Devald, Pynn named winners of 58th Hewitt Scholar/Athlete Awards

Board of associates of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital held event at Niagara Frontier Golf Club; program presented by Mount St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation

Mount St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Associates/Hospital Foundation Press Release & Photos

Ava Devald of Niagara Wheatfield High School and Lucas Pynn of Lockport High School were named winners of the 58th Thomas E. Hewitt Scholar/Athlete Awards. Each received a $2,500 scholarship. 

The awards were presented by the board of associates of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in a ceremony held at the Niagara Frontier Golf Club. The program was sponsored by the Mount St Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

Sixteen scholar athletes from eight area high schools were nominated for the honor.

Ava has earned a 100.10 weighted grade-point average. She is member of the National Honor Society, has earned high honor roll recognition throughout high school, and was named an Academic All-American in lacrosse. Ava has been her class president throughout high school. She is a volunteer lacrosse coach; was captain of the soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams; and a member of the flag football team. She plans to attend Youngstown State University and major in psychology, while playing lacrosse. Her career goal is to become a psychiatrist.

Ava is the daughter of Melonie and Jason Devald.

Lucas has earned a 102.34 weighted grade-point average. He is president of the National Honor Society and was the valedictorian of the junior class. Lucas was named an All-WNY Scholar Athlete and earned high honor roll and Scholar Athlete recognition. He is a member of the Sources for Strength, the Green Club, Spanish club, Bible club, foreign exchange club and wind ensemble. Lucas was captain of the volleyball and tennis teams, and a member of the swim team and Unified bowling and basketball. He plans to attend Daemen University and play Division I volleyball. He will major in biology with a goal of obtaining a Ph.D. and working in a hospital setting.

Lucas is the son of Sara and Timothy Pynn.

Other female nominees include: Natalie Kopf, Grand Island High School; Casey Fetzner, Lewiston-Porter High School; Gianna Pasceri, Lockport High School; Jhonnea Harris, Niagara Falls High School; Ella Smith, North Tonawanda High School; Sophia Wisnewski, Starpoint High School; and Stephanie Atlas, Wilson High School.

Other male nominees include: Evan Pickering, Grand Island High School; Leo Clark, Lewiston-Porter High School; Anthony Savino, Niagara Falls High School; Ethan Osetkowski, Niagara Wheatfield High School; Christian Earnst, North Tonawanda High School; Timothy Lukasik, Starpoint High School; and Keegan Herrmann, Wilson High School.