SMETHPORT – Dr. Justin Puller, valedictorian of the Smethport
Area Junior-Senior High School Class of 1996 and now an emergency
room physician at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, will speak at his
alma mater’s commencement exercises on June 6.

Meanwhile, Megan Woods has been named the valedictorian of the
Class of 2008 and will graduate with a 4.0 grade point average at
commencement. Also, Diana Phalon is the salutatorian.

Born in Port Allegany, Puller is the son of Blaine and Donna
Puller. He grew up in the Colegrove and Betula areas of Norwich
Township. He attended pre-school classes and church at the United
Methodist Church of Smethport.

At Smethport High, Puller ran on the track and cross country
teams, played basketball and was active in the student council and
choir.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Gannon University in Erie with
a bachelor’s degree in biology. During his undergraduate studies,
he continued competing in cross country and became a Division II
Academic All-American.

From 2000-04, Puller attended MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine
in Philadelphia, where he received the Award for Excellence in
Emergency Medicine.

While serving his three years of residency at Geisinger Medical
Center in Danville, he specialized in emergency medicine and worked
in both the emergency room and as a Geisinger LifeFlight
physician.

Puller met his future wife, the former Karyn Courtney, an
occupational therapy major at Gannon University, and they have
three children, ages four, two and one. They reside in
Waterford.

Puller’s parents still live in Norwich Township. His father is a
forester for Kane Hardwood, and his mother is the librarian at the
Smethport Area Elementary School.

Remembering his early life, Puller said, “I very much appreciate
the place and people I grew up with that have shaped me.”

Woods been accepted at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford,
where she will be enrolled in the bachelor’s degree program in
nursing.

At Smethport High, Woods is a member of the National Honor
Society, Varsity “S,” concert choir, secretary of the Spanish club,
president of the Music ‘n Motion Show Choir, co-president of the
senior class and has been a Special Olympics helper.

She also has been a Rotary Youth Leadership Award participant.
As Miss Smethport, she represented the school in the 2007 Miss
McKean County Fair contest and went on to win the title,
representing the fair in January at the Pennsylvania State
Association of County Fairs Convention in Hershey.

Woods has played volleyball for five years, basketball for six
years, softball for two years and cheered for two years. She plans
to play volleyball at Pitt-Bradford.

She is the daughter of Dan and Kim Woods of Smethport.

Corrine Carr, senior class treasurer, will introduce Woods at
commencement.

Phalon is the daughter of Ted and Sue Phalon of Smethport and
will graduate with a grade point average of 3.9896

She plans to major in history at St. Bonaventure, where she also
plans to play softball.

During her years at Smethport High, she has lettered in
basketball and softball. She also is a member of the National Honor
Society and has participated in debate, mock trial, Model UN,
Envirothon, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Spanish Club and was
president of Peer Helpers.

At commencement, she will be introduced by class secretary,
Lauren Kinniburgh.

At those exercises, Robert Miller, high school principal, will
offer the Welcome.

The Senior Ensemble will sing “For Good.”

Kristy Kinney, vice president of the class, will introduce
Puller, who will deliver the commencement address.

Anita Johnson, vice-president of the Smethport Area School
Board, will announce the winners of the Ethyl Houck and John
Verolini scholarships.

Glenn Knight, a member of the class, will sing solo.

Miller will present the class and Superintendent George
Romanowski is to offer congratulations to the soon-to-be
graduates.

Verolini, president of the school board, will present diplomas
to the class as their names are announced by Woods and Emma Hahn,
class co-presidents.

Class officers will conduct the “Turning of Tassels” portion of
the program.

Members of the class are: Kaylee Rae Anderson, Colby James
Austin, John A. Blair, III, Kelly Marie Bundy, Corrine Mary
Catherine Carr, Travis Alan-Michael Causer, Angila Karmon
Clouser-Oglesby, Blaire Victoria Colley, Brandon P. Conner and
Janet Catherine Crandall;

Christopher Allen Crawford, Jessica Ann Deitz, Mark Anthony De
Luca, Jr., Lincoln G. Dorward, Brittany Ann Dragoone, David James
Faes, Jr., Thomas L. Field, Jessica Theresia Foster, Jeremy Scott
Freer and Allen David Funk;

Jane Nichole Ginkel, Brittany Ruth Gorrell, Craig William Green,
Thomas Jacob Grigsby, Emma Elizabeth Hahn, Alexis Kathryn Hannahs,
Tara Kynn Herzog, Nora Fay Housler, Erika Ashley Howard and Dustin
Mark Johnson;

Justin Daniel Johnson, Kristy Lynn Kinney, Lauren Elizabeth
Kinniburgh, Corey James Kirby, Matthew Joseph Kloss, Glenn Patrick
Knight, Joel Jacob Kohler, Karl Donald Larson, Miranda Lavelle
Levey and Chelsea Yvonne Logue;

Krista Ryan Lushbaugh, Michael J. Magee, James Franklin Main,
Kaylee Ann Marchesani, Patrick James Mitchell, Jr., Alyssa Elaine
Moore, Stephanie Marie Mosher, Zachary James Myers, Leanne
Christine O’Rourke and Nathaniel G. Okerlund;

Justin Allen Parris, Diana Lynn Phalon, Zachary Mark Rittberg,
Kelly Elizabeth Schofield, Kristina Ann Schwab, Randy Berlin Scott,
Rona Lynn Scutt, Daniel James Shunk, Kevin Michael Shunk and Brooke
Aline Stauffer; and

Frederick Glenn Strait, III, Russell Nelson Tanner, Misty Dawn
Taylor, Amanda Jo Thielges, Abigayle Louise Weaver, Thomas B.
Weaver, Katie Jo Williams, Megan Danielle Woods and Lisa Cathleen
Yoder.