Snyder Award tradition continues with 12 Centre County student-athletes honored
Twelve graduating seniors in Centre County recently received Snyder Awards, which celebrate achievements of student-athletes who made a difference in sports and beyond during their high school years.
In earning the awards, the students from St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy and Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola and State College high schools become part of a tradition that spans nearly seven decades.
The awards are named after James H. Snyder, a former Centre Daily Times sports editor who was killed in an automobile crash in December 1957. The first awards were handed out in 1958, and the CDT is proud to carry on Snyder’s legacy while celebrating students who excelled in academics, athletics and community service.
Learn more about the recipients of the 68th annual Snyder Awards below.
Bald Eagle Area
Bald Eagle Area’s Snyder Award winners proved to be well-rounded student-athletes who shined as much in the classroom as they did on their respective playing fields and courts.
Leah Bryan, who was named BEA’s team MVP in volleyball, helped lead the program to a District 6 title this past season while serving as class president and a member of the National Honor Society. Kaden Clark, BEA’s salutatorian and president of the National Honor Society, racked up at least 120 career tackles in football while helping lead the team to a winning record as a senior.
Both will attend major state universities, in Penn State and West Virginia, and both have a lot to be proud of.
Learn more about Bryan and Clark below.
Leah Bryan
Sports played in high school: Volleyball, Track and Field
Extracurricular activities and service: Chief Science Officers, Mock Trial, Ski Club, Class president, student government, Botball, Spanish Club
Honors/awards: BEA Volleyball MVP, Burl Flick Memorial Athletic Award, Steven R. Dorman Memorial Athletic Award, Soaring Eagle Award, PIAA District 6 Sportsmanship Award, Gary Spain Coaches Award, U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, National Honor Society
Work experience: Part-time with State College Spikes
Future plans: Attend Penn State for bioengineering
What does it mean to win this award: “It honestly does mean a lot. I know that’s a pretty surface-level answer, but knowing how many other people got this and were dedicated to sports, it makes me happy to think I was even considered for it. And I get to share it with them.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “Bald Eagle is a pretty small, rural area, and we have about 100 kids in our graduating class. We’re all pretty tight-knit, and we’re all there for each other. So knowing I have the support from everyone around me ... I know I can continue doing a good job wit it.”
Kaden Clark
Sports played in high school: Football, Baseball
Extracurricular activities and service: Student school board representative, Senior Class secretary, student government, Chief Science Officers, Unified Weightlifting Program, Spanish Club, Club Volleyball, Friends of Rachel Club
Honors/awards: Steven R. Dorman Memorial Athletic Award, salutatorian, Allen T. Weaver Memorial Award, U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, South Hills Excellence and Community Service Award, Jack Jones Quiet Strength Memorial Award, National Honor Society (president)
Work experience: Server at The Junction 144
Future plans: Attend West Virginia for nursing
What does it mean to win this award: ”It puts into perspective everything that’s gone to my time in high school. Not just athletics, academics or service — it’s all of those put together. It’s all your hard work put into one award, that’s why it means so much. You’re not recognized for just one attribute.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: ”It means everything. At my elementary school, my grandfather was a teacher so I was always close to the teachers. And my mother worked the middle school and high school, and my grandfather helped coach football. And being so close to everyone who mentored me and made me a better person — I just knew people truly cared about me. It’s not like you’re just there to learn or get better at your sport; they’re there for you.”
Bellefonte
Bellefonte’s Snyder Award winners represented the school and the community well on and off the field.
Madyson Miller was a true multi-sport athlete — who also helped out in the community as a coach — and her favorite athletic moment came when she and her teammates qualified for states this year in the 4x800 in track. Logan Rarrick was a stalwart for the Bellefonte wrestling and football teams while excelling in the classroom, highlighted by a district championship in football this season.
Learn more about Miller and Rarrick below.
Madyson Miller
Sports played in high school: Soccer, Gymnastics, Track and Field, Fearless Athletics Gymnastics, Indoor Track and Field
Extracurricular activities and service: Bellefonte High School Raider Revolution, Class of 2026 Class Cabinet, Youth gymnastics coach at Fearless Athletics
Honors/awards: Most Improved 2025 Bellefonte Track and Field, True Raider 2025 Bellefonte Girls’ Soccer, PA Classics 2025 Gymnastics All-Around State Champion — Bronze Division, MVP 2025 Bellefonte Gymnastics, Most Improved 2024 Bellefonte Girls’ Soccer, Newcomer Of The Year 2023 Bellefonte Gymnastics, B.P.O.E U14 State Soccer Shoot Champion 2023 & Regional Qualifier
Work experience: Cashier at Giant Foods
Future plans: Attend Commonwealth University — Lock Haven for sport management while also running track
What does it mean to win this award: “It means a lot to me, because sports are a huge thing in my life, and something I’m really committed to. So it just means a lot to me to know that people can see that and can see what I’ve done.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “I just think the people in the sports, and my coaches have been really good, and a very supportive community. With soccer, I’ve had a very good team winning districts, and just having success and being there for each other — I feel like being able to be a part of that type of environment, even if we weren’t very good, it still felt good, just because of the environment around me and how the coaches were always positive. And if you were in a bad mood, they just made things better. And the school recognizing sports and how well, everyone does in them, like when I won states last year in gymnastics, they recognized it on the billboard type thing outside of the school. So just having that support from the school, too.”
Logan Rarrick
Sports played in high school: Football, Wrestling
Extracurricular activities and service: Class Cabinet, Envirothon, Raider Corner, Special Olympics volunteer, Elks and Moose volunteer, Bellefonte wrestling and football volunteer, Bellefonte Day of Caring
Honors/awards: National Honor Society, Elks Teen of the Month, Distinguished Honors GPA, Envirothon champion, First-Team All-State DE in football, two-time football team captain, D6 4A champion, three-time First-Team All-LHAC DE/LB and one-time ALL-LHAC OL, three-time Defensive MVP, two-time Raider of the Year, two-time Lineman of the Year, two-time Hammer of the Year, two-time Honorable Mention OL, and Scout Team MVP (freshman year), two-time Outstanding Wrestler Award, Most Improved Wrestler, and D6 4A (HWT) 4th place.
Work experience: SMR Lawn Service, Weaver’s Landscaping and Logan’s Handyman
Future plans: Attend Clarion University for environmental science with a minor in business management while also playing football
What does it mean to win this award: “It’s a big deal to me. Feel like that’s a big honor to be able to be perceived as somebody that represents that, because I know it’s a big deal to win the award. And just, just grateful to be able to be considered somebody that represents it.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “This school’s a big reason that I’m doing anything that I am in my life today — especially the football team, they changed my life forever. It wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for them. So it’s a big deal, and I always felt like I had resources if I needed them to improve myself.”
Penns Valley
The Snyder Award winners from Penns Valley both kept busy with clubs, service organizations and sports through their high school years.
Their athletic achievements include Calynn Fetterolf being the captain of the varsity soccer team and earning two varsity letters in soccer and one in track and field. Her soccer team won a district championship in 2022, during her freshman year.
Luke Ruoff, meanwhile, was a four-time varsity soccer starter and three-year varsity soccer captain who was MVP his senior year. He also lettered in swimming, cross country and track and field.
Learn more about Fetterolf and Ruoff below.
Calynn Fetterolf
Sports played in high school: Soccer, Track and Field
Extracurricular activities and service: Key Club, Varsity Club, volunteering for the Special Olympics for two years, Turkey Trot (2 years), helping with the Centre Hall Library during the yard sale and volunteering within the youth soccer program
Honors/awards: Defensive MVP (soccer) award and Outstanding Girls Soccer award, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society
Future plans: Attend Penn State and major in forensic science and minor in chemistry; plans to pursue a master’s degree in science with the goal of becoming a forensic chemist specializing in DNA and blood analysis
What does it mean to win this award: “To me, winning this award reflects the dedication and effort I have put into my high school career. Furthermore, it is an honor to be recognized with the James Snyder Award, as it reflects the encouragement that I received from my teachers, family and friends, who supported me every step of the way.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “To me, my school and community have played a significant role in who I am today, especially given the opportunities both have provided me while growing up in Centre Hall and Penns Valley Area. They have allowed me to build meaningful relationships with others who have supported, encouraged and guided me throughout my life and in terms of my future. I personally believe that getting involved in your community and school contributes to your own development, as my involvement has shaped me into a more well-rounded and responsible individual, characteristics I will carry with me into the future.”
Luke Ruoff
Sports played in high school: Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field, Cross Country
Extracurricular activities and service: Boy Scouts of America, educational tutor, Varsity Club, Student Ambassador, class president, French Club, completed an Eagle Scout Project, completed 100+ volunteer hours, two-year American Red Cross blood donor
Honors/awards: Two-time American Citizenship Award, French Honors Award Scholarship, Distinguished Honor Roll, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society
Work experience: Three-year Red Cross certified lifeguard, four years official Grassroots certified referee, five year summer swim team coach, going on one year at Jersey Mike’s
Future plans: Committed to the University of Tampa in Marine Biology, where he plans to join the environmental conservation club, soccer club, and SCUBA and snorkeling club while donating his time to volunteer organizations in Tampa
What does it mean to win this award: “I am grateful to receive the James H. Snyder Memorial Award and that I could represent Penns Valley in an honorable way. The characteristics recipients of this award typically exemplify are traits that I believe the majority of Penns Valley students embody within the school and community. Along with the rest of the students here, I believe my dedication to my education and athletics provides proof to my ability to overcome obstacles.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “My school and community have shown patience, encouragement and positive criticism during my youth, and have allowed me to develop into an individual prepared to seek out my next goal. I believe the impact Penns Valley’s tight-knit family has on young generations is reflected in the drive they show today, Penns Valley will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Philipsburg-Osceola
Philipsburg-Osceola’s two Snyder Award winners were able to strike a balance between athletics and academics that many aspire to but few actually achieve.
When it came to athletics, Emily Gustkey finished fifth on P-O’s list of all-time softball hits with 128 while racking up a dozen varsity sports letters and helping lead volleyball to a 2023 state title. Parker Lamb also finished with 11 varsity letters while being named P-O’s offensive baseball MVP in 2025 and playing on the 2023 District 6 championship baseball team.
In the classroom, they were equally just as impressive. Lamb earned at least a half-dozen scholarships and plans to ultimately pursue nursing, while Gustkey became the third Snyder Award winner in her family and is going from a part-time assistant at Moshannon Valley Pharmacy to a full-time student at Pitt for Pharmacy School.
Take a closer look below at Gustkey and Lamb.
Emily Gustkey
Sports played in high school: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
Extracurricular activities and service: Mountie Pride, Student Council, Church Food Drive volunteer, substitute Sunday School Teacher, Drama Club, Christian Fellowship, 157 hours of community service
Honors/awards: Soroptimist International of Centre County Scholarship, Osceola Mills VFW Scholarship, PIAA District 6 Sportsmanship Award, Selection on multiple All-District 6 teams, Winning local VFW’s “Voice of Democracy” essay contest, National Honor Society
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Work experience: Moshannon Valley Pharmacy assistant
Future plans: Attend the University of Pittsburgh for Pharmacy School
What does it mean to win this award: “It’s very honorable to me. I’m actually the third Snyder Award winner in my family; my dad and brother both won it. So it’s pretty cool to get that award as the third one in my family, and my dad’s been talking about it. ... It makes me feel good for all the hard work I put in, that people have noticed.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “It means a lot. It’s shaped me into who I am. What you give to your school and community is what you receive back in my experience — and, if you give everything, you get a lot out of it. I had the best time playing sports all four years, and I’ve made endless memories. And I do these food drives for my community, and giving back to people in need also just makes you feel amazing.”
Parker Lamb
Sports played in high school: Baseball, Golf, Basketball, Football
Extracurricular activities and service: Mountie Pride, president of Philipsburg-Osceola Fly-Fishing Club, volunteer coach at Youth Camps, Trout-stocking volunteer, Blood Drive volunteer, 135 hours of community service
Honors/awards: POFFC David Holmes Memorial Scholarship, District 6 Dean Rossi Sportsmanship Award and Scholarship, Keno Beezer Scholarship, Philipsburg KIWANIS Club Scholarship, Shippensburg Raiders Success Scholarship, American Legion Leadership Award, High Honor Roll (all marking periods; Grades 9-12), District 6 baseball champions in 2023, Selection on multiple All-District 6 teams, P-O baseball captain, P-O baseball offensive MVP (2025), National Honor Society
Future plans: Attend Shippensburg to study biology and play baseball; also plans to further education to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
What does it mean to win this award: “It’s definitely an accomplishment, and it’s definitely prestigious. I’m grateful to be selected as the person who got this award, and I’ll definitely cherish it.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “They mean a lot. I wouldn’t be the person that got the Snyder Award without a lot of my family, friends and coaches. They mean a lot to me and help me contribute to my sports and academics and, ultimately, that’s helped me become the person I am. They played a big part in who I am.”
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy
The Snyder Award winners from Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy made their school proud with their athletic achievements and leadership roles in clubs.
Golfer Madison Koshko made history as a four-time PIAA District 6 champion who won her second PIAA state championship in October. Rocco Gigante played four sports throughout his high school career and especially stood out on the pitch, where he received first-team all-conference honors his sophomore, junior and senior years.
Here’s a closer look at both graduates, who will each continue to play sports collegiately.
Rocco Gigante
Sports played in high school: Soccer, Baseball, Basketball and Track
Extracurricular activities and service: President of school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter
Honors/awards: National Honor Society (vice president), 10th place in the state during junior year for presentation on business partnership
Work experience: Worked with his parents flipping houses
Future plans: Attend Grove City College to study mechanical engineering and play soccer
What does it mean to win this award: “It means a lot and is a great way for me to honor God and all the work my family, coaches, teachers, teammates and friends have given to help me achieve what I was able to in high school.”
What does your school and community mean to you? “The school community means a lot to me because of their constant support and encouragement through all four years of high school with the ups and downs. Along with supporting me athletically, it also challenged me academically and spiritually, allowing me to become a better person on and off the field. Without this community I would have never won any awards, let alone be able to compete in college.”
Madison Koshko
Sports played in high school: Golf
Extracurricular activities and service: Leo Club president, Pink Zone charity golf event put on by Penn State women’s basketball (four times), volunteered in the Saint Joe’s 4 Pillars golf tournament
Honors/awards: Dean’s list (all quarters all four years), National Honor Society, four-time PIAA District 6 girls golf champion; two-time PIAA state girls golf champion
Work experience: Babysitting
Future plans: Attend Penn State, where she’ll be on the golf team and plans to major in finance
What does it mean to win this award: “I am very honored to win this award. It means a lot to me and shows my hard work on and off the golf course.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “Saint Joseph’s is such an inclusive and positive community and I really enjoyed my last four years there. I was supported and pushed to my potential by becoming involved in my community, including being Leo Club president and a member of NHS.”
State College
State College’s Snyder Award winners were able to show their talent on the field while showing their dedication to their community off it.
Luke Milito was an all-state center for the football team and a team captain, with his favorite accomplishment coming when he helped his team become co-champs of the Mid Penn as a junior. Milito helped pass on his passion for the sport by helping coach younger community members in flag football. Molly Workman leaves as one of the most prolific swimmers in school history — including her favorite accomplishment, breaking the state record in the 50 free — while making sure future swimmers are prepared by coaching them.
Learn more about Milito and Workman, who will continue their athletic careers in college.
Luke Milito
Sports played in high school: Football, Wrestling, Unified Bocce
Extracurricular activities and service: FBLA, IM basketball, Earth Day Memorial Field clean-up, coach and referee for CRPR youth flag football, coach at Alliance Church sports camp
Honors/awards: Principal Award for Straight A’s, Outstanding achievement for chemistry and video media technology, football team captain, First Team Mid-Penn Commonwealth, All-State Center, National Football Foundation Team of Distinction, selected for East-West all-star game and Lezzer Lumber all-star game, National Honor Society
Work experience: Centre County Parks and Recreation
Future plans: Attend Lebanon Valley College and major in its accelerated Accounting/MBA program and participate in football
What does it mean to win this award: “It means a lot. It means a lot to me and my family. And it just shows what a great community around you can do to help support you and put you in positions like this.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “They mean a lot. Everything I do — [football coach Matt Lintal] says to us, State on our chest, so the community is always really at the forefront of my mind. That I’m not only representing myself and my family, but I’m always representing my community, no matter where I go.”
Molly Workman
Sports played in high school: Swimming
Extracurricular activities and service: Centre County Buddy Walk, National Women and Girls in Sports Day ambassador, volunteer swim coach - SPRA, Middle Atlantic Swim Clinic demonstrator, Little Lion ambassador, Feed the Hungry - Food Pack
Honors/awards: 2026 Centre County Sports Hall of Fame Memorial Scholarship, 2026 Coaches Award, Robert Marciniak Memorial Scholarship, National Honor Society
Future plans: Attend the University of Virginia, where she will swim for the Cavaliers and plans to pursue medicine
What does it mean to win this award: “I’m very, very grateful. And I think it just shows how much hard work I’ve put in, both in the classroom and in the pool. I’m very honored to have won it.”
What does your school and community mean to you?: “I think my first few years of high school, you don’t realize how much the community is there, but I’d say these last two years I realized, how many people either I’ve helped or just how many people are supporting me. Our athletic directors, they are amazing. And swimming is not an Olympic sport that gets a ton of coverage, but they’re there every time, and they are not only cheering on me but my other teammates. And then I go to rapid transit downtown, and they’re like, ‘oh my gosh, we watched you, and you did a great job.’ And I’ll go to our local pools, and there are little swimmers who are like ‘Molly, we want to be like you,’ and I end up coaching them in summer league teams. I’m so happy that I’ve had an impact on them, but also just knowing that State College is here for me, it’s a great feeling.”
