Lycoming Valley Teen of the Year Winner: Miranda Stoner

The Teen of the Week program, an initiative that honored one outstanding graduating senior every week for the past 12 weeks, culminated in a reception at the Little League World Series Museum to announce the winner of the scholarship and Teen of the Year.

The program, sponsored by Pennsylvania General Energy Company (PGE) and in partnership with the Sample News Group, highlighted each of the teens’ accomplishments before announcing Stoner, of Montgomery, as this year’s scholarship recipient and Teen of the Year.

Students were nominated for recognition each week by their teachers, administrators and guidance counselors from across the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.

“It’s great to be able to honor all of these students,” Gary Adkisson, director of digital initiatives for Sample News Group, said. “This was a wonderful event.”

Nominees and their families were first treated to a private visitation of the Little League World Series Museum before going on a tour of the Little League World Series grounds.

After the tour, General Manager of The Shamokin News-Item Kimberly Glennon read remarks prepared by Amy Moyer, publisher of The Standard-Journal, to get the reception underway.

“Some weeks, it was no easy task to choose a teen,” Glennon said.

After the opening remarks, Adkisson called each nominee to the podium individually to highlight the key points of their story.

This year’s nominees were recognized for their achievements in school, sports and the community.

According to Travis Overdorf, a representative from PGE’s Corporate Giving Committee, employees of the company spent a lot of time ciphering through each nominee’s story before deciding who aligned with PGE’s core values the most.

“Being good stewards of the communities in which we operate, always doing our best in all that we do and providing support when and where needed coupled with academic achievement were all included in the selection process,” Overdorf said.

Stoner, the overall winner, is involved in her 4-H Club and Toastmasters, a public speaking club. She is president of the Bald Eagle 4H Club.

“Both 4-H and Toastmaster have given me great leadership skills,” Stoner said. “Skills that will help me a lot when I am a teacher in the future.”

Stoner’s 4-H journey started out with sewing and cooking trainings before taking on scrapbooking and babysitting classes.

After joining Toastmasters, Stoner began to grow out of her introverted ways. “I never wanted to talk in front of anyone,” Stoner said.

“Now, I’m doing so much better.”

Stoner also works an after-school job at New Covenant Kids Kare, where she works with children who are 3 to 6 years old.

In the fall, Stoner plans to attend Bloomsburg University and major in Special Education with an Early Childhood Certification.

Adkisson said all of the students honored have bright futures, and the area is lucky to have them.

“The narratives that describe each student nominated throughout the second half of the school year are very commendable, and demonstrate a wide array of life experiences leading up to the many new adventures that await,”

Overdorf said. “Selecting a Teen of the Year was a difficult decision. Congratulations Miranda.”