JOHNSTOWN — Winning scores for the Cambria County America250PA committee’s essay contest were within just a few points for both the high school and middle school divisions, according to Chip Minemyer, co-chair of the essay committee and publisher of The Tribune-Democrat.

There was “outstanding” participation from 13 public school districts, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School and several home-schooled students from Richland and Greater Johnstown school districts, Minemyer said.

In the end, two Richland School District students took home first-place prizes in their respective divisions, Minemyer announced during the Cambria County commissioners’ meeting Thursday at the Jackson Township Fire Department in Vinco.

Sheraghana Hall won first place and $1,500 in the high school division, while Kaylee Paronish won $300 for placing first in the middle school division.

In the high school division, Portage Area student Fiona Shi won $1,000 for taking second place, while Westmont Hilltop student Kelly Mullen and Ferndale Area student Gracie Parrando tied for third place, with each receiving $500, Minemyer said.

In the middle school division, Conemaugh Valley student Makenzie Giuffre won $200 for taking second place, and Westmont Hilltop student Catherine Messina won $100 for placing third.

Minemyer said all of the students received certificates of recognition for their essays, which will be published in The Tribune-Democrat as part of their prize. They are also invited to read their essays aloud during the committee’s July 4 events outside the Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg, he said.

Minemyer said all of the entries received were both “impressive” and “fantastic.” They were judged voluntarily by professors at each of the county’s universities — Mount Aloysius, Saint Francis and Pitt-Johnstown.

“Judges had an extremely difficult time evaluating these essays,” Minemyer said. “I read all of them. I know they were fantastic, and I’m glad I wasn’t charged with picking this one versus that one versus that one. They were all quite good.”

Richland High School Principal Tim Regan and Superintendent Arnie Nadonley said they couldn’t be more proud of their students’ exceptional dedication and success.

“It comes to no surprise for both of these students,” Nadonley said of Hall and Paronish taking first in their respective divisions. “We’re honored and humbled by their success. They’re great students.”

Regan said he thought the essay contest was a great idea to celebrate the semiquincentennial of the United States while getting students to understand the significance and importance of the event.

He also commended the committee for its Liberty Torch, which has been ceremoniously passed from one school district to the next every week since February.

Commissioner Keith Rager, who also serves on the Cambria County

America250PA committee, said the torch is about halfway through its tour. It arrived at Bishop Carroll this week, he said, noting it’s making its way to Northern Cambria, Central Cambria, Westmont and Ferndale Area next.

Cambria Heights will be the last district to host the torch during the week of Memorial Day, according to the Visit Johnstown website.

“The schools have been doing such an awesome job,” Rager said, adding the torch is “a neat thing.”

“But if you do get the torch in your school, don’t turn the gas up the whole way,” he said. “Just kind of keep it down. We’ve found that it’s a little high.”

Library grant money

In other business, the commissioners approved a Keystone Grant agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Education for $303,050. If awarded, the grant will be used for improvements at the Cambria County Library in Johnstown.

Ashley Flynn, the library’s executive director, was at the meeting to accept the commissioners’ proclamation honoring national library week, which is celebrated annually in April.

Flynn said it’s a matching grant — meaning the total project would be just over $606,000 — that will be used to renovate the library’s committee room on the first floor and its public elevator. The money would also be used to install a learning lab for career development and education, she said.

“We are very appreciative of the commissioners’ continued support,” Flynn said at the meeting, adding the library has a supporting grant of $75,000 from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies to support some of its upgrades.

HR director retiring

The commissioners also voted, with regret, removing human resources director Gina Sowers from the county’s payroll. Sowers will retire Friday after nearly 47 years with the county.

“I would love to vote against this,” President Commissioner Scott Hunt told Sowers as she read the resolution from the meeting’s agenda.

Hunt said Sowers has done “an amazing job” in human resources — serving in the assistant director, interim director and then director roles — after the county’s ownership of the Laurel Crest nursing home ended in 2009.

“She’s also a very good friend of mine, so I’m still going to probably bother her every day anyway,” Hunt said. “She just has the right to ignore my call now.”

Sowers said it doesn’t seem like she’s been working this long because she’s enjoyed working for the county in every position she’s held.

Commissioner Tom Chernisky said assistant human resources director Amy Glessner will temporarily take over Sowers’ responsibilities while the commissioners interview for a new director next week.

Sowers said she’s leaving the human resources department in good hands.

“I feel as though, the group that I have now, I feel good that everybody is in a good place. They’re all hard workers,” Sowers said. “I feel like I can leave and my legacy will continue.”

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.