PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Daughters of Penelope has announced Katerina Violet Tarasov of Yardley, Pennsylvania, as the recipient of the 2026 Zoe Cavalaris Outstanding Female High School Athlete Award, recognizing her exceptional achievements in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service.
Established by Past Grand President Zoe Lucas Cavalaris (1918–1985), the prestigious award honors a young woman from the AHEPA Family who has demonstrated outstanding accomplishments as an amateur athlete while maintaining excellence in scholarship, civic engagement, and community involvement.
Tarasov is a member of Tethys Chapter No. 229 of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the daughter of Daughters of Penelope Sister Irene Tsovolos Tarasov.
A 2026 graduate of Pennsbury High School, Tarasov completed her studies with an impressive 4.3 GPA. Her academic achievements earned her membership in the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Art Honor Society, recognition as a National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Academic All-American, and placement on the AP Student Honor Roll.
An accomplished student-athlete, Tarasov served as Captain of the Pennsbury Swim & Dive Team and Captain of the Princeton Tigers Aquatic Club, demonstrating leadership both in and out of the pool. She also competed at the local, regional, state, and national levels with the USAIGC Gymnastics Team and mentored fellow students through the Pennsbury Ambassador Leadership Program.
Her list of athletic accomplishments is equally impressive. Tarasov is a two-time Suburban One League Champion, a Suburban One League runner-up, and was named Pennsbury High School Diver of the Year three times. She also holds diving records at both Rock North Pool and the Suburban One League Patriot Championships, cementing her place among the school’s most accomplished divers.
Beyond athletics and academics, Tarasov has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving others. She volunteered as a swim instructor for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Team, helping athletes develop confidence and skills in the water. She also served as Co-Organizer of her school’s Culture Fair and Treasurer of the National Honor Society, reflecting her dedication to leadership and community engagement.
This fall, Tarasov will attend Fairfield University, where she plans to pursue a degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
The Daughters of Penelope praised Tarasov as a well-rounded young woman whose achievements exemplify the purpose of the Zoe Cavalaris Outstanding Female Athlete Award. Her commitment to excellence in athletics, academics, leadership, and service reflects the values the organization seeks to recognize and encourage in future generations.
Tarasov will be formally honored during the 2026 AHEPA Family Athletic Awards Luncheon, which will take place on Wednesday, July 29, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the AHEPA Supreme Convention.
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