SCOUTS

SCOUTS
Pugh gets award
Two young women have received Girl Scouting's highest honor -- the Gold Award. They are Elizabeth Pugh and Sarah Kocher.
Pugh, 18, is the daughter of Tom and Lori Pugh of Youngstown. She has earned the Catholic scouting medals of Pope Pius XII, the Spirit Alive award and the Diocesan Eagle of the Cross award. She represented Region 6, which includes the states of Ohio and Michigan, at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Houston for Catholic Scouting.
For her Gold Award service project, she founded a program called for Students Involved with Caring for Kids. There are about 20 members who do various projects to support chronically ill and disabled children and teens. The students helped with the March of Dimes Walk, prepared meals for the Ronald McDonald House, collected more than 20,000 soda can tabs, made baskets for children and teens receiving blood infusions, and made fleece sleeping bags and collected books for Forum Health Tod Children's Hospital.
A senior at Ursuline High School, she is a member of its concert and marching bands, book club, liturgy committee, as well as a school Eucharist minister and lector.
She is a member of St. Michael Church in Canfield, where she participates in its youth ministry and its Celebrate Team, and serves as a nursery aide and Eucharist minister and lector. She plans to attend St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind., this fall.
Kocher is honored
Kocher, a daughter of John and Cindy Kocher of Girard, is a senior at Liberty High School. She is a member of Troop 23, which is led by her mother. She has been in scouting for 13 years.
For her Gold Award service project, Kocher focused on the beautification of flower beds in front of the Montessori School of Mahoning County. She built a bench to add to the beds and had books on nature donated to the school.
Her other Girl Scout awards and honors include the Silver Award.
Kocher is active in the high school's drama club, marching and symphonic bands, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Model UN, and LHS Honors Program.
She is a member of Pleasant Valley Church Youth Group and its puppeteers group. She also has been a volunteer with Relay for Life events sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
After graduation, she plans to attend Bowling Green State University.
Valley makes Eagle Scout
Anthony Nicholas Valley, son of Nicholas and Maria Valley, has received his Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouting's highest honor, during a ceremony at First Christian Church, Niles.
Valley has been in scouting for 13 years, beginning as a Wolf Cub Scout in 1993 for Pack 84 at Austintown Community Church. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 143 and has earned 24 merit badges.
He has held troop leadership positions as patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and scribe.
His Eagle Scout service project was to build a bench, remodel a shrine to the Virgin Mary and beautify the area surrounding the shrine at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Shrine on Belle Vista Avenue on Youngstown's West Side.
Valley is a senior at Ursuline High School. He is involved in many school clubs, including the International Thespian Society and Computer Club. He is a member of the school's marching and concert bands.
He will be attending Youngstown State University in the fall.
DOCTORS
El-Hayek graduates
Kevin Michael El-Hayek has graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and will begin his residency in general surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on July 1.
During his time at CWRU, Dr. El-Hayek was active in the Christian Medical and Dental Association, which helped sponsor his one-month-away rotation to Bongolo Evangelical Hospital in Gabon, Africa, with his wife, Raechel, an attorney.
El-Hayek graduated from Boardman High School in 1997 and cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in biology in 2002 after taking a year off to spend six months at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado for wrestling. He was a co-captain of Harvard's wrestling team his senior year.
He received an award for the senior who best exemplifies a commitment to compassionate care of patients, volunteer service and sensitivity needs of the poor, elderly and handicapped.
El-Hayek and his wife live in Lakewood. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Salim El-Hayek of Canfield.
Neopolitan is dentist
Michael Neopolitan has received his doctor of medical dentistry degree from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Neopolitan is a 1983 graduate of South Range High School, a 1998 graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, and an alumnus of Youngstown State University.
He was the recipient of the Dr. Gilbert N. Robin Scholarship Award, presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated dedication in the quest for continuing professional excellence. Before attending dental school, Neopolitan was co-owner of Castle Windows in St. Louis, Mo.
He will be joining his father-in-law, Dr. James J. Skiffey Jr., in private practice at 5402 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles. He is married to the former Justine Skiffey of Niles and they have three children, Lauren, Michael and Nikolas.
Neopolitan is the son of Ralph and Maria Neopolitan and the brother of Ralph Neopolitan Jr., all of North Lima.
LAWYERS
Burns receives law degree
Jason R. Burns of Youngstown has received his juris doctorate from Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco.
Burns is a 1999 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School and a 2003 graduate of John Carroll University. He is the son of Randall Burns of North Lima and Marilyn Burns of Boardman.
Burns is associated with the law offices of Kenneth S. McFarlan in San Rafael, Calif., where he lives.
Milestones is a regular Sunday feature in The Vindicator. Articles must be submitted within 30 days of the Milestone event. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a picture returned. Pictures also may be picked up at the paper's Front Street facility at the security guard station. Send items to: Milestones, c/o The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501.