating classes as part of the Republican Herald's annual Scholastic Superstars.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Packers hope one key move creates a domino effect that finally unlocks a position group that underperformed last season
Packers hope one key move creates a domino effect that finally unlocks a position group that underperformed last season

Yahoo

time12 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Packers hope one key move creates a domino effect that finally unlocks a position group that underperformed last season

Packers hope one key move creates a domino effect that finally unlocks a position group that underperformed last season originally appeared on A to Z Sports. There's always a difference between what a general manager says and what he really thinks. That's basically part of his job description. Right after picking Matthew Golden in the first round of the draft three months ago, the first wide receiver selected in the first round by the Green Bay Packers since 2002, Brian Gutekunst said the team didn't need to add players to the room."I really didn't think we needed to at all," he affirmed. Well, they did. First, because the wide receiver group was extremely disappointing in 2024, leading (in a bad sense) the NFL in mistakes. Second, because only Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks had contracts beyond 2025. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Mecole Hardman, and Malik Heath are all in contract seasons in 2025."Certainly it's nice when you add as much talent and competition to that room as we can," Gutekunst added. "I felt really good about our room prior, and if we would've gone in a different direction, I would've had no problem doing that. We had a couple guys on the board that we really, really liked, and he won us over. Not only because of his play on the field, but who [Matthew Golden] was."This is another article in our positional breakdown series for the Packers ahead of the 2025 season. View the to see embedded media. Why the Packers added to the WR room With Golden, and third-round pick Savion Williams to a lesser extent, the Packers are trying to create an offensive domino effect. If the first-rounder established himself as a de facto WR1, it allowed Reed to be a productive WR2 in the slot, Doubs can be a role WR3 in the X, Wicks is a good separator coming from the bench, and Watson can be an explosive deep threat as soon as he returns from not a given that everything will happen from the jump, but that's why they took a polished receiver in the first round. Even though Golden is smaller, the team perceives an ability to play outside, which makes it viable for the Packers to use Golden and Reed on the field at the same time."Versatility is always great," Gutekunst mentioned. "With the way Matt (LaFleur) and his staff are able to be creative and use these guys, that gives me a lot of flexibility with what I'm looking at too. They do such a good job of scheming some of these guys up, and using them to their best ability. It does make it easier for me. So we don't feel like we have to do this, or we have to do that, Matt and his staff will find a way to make these guys productive and fit them into what they're trying to do. The guys on our offensive staff are pretty fired up right now." Depth chart expectations Besides Golden and Williams and barring a trade, Doubs, Reed, and Wicks are locks to make the 53-man roster and will be an important part of the rotation. Watson is in a more complicated situation, because he tore his ACL on January 5. Presumably, he will start the regular season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, missing at least four games—that means he doesn't count towards the 53-man roster early teams keep something between five and seven wide receivers on the team. Therefore, the other six receivers will battle for one, maybe two roster spots, plus two or three at most on the practice frontrunners are Mecole Hardman, the only veteran addition to the group, and holdover Malik Heath. Bo Melton, who added more value to his profile practicing at cornerback during the offseason program, was moved to the defense for the training camp but could play some offense as well. The other names on the 90-man roster are Julian Hicks and Cornelius Johnson, who spent most of last season on the PS, and undrafted rookie Samuel Brown. Right before camp, the Packers also added rookie Will three years without a real WR1, and saying out loud they didn't need one, the Packers felt the need to make it happen after seeing how last season shook out. It's good to have multiple and versatile pieces, but it's better when their roles are not bigger than their the to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.

Bookmakers put Lottie Woad as the betting favorite heading into AIG Women's British Open
Bookmakers put Lottie Woad as the betting favorite heading into AIG Women's British Open

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Yahoo

Bookmakers put Lottie Woad as the betting favorite heading into AIG Women's British Open

Lottie Woad is the betting favorite to win the AIG Women's British Open in her only her second start as a professional. The former top-ranked amateur rose to No. 24 in the Rolex Rankings after winning the ISPS Hands Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut and will tee it up alongside 2024 British Open champion Lydia Ko and 2023 champ Lilia Vu in the first two rounds at Royal Porthcawl. How dominant is Woad right now? She's 55 under par in her last 12 rounds on the LET and LPGA, beating the field on average by five strokes with a 67.3 scoring average. Former British Open champ Catriona Matthew captained Woad at the Curtis Cup last year at Sunningdale and compared her to a young Karrie Webb. 'She's not out there for the glitz and the glam,' said Matthew, 'she just wants to be as good a golfer as she can be and go out and beat everyone.' Lottie Woad's recent run has been impressive It's how she's doing the winning that's impressive too, Matthew notes, taking Augusta National by storm with three birdies over the last four holes in 2024, running away from the field at the Irish Open to win by six, closing with a 64 at Evian to secure her LPGA card and then staring down major champions in Scotland to win by two. Woad, now playing in her eighth major championship, certainly isn't scared. 'All the players out there can hit the shots,' said Matthew, 'but what makes her special is that she can do it when she has to.' After her big win in Scotland, securing LPGA status through 2027, Woad and her family made the seven-hour drive to Wales to prep for her fourth major start of the season. After a missed cut at the Chevron, Woad tied for 31st at the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills and finished one shot shy of a playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship, taking a share of third with Minjee Lee. Woad plans to buy a car with $300K purse With her first tournament paycheck of $300,000, Woad plans to buy a new car when she gets back to the United States and, as was revealed on the broadcast last week, get a driver's license. She's seemingly taking it all in stride with a quiet confidence. 'I feel good, obviously,' said Woad. 'I don't feel too different, to be honest.' World No. 1 Nelly Korda played alongside Woad in the first three rounds of the Scottish Open and was impressed with her composure and process, noting that while others tend to fidget and change things in the heat of battle, Woad stuck to her routine and looked comfortable. The elder Korda, who turned 27 on Monday, called Woad 'absolutely amazing.' 'It was great for me that I got to play with her my pro debut,' said Woad of Korda. 'She's someone I've always looked up to. She's obviously an amazing player and a great competitor, and to hear she said something like that is really nice.' Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda impressed by Woad Even Ko, the most recent inductee of the LPGA of Fame, noted in her pre-tournament presser that she's looking forward to seeing what she can learn from Woad playing alongside her in the first two rounds. 'Just because you're a higher-ranked player doesn't mean that there's something that I can't learn from somebody else,' said Ko. 'She's obviously playing great golf. I've seen her swing, and my coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there's aspects that I'm kind of going for that she has.' The Irish Open has been on and off the LET's schedule over the past 30 years, but, as noted in the LPGA's KPMG Performance Insights, Woad became only the second player to win the Irish and Scottish Opens in the same season, joining fellow Englishwoman Laura Davies (1994). No player has won the Irish, Scottish and British in the same year. What's the potential for Woad? Matthew is careful with her predictions, noting that Rose Zhang dramatically won her pro debut two years ago at the Mizuho Americas Open and then stalled. 'Obviously, you don't want to overhype it and go too over-the-top,' said Matthew, 'but the potential is there and the sky's the limit at the moment.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lottie Woad is the betting favorite at Women's British Open

'How do you function': Parents talk of the death of their son in Green Memorial Day parade
'How do you function': Parents talk of the death of their son in Green Memorial Day parade

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Yahoo

'How do you function': Parents talk of the death of their son in Green Memorial Day parade

At a memorial garden dedicated to children who died, Daniel and Jennifer Schultz of North Canton talked July 29 about the loss of their 13-year-old son, Matthew Schultz. Matthew died May 26 after falling off a parade trailer during the Green Memorial Day parade. The memorial stone for Matthew at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Green won't tell you the tragic details of the accident, or the painful details of his family's recovery. It's a story of grief and faith, family and community, whispered by every stone engraved for a child who died far too young. In the background, the sounds of children playing on a nearby field filtered through as they spoke. Two months after Matthew fell, his parents said they are still processing, still looking for a return to a routine although things will never be the same again. "How do you survive? How do you function?" Jennifer said. One way to begin is to accept that Matthew, they said, is in a better place. "He wanted to be famous, but he also wanted to get to heaven and be with God," Daniel said. Star Wars, Legos and a smile for a friend Jennifer said Matthew was born with a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, comprised of four issues in the structure of the heart. 'He had four procedures throughout his life at the Cleveland Clinic," Daniel said. His last was Christmas Eve, five months before the parade. Prior to the procedure in December, Matthew was characteristically mischievous. "He liked to pull pranks," Daniel said. "(He was) joking around with us and his grandparents." Jennifer said Matthew loved martial arts, but was constrained in sports by his condition. Overexertion or contact sports like football were off the table. His mother said Matthew's condition also limited his stamina and he was affected by weather extremes. Still, he was a positive child who loved to play Star Wars and Legos, his father said. "If he knew a friend was having a hard day, he would reach out to his friend with a smile," he said. Matthew and his 9-year-old sister Sophia were close, and their relationship was a classic brother-sister one, Jennifer said. "They drove each other crazy, but were each other's best friends," she said. "He was a better person than me," his father said. 'I still ask God every day, "What is your will for us?" ' Daniel and Jennifer Schultz said nothing could prepare them for the event on May 26. They've had to take it step by step, relying on family, friends, their North Canton parish and the wider community for support. The Rev. David R. Durkee, pastor at Queen of Heaven, approached them early, and an anonymous donor provided for the memorial stone in the memory garden. At North Canton Middle School, Matthew's schoolmates plastered hundreds of Post-it notes, pictures and handwritten notes on his locker. A Gofundme raised more than $100,000 for the Schultz family. "It truly takes a village to raise a child, and we're fortunate to have that," Jennifer said. But the questions still come, the grief lingers. "It solidified my faith, but I still ask God every day, 'What is your will for us?' " Jennifer said. A passage from the Catholic Bible in Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 4:12, provided some solace, Daniel said. It was read at Matthew's funeral. "But the righteous, even if they die early, will be at rest," the passage begins. 'His story is not over, yet' Two months after their world changed forever, Matthew's parents say they hope that time, counseling and memories of their son will help lay the path for a sense of normalcy. It helps that school for Matthew's sister starts in August, they said. "The new routine will start to come," Daniel said. They've been blessed with employers who permitted a leave of absence, they said. "Neither of us has been back to work yet," Daniel said. That will come with the new routine they're building day by day. That, and a sense that Matthew's presence is still with them. "His story is not over, yet," said his father. Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@ Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Parents reflect on son, 13, who died in Green Memorial Day parade

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store