CLEARFIELD – Two new attorneys were admitted to the Clearfield County Bar Association on Friday afternoon.
The first attorney was Christian B. LaParne, a native of Clearfield and now of State College, whose petition was presented by his mother, attorney Kimberly M. Kubista of Kubista, Ryan & Valenza LP in Clearfield.
Kubista’s associates, John R. Ryan and Joseph A. Valenza, were also present, for the ceremony, as well as LaParne ‘s father, Ben.
LaParne graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in 2020 with a degree in political science and a minor in business. He then attended West Virginia University College of Law, graduating in May of 2023.
During law school, LaParne achieved being selected as one of the first Abuse and Neglect externs affiliated with the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Court Improvement Program, conducting mediations as a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, and received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for his service as a student attorney for the WVU Child and Family Advocacy Clinic.
He’s currently an associate at the law firm of Kubista, Ryan & Valenza LP.
The second attorney was Payton M. McAninch, whose petition was presented by attorney Lea Ann Heltzel of the DuBois-based Hopkins Heltzel Law Firm.
Originally from DuBois, McAninch graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 2020.
While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she participated in various extracurricular activities including Prelegal Society, Panhellenic Counsel, Residence Life and Cross-Country/Track and Field.
After graduating from Washington & Jefferson, McAninch attended Duquesne University School of Law where she actively participated in a Youth Advocacy Clinic that assists juveniles in delinquency cases as well as special education matters.
While in law school, she worked at a private law firm that specialized in civil litigation and non-profit organizations.
In 2023, she received her J.D. from Duquesne University and returned to DuBois to practice law.
McAninch is currently an attorney with Hopkins Heltzel Law Firm where she practices areas of law including estate planning, criminal law and family law.
President Judge Fredric Ammerman and Judge Paul Cherry complimented LaParne and McAninch, adding it was great to have two “young, up and coming” attorneys, and that they have very high expectations for them both.