Bethel Park High School senior Reese Fontanesi has been named the Rotary Student of the Month for February 2026, an honor recognizing her academic excellence, leadership, and service to the school community.
Fontanesi, the daughter of Nicoal and Anthony Fontanesi, maintains a 4.0 weighted GPA and has a wide range of academic interests, including conservation, biology, languages, and history. She remains undecided on both her college choice and intended major.
At Bethel Park, Fontanesi has found a creative home in the arts, particularly oil painting and theater. She has appeared as Brigitta in “The Sound of Music” and Mrs. White in “Clue,” and is currently performing in the ensemble of “The Little Mermaid,” which runs March 11–14 at the high school.
“Theater gives me a way to express myself,” Fontanesi said. “I was very shy before I got involved, but once I found this community and made so many friends, I was hooked. Every show brings a new challenge, and that’s what makes it so rewarding.”
Last year, Fontanesi traveled to Europe on a class trip with classmates, teachers, and chaperones, visiting Paris, Milan, Florence, and Vatican City. She said the experience was especially meaningful because she was able to share it with her grandmother, Leslie.
“My family means a lot to me, and being able to experience those incredible places and cultures with my grandmother made the trip even more special,” she said.
Service and mentorship are also important to Fontanesi. Through BP Connect, she mentors middle school students on skills such as teamwork, time management and conflict resolution to help ease their transition to high school. As a student ambassador, she welcomes new students to the district and supports events including luncheons and orientation programs.
A Girl Scout since second grade, Fontanesi now gives back by helping at Twilight Camp, where she supports younger scouts as they learn new skills and build confidence. Her love for animals—shared with her mother—has also led her to volunteer at Bethel Park Animal Clinic and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. At home, the Fontanesi family includes three rats, two cats, a dog, and a dove.
Fontanesi’s older brother, Lincoln, a 2024 Bethel Park graduate, is now a sophomore at West Virginia University.
“We’ve always gotten along,” she said, “but we’ve grown even closer as we’ve gotten older.”