Berks' Best 2024 had 239 applicants for 11 awards

May 17—High schools across Berks County submitted 403 nominations for the 2024 Berks' Best Awards. The schools were invited to nominate up to two seniors in each of 11 categories.

There were 239 applications submitted by the students, who had to complete an online form with essay questions and have someone not related to them submit a letter of recommendation.

A panel of 30 judges divided by their expertise in each of the categories evaluated the applications and letters and gave each applicant a score. The applications receiving the three highest scores in each category were selected as finalists. There were 36 finalists named due to scoring ties.

The categories were Business, Career and Technical Education, Communications, Computer Science, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Science/Environment, Social Studies, Taylor Seitzinger Award for Community Service and Leadership, Visual Arts and World Languages.

Each category winner will receive a $500 check from the Berks County Community Foundation and will be honored at the BCCF's 2024 Scholarship Luncheon on Tuesday, May 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading.

A special section will appear in the Sunday, May 19, print edition of the Reading Eagle.

Here are the 2024 finalists.

Meet the winners and read about their plans for the future:

—Business: Brandon Serianni

—Career and Technical Education: Barbara Acevedo

—Communications: Ava Straus

—Computer Science: Vanesa Aguay

—Mathematics: Eric Yazemboski

—Performing Arts: Austin Snavely

—Science/Environment: Ana Pichardo

—Social Studies: Kayla Laucks

—Taylor Seitzinger Award for Community Service and Leadership: Vanesa Aguay

—Visual Arts: Mia Davis

—World Languages: Meghan Cramer