Sarah Reedy, and Janet Stebick (representing the Class of 63′ & employee of Kreckel Enterprises Inc.). Also pictured is the 2018 recipient Kendra Smithbauer, and the 2019 recipient Isaac Gradl.
The ECC Student of the Year award is given annually to a senior that demonstrates exploratory academics and character.
The award is presented in memory of the late Lavern G. Kreckel Jr. who
graduated from the Elk County Christian High School Class of 1963. He was a 45 year employee of Powder Metal Products (now MPP) on Washington Road from 1963 to 2008 where he worked as a Class A Tool and Die maker and Machinist. He helped to opened Kreckel Enterprises Inc. in the Elk Haven Industrial Park in St. Marys in 1997 with his son Vern who now runs the plant on his own.
2020 – Maddison Taylor
On Friday morning a carefully planned presentation one year in the making, happened following the Alumni Mass at Elk County Catholic High School. Senior Maddison Taylor who is a member of the Class of 2020 was named the Kreckel Enterprises Inc. Student of the Year. Maddison is the daughter of Lee and Julie Taylor of St. Marys and is active in Cheerleading, and also currently serves as the President of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the President of her Class. Maddie has worked very hard during her High School career at ECC, and she is a true leader and role model for all students to follow.
Having Maddison as the Student of the Year is a great blessing and honor for the company to have. Kreckel Enterprises expresses many thanks to all who helped plan for this presentation, and they wish Maddie the very best in her future endeavors!
2019 – Isaac Gradl
On April 19th 2019, Elk County Catholic High School Senior Isaac Gradl and his family visited Kreckel Enterprises Inc. Isaac was chosen as the company’s 2019 Student of the Year in December of 2018 at a special Alumni Mass. Also, he will Job Shadow at Kreckel Enterprises the summer of 2019. Isaac along with his parents Zig and Wendy Gradl and his sisters Meliana and Addison Gradl are pictured at the Award Wall (below) at Kreckel Enterprises.
(Front) Meliana and Addison Gradl
2018 – Kendra Smithbauer
Vern Kreckel III, Mary Kreckel (Vern’s Mother), Kendra Smithbauer, Courtney Lenze, Janet Stebick, and Tom Maholtz.
At a special Alumni Mass held on December 15th, 2017 at Elk County Catholic High School, Kreckel Enterprises Inc. honored Senior Kendra Smithbauer as their first “Student of the Year” award winner in memory of Lavern G. Kreckel Jr. (Elk County Christian High School Class of 1963). The Kreckel Family planned the recognition after company co-founder Lavern G. Kreckel Jr. passed away in August, 2017.
Along with the Kreckel family Kendra is a fellow member of St. Marys Church where she is an Altar Server and sings in the Choir. At ECC she participates in the Band and in the Yearbook Club as well as many other activities. Kendra will accompany the ECCHS FBLA Students on a tour of Kreckel Enterprises in the spring as a representative of the company. Kendra was awarded a certificate, an official company T-Shirt, and a few other things to make her day happy. A special St. Joseph Medal from Scott and Ann (Kreckel) Reedy and family was also awarded to Kendra.