Mars Area graduates Sarah Hooper and Isabella Pellegrino were named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2022, respectively. 

Sarah Hooper, valedictorian, is a 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist. This school year, Hooper was selected for the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, Lutheran Senior Life & Arconic Foundations’ “The Challenge Program” Academic Excellence Award; and the Rich-Mar Rotary Educational Scholarship.

Hooper was named to the 2020-2021 Trib Total Media Outstanding Young Citizen Elite Top 100. In 2019, she was selected to attend the Duke University Summer Session for High School Students; and, during the 2017-2018 School Year, she was a recipient of Mars Area Middle School’s American Legion Award.

At Mars Area High School, Hooper was four-year member of the Girls Varsity Swimming & Diving Team and Varsity Cheerleading Squad; and, during her senior year, was a member of the school’s Competition Cheer Team, which advanced to the 2021-2022 WPIAL Competitive Spirit Championships and the 2022 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship. She was a member of Enrichment Club, Key Club, Future Medical Providers Club, Science National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and Spanish National Honor Society; and she was president of National Honor Society during her senior year.

In the community, she has volunteered with and is a swim coach for the RESY Swim Team. And, prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, she volunteered as a candy striper in the maternity ward at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Hooper plans to attend the University of Virginia as a neuroscience major.

Isabella Pellegrino, salutatorian, is a recipient of the Belinda A. Terzich Memorial Education Scholarship; The Edward & Bethel Kean Community Service Scholarship; and Lutheran Senior Life & Arconic Foundations’ “The Challenge Program” STEM Award.

At Mars Area High School, Pellegrino was four-year member of the Girls Varsity Swimming & Diving Team and Girls Varsity Golf Team. She was also a member of Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and served a vice president of National Honor Society, during her senior year.

In the community, she is a swim instructor with the Lucky Fins swim program; and, prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, she volunteered with the Vacation Bible School program and fish fry at St. Kalian Parish.

Pellegrino plans to attend Northeastern University as a cellular/molecular biology major.

For more information on the valedictorian, salutatorian and honors selection process, visit https://highschool.marsk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=808546&type=d&pREC_ID=1189727.