-- Photo by Kathi A. Wilcox/Daily News Auberle Board Director Kathleen Miclot introduced masters of ceremonies Mike and Steve and     Auberle Director of Residential Services Mathilda Spencer at Wednesday's annual awards dinner.

By PATRICK CLOONAN
Daily News Staff Writer

It was a night for champions.

They came to a dinner Wednesday night at Stratigos in North Huntingdon Twp. amid flashing bulbs from an eager corps of photographers.

OK, the paparazzi in this case were mostly those taking pictures for Auberle's "Good Kids" quarterly newsletter. But, then again, the 81 titlists so honored are in Auberle's family support system.

"Those children have had to step up, (to) overcome a number of hurdles in their way," Auberle CEO John Lydon told more than 300 youngsters, parents, friends and supporters at the McKeesport-based agency's 20th annual All-Star Banquet.

"About a third of our children achieve honor roll in each grading period," Auberle staffer Beth Anne Ackinclose said during a presentation of education awards.

"Smarts come in all shapes, sizes and colors," Auberle staffer Ron Malcolm said. "It doesn't matter."

The event was sponsored by Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop Donald Wuerl. The self-described faith-based Catholic agency based along Hartman Street and O'Neil Boulevard was born through a gift from the legacy of Pauline Auberle to the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Wuerl himself was not able to attend. He was represented by Auberle board member Susan Rauscher, the diocesan secretary of pastoral and social concerns.

The dinner also was sponsored by the diocese, as well as Respironics, a manufacturer of sleep and respiratory aids based in Murrysville.

For two hours, the youngsters were feted for their achievements over the past 12 months, both in the classroom and in other aspects of their lives.

Admittedly, it was a bit different than past Auberle dinners usually conducted at McKeesport's Palisades. But Lydon said Auberle may move the annual banquet around.

"This is Auberle's signature event," the Auberle CEO said, "because it is about the children, as Auberle is about children."

It focuses its attention on children and their families - 2,600 helped each year in multiple Southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

The names of the youngsters basically are known to God and their parents and counselors, as Auberle policy is to preserve their privacy. But that made no less special the trophies and plaques handed out at the Norwin area banquet hall.

The masters of ceremonies were two of those youngsters, Steve, who plans to attend college this fall to study business, and Mike, described by Spencer as "quick with a smile and a lover of music and sports."

Steve is among Auberle's graduating seniors, eight of whom were honored by new Auberle Chief Program Officer John Litz.

"This is such a wonderful event and I am very proud to be part of it," said Litz, who came to Auberle two months ago after a career that included heading up Washington County Children and Youth Services, being senior planner for Allegheny County's counterpart, and serving as a program director for United Way of Allegheny County.

Jerry Ruckert, sponsor of the awards for graduating seniors and an Auberle board member, has a special tie to Lydon and fellow board member John Stockhausen. They were among the 88 graduates in the class of 1973 from Pittsburgh's St. Mary of the Mount High School.

"Another St. Mary of the Mount alumnus from a different graduating class is Bishop Wuerl," said Mathilda Spencer, Auberle's director of residential services.

Three youngsters were honored for essays on the topic of the night, "Who Is Your Champion?" The banquet hall was dotted with pictures of such champions as Lance Armstrong and Mother Teresa, Jerome Bettis and Gandhi, Pitt basketball star Carl Krauser and the late President John F. Kennedy.

Four youngsters will get their plaques for academic achievement later. Their foster mother was unable to make it to Stratigos after her van broke down, staffer Farrah Casey said.

About a foster child who emigrated to the U.S. from Africa, Casey said, "She's learned the language here; she's learned the culture."

And the youngster is getting mostly A's in school. Casey said the child was upset because of one B on a recent report card.

Other corporate sponsors handing out awards Wednesday night included representatives of Pro Plumbing and Heating, Gallery in the Square, Steve Schwartz Associates, Reinhart Food Services, Criss & Cross Connections, Gumpher Electric, Four M Consulting, CLT Efficient Technologies Group and Chrislynn Energy Services.

Also among the corporate sponsors is a new neighbor to Auberle, Huckestein Mechanical Services, which moved from Sharpsburg to RIDC Riverplace Industrial Center of McKeesport last summer.