classic comic contest 3rd grade writing

Transcription

The Indiana Gazette NIE Supplement
Indiana, Pennsylvania • Friday, March 30, 2012
CLASSIC COMIC CONTEST
3RD GRADE WRITING CONTEST
DESIGN AN AD CONTEST
WRITE A COLUMN/WRITE A FEATURE CONTEST
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Talents of students in
schools within the Indiana
Gazette readership area are
featured in both written
and artistic form within this
special student supplement
marking the celebration of
Newspaper in Education Month 2012.
It is a product made possible by
The Indiana Gazette advertisers,
hundreds of teachers and thousands
of students.
Like the newspaper, it brings a real
world situation to the classroom.
2 — Indiana Gazette NIE Supplement, Friday, March 30, 2012
The Gazette
congratulates
all the NIE contest winners
What’s
inside
■ Design-an-ad winners
Page 3
■ A full list of participating teachers
Pages 3, 4, 5
■ A complete list of the winners
Page 4
■ Student feature stories
and opinion columns
Pages 5-30
■ Winners of the feature,
news and sports photo contests
Pages 40-43
■ A full list of all participating
students
Page 30-39, 44
JAMIE EMPFIELD/Gazette
HASTIE KINTER, left, led the NIE winners and their families on a tour of The Indiana Gazette building and the press room area on Monday.
NIE program celebrates young writers
The Indiana Gazette is celebrating its 27th
year of publication of this Newspaper in Education Student Supplement, which highlights the talents of local students from
kindergarten through Grade 12 in a variety
of contests.
All of the work included within has been
created by students in our readership area.
The kindergartners and first- and secondgraders are asked to complete the last frame
of a comic strip that has been developed by
one of our Gazette artists.
At the third-grade level, students are asked
to write a short essay paragraph on a topic
that changes yearly.
Fourth- through sixth-graders design ads
that are sponsored by local businesses, and
at the high school level students have the
opportunity to showcase their writing abilities through an opinion writing contest and
a feature writing contest.
High school students also compete in a
photography contest that includes the best
feature, sports and news photographs.
The goal of The Indiana Gazette’s NIE program is to reinforce a positive and lifetime
reading habit in students by engaging them
in a life skill that will benefit them into
adulthood.
It also provides them with an opportunity
to have their work published, something few
school-aged students can pride themselves
on.
■ Third-grade students’
“I feel proud when ...” winners
Page 44, 46-51, 55
■ The winners of the
design-a-comic contest
Page 3
Indiana Gazette NIE Supplement, Friday, March 30, 2012— 3
Thank
you!
The following teachers took part in this year’s
Newspaper in Education contests featured in
this supplement:
Design-an-ad winners
Area students in grades 4, 5 and 6 designed advertisements for approximately 85 local businesses.
The advertisements were then taken to the business owners, who chose the ones that appear in today’s
special section.
Members of the art department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania then selected these winners from each
grade.
APOLLO-RIDGE ELEMENTARY
Sharon Friday, Mike Saxion, Jeneane Kehew,
Renee Clawson, Jan French, John Mazurek,
Nikki Rametta, Cindy Kulick, Janie Fryer
1st
2nd
3rd
MORGAN
FARIS
Homer-Center
Elementary
Grade 4
WILL
FERGUSON
Ben Franklin
Elementary
Grade 4
FARON
FLYNN
Purchase
Line South
Elementary
Grade 4
APOLLO-RIDGE SENIOR HIGH
Bethany Greenlee, Danielle White
BEN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY
Katie McCutcheon, Liz Gatskie, Laura Cunningham, Jacalyn Matz, Nancy Obush, Patricia
Hilliard, Angela Petroff, Jacqueline Bartolini,
Lisa Henry, Donna Sabbia, Lori Laverick, Rosemary Spadafora
BLAIRSVILLE ELEMENTARY
Amy Stofa, Sandra Ross, Jackie Jones, Jessica
Scardina, Kathy Frola, Robin Henry, Monica
Bell, Jennifer Shirley, Hope Staats, Susan Dunlap, Janet Lukacs, Mary Hileman, Alissa Joyce,
Scott Stuchal, Michele Sisitki, Eileen Jeffries,
Jane Foust, Diane Antonacci
BLAIRSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Amanda McAnulty
CALVARY BAPTIST ACADEMY
1st
Melody Zitterbart, Mary Boole, Diane Burbank, Carol Hayes
DAYTON ELEMENTARY
Kathy Kephart
EAST PIKE ELEMENTARY
Debbie Patterson, Peg Soukup, Jenna Bleggi,
Natalie McKee, Heidi Higbee, Sandy Smelko,
Barb Bell, Hollee Jones, Zach Whited, Mark
Morrow, Pat McKee
2nd
3rd
BEN VAN
WIEREN
Seeds of Faith
Christian
Academy
Grade 5
KATELYN
HAGENS
East Pike
Elementary
Grade 5
1st
2nd
3rd
HOLLY
MINNICH
Indiana Area
Junior High
Grade 6
JOSHUA
BOWERS
United
Elementary
Grade 6
JOY SWASY
St. Bernard
Regional
Catholic
School
Grade 6
TALIA
MASTALSKI
East Pike
Elementary
Grade 5
EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY
Kendy Shubra, Tammie Brunetta, Sarah
Bond, Teresa Rinehart, Mandy Yanoschick,
Melissa Bender, Alicia Clark, Jill Kaszubowski,
Ed Kocinski, Dawn Smith, Carol Tanweer,
Susan Stitt, Brad Trout, Grace Bennett
ELDERTON ELEMENTARY
Patti McCausland, Barbara Carnahan, Trisha
Dilick, Vicki Watters
ELDERTON HIGH SCHOOL
Glenda Brewer
HOME SCHOOL TEACHERS
Danielle Roadman, Julie Fairchild, Jane
Mundorff, Becky Turner, Jennifer Shoenfelt,
Kimberly Hartle, Melissa McCracken, Rebecca
Jones, Kristy Scherf
Continued on Page 4
A list of this year’s winners
The following is a list of winners in this
year’s Newspaper in Education contests
featured in this supplement:
COMICS
KINDERGARTEN: Maria Carrozza,
first, Penns Manor Elementary; Will
Turner, second, Home-schooled; Cassandra Boyer, third, Horace Mann Elementary.
GRADE 1: Joshua Elkin, first, HomerCenter Elementary; Malia Shutty, second, Northern Cambria Elementary; Aurora Ellis, third, Homer-Center Elementary.
GRADE 2: Tullia Dietz, first, Ben
Franklin Elementary; Gretta Ratay, second, Penns Manor Elementary; Makaylah Koscho, third, Penns Manor Elementary.
‘I FEEL PROUND WHEN …’
GRADE 3: Cole Dillon, first, Ben
Franklin Elementary; Hannah Griffen,
second, Blairsville Elementary; Jacob
McElhoes, third, Apollo-Ridge Elementary.
DESIGN-AN-AD CONTEST
GRADE 4: Morgan Faris, first, HomerCenter Elementary; Will Ferguson, second, Ben Franklin; Faron Flynn, third,
Purchase Line South Elementary; Lauren
Saurer, honorable mention, Seeds of
Faith Christian Academy.
GRADE 5: Talia Mastalski, first, East
Pike Elementary; Ben Van Wieren, second, Seeds of Faith Christian Academy;
Katelyn Hagens, third, East Pike Elementary; Gwen Keith, honorable mention,
Penns Manor Elementary.
GRADE 6: Holly Minnich, first, Indiana
Area Junior High School; Joshua Bowers,
second, United Elementary School; Joy
Swasy, third, St. Bernard Regional
Catholic School; Zac Horwat, honorable
mention, Penns Manor Elementary.
OPINION COLUMN
GRADE 7: Sarah Jones, first, Homeschooled; Kayla Chamber, second, Calvary Baptist Academy; Jack Marshall,
third, Calvary Baptist Academy.
GRADE 8: Rachel Covato, first, Calvary
Baptist Academy; Lindsey Fulton, second, Marion Center Area High School;
Isaiah Sharp, third, Calvary Baptist Academy; Katie Dotts, honorable mention,
Marion Center Area High School.
GRADE 9: Charly Colgan, first, Calvary
Baptist Academy; Dakota Peachey, second, Indiana Wesleyan School; Justin
Spicher, third, Indiana Wesleyan
School.
GRADE 10: Dale Pearce, first, Calvary
Baptist Academy; Destinee Kelly, second,
Saltsburg High School; Ben Shirley, third,
Saltsburg High School.
GRADE 11: Joshua Jones, first, Homeschooled; Kristen Henck, second, Calvary Baptist Academy; Giana Butterworth, third, Northern Cambria High
School.
GRADE 12: Ashley Delfonso, first,
Northern Cambria High School; Julie
Plawlikowski, second, Northern Cambria
High School; Megan Rescinito, third,
Northern Cambria High School; Michelle
Loughner, honorable mention, Elderton
High School; Daniel Messenger, honorable mention, Saltsburg High School.
FEATURE STORY
GRADE 7: Hannah Turner, first, Homeschool; Colten Peachey, second, Indiana
Wesleyan School; Stacee Spicher, third,
Indiana Wesleyan School.
GRADE 8: Johnathan Maderer, first,
Calvary Baptist Academy; Joel Knupp,
second, Calvary Baptist Academy; Ben
Turner, third, Home-schooled.
GRADE 9: Nathaniel Churchill, first, Indiana Wesleyan School; Hannah McConnell, second, Calvary Baptist Academy.
GRADE 10: Kelsey Altman, first, Elderton High School; Bethany Petras, second,
Elderton High School; Kylie Minnich,
third, Elderton High School.
GRADE 11: Bryanne Michaels, first,
Northern Cambria High School;
Matthew Scott, second, Calvary Baptist
Academy; Ashley Back, third, Northern
Cambria High School.
GRADE 12: Regina Sherry, first, Northern Cambria High School; Stephanie
Lightner, second, Elderton High School;
Alyssa Clark, third, Elderton High School;
Cassandra Wright, honorable mention,
Elderton High School.
NEWS PHOTO
FIRST: Abby Sergent, Grade 11, Indiana
Area Senior High School.
SECOND: Cynthia Watta, Grade 12, Indiana Area Senior High School.
THIRD: Tyler Cousins, Grade 11, Indiana Area Senior High School.
FEATURE PHOTO
FIRST: Christina Bryner, Grade 12,
Blairsville High School.
SECOND: Noah Dospoy, Grade 10,
Northern Cambria High School.
THIRD: Meghan Hasson, Grade 11,
Northern Cambria High School.
SPORTS PHOTO
FIRST: Abby Sergent, Grade 11, Indiana
SECOND: Caitlyn Palmer, Grade 12, Indiana Area Senior High School.
THIRD: Katie Jack, Grade 11, Indiana
Thank you!
Continued from Page 3
HOMER-CENTER ELEMENTARY
Elizabeth Woods, Christine Kowchuck, Betty Ann
Pavlick, Katie Stossel, Nancy Skultety, Kathy Daskivich, Joe Kotelnicki, Mary Ann Ciranni, Nicole
Baker, Lauri Shoup, Cathy Hays, Dawn Yurky, Chris
Kochman, Carol Mlakar, Sherry Dellaposta,
Suzanne Mateer, Cheryl Turk, Ruth Yatzkanic
HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY
Karen Morganti, Heather Redinger, Bob Rado,
Cori Schrecengost, Shannon Tokar, Kristine Cook,
Linda Medvetz, Julie Duffee, Justin Brode, Katie
Bungo
INDIANA AREA JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Susan Kovalcik, Jeff Reed, Jamie Lichtenfels
INDIANA AREA SENIOR HIGH
Erik Puskar
INDIANA WESLEYAN SCHOOL
Melinda Hosey, Amy Kunselman
MARION CENTER AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Laura Patterson, Megan Filler, Catherine Paterson
NORTHERN CAMBRIA ELEMENTARY
Anne Marie Shaffer, Anne Weber, Toni DePetro,
Jackie Paronish, Nancy Zatorsky, Karen Laney,
Tracey Ruddock, Michele Paronish, Sandra Serafin,
Richard Work
NORTHERN CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL
Lois Weakland, Debbie Frontino
PENNS MANOR ELEMENTARY
Carol Marcenzo, Amy Mountain, Debbie Hoover,
Kathy Hawk, Loraine Ludwig, Donna Driskel, Kimberly Rhea, Marty Condino, Beth Palilla, Christine
Carpenter, Cynthia Long
PUNXSUTAWNEY AREA HIGH SCHOOL
Michelle Hutton
Continued on Page 5
Lexi Smathers, Grade 4, Ben Franklin Elementary School
Owen Dougherty, Grade 5, St.Bernard Regional School
Lexi Smathers, Grade 4, Ben Franklin Elementary School
A special thank-you
Writing contest for the best
feature story
PURCHASE LINE HIGH SCHOOL
Nancy Rescinito
PURCHASE LINE SOUTH ELEMENTARY
Sue Lieb, Diane Fenton, Andrea Perkovich, Colleen Myers, Tina Anderson, Christy
Falisec, Melissa Lynch, Deanna Gay, Meredith Zurenko, Leslie Hanley, Brietta
Mighells, Tarrah Armstrong-Wahl, Krista Peles, Robin Laney, Gregory Pack, Denise
Bence-Fetsko, Debra Miller, Amberly Jordan
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
Delilah Coy, Linda Herr, Luke Sitosky, Rebecca Blews, June Farmery, Lisa Nelson,
Diane Greene, Christina Stone, Jackie Smathers
SALTSBURG ELEMENTARY
Brandy DelleDonne, Becky Stiffler, Julie Obney, Carly Hruska, Heather Bole, Ramona
Taylor, Steve Shannon, Jeff Smathers, Carly Blake, Melissa Hall, Doug Titmus, Heather
Reo, Kristy Rado, Molly Carr, David Gerstel
SALTSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
Geoff Dixon
SEEDS OF FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Jason Marshall, Sharon Vivian, Nicole Griffith, Timothy Johnson, Stacy Marquez,
Sandy McCracken, Gretchen Anderson
SHANNOCK VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Michele DiMaio, Jammie Myers
ST. BERNARD REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Megan Pomputius, Maria Hastings, Janet Arone, Vera Leonard, Denise Swope,
Shannon Race, Tracy Dixson
UNITED ELEMENTARY
Chris Matava, Greg Mytrysak
UNITED HIGH SCHOOL
Jennifer Harvey
W.A. McCREERY ELEMENTARY
Sherri Kutsch, Kimberly Todd, Ed McCunn, Renee Tiesi, Lee Hudzicki, Debbie
Malicky, Alyssa Antalis, Susan Dotts, Christie McGee, Maxine Falisec
WEST SHAMOKIN HIGH SCHOOL
Students in grades 7 through 12 were asked to write feature
stories using the theme of what traits they look for in an effective
leader.
The stories were judged by the IUP Journalism Department.
Here are the winners.
Presidential Qualities
This November America will be voting for
the next president. The United Sates needs a
true leader, a man of integrity. In order to be
effective, he needs to value life, spend our
money wisely and know and follow the Constitution.
Life is the greatest gift. The president
needs to be a man that not only respects the
gift of life but also values the gift that it is.
This applies to all walks of life, our older
generations, the unborn, the sick and the
handicapped.
The decisions he will make will reflect how
dearly he holds this truth.
It needs to be priority to run the country
with the same spending principals used in a
home or business. It is a truth that we are a
slave to the lender. Our government spends
more than we have to spend. He needs to
see the solution as to spending less.
It’s imperative that the president knows
the Constitution very well and will follow the
principles set by our Founding Fathers. The
concepts in the Constitution are simple and
are fundamental to the governing of our
country and they cannot be ignored. Laws
will be made accordingly to his perception
and value of this document.
1st
HANNAH
TURNER
Home-schooled
Grade 7
The Constitution is the bedrock of our
country and basic to any and all decision
making.
Our next leader needs to truly be a public
servant. The public, the people, want the
very same freedoms that were outlined over
two centuries ago.
The president himself needs to value life,
see the necessity of being debt free and follow our laws and, in turn, will lead accordingly.
These are qualities I’m looking for in our
next president.
Susan Zunic
3rd
Mitchell Laverick, Grade 4, Penns Manor Elementary School
Katelyn Hagens, Grade 5, East Pike Elementary School
Writing contest for the best feature story
Traits for the
President of the U.S.
The presidency is a very important position that needs to be voted for carefully. Voting is very important and we should vote for
the candidate who has great honesty, good
work ethic and financial knowledge. We
should vote for a president with good characteristics.
Our president should be honest. If our
president were honest we Americans could
trust him. Foreign countries would also respect our president if he were honest. We
want a president who would be honest in his
dealings in Congress. This is so greatly needed today.
Our president should have a good work
ethic. With a good work ethic, our president
would know how to get things done and
would accomplish more while in office. If he
has a good work ethic, he will try to do his
best at everything he does. He would help
better our country if he were industrious.
Our president should know about financial things. If he knows these things, he will
not waste money and will decrease our debt.
1st
JOHNATHAN
MADERER
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 8
Traits for a President
2nd
COLTEN
PEACHEY
Indiana
Wesleyan
School
Grade 7
He would do what is right for our country in
financial areas, which would save our country’s money. Having knowledge in this area
would give a better understanding about
jobs and economy.
Voting is important and should be taken
seriously. We shouldn’t vote for a person just
because he is rich or famous. We need to
look at his character. No one is perfect but
we should vote for the candidate with the
best character in the upcoming election.
Traits Americans want
in an effective leader
When we are growing up, we look to role
models such as our parents for guidance,
leadership and impartation of truths. Upon
growing older, we want to apply the same
beliefs and trust in the leaders of our nation.
A trait of greatness is competency and
trustworthiness. These are not something
left to mere words but actions that have
been proven, time tested and successful. A
strong leader will not bow down to the temporary solutions that provide only short-
Natalie Grattan, Grade 4, East Pike Elementary School
A president with good character traits is a
must for the United States of America! Of
the necessary traits that we should look for
in a president, honesty, loyalty and industriousness are at the top of the list. A president with these character traits will be a
good president for the USA.
Honesty is a trait that is essential. If
America has an honest president, the people will be able to trust him.
Also, office dealings will be honest, which
will save money and help reduce problems. We will be respected if we have an
honest president because the president
won’t cheat the other countries out of
money.
America needs a president that is industrious. He should understand the life of a
working man or woman. If he understands
the life of a working man or woman, he can
better handle unemployment problems.
He will accomplish more in office if he is a
hard worker.
The United States needs a loyal president. A loyal president will stand by America no matter what. He will stand by his
term relief, but will seek out counsel and listen to the voice of the people he represents
to determine a wise course of action for
long-term results. A competent leader will
have a decisive, well-thought-out plan to
govern the nation through whatever crisis.
A great and powerful leader will look out
for his nation and make it greater and more
secure for the future. A strong and firm
leader will be humble, approachable and
trustworthy and have the favor of his people, but above all he will be honest and true
in his dealings.
Leadership is a position that is earned by
making the small decisions right consistent-
3rd
STACEE
SPICHER
Indiana
Wesleyan
School
Grade 7
country even in war. Also, if he is loyal, he
will do what is best for the country and
won’t sell her secrets no matter how much
someone offers him for them. He will listen
to what the people say about his decisions
as long as it doesn’t hurt people or his
country.
If a president is loyal, honest and industrious, he will be a good president for the
United States of America. We need a president who has all of these character traits.
ly over a long period of time, and in turn that
individual earns the privilege to lead and
represent others in a problem or solution
process.
An individual in leadership will be careful
with all resources of this nation and of that
which is given to him to govern and protect
the nation. When we look to the presidency,
we the people of the United States of America want an individual that can lead us successfully, financially, militarily and with foreign relations, but above all he should have a
belief in the one who ultimately guides and
protects us.
God bless America.
Roxy Wilson, Grade5, Purchase Line South Elementary
Traits of a good leader
This fall, Americans will be going out to
vote for the next president of our country.
Even though I cannot vote, I still look
for certain values in a candidate. I look
for humility, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness and patriotism.
I think humility is a very good quality
for a president.
Being humble would be a good thing
because he would not be trying to show
what he can do and causing the people of
our country to suffer for it.
Honesty and integrity are very important traits also. We want him to be honest
so when he says something we can believe him.
If he has integrity, we can expect that
even when he is not in the spotlight, he
will do what is right and not be involved
in things he should not be.
Trustworthiness is a hard thing to find
in presidential candidates.
This value is something to be learned in
office.
I understand that the president cannot
tell us everything, but some of the simple
things I would just like to be told.
The people of the United States want to
have someone in office that they can
trust to make the right decisions for our
country.
History provides criteria
2nd
JOEL
KNUPP
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 8
Patriotism plays a big part in my mind
in deciding which candidate is best.
I want someone who is concerned for
the country and its people first, then for
other countries.
We need someone who can make
friends with other countries without giving them money.
Even though I cannot yet vote, I encourage people who can vote to look for
these traits or other good ones in the candidate they vote for.
This position is very important to our
country, so we need to make sure that we
get a good person that is well-suited for
the job of leading our country.
Courtney Battistelli, Grade 4, Saltsburg Elementary School
This year we will be voting for a new president. Upon him we will place the immense responsibility of running our country. What I
have been taught in school is the criteria I
would use to select the most competent candidate. History class teaches me about the Constitution, economics and our country’s past
influential leaders.
I have learned that the Constitution is a set
of non-negotiable laws that are fundamental
to everyday life in the United States. It leads us
in all areas of life, locally, nationally as well as
internationally. It is necessary during critical
times as well as time of prosperity.
I have learned about the production, distribution and consumption of the national
wealth. I must manage my own money and
balance a personal budget. I have been taught
not to spend more than I make. It only seems
logical to run a country with the same principles.
I can look to many leaders throughout our
nation’s history for strong examples of admirable qualities that I would expect in a
leader. Benjamin Franklin had a famous
quote, “A penny saved is a penny earned,”
telling of his wisdom. George Washington said,
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world
without God and the Bible.” He trusted and
feared God. Abraham Lincoln, also known as
“Honest Abe,” kept our nation together during
3rd
BEN
TURNER
Home-schooled
Grade 8
the Civil War, indicating that he was a man of
character who upheld the Constitution.
Theodore Roosevelt said that no man should
make politics his career, and George Washington never accepted a salary during his presidency, proving that both men were public servants.
These are basic facts that I learned in history
class. I’ve been taught what wisdom and insight were necessary to build this great country. We need a president who cherishes the
foundation that has already been laid. We
need a man who fears God, spends money as if
it was his own and who values and will uphold
the Constitution at all costs. This is one that
will indeed lead our country well.
America
Virtues of a Patriotic President
Do you realize that every year people vote without
knowing what principles candidates stand for? “We
the people” need to stand for what our country was
founded on and not back down even when a person
is heavily promoted by the media. We should look
our choices over carefully and know what our candidates stand for based on religion, worldview,
ethics, morals, honesty and frankness.
America needs a candidate who is honest and
frank. The public needs a person to not back down
even when under extraordinary criticism. We need a
president who will stand for honesty and not hide
his true opinions. An honest and frank person is a
much better person for this high office than one
that hides information about himself and get what
he wants through unethical practices. Our country
needs this attribute in leadership, if we are to have
respect and trust among other nations.
America also needs a person who is a strong advocate of ethics and morals. We need a president with
good morals to be a good example for the public.
Ethics is also needed to support a strong Christian
nation. These two characteristics are vitally important when making decisions on highly-disputed arguments. This is also needed when using highdeath weapons and issues regarding life or death, in
or out of America.
A leader’s worldwide view affects virtually every
decision he makes. A leader for this country needs
to have clear Christian worldview that is not tainted
by opinions or popularity. The president needs this
kind of worldview to make the right decisions in all
circumstances. Does a president regard other’s lives
as one of God’s children or as just an advanced animal? We want a president with a worldview that re-
1st
NATHANIEL
CHURCHILL
Indiana
Wesleyan
School
Grade 9
gards others as himself and puts himself in the
place of others. A capable person who is unselfish
and makes decisions in the best interest of everyone
should hold the highest office in the land.
The most important attribute concerning a decision is religion. A president who is strong in his faith
and standards is what this country needs. America
was founded on Christian principles and thus a
man who relies on God for wisdom and advice is
best fitted for the job. If we continue to disregard
God, our strong country and heritage will continually fade away.
We need a president with these principles if we
are to be respected and revered as the great nation
that we are. We must carefully choose a person wellfitted for the job, if we are to rise from our economical sleep and retain God’s blessing on our country.
America needs a strong, but gentle man to bring us
out of our present precarious position. Without
God, a president may make decisions, but we assuredly need God to help us out of this recession.
Effective Leadership
Every four years, Americans are given the opportunity to vote for a person that they feel is competent
enough to make decisions for an entire country. Presented with the chance to participate in such a significant election, voters contemplate what characteristics
would be necessary for a leader to be effective. Opinions often differ greatly when a critical choice is expected to be made. Qualities that differentiate between a mediocre representative and a successful
leader are patience, rationality and determination.
Patience is a specific trait required by a delegate that
wants to make a positive, lasting impact. That individual must understand that the job required of him is to
ensure the rights of the people. A leader needs to take
time before making crucial decisions. There are many
other people who have an effect on the outcome of the
choices made for a nation that have to be recognized
by a tolerant representative. Compromises must occur
frequently in government relationships. Though a
leader fathoms what is best, he or she needs patience
until others can agree with the topic at hand.
Someone who wishes to properly represent others’
needs to be rational in order to be considered efficient.
The preferences a leader possesses affect not only
himself, but an abundance of others. Concern about
future decisions and how those selections can directly
impair the people whom the leader represents is needed. Rationality is a difficult asset to attain by most. The
quality of rationality allows the leader to make knowledgeable conclusions with the fewest consequences.
Leaders are obligated to be determined, as well as re-
1st
KELSEY
ALTMAN
Elderton
High School
Grade 10
main patient and rational. Resolve is the imperative
feature needed for a proficient representative. A leader
has to maintain a strong focus on behalf of the people.
He must support past decisions with an unwavering
faith in the abilities he retains. Without determination,
a leader cannot commendably direct a nation and
support those within it. Influential representatives
need to have precise abilities to be effective in their
jobs.
American citizens will be forced to make a choice to
decide with potential role model they want for their
country. Many skills are required, but the most important qualities include patience, rationality and determination. With so many distinctive options to choose
from, which qualities should be considered highly critical in a leader?
We are proud to call ourselves Americans, proud to
be part of a great nation.
This country is so great that
men and women have given
up their lives to keep it free.
As Americans, we have the
HANNAH
responsibility to keep this
McCONNELL
country great.
Calvary
Part of keeping America
Baptist
great is choosing who to put
in the White House and, as
Academy
Americans, we should be
Grade 9
careful whom we choose to
be our next president.
An important thing to think of when picking a president is if he is a godly
and good person.
About four years ago, we chose Barack Obama to be our president.
This year, as Americans, we have to select the next man we think is right
for America. I feel if we come together and pray about our decision, we will
make the right choice.
Also, I think that since we are the next generation, we should take more
responsibility in helping keep America a place of freedom.
We also should have more respect for our elders and also more respect
for those who fought for our country.
We should be an example to the younger Americans that look up to us.
America is a great place to live and a great place to be yourself and express how you feel, a place where we can have freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
If we all work together, we can keep America a great country.
2nd
What Makes
an Effective
Leader?
2nd
Harry Truman once
said “To be able to lead
others, a man must be
BETHANY
willing to go forward
PETRAS
alone.” Truman expresses my belief about
Elderton
effective leaders: They
High School
must be willing to go
Grade 10
out on their own and
produce an idea all by
themselves and make it
work. There are a lot of leaders that lead by following the ideas of others; but that is not what we need. We need someone that has confidence, intelligence and common sense.
First, effective leaders need to have confidence. Leaders need to be
able to justify and stand by the decisions they make. If they chose to
make a new law they need to be able to stand by it and defend it, not
let it get shot down by anyone else. They also need to not be easily influenced by others. If they think something is right they need to stick
with it and not change because of what someone else says. An effective leader also needs to be able to hold their head high and take
whatever comes their way. If someone blames them for something or
strongly disagrees with their views they need to be able to take responsibility for their actions or words and do something about it.
Next, effective leaders should be intelligent. They should have good
decision-making skills along with the ability to see the potential endContinued on Page 10
Courtnay Leydic, Grade 4, Eisenhower School
Johnathan Bush, Grade 4, Blairsville Elementary School
Alec Norland, Grade 4, Horace Mann School
Dominic Cicala, Grade 5, Apollo-Ridge Elementary School
UNTITLED, Bethany Petras,
Elderton High School,
Grade 10, second place
ing factor of their actions and decisions.
They should be able to see the shortand long-term effects of their actions
and decisions. For instance, what
would happen if the government
takes away our right to bear arms?
What are people who cannot go to the
store and buy meat going to do for
food? Or the law-abiding homeowners who need to protect themselves?
There are a lot of things that could
change if they decide to take away
that right. They need to be able to see
all the different outcomes and decide
if it is the best decision and best for
our country or not.
In addition to being intelligent, effective leaders need to have common
sense. They need to be able to make
real life decisions that make logical
sense. An example of this was when
the BP oil spill was happening off the
Gulf of Mexico and the government
decided to tap into our oil reserves. I
do not believe that that decision was
made using logical sense because it
used a portion of our reserve supply
that might be needed if the Middle
East cuts off the oil supply to America.
Another reason leaders need common
sense is so they can make the right decision and do what is best for our
country; they need to be able to see
the far-reaching and lasting effects of
their decisions.
Hence, effective leaders need to
have confidence, intelligence and
common sense. Without having at
least these three traits, the leaders of
the future are not going to make decisions to the best of their ability and for
the ultimate best interest of the
greater good. They need to see the impact of the choices that are making
today, tomorrow, next week and in the
coming years.
2nd
MATTHEW
SCOTT
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 11
Untitled
What do you look for in a leader? Brains or
brawn? Good looks or a good vision? A sayer
or a doer? Leadership is the ability to make
people follow you by your personality. I believe that a leader should have three main
qualities: dedication, fairness and honesty.
Alone these traits might not mean very much
but when they are combined they create a
very good leader. Dedication means that you
spend all of your time or energy to make sure
a task will be completed on time.
I believe a leader should be dedicated because they are in charge. If they say that they
are going to do something then it needs to get
done and it needs to get done on time. A
leader cannot put things off for a later date or
start a new project with another one still in
process.
People depend on a leader to carry out a
plan that is needed. That is why they were
chosen as the leader.
Fairness means that you deal with others in
an equal manner. You do not rank others
higher than anyone else. If a leader is not fair
the people will not like them.
A leader also does not put themselves above
others. They consider themselves equal to the
people. When a leader is fair the people will be
happy with them and support them more.
Honesty means that you tell the truth. You
do not try to hide anything from your people.
As soon as you find something out, your people find it out as well. If you are honest with
them then they will respect you. They are also
more likely to be honest back and not hide
anything from you. Trust is a major part of
being a leader. Without it you have nothing.
A leader is a very important person. They
are the person that people go to in a time of
need. When they need a helper they go to the
Untitled
In life, we look to many different types of
people for leadership. Whether it be a parent,
service member, ministry or simply just a
friend, there are people in our lives that show
us great leadership. Having leadership is having the ability to stand up, not to be afraid to
voice an opinion, take charge and fight for
what we know is right.
When I was asked to think about what I look
for in a leader, I instantly thought of who is my
role model, who do I look at for inspiration?
Well, I instantly thought of my grandfather.
He was in the Army during World War II, stationed in New Guinea. He fought hard for our
freedom and he never let that change who he
was or his beliefs. He was one of the most influential leaders in my life; he taught me how
to handle tough situations and not to let people and drama get me down. He never spoke
much about the war and no one asked him to,
but we all know that it made him stand up
and take charge to be the man he was.
Another person I considered to be important to me in my life was my friend Steven. He
left his small town when he was just 18 to attend the Air Force boot camp. He had to grow
up very quickly, because only a short year
later, he had to fight the war in Afghanistan.
He has many leadership qualities, such as he
What are the qualities
of a good leader?
Since this is an election year, many Americans are asking themselves this question.
Leaders come in all shapes, styles and forms
and possess traits that will come through in
their everyday life. If you stop to think about
some of the leaders that have inspired you or
even some that have infuriated you, the
qualities of their leadership skills were apparent.
When I think about the characteristics of a
good leader, I often think of leaders that are
1st
BRYANNE
MICHAELS
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 11
never lets anything stand in his way and if he
wants something, he fights for it. He also handled going into the military at such a young
age, and he fought for our freedom at age 19
and that has not affected his outlook on life or
the way he lives. He has helped me become
the person I am today, and I don’t know where
I would be in my life without him.
The person in my life that shows me the
most leadership is my mother. At one point in
her life, she worked two jobs to support my
family, but that never deterred her from being
there for me every time I needed her. She does
not work two jobs now, which leaves her more
time to spend with me and my family. She has
self-motivated. When I think about the characteristics of a good leader, I often think of
leaders that are dynamic. Hitler, for example,
did not have the values that we should follow, but had inspiration that could ignite a
country. If I stop and think about the leaders
today in the United States, I do not get the
same vision of a leader with that same drive
that’s hard to resist; but someone that has a
good to great quality. Most of these leaders
are quieter and reserved, with abilities that
leave us asking why we are buying what they
are selling.
The characteristics of a good leader will be
those that have endured the test of time for
3rd
KYLIE
MINNICH
Elderton
High School
Grade 10
leader. A leader cannot take things slow or put
things off. A leader is a do-it-now and do-itright kind of person. Are you qualified to be a
leader?
always been there for me when I need her to
be; she never has told me she doesn’t have
time to listen to my silly little problems of
high school drama. She is taking charge and
tells me what I need to do and why I need to
do it, sometimes I don’t like it, but in the end I
am happy that she came to my rescue. She
will always defend me no matter what kind of
situation I am in; she takes my side even if I
am wrong. My mother has so many leadership skills it is hard to put them all down. She
is truly my role model and a huge leader in my
life.
I am a cheerleader and I feel that I should
model myself to be a leader to younger girls
that look up to me. I know that when I was
younger I looked up to the older cheerleaders.
I wanted to be just like them. I feel so powerful when I chant “V-I-C-T-O-R-Y THAT’S THE
JUNIOR BATTLE CRY” at pep rallies and all of
my fellow classmates cheer with me. If it
wasn’t for me leading them in the cheer, they
would not be able to partake in this experience.
I have so many people in my life worthy of
being a great leader that it was hard to choose
just a few to write about. I don’t know where I
would be today if I didn’t have these people to
lead me on the right path. I am so thankful to
have them, because I might not be the person
I am today if I didn’t have them in my life.
hundreds of years. There are many, but these
are the ones that I would like to focus on —
integrity and honesty, competency, intelligence and moral values.
Integrity and honesty is always necessary
in every part of your life. They go together,
but today it seems that a lot of people have
put these two things on hold.
Most of us know honesty as telling the
truth, but do we know what telling the truth
involves? I believe that it is wrong to lie, but
isn’t it wrong to not tell the whole truth? If we
hold back parts of the truth, then we are
lying; therefore, we are not practicing honContinued on Page 12
Emily Sebring, Grade 4, East Pike Elementary
Rachel Bradley, Grade 4, Northern Cambria Elementary School
Morgan Faris, Grade 4 , Homer-Center Elementary School
Helena Karcher, Grade 6, United Elementary School
1st
WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER?,
Matthew Scott, Calvary Baptist Academy,
esty. What is integrity? Integrity means that you live your life in
a moral and ethical way. Honesty covers lying, but integrity covers everything else in life. Sometimes as we grow older, we lose
sight of our values. We try to keep the bills paid, get the children
educated, take care of elderly parents or try to get to our retirement. With all of this going on, it isn’t hard to lose sight of our
values, and this in turn sometimes affects our honesty and integrity. We all know where we stand on abortion, firearms and
other major issues in life; but where do you stand on the small,
everyday things? What if the teller at the bank gives you back
too much money — would you give that extra money back?
Hopefully your honesty and integrity would tell you to return
the money. In order to live a life with honesty and integrity, you
must realize what you stand for so that you aren’t doing anything that will conflict with your values or morals.
A competent person is one who has sufficient training and
experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to
do their job well; someone who is qualified or capable to perform an act. Would you call a plumber to put a new roof on your
house? Likewise, you wouldn’t want the leader of our nation to
not be knowledgeable for that position. They will need to be
well-educated, experienced and knowledgeable.
Moral values are one of the most important characteristics of
a good leader. Leaders know what they value. They recognized
the importance of ethical behavior. The best leaders show their
values and ethics in their leadership style and actions. Your
ethics and values should be visible because you live them every
single day. Leaders who openly display moral values will influence the actions of others. Good moral values are an asset to
anyone’s life, not only in leadership, but in all situations. People
must believe in you. Your “person” is as important as the direction you provide. People will look up to you if you tell the truth,
try to do the right things, live a good life and do your best. Your
actions play out on the stage of your life.
So, when you get behind that curtained cubicle to vote this
year for the person who you think is best to lead our nation,
take into consideration this person’s integrity, character, education and moral values.
The Looks of a Leader
Every four years, America gets a sneak peak at the possible future leaders of this country. Through the ambitious efforts of PACs and Super PACs, the wannabe presidents stand on the political stage for a year-long performance, aimed at winning over the majority of the nation’s approval.
Human beings have always looked for authority, have
had times of upset with authority and then have times
when they seek to set a new pecking order. This is the law
of the land; there’s no way around it.
For every person who says “There are rules for a reason,” there’s another person who will say “Rules were
made to be broken.”
Mankind lives by the paradox that it always wants a
leader, but it doesn’t want to be led. Every human wants
to lead. Their saving grace is that they recognize which
sort of leader is fit for which purpose. There are social
ladders and corporate ladders.
The idea behind it is that everybody has someone to
follow. But what sets the candidates and the elected
apart?
Anyone who runs a country is going to have to have a
strategy. According to legend, King Arthur would return
when his people needed him the most.
Who says that he didn’t eventually stretch his dominion to the states?
The best leader is a once and future leader; all the gall
and strategic thinking of Alexander the Great, with all of
the inventiveness and wisdom of someone who has a
wizard as his second command.
Better yet, the Free World’s leader should be someone
who generates the idea that he or she is magic; in the way
he or she develops plans, sets goals and achieves them.
America needs someone who can be legendary.
It would be encouraging for the entire nation to see a
campaign that doesn’t go for gimmicks or charades.
There should be a president that shows the good deeds
he or she has done and certainly, will do, not someone
who directs all of the attention of a campaign on the misdeeds of others, in lieu of showing his or her actions and
aspirations.
The future president of the United States should be
someone who doesn’t become a punch line, meaning he
India Krug, Grade 4, Eisenhower Elementary School
3rd
ASHLEY
BACK
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 11
or she can’t say things that they themselves wouldn’t
want other people to say. A good candidate will conduct
him or herself with the idea of running for the people,
and then analyze campaigns through the eyes of their
audience.
It would be a refreshing thing to have a politician that
didn’t see average Americans as percentages and numbers, but actual people with convictions.
It wouldn’t be fair to say whether or not this man or
woman should be a Republican or Democrat; that idea is
serious, and should not be proposed by someone that
has never voted.
A good president can be either, but they can’t be a
mule; stubborn. The president should try to be as impartial as possible, and not show favoritism for a party.
What needs to be understood is that all people have
their own opinion.
No matter who is in the Oval Office, there will still be
those who cheer and those who do not. That is perhaps
the best part of this country, that fact that everyone develops their own consensus about who is fit to be the
face of it.
Politics is essential to the world. If the aim of this article
is to insert an opinion about who should run this country, then it would be the best to say who shouldn’t.
This country has had enough of feeling like disgruntled
elders, watching politicians draw on the walls, and then
only pretend to clean it up once they’re scolded.
Gwyn Keith, Grade 5, Penns Manor Elementary School
Untitled
What do we look for in a leader as citizens? Do we look for somebody that hides
behind the next in line at every moment
that things don’t go his or her way or do we
look for somebody who isn’t afraid to figure
out the best solution even if it does ruffle
some feathers?
The purpose of this article is to outline
the main things that a good leader should
possess, such as honesty, passion, respect
and understanding.
First of all, a good leader should be bold,
but not too bold. Imagine: if somebody was
on a team and the captain, instead of
standing up to advise the team on how to
improve, he or she sat on the sidelines
telling a losing team, “Great job” but not offering any constructive criticism. When
crises arise, he or she should not be afraid
to take a stand and do what is right.
However, this person should also be able
to have an insult or two thrown at them
without going overboard with their retaliation. “
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in
one word: It is victory, victory at all costs,
victory in spite of all terror, victory, however
long and hard the road may be; for without
victory, there is no survival,” Winston
Churchill once said to the House of Commons in his first speech as prime minister. I
would imagine that this statement may
have made quite a few people, like maybe
Hitler, unhappy.
Next, a leader should be honest. Remember when lying was considered the worst
thing imaginable besides even death? Do
we want a leader who tells us everything is
perfect when we are, in fact, kicking at the
ashes of the bridges we as a society have
burned? If that person says that he or she is
going to do something like create jobs to
help us pull ourselves out of our recession,
Kevin Barton, Grade 4, Blairsville Elementary School
1st
REGINA
SHERRY
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 12
don’t you think he or she should at least try
to hold on to that promise even if their attempts fail?
A leader should possess the ability to put
themselves in their people’s shoes and walk
a country mile or two. For example, take
Marie Antoinette’s quote, “Let them eat
cake.” Because she did not know what was
going on in the streets of France, she could
not understand why her people were starving or why they could not even afford cake,
for that matter.
“R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Find out what it means to
me,” Aretha Franklin once sang. To me, it
means that an effective leader should give
everybody the respect they are due.
Whether this leader is black or white, man
or women, everybody should be respected
as much as they deserve.
With this said, we also have to remember
that respect is a two-way street and should
be given first in order to expect respect. Do
we want a leader who is a walking insult to
his or her own cause? When somebody
commits a crime, the level of respect that
they deserve varies with the offense.
Are we going to treat somebody like spit
on the bottom of our shoes for doing some-
thing as minor as not being able to pay for a
ticket on time whereas the convicted rapist
down the street lives comfortably without
any worries?
Any leader should be passionate about
their position. Somebody who is passionate about what they do tends to want to go
beyond “second best.” If we all settled for
“second best” the world would probably
become chaos. Here is an example: say that
your iPhone isn’t receiving every text message that is sent to you.
Do you think that would get fixed if we
settled for less than the best the world
could offer? Of course not! The company
would feel that what the customers had
would be good enough and that they
should just deal with whatever problems
the phone has.
Is any leader perfect? Despite what ancient leaders and possibly even some today
may think, there is yet to be the “perfect”
leader.
There have been, however, truly great
leaders that have been amazing overall, like
Alexander the Great, Abraham Lincoln and
George Washington. “Life is like a box of
chocolates; you never know what you’re
going to get.” This famous line from the
movie “Forrest Gump” cannot only describe life, but also describes leaders.
You truly never know what you’re going to
get.
2nd
STEPHANIE
LIGHTNER
Elderton
High School
Grade 12
Untitled
Who are some of the greatest leaders our
country has had in the past? Most people
immediately think of George Washington,
Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson,
Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
What do these leaders have in common
that has made them so memorable?
I believe that an effective leader needs to
have strong morals and values, a positive attitude, and the ability to make wise decisions.
Without these traits, a leader will collapse
due to the lack of support from the people or
from the leader’s own personal flaws.
Continued on Page 14
Jacqueline Sprenger, Grade 6, Indiana Jr. High School
UNTITLED, Stephanie Lightner,
Elderton High School,
Having good values such as honesty, integrity, perseverance and respect are important for all leaders to have. A
strong leader should be trusted by the people of the nation.
The best leaders that America has had in the past had the
faith of the people to back them up. “Honest Abe” Lincoln
was well-known for his honesty and respect for all individuals. Integrity is the inner moral compass that points to the
right decision, and perseverance is the value that leads to
carrying out the right decision. Together, these morals give a
person the outstanding character that is needed to lead a
country. In today’s world, it can be hard at times to think positively. However, a positive attitude and an enthusiasm to
help others are important for all leaders to develop if they
want to succeed. A strong leader should be able to lift up a
nation’s morale with a simple speech or a kindhearted act.
Positive thinkers also support peace and the pursuit of it. A
really great leader is able to unite all people and teach them
to live peacefully with people who are different from them.
Leaders are elected for the purpose of being in charge of
making the best decision for a group of people. The president
needs to be able to weigh multiple options for how to handle
a situation and then choose the wisest and most effective decision. Poor decision making can lead to economic failure,
war, and many other undesirable events. The best leaders
have had the wisdom from many years of experience to help
them make the right decision, and this wisdom is what
makes them worth remembering. Very few people have been
able to lead a country through hard times in the best way, but
when this feat is accomplished, people never forget the
leader who was in charge of it.
These are the key traits that I believe to be the most important when choosing a strong leader. Morals are important because they build the base for good decisions, and a positive
attitude leads to a willingness to serve. Altogether, these traits
contribute to a great leader with a strong character who is
able to listen to the people, make a wise decision, and then
put that decision into action. A leader like this would be able
to truly create a nation that is of the people, by the people
and for the people.
Kurt Haight, Grade 6, Purchase Line South Elementary School
Characteristics
of a leader
3rd
“The challenge of leadership is to be
strong, but not rude; be kind, but not
weak; be bold, but not bully; be
thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble,
but not timid; be proud, but not arroALYSSA
gant; have humor, but without folly.”
CLARK
(Jim Rohn)
Elderton
Jim Rohn was an American entrepreneur, author and motivational
High School
speaker; a man who went from rags to
Grade 12
riches. A true leader must do all of
what he says.
A leader must be firm, but inspirational. A leader must know when to lead and when to be
led. A leader must be brave and strong, but smart and cautious. Those are the true qualities of a great leader.
A leader must be firm. If a leader is effeminate they will
not achieve what they want. A leader must be firm enough
to accomplish what is right for their people. However, if
they become too austere their people will revolt. Macbeth’s
people revolted against him, because he was too austere.
For example, every great team has a great leader (a captain). That captain must be firm when they tell the team
how to better themselves so the team will take them seriously, but the captain must also inspire their team to be
better so the team does actually want to do better. If the
captain succeeds in this, the team will work as one, and
prosper.
If the captain does not succeed in this then the team will
not want to be there, and the team will fall apart.
A leader must know when to lead. They must know when
he or she is needed by their people. A captain encourages
people when they are down and corrects their team when
mistakes are made. But at the same time a leader must
know when to be led by their people.
“There go the people. I must follow them for I am their
leader.” (Alexandre Ledru-Rollin, a French politician)
This quote is simply stating that a leader must follow
their people in the sense of listening to their needs. A
leader must act in the interest of their people.
If the team feels that a certain tactic is better than what
the captain believes to be the best then the captain should
be open to listening to their team,
and perhaps following what the
team believes. They must do this
for their people.
Who wants a leader who cowers
in the corner at the first sight of
fear?
Who wants a leader who puts
their people in danger because
they do not think things through?
A leader must be brave and
strong.
A perfect example originates in
“The Lord of the Flies” by Nobel
Prize-winning author William
Golding. Piggy is very intuitive,
but none of the boys pick him to be the leader because he
is not strong, nor is he very brave. At the same time a leader
must be cautious and smart.
In “The Lord of the Flies” Ralph is picked to be captain.
He is level-headed and he is worried about the well-being
of the boys. He wants to be rescued, so he is concerned
with the fire at all times. This is why Ralph is picked over
Jack at first, because Ralph thinks about his decisions, and
thinks about what can help the boys survive as well as get
off the island as quickly as possible.
In the end the boys end up getting rescued because of the
exact thing Ralph is so concerned about, fire. A leader must
have the perfect combination of brains and brawn to get
the job done.
These are the characteristics of a true leader. These are
common characteristics of leaders such as Martin Luther
King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Mahatma Gandhi.
These men are the true leaders of our history, and they
share these simple characteristics that leaders of today
should look up to.
These leaders have led Civil Rights movements, they
have led wars, and they have led movements all across the
world.
Future leaders should carry on their characteristics for
many years so that the world will look up to them and carry
on their actions for years to come.
These future leaders hold the world in the palm of their
hand, and they need these characteristics to change it in
their favor.
It’s Halftime, America
In this day and age where chaos and destruction dominates the world headlines,
finding a capable leader is sought after in
great desperation.
It is know that society has drastically
changed over the years and if we, as a nation, hope to proceed onward, a passionate
individual must step up to the plate to guide
a country that suffers from the division of its
people.
United States citizens cannot and will not
agree, that much is certain; however, it is
clear that honorable traits must be evident
in a leader’s heart and mind: strength, determination, honesty.
Without these three qualities, an individual would not be a leader, but a weak definition of a man.
“Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave
a trail.”
The United States needs a new path, a
path created by an individual capable of
bringing unity.
Strength: the quality or state of being
strong.
A capable leader does not need to have
Honorable
mention
CASSANDRA
WRIGHT
Elderton
High School
Grade 12
this type of strength, but instead must hold a
balance of emotional and mental power.
He must be able to conquer the numerous
obstacles that will inevitably be thrown his
way without faltering under the pressure.
Throughout these obstacles it is necessary
to be able to still persevere and be able to
keep a secure head on his shoulders.
We are facing a series of trials and tribulations: the economy is failing, unemployment rates are rising, and many citizens are
struggling just to make ends meet.
The 32nd president of the United States,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, could not walk
and, upon standing in front of millions, he
gave the appearance of a weak and fragile
man.
Ironically, this same fragile man was able
to wrench the country out of a depression
due to the fact he possessed strength; the
true definition of the word.
He was able to put aside all emotional
struggles and was able to mentally battle the
evils that accompanied the Great Depression.
His triumph proves that outward appearance should not be a determining factor
when selecting a leader; it is the strength
within that makes a leader able to
thrive.
Having a strong sense of determination is
what separates mediocre leaders from those
who will prosper.
Failure is inevitable, but a leader must be
able to accept and grow from that failure,
rather than be severely injured.
Even when an obstacle appears impossible, if the individual is determined to succeed, success is likely to be granted to
him.
Our country needs a leader who has the
will power to stay determined, even when
the people are not.
Most importantly, and sadly most lacking
in most of today’s everyday leaders, is honesty. Inevitably, lies will leak out of every
American’s mouth; however these spoken
lies are beginning to crush every ounce of
trust the people once had in their
government.
Growing up, every child is taught that lying
is the root of all evil.
This statement could not be closer to the
truth, but somehow it is being lost in every
man’s character.
It is found that lying leads to popularity;
the people are being told what they want to
hear rather than the truth.
The truth needs to be told, and it needs to
be told blatantly and boldly.
The truth may hurt, but once the hurt subsides, honesty will be able to guide our
country out of the darkness.
Desperate times call out for an individual
who strongly displays the qualities state
above.
These traits have been nonexistent as of
late in our leaders, and the turmoil they
leave in their path is proof that honesty, determination and strength are essential.
“All that matters now is what’s ahead. How
do we come from behind? How do we come
together? And how do we win?”
We, as a country, must put faith that a true
leader will soon step up and bring forth the
morals and principles this country as founded on.
Without that, we are stuck in the present.
Lauren Saurer, Grade 4, Seeds of Faith Academy
Dragon Powell, Grade 5, Purchase Line South Elementary School
Writing contest for the best
opinion column
Gardening
As the cold weather is dying off and as
spring is coming up, we want to be thinking
about our gardening plans. When you start
to garden, the first thing you want to do is
prepare the soil. In order to do that, you
have to pick a place where you want to
plant. Take a look at your seed packet to figure out if the plant needs full sun, partial sun
or shade, then pick the spot to plant according to the seed packet. When you have done
this, you want to take a spade and dig it
down just enough to go through the sod. Do
this all around the area you want to plant in,
and then rip up the sod.
Before you plant, the soil has to be cultivated and fertilized. You can buy fertilizers
at the store or you can put compost on it. A
way to know if your soil is ready to plant is to
put a clump of it in your hand and squeeze
it. If it feels dry or soggy the soil isn’t ready; it
should feel rich and moist. When the soil
feels like that, it is time to plant. Whether
you are planting vegetables, flowers, shrubs
or trees, the preparation of the soil is important.
Usually when you plant trees and some-
times even shrubs, you want to buy them as
seedlings. If you are planting certain kinds of
vegetables and flowers, you may want to
grow the seeds indoors until it is time to
place them in the ground, because some
plants need a head start. When you are
planting seeds, the first thing you want to do
is even out the soil. Then you will make a
furrow, following the seed packet’s instructions of how deep to make it. Equally spread
the seeds in the furrow, then cover the seeds
evenly with the soil you took out to make the
furrow. Water the seeds every day until they
are a couple inches tall. (Don’t water the
seeds if it rains.) Then only water them when
the soil feels dry.
There are so many different kinds of plants
that it would take a very long time to list
them, so I will only list a few: annuals,
perennials, biennials, herbs, vegetables,
vines, shrubs and trees. Annuals are plants
that have to be replanted every year; usually
they have very vivid colors. Pansies,
marigolds, nasturtiums, straw flowers and
black-eyed susans are all annuals. Perennials are plants that come back every single
year. Some of them are daisies, cannas, day
lilies, hollyhocks and goldenrod. Biennials
1st
Holly Minnich, Grade 6, Indiana Area Junior High School
are plants that bloom every other year, like
foxglove, colic weed and sweet William.
Herbs are very good for a variety of reasons.
They are very useful for things like teas,
medicines and flavoring food.
Some common herbs are basil, chives,
mint, lavender, thyme, parsley and rosemary. There are lots of different kinds of vegetables. These are considered annuals: potatoes, corn, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, celery,
peas, beans, pumpkins, peppers, cucumbers and cabbage. These are all vegetables
that are easy to grow.
Vines are very interesting plants. They
have three different ways of climbing. Some
have what are called tendrils, which are like
little stems that split off from the main stem
to grab onto things. Another way vines
climb is when the stem wraps itself around
something, and the last way is when the
stem sends out little hair-like roots to cling
onto a tree or whatever is there to wrap onto.
Some examples of vines are: gourds, morning glories and sweet peas.
Shrubs last a long time and are easy to
grow. These are some shrubs: roses, butterfly bushes and soft-tip yucca plants. Trees
are very lovely and pleasing to the eye in
1st
SARAH
JONES
Home-schooled
Grade 7
landscapes. There are so many kinds of trees
so I will only name a few: dogwood trees,
oak trees, fruit trees, pine trees, cedar trees,
weeping willow trees, nut trees and beech
trees. These are just some of the many trees
there are in the world.
Gardening is a fun hobby and is very important! Even though the snow is inconvenient, it really helps prepare the soil for the
upcoming spring. Since spring is arriving
soon, we need to be making our preparations and plans for planting and gardening.
Amelia Kuzneski, Grade 4, Horace Mann Elementary
Michelle Davidson, Grade 4, Ben Franklin Elementary School
Maylee Bates, Grade 4, Saltsburg Elementary School
2nd
Joshua Bowers, Grade 6, United Elementary School
Michael Fouse, Grade 5, Shannock Valley Elementary School
Writing contest for the best opinion column
The Best Man for the Job
Who’s Protecting
Our Children?
From the Jerry Sandusky case to schoolteachers that are involved with their students
— when will it end?
Years ago when you thought about a school
teacher, you thought of words like respect,
loyalty, caring, honesty and of someone you
could go to for help. How many times in the
past year have you turned on the news to hear
about public school teachers that are involved with their students?
There was a day when our parents could put
us children on the school bus and trust that
we were in good care. The big problem years
ago was bullying or children trying to keep up
with the new dress fads. Those were the simple problems in the public schools. Times
have changed so much that children not only
have challenges with other students, but
often have challenges with their teachers that
they should be able to look up to and trust.
So many parents are choosing other forms
of education like private schools, cyber school
and home schooling. Wonder why? We need
to thank the good teachers that take their job
seriously by helping students and being a
2nd
KAYLA
CHAMBERS
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 7
good role model. Teachers should not be allowed to be involved with their students after
school unless they are helping them academically.
Teachers, remember: Your job is not only
teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, but
also helping to mold young people morally to
be the future generation that puts an end to
the corruption that we see in our public
schools today. Teachers, try to make a difference in the lives of your students “one child at
a time.”
Untitled
1st
consequences may vary, depending on the
severity of the injury. These injuries may affect the emotional and/or intellectual state
of the person that receives them. The brain
problems that may happen can have shortterm symptoms as well as some that are
more serious than others and may not surface until several years later.
Now, comes the issue of what to do about it
and how to protect the players. There is the
debate over how much healing time is
enough. Many believe that a health care
provider should be involved in scrutinizing
and reviewing these head injuries and what
caused them to ensure the best outcome. It
has been proven that one episode of head
trauma makes the athlete more susceptible
Cecilia Sobolewski, Grade 4, St. Bernard School
RACHEL
COVATO
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 8
There are a lot of injuries in the NFL, many
of which are head and neck injuries. Consequently, these injuries cause problems, not
only now, but also in the future, even in postretirement.
Head injuries that result in concussions
and things of that sort are happening more
often than previously thought. Football players end up with many injuries due to all of
their practices and games they have during
the weeks.
The more blows the players suffer to the
head, even if they are small ones that may
not hurt that much, the greater their risk for
mental problems in the future. Therefore, the
This year Americans will cast their votes
for the person that they feel is best qualified to hold the highest office in the land,
the president of the United States of
America. The Democratic candidate will
be our current President Barack Obama.
The Republican presidential candidates
are Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron
Paul and Rick Santorum. They are all
qualified for the position.
To be the president of the United States,
he has to be a natural-born citizen or a
citizen, he must be the age of 35 years and
a resident of the United States. Having
these qualifications doesn’t make a person qualified to be president.
When Americas go to the polls to cast
their votes in the spring primary and fall
presidential elections, they will cast their
vote for one candidate for various reasons.
Whether it’s the right way or wrong way,
Americans will cast their vote based on
political party, education, employment,
race, gender, religion, marital status and
family.
I am too young to vote in this presiden-
Makayla Whitfield, Grade 5, Blairsville Elementary School
3rd
JACK
MARSHALL
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 7
tial election, but I will be able to vote in
2016. When I vote, I will be looking for a
candidate that is a Christian. Being a
Christian will give him the qualities to
make good economic decisions, to be
truthful and to be trustworthy.
Americans will cast their votes for the
person that they feel is best qualified to
hold the highest office in the land. Once
the president of the United States of
America is elected, they should pray for
God to guide him.
to serious consequences for the possible next
episode that occurs. The areas that can be affected by a head trauma are the memory,
judgment, reflexes, speech, balance, coordination and many other areas that can seriously damage a person’s life after his football
career is over.
Also, I believe that better techniques need
to be developed to reduce head contact, especially with the helmet. I also wonder
sometimes if football injuries occur because
players are encouraged to keep the fans excited about the “roughness and thrill” of the
sport. Overall, I think that football players
need to have a different technique to tackling
and that maybe they should try, if possible, to
be more careful when playing.
Untitled
Firearm Freedom
2nd
On Jan. 24, 2012, at
2:45 in the afternoon,
an Amish family lost
their home.
It was a structure
fire on Griffith Road
LINDSEY
in West Mahoning
FULTON
Township, which is
Marion
Center
near Smicksburg.
The Plumville, DayArea
ton and Marion Cen- High School
ter Fire departments
Grade 8
were
dispatched,
along
with
the
Indiana County Rapid Intervention Team to help.
A medical helicopter was also dispatched. There were three
people burned, two of whom later died in the hospital. The rest of
the family was said to be OK.
Reflecting on this tragedy, I think that the Amish should have
basic necessities for any emergency.
I know that the Amish have certain requirements and beliefs,
but they should have specific devices to help them when danger
arises.
I also believe that the Amish should have a vehicle so that they
can go somewhere, such as a hospital, or assist a family member
that might be in danger.
It is also a good idea if the Amish have a cellular phone or telephone in case they need to contact a help center due to an accident. All in all, the Amish need the basic necessities for everyday
life. Remembering those that died due to this terrible incident, we
should all be thankful for the resources we have and use them
wisely.
Guns and crime. These two words
are often associated with one another, but do guns necessarily lead to
crime? The answer is no. Many others, like myself, have been around
guns all of our lives and have never
committed a crime with them. Instead, my dad and I shoot targets,
skeet and go hunting whenever we
can. These are very enjoyable to us,
as well as several other sportsmen. I
would hate to see all of our guns
being taken away. Sadly, this is exactly what those who are in favor of gun
control want to accomplish. Therefore, I am against gun control.
The government officials who are
supporters of gun control believe
that crime will be reduced by implementing gun control. According to
FBI statistics in 2010, there were
12,996 murders in the United States.
Of those, 8,775 were caused by
firearms. The other 4,211 murders
were committed with various
weapons other than guns. This
shows if a person wants to murder
somebody, he will find some other
weapon with which to accomplish
his goal.
If our right to bear arms is taken
from us, crime will be increased. The
Addaleia Beer, Grade 4, Purchase Line South Elementary School
3rd
ISAIAH
SHARP
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 8
law-abiding citizens will turn over
their firearms; on the other hand,
criminals will not. Banning guns will
actually escalate crime around the
guns, because the criminals will try
to black market them. It happens almost every time something is made
illegal. We remember Prohibition
and the mob wars. Alcohol was made
illegal, and the criminals produced
it, sold it and fought over it. When
something is made illegal, only the
criminals have it.
Guns are a helpful tool for self-defense. Many people question the
need for a gun when they can call 911
in the case of a threatening intruder
on their property. By the time you
place the call and the cops arrive at
your home, the intruder often has already done whatever his plan was —
robbery, assault, murder, arson, etc.,
and has fled the scene. Guns are an
appropriate method of protecting
one’s home, but gun control will take
that away.
I admit that there are concerns
about shooting an intruder, which
can have negative affects on the psychological and emotional well-being
of the homeowner. It would be horrible for someone to shoot and kill
someone else. The shooter would
probably need counseling, but how
much more counseling would that
person need if he or she did nothing
and left multiple family members
and possibly their home to the mercy
of the intruder?
You have heard the facts against
gun control. Guns don’t kill people;
it’s the hand that pulls the trigger.
Crime will not be reduced if guns are
taken away. Guns are helpful for selfdefense and can prevent the death of
a loved one or yourself. I encourage
you to vote against gun control so
that future generations can live the
American dream. Only you can make
a difference by stepping up, speaking
out, and never stop fighting for your
freedoms and mine.
Alyssa Leasure, Grade 5, McCreery Elementary School
The Story of the
Lunch Incident
I don’t know if you read the letters to the
editors in The Indiana Gazette, but this one
letter grabbed my attention. It was in the
paper in early February; it was called “Questions raised on Indiana lunch policy.”
I would like to state my opinion on this letter, but before I do, I want to tell you what
the letter was about.
The letter was from a 54-year-old man
named Mark Carnahan. He wrote about
how his 11-year-old grandson went through
the lunch line at school, but didn’t have
enough money to pay for his lunch. So his
lunch was thrown away while he watched.
Mark was disappointed and shocked.
He said, “Yes, his parents forgot the money
even after they were notified, but it’s easy to
do. Especially when the parents raise and
support a family.”
The food was thrown away and the boy
was not offered something else to eat. Mark
wrote that he hopes the administrator and
etc. would look at this policy and make the
necessary changes. Mark also said, “He is
proud he no longer pays taxes to the Indiana
district.”
I agree with everything Mark Carnahan
said in his letter. The school only gave the
boy’s parents a one-day notice; they should
have given them more time to get the money
into the account.
Another letter was sent a couple days later
by Dr. Terry Ray, an IASD school board
member.
He wanted to state his opinion on the situation that had happened, but mainly Terry
wrote in to apologize. Terry has eight children of his own and six grandchildren.
Terry said, “I was heartsick when I read
Mark’s letter, stating that the boy was denied
lunch, because his parents forgot money.”
Honorable
mention
KATIE
DOTTS
Marion Center
Area
High School
Grade 8
Terry contacted the board and the administration and was informed that the policy
was followed and the matter was closed. He
suggested a public apology, but there was no
interest, so he apologized.
Terry also stated that he knows how humiliated the boy must have felt. He said, “I
will do anything to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
My opinion is that it was nice for Terry Ray
to apologize, it just shows that there are
good people in the world.
Then, a couple days later, Amy Salsgiver
wrote a letter in. She was writing to commend Terry Ray for his apology.
She said, “I nearly cried when I read the
letter. The boy had to endure the rest of the
day without nourishment.”
Amy has a 12-year-old daughter and she
could never imagine how she would react to
the situation.
She wants to know if the district understands how many people/children in Indiana County go to bed hungry every night. I
really liked how Amy ended her letter by saying, “if the school district can afford to throw
food away, then perhaps it should be free to
all students.”
There was a board meeting that had almost 100 people attend, so they had to move
the meeting to a bigger room. The board revised the meal guidelines.
According to them, junior high students
are now allowed to have $15 in debt instead
of $10. But when you get in debt that far,
Madison Shaffer, Grade 4, McCreery Elementary School
your lunch choices will be limited and you
won’t be allowed to purchase items a la
carte, such as bottled water. The change
took place on Feb. 2.
After the board meeting, two other letters
were written to the editor. On the same day!
One letter was from Maureen Vilcek who
said that “it was the boy’s fault for not brining in money for his lunch.”
This is because Maureen thinks that “The
boy as an 11-year-old should know responsibility and should have brought in money.
Also that missing a lunch won’t impact the
child’s life negatively. And that an experience like this would help build human character.”
I don’t agree with what Maureen said in
the letter, because it is his parents’ choice to
make if he can be responsible enough to put
money into his lunch account. Parents
shouldn’t try to tell other parents how to
raise their kid(s), because each parent has a
different way of teaching their kids. Parents
have different teaching styles.
Another letter was written by W.S. Balint.
He said, “it was wrong to punish a young
child with intimidation, humiliation and
hunger, because his parents forgot to send
in money.”
Overall, this incident has made a great impact on Indiana County. It showed that people do care if a boy’s lunch was thrown away,
and he was not offered anything else. My
opinion is an 11-year-old boy should not be
responsible to put money in his school
lunch account.
Also, the whole situation made the board
change the lunch policy. As a result of the
situation, it has helped people, like me, look
at the world in a different view.
Therefore, I hope I have explained the importance on how the 11-year-old boy was
treated wrongly, and I am glad that it was
fixed.
1st
CHARLY
COLGAN
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 9
Linsanity
Professional basketball player Jeremy
Lin, a 23-year-old Asian-American born in
Los Angeles, Calif., makes the most of his
opportunity with the New York Knicks. Before joining the Knicks in 2012, he played
for the Golden State Warriors and the
Houston Rockets. He, however, saw very
limited minutes with both teams and
spent the majority of his time in the D
league. This past February, Lin unexpectedly burst onto the scene with the New
York Knickerbockers, only getting his
chance after a rash of injuries left the
Knicks depleted at the point guard position. Lin made the most of his opportunity,
leading the Knicks to several victories in a
row while averaging more than 25 points
and eight assists per game. Linsanity was
in full swing not only in New York, but in
the rest of the basketball world as well.
In my opinion, this is very exciting, and I
think it would take some hard work and
confidence to come back and make a winning basket like this. Starting out from no
one wanting a person on their team to people begging him to sign would be incredible.
Will Ferguson, Grade 4, Ben Franklin Elementary School
2nd
Indiana Gazette NIE Supplement, Friday, March 30, 2012 — 21
LINSANITY, Charly Colgan,
Calvary Baptist Academy,
Grade 9, first place
When Lin was younger, he and his two
brothers, Josh and Joseph, would go to
the YMCA where their father, Gie-Ming,
taught the three boys how to play basketball.
They all came from a Christian family
in the San Francisco Bay city area of Palo
Alto.
During Jeremy’s 2005-2006 senior year
at Palo Alto High School, he was named
first-team All-State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year. He
ended that year with an average of 15.1
points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and five
steals per game.
Lin, despite being highly touted coming out of high school, received very few
college offers. Jeremy sent résumés and
DVDs to many of his dream colleges, but
only Brown and Harvard guaranteed
him a spot on their teams.
The school he chose was Harvard.
From 2006 to 2010 Lin attended that
college.
He excelled at the college level but still
received very little attention and wound
up going undrafted in the NBA draft. He
gained national attention for his performance against the 12th-ranked Connecticut Huskies, against whom he
scored a career-high-tying 30 points
and grabbed nine rebounds.
Jeremy Lin has worked extremely hard
to get to where he is today. He had the
confidence, courage and the comfort
his family gave him.
He didn’t give up when no one wanted
him; he kept working hard and practicing to get better at what he loved.
Obesity in America
Did you know that two out of every three
adults and one out of every three children
are overweight or obese? Obesity in America
is becoming a growing epidemic. We need to
stop this epidemic and decrease the reasons
which cause people to become overweight
or obese.
Being overweight can cause health issues.
Did you know that when you are obese or
overweight that you are at risk for the following: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart
disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic
syndrome, sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis,
gallbladder disease, liver disease, urinary incontinence, or depression? Obesity can also
cause people to die at an early age. Have you
ever had a loved one die because of the
physical problems associated with obesity?
It is not a good feeling to know that someone’s death could have been prevented. We
do not need people to die at an early age;
Goat’s Milk vs. Cow’s Milk
For years there has been controversy over
whether cow’s milk or goat’s milk is better
for your body. There are three important
reasons that lead people to believe that
goat’s milk is healthier than cow’s milk. The
three reasons are the following: lactose tolerance (which is carbohydrate sensitivity),
the amount of vitamins and minerals contained in milk, and the natural homogenization of goat’s milk compared to the aspects
of cow’s milk.
When comparing cow’s milk and goat’s
milk, the type of milk that has more vitamins
and minerals is important. There is 25 percent more vitamin B-6 and 47 percent more
vitamin A in goat’s milk than in cow’s milk.
Goat’s milk contains 134 percent more
potassium, three times the niacin, four
Madison Hughes, Grade 5, Eisenhower Elementary School
2nd
DAKOTA
PEACHEY
Indiana
Wesleyan
School
Grade 9
people deserve to live a long, healthy life.
Some main reasons why obesity is a growing epidemic are because of unhealthy food
habits, lack of exercise and excuses people
give for being overweight. When you think of
unhealthy foods, do cheeseburgers, french
fries and pizza loaded with toppings come
to your mind? The intake of food makes us
times the copper, and 27 percent more of
the antioxidant selenium than cow’s milk.
This gives goat’s milk an advantage over
cow’s milk.
Lactose tolerance is another aspect of
goat’s milk. Goat’s milk is drinkable by most
lactose intolerant people, but people with
lactose intolerance can rarely drink cow’s
milk. One reason for this is that goat’s milk
has less lactose than cow’s milk does.
Natural homogenization is another attribute of goat’s milk. This means that goat’s
milk does not separate as cow’s milk does,
since cow’s milk is not naturally homogenized. It is believed that the dairy industry’s
way of homogenizing cow’s milk causes
problems which may lead to cancer. This
means that goat’s milk is safer to drink.
This column offers an opinion and a number of facts on this controversy. Although
gain weight unless we burn more calories
than we eat. We accomplish this by exercising. Lack of exercise is creating a problem.
Too many people sit around watching television or playing video games instead of exercising. “I do not have enough time in my
busy life to exercise” or “I do not have time
to fix a balanced meal” — do these excuses
sound familiar? Excuses are a hindrance to
becoming healthy.
There are some easy ways to stop this epidemic. No. 1, eat a balanced diet, then exercise. Eating a balanced diet and exercising
for at least 30 minutes a day to burn calories
play a huge role in getting healthy.
Why is obesity continuing to increase in
America? It is increasing because people sit
around too much instead of being active
and have unhealthy food habits. America,
let’s work together to stop this epidemic and
decrease the number of people dying at a
young age because of this problem. Get your
exercising clothes on and get ready to burn
some calories!
3rd
JUSTIN
SPICHER
Indiana
Wesleyan
School
Grade 9
cow’s milk is good for your body, goat’s milk
is a better product for you. Goat’s milk
proves to better for your health than cow’s
milk is, so will it be “moo” or “maa?”
Gabrielle Leysock, Grade 6, Homer-Center Elementary School
Untitled
Lethal Americana
1st
According to a news story
published in The Indiana
Gazette on Thursday, Feb.
16, 2011, an 8-year-old girl
died after choking on a hot
dog during lunch at her eleDALE
mentary school in Mercer
PEARCE
County; this is not the first
Calvary
time this has happened.
Choking on hot dogs is
Baptist
such a frequent occurrence
Academy
that a group of pediatricians
Grade 10
is pushing for a redesign of
the hot dog, to make it harder to choke on.
According to a study by USA Today, 17 percent of all childhood asphyxiations are caused by hot dogs.
With the hot dog’s round design and smooth texture, it is just the right
size to block the airway of young children, if it is not cut up or chewed sufficiently.
Just like a cork in a bottle does not allow any fluid in or out of the bottle,
a hot dog would not allow any air in or out of the child’s airway.
School lunch programs have eliminated various other foods from the
lunch menu, because of the lack of nutritional value or allergy hazards.
Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff have been eliminated from the
lunch menus; marshmallow fluff has absolutely no nutritional value and a
number of children have peanut allergies; those are some examples of
foods that have been eliminated from school lunch menus.
The average hot dog contains 4.8 grams of saturated fat and 507 milligrams of sodium.
So now I ask the question, if children are choking on hot dogs, because
of their slender design and the hot dogs have no nutritional value, why are
schools still choosing to feed them to their students? Does anyone know
what is really in a hot dog anyway?
Schools have put policies in place that require more amounts of fruits,
vegetables, whole grains and fat-free or low-fat milk and less amounts of
sodium and saturated fats in meals.
So, if we can put these policies in place to put healthier foods in our
schools, why can we not put a policy or two in place to regulate the consumption of hot dogs in our schools?
Who knows, maybe a few regulations might even save someone’s life.
Our school lunches are not healthy for us. We
watched a video the other day in our health class. It
was called “Super-Size Me.”
The guy in it went to a couple schools to look at
their school lunches. He went to one school that
didn’t serve any beef.
They served fruits and vegetables, along with
their meal.
All the students said how much they liked it, because it tasted good and they wanted to be healthy.
He then went to another school.
This school served meals that they would get sent
to them in boxes and sit in a freezer. They would
take the students’ lunch out for the day and just
heat it up. They also served soft pretzels, chips and
any kind of candy bar you could imagine. Students
would buy all junk food and only eat that for lunch.
The sad part of this is, the school with all the junk
food pays the same amount as the school with the
healthy food. I think the school could find a way to
feed their students better.
Almost all of our foods are processed foods, ready
to make. Have you seen what’s all in processed
food?
There are parts of the animal in processed meat,
like ears and snouts of a pig in hot dogs. Most of the
vitamins in processed food are synthetic, because
they lose all the nutrients during processing.
Eating so much processed meat can help cause
cancer, obesity and heart disease.
Our school almost always feeds us processed
food, however, people, who work for school lunches
argue that it’s the child’s responsibility to choose
something healthy. But, they don’t give us good
choices.
A real half chicken breast has 142 calories, 3 grams
of fat, 27 grams of protein and no carbs or sugar. It
also has vitamins E, B6 and B12, riboflavin, niacin,
thiamin and pantothenic acid. The phosphorus and
selenium make up more than 20 percent of your
recommended daily value.
There are also amounts of calcium, iron, potassium and zinc.
2nd
DESTINEE
KELLY
Saltsburg
High School
Grade 10
It also has the very helpful omega-3 fatty acids.
Just six pieces of processed chicken nuggets,
which is what they feed us, have 280 calories, a total
fat content of 17 g, 3 g of saturated fat, 40 mg of cholesterol, 600 mg of sodium, 16 g of carbohydrates
and 14 g of protein.
Also, when you walk into a school and look at
their lunch lines, you will see more cookies, chips
and candy out than fruits and vegetables.
The drink choices are also bad.
They give us the choice of chocolate milk, regular
milk, skim milk, iced tea, lemonade and water.
But, which ones do you think they order more
of? They order more chocolate milk, iced tea and
lemonade than another other drink.
The schools need to stop blaming us and start
serving us better food.
Stop serving processed food and serve real food,
stop giving us so much junk food and start having
more fruits and vegetables, and stop serving all the
bad drinks and give us plain milk and water.
As you can tell, we students have been eating unhealthy lunches for a while. Something needs to be
done about it.
If schools truly care about our health, they’d make
some changes. Do they want their kids eating
processed food that isn’t healthy for them? I don’t
think so.
Lauren Boring, Grade 5, Purchase Line South Elementary School
Paige Smith, Grade 6, Seeds of Faith Academy
Medicinal Marijuana
Give Back
Not many people would oppose a cure for
cancer, AIDS and other serious diseases.
However, many people are against the legalization of a natural drug that can help treat
diseases like glaucoma, eating disorders and
many other ailments. Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as marijuana, is currently illegal in many states, but is starting to become
legalized for medicinal purposes.
Marijuana is 100 percent natural, nonaddictive and has been proven to help people
with a wide range of diseases and disorders.
It can be used to treat the side effects of
AIDS and cancer, and helps with the nausea,
vomiting and loss of appetite associated
with those diseases. Marijuana can also be
used to help people suffering from insomnia
and anorexia. Believe it or not, smoking
marijuana also helps relieve the symptoms
of asthma by opening up airways in your
lungs to help you breathe better. Marijuana
can also treat psychological problems, such
as depression, by brightening your mood
and relieving stress and anxiety. This drug
can also be used to treat people with Attention Deficit Disorder by helping them calm
down and relax.
Many people oppose the idea of legalizing
marijuana for recreational and medicinal
use, mostly because they are afraid of intoxicated people endangering others. However,
For the past couple of weeks I have been
privileged to visit a nursing home.
I went to the nursing home expecting to
bless other people, but I left being blessed.
I learned that it’s not a big thing that
makes a human happy, it’s all the little
things.
The second week I took my bass guitar. I
wasn’t very nervous because I have played
in front of people before with my band,
and I thought it would just be a one-onone situation.
But, when I got there, the head of the
nursing home met us at the front desk and
said “Josh, I see you brought your guitar! It
just so happens that the musician that was
supposed to come couldn’t make it so you
can play to the group.”
When I heard this my heart sunk, it was
going to be rough playing an accompaniment instrument solo, but I knew I couldn’t
say “no,” so I said “Yeah, that’s no problem!”
We started to walk down the hall to the
area I would be playing in and she asked
“So Josh, what kind of music do you play?”
I said “Well, I play hard rock, but don’t
worry I’m not playing that kind of music
today.”
I could tell that she was getting more and
more worried and so was I.
We reached the place where I would play
3rd
BEN
SHIRLEY
Saltsburg
High School
Grade 10
alcohol is completely legal and is even more
dangerous than marijuana. Alcohol causes
people to act more violently and aggressively, whereas marijuana tends to calm people
down and reduce violence and aggression.
There have been no deaths directly linked
to marijuana. However, each year in the
United States, more than 400,000 people die
from tobacco use. Nearly 115,000 people die
from alcohol use. Both are legal, yet marijuana is illegal.
With all of the medical benefits and uses
for marijuana, there is no reason why it
should not be legalized in all 50 states. It
needs to be legalized for medicinal use right
now in order to help people suffering from
serious diseases.
2nd
Luke Lieb, Grade 4, Penns Manor Elementary School
BenVan Wieren, Grade 5, Seeds of Faith Academy
1st
JOSHUA JONES
Home-schooled
Grade 11
and there were about 15 people waiting.
The manager of the nursing home introduced me and said that I would be playing
for 45 minutes to an hour for them. I knew
I didn’t have enough folk and lighter music
to play for 45 minutes!
Now I was really not feeling good, but
then I remembered why I was doing it — to
bless them!
So I sat down on a chair and started to
play bass and I played for about 30 minutes and I realized I wasn’t nervous and
they really liked it! There was only one
problem. I was starting to run out of “soft
stuff” to play. So I decided that I would play
something faster and heavier.
GIVE BACK, Joshua Jones,
Home-schooled, Grade 11, first place
As I started to play this they started
That is why I would encourage
to cheer and clap! They liked this bet- everyone to take time to try and touch
ter than the softer stuff!
other people’s lives even if it means
Before I knew it, the time was up, missing a movie or fun event.
and I started to get ready to leave.
You might feel disheartened that
When it was time for me to go, the you missed the fun event at first, but
people I had played for gave me a big when you stand back after serving
applause and I could see it really did someone you feel helpful and like you
touch them knowing that someone made a difference.
came and took the time to do someIt doesn’t matter if you are old or
thing just for them. In this way was I young, tall or small, what gifts you
truly touched and blessed by them, have or don’t have, you can always do
for just listening and cheering for me. something. Whether it’s just talking or
The next week I went and just talked playing a song or even reading. Anyto some of them and spent time with thing, small or large, can and does
them. Again, I went to encourage make a difference. If everyone did just
them and I ended up getting encour- one thoughtful thing to someone else
aged myself by their optimistic words every day, I would guarantee that you
and smiles. One of the times I played would see a difference in the way peoa board game with one of the ladies in ple treat and think about others.
the nursing home and she said she
When was the last time you shared
loved me just because I took the time yourself with a stranger, expecting
to play a game with her!
nothing in return? There are a lot of
Things like this can really make a people who feel forgotten, lost, withdifference in someone’s life, and it out hope. Will you take a moment or
costs practically nothing to do! And two to give back? Imagine the incrediisn’t that what every person wants — ble things that would result: encourto be loved and to know that they are agement, hope, acceptance, wellcared about?
being, self-esteem and so much more!
Isaiah Nelson, Grade 5, Blairsville Elementary School
Our money used elsewhere
Do professional athletes get paid too much
money?
Famous actors and athletes get paid a lot more
money than the average person does.
For instance, in 2008 Tiger Woods made approximately $12 million playing golf and was given an
additional $110 million just in endorsements.
When LeBron James played for the Cleveland
Cavaliers, he signed a contract that paid $60 million for three years. Tom Brady, the quarterback
for the New England Patriots, signed a four-year
contract for more than $72 million.
That is $18 million per year, not counting the
endorsements he receives. Peyton Manning, the
quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, receives a
total earning of $30.8 million after endorsements.
Fifty years ago, athletes were paid not even half
of the amount that they get today.
In the late 1920s, Babe Ruth was paid about
$80,000 per year compared to Alex Rodriguez,
who signed a 10-year contract with the New York
Yankees and is being paid $275 million to play
baseball.
Professional athletes are also paid much more
than even the president of the United States, who
earned $400,000 per year, and he’s leader of our
country! It makes one wonder where our nation’s
priorities are. One may say that the reason for paying professional athletes so much money is that
we love our sports teams.
Another reason is that they are being paid to get
2nd
KRISTEN
HENCK
Calvary
Baptist
Academy
Grade 11
“hurt.” Should they really be getting that much
money for just playing a sport?
Many pro athletes are not great role models for
children because of some things they use their
money for, such as drugs, parties or extravagant
lifestyles. I would say that the NFL and the NBA
and the MLB should cut back on what they give
their athletes and start using the money for good
in this world. They could start more organizations
for funding orphanages in Gabon or in other foreign countries.
They could give money to start new hospitals in
remote villages and towns where the nearest medical help is a day’s journey. If people would put
their minds to it and spend money wisely, we
could make our planet a better place.
The Importance
of Athletics in Schools
Going to a new school can be very stressful, especially when a student doesn’t know
anybody.
Joining activities and clubs is a great way
to meet new people and make friends.
I know that I have made good friends by
going to practices, tournaments and games
with a great group of people.
On that court, field or pool knowing that
there are people to look out for you carries
over into everyday life.
In games, learning to trust people enables
young people to be able to socialize with
them in school or out in public.
Athletics and academics are closely connected, although some might be asking
“How?” because they seem so different.
In order to participate in any type of activity, students have to maintain a certain
GPA.
In athletes happen to fall below that average, they are suspended from all activities
until the GPA is back up to standards again.
In both cases, students set goals, work to
achieve them, and evaluate what they have
done in order to aim higher the next time!
“Pay to Play” is a policy that I believe
should be banned form schools all over the
country.
Students should not have to pay in order
3rd
GIANA
BUTTERWORTH
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 11
to be involved in any type of activity. Even
though it is a privilege to be part of a team, it
is a right to be able to try without worrying
about money.
If this policy is instituted into schools, I
would not be surprised to see a decline in
the number of students who go out for any
sports teams or clubs.
The goal is to be able to involve as many
students as possible, not to involve only the
ones who can afford to play.
The result would be students missing out
on great opportunities to better themselves
as a person, student or friend.
Gabby Juart, Grade 4, W. A. Mcreery Elementary School
Tyler Kachmarchi, Grade 6, Purchase Line South Elementary School
“High School Cuts Boys’ Football Team!”
This is a headline that no one wants to see
about their own school.
Unfortunately, it is one of the many issues
facing schools today: lack of funding to financially support athletic teams and programs.
Many schools in our area are facing cuts to
sports teams, and parents of athletes have to
provide money in order for their child to be
involved in extracurricular school activities.
This policy is known as “Pay to Play.” Some
might agree with getting rid of sports programs because they do not think that extracurricular activities are as important as
academics.
That notion creates a lot of discussion, arguing and fighting among school administrators, parents and students. I believe that
every student should have the right to participate in activities without worrying about
the cost or price it might cause their parents
or family.
In my opinion, sports programs are extremely important to school systems, especially today, because they keep young peo-
ple busy and out of trouble.
High school sports are very demanding
and require a lot of time and commitment. It
teaches students how to use their time in the
most efficient way possible.
For example, sitting in study hall talking
with friends is the thing that most want to
do, but doing homework knowing that there
may not be time later because there is a big
game tonight is the best thing to do. Sports
show how to use time effectively without
being overwhelmed.
Sports can also teach responsibility. In
every sport, there is a team effort that requires everyone to work together in order to
accomplish a goal.
Even though skipping practice to go to a
movie that everyone is dying to see is the desirable thing to do, athletes know that their
team needs them to be there for support.
Teams learn to depend on each other to
pick up one another whenever they’re down,
and help in whatever they need.
Sometimes athletes may think, “I wish I
would have gone after that ball,” “I should
have played defensive more,” or “Why didn’t
I wait to shoot the ball? Those things don’t
matter because teammates are there to have
each other’s back and will pick up the slack
in order to benefit the team.
A Passion Worth
Fighting For
Trina Long-Tate, Grade 5, Penns Manor Elementary School
A passion is a strong and an uncontrollable emotion.
There can be a passion for reading, writing, learning, singing and playing sports,
plus a plethora of other things as well.
Passion is a part of everyone’s life, something that an individual cannot live without.
However, it is also something on which a
price cannot be placed.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what some
school districts are doing in some states:
They are putting a price on extracurricular
activities in schools. This isn’t right at all!
Students have the same routine for 180
days. Those days consist of waking up, usually around six o’clock; eat breakfast; get
ready; and go to school for seven hours.
After a few years of doing this, sometimes
students just need a getaway. They need to
be a part of something that disregards the
stressful day of school they just had.
Not only is it a getaway, but also gives
some kids a reason to wake up in the morning. Students can say that they are actually a
part of something. Not everyone has a love
for every extracurricular activity out there,
but if one activity is a passion of theirs, they
will make the absolute best of it. Extracurricular activities and sports do just this for
every single stressful student in high school.
Why would people try and take away a part
of a student’s life?
I am a senior at my high school, and I have
been playing sports since I was able to run.
Out of all these years of playing for my
school, not once did I have to pay in order to
play. “Play in Order to Pay.” This is what they
are now calling it. It is really unbelievable.
Some people might argue with the fact that
some schools cut players from their team if
they do not have enough experience as
other players do. Ironically, I consider this as
a better alternative than putting a price on
1st
ASHLEY
DELFONSO
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 12
it. At least if someone is cut from a team,
they can improve their skills and try out
again next year!
Not a lot of people have all the money in
the world, therefore, some of the better athletes might never get the opportunity to play
for their high school if money is involved.
Not only are some schools making the
sports teams pay, but the policy might also
include the drama club, Spanish club, and
anti-tobacco team.
Honesty, trust, competitiveness, the ability
to stand up for oneself, being able to make
friends, going out of your comfort zone for a
good reason, and a good personality.
Being involved in a club, on a team, or a
part of an organization helps children to
possess these different qualities each and
every day they are a part of something.
If someone doesn’t have the opportunity
to go out and become the person that they
are supposed to be, would this organization
providing the “PAY-TO-PLAY” feel like they
are responsible for holding a child back?
And for not providing a child with some of
the activities that are actually worth their
while?
According to USA Today, state high
schools were surveyed and they had found
out that 34 states say that at least some
school districts are charging students to play
sports. Also, associations in 16 states plus
the District of Columbia say that they are
not charging nor do they want to charge students to pay for their extracurricular activities. The American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) has declared in California that several public school districts may be breaking
the law.
In the Poway Unified School District
(PUSD) in San Diego, ACLU questioned the
decisions on charging students to participate in extracurricular activities.
A few examples are $50 to $500 to register
for marching band, $30 coaching fee for
football players, and cheerleading fees of at
least $1,691. As I had stated before, this is
popularly known as pay-to-play. This is primarily used to help the expenses in order to
run the activity itself. This isn’t a new policy
either; there have been reports from 2004.
Is this even legal? Unfortunately, this is
perfectly legal, depending on the location
and the plan of the school itself. A prime example is the ACLU in California.
The ACLU had pointed out in the article of
the California Constitution and a 1984 decision from the high court, state public
schools cannot require a fee in order to participate in extracurricular activities that are
offered. The reason being is because there is
no state or federal law that requires a school
to provide extracurricular activities or even
sports. Therefore, a public school cannot
pay for something that is not required.
Students and their parents are allowed to
be asked to help out the extracurricular activity; however, they are not allowed to turn
away a student that wants to participate if
they do not pay a voluntary fee.
If someone came into my high school saying that they were making every student
pay-to-play, I along with my fellow classmates would be extremely hurt.
Not for the fact that we have to spend our
own money on this, but they are taking away
something that has become a part of our
lives.
2nd
JULIE
PAWLIKOWSKI
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 12
Tanning Bed Blues Reds
I refuse to die a burnt raisin. I hope that
when my time comes, I have lived a long
and prosperous life. I assume I’ll be wrinkled, but I know for a fact that it won’t be
because I wasted my valuable time in a
tanning bed.
Tanning beds are synonymous with skin
cancer and wrinkles to us today, but they
were once considered a good thing. Indoor tanning lamps were created in 1890
to help people with Vitamin D deficiencies.
Then, in the 1970s, a German scientist
started using the tanning lamps to study
the sun’s effect on athletes. He noticed that
the athletes were getting a tan as a side effect. Since then, tanning beds have been
used to speedily spread cancer. I mean,
spread an even base tan.
I’ve never used a tanning bed before, but
my friends and mother have. From them
and the media, I gained some knowledge
on the glowing, coffin-shaped structures. I
learned that tanning beds use UVA and
UVB light to tan the skin, which makes
them dangerous. The sun naturally produces the UVA and UVB light that hits us
every day.
3rd
Faron Flynn, Grade 4, Purchase Line South Elementary School
Writing contest for the
best opinion column
TANNING BED BLUES REDS, Julie Pawlikowski,
Northern Cambria High School, Grade 12, second place
Madalene Kipp, Grade 5, Horace Mann Elementary School
Erik McCunn, Grade 5, Horace Mann Elementary School
vania, where the winter weather ranges
from snow, snow, more snow, one nice day,
and then snow again.
There’s no way they got that tan naturally.
And if I looked close enough, I could see
wrinkles forming on their faces.
They were aging themselves and for what?
So that that they were dark in their prom
photos? How superficial is that?
I may not be an expert on the fashion and
beauty side of life, but I’ve watched enough
“America’s Next Top Model” and “Project
Runway” to know that everyone is obsessed
with staying young.
No one wants to age any faster than they
have to. And yet, my peers are making decisions to lie in that glowing coffin to darken
their skin, wrinkle their faces and increase
their chance of getting cancer.
Who said we girls have to be tanned for
prom? Instead of tanning, I found a cheetah
print dress that made my complexion naturally dark.
If a girl looks washed out in her canary yellow gown, try a darker shade of yellow, like
goldenrod. Before we attempt to change our
skin color and do irreconcilable damage to
it, we should alter the dress color, which will
cause us the fewer problems in the long
haul. Maybe those who tan have never had
family members diagnosed with cancer. But
I have. And I wish I could take all their pain,
suffering and fear away that comes with
cancer.
So what do I think about my mother’s tanning? I asked her to stop tanning for fear that
she’d get skin cancer.
Brock Moriconi, Grade 4, Northern Cambria Elementary-Middle School
Also, most people use sunscreen to prevent damaging their skin cells from the sun’s
UVA and UVB light.
But when we take those same rays and
bring them extremely close to our skin for
up to 15 minutes without a drop of sunscreen on, we’re almost begging to get skin
cancer.
It wasn’t until my junior year in high
school that tanning became an issue.
It was my first time going to the prom —
the event everyone gets dolled up for in a
fancy dress, makeup and heels to dance the
night away with friends and that certain
someone.
In between dress shopping and scheduling hair appointments, my friend said she
was going tanning and asked if I’d want to go
along. I said no, and added that I like being
cancer free.
But then I started wondering. I knew that
the media said tanning was deleterious to
my health, but my mother had been tanning
for as long as I could remember and she’s
healthy, so which was right? I sat down at a
computer and researched tanning and its
link to cancer.
I agree with the media. Almost all the information I found stated that tanning beds
would increase my chance of getting
melanoma and skin cancer by 75 percent if I
used it before the age of 30. And I didn’t really even need the Internet to tell me this.
All I had to do was look at certain girls at
my school.
They were the sepia-colored ones in the
dead of winter. We live in western Pennsyl-
Jacklynn Weaver, Grade 4, Northern Cambria Elementary School
TANNING BED BLUES REDS, Julie Pawlikowski,
Northern Cambria High School, Grade 12, second place
Are Social Networking Sites
Hurting Our Society, Socially?
She doesn’t tan as much as she used to but since she’s also Italian, she’s naturally
dark skinned and didn’t lose all her color. I asked her if she thinks she can’t get
cancer from the tanning beds.
She replied that whatever cancer she may one day get will be heredity and not
because of a tanning bed.
I’m not against all tanning, just tanning beds. I’ve never tried a spray tan or selftanning, but as far I know they haven’t been linked to forms of cancer, so they
seem safe to use to me. I’d rather do those forms instead of fake-baking in tanning
beds.
What is the obsession with being tan? Back in the old days, being a tan female
meant that your family was poor.
Your arms would become tan working in the fields because your family couldn’t
afford help.
If your face were tan it was because you couldn’t afford a bonnet. It was unfashionable to be so tan. But now it’s the tanner the better.
What is wrong with our natural skin tones? Where does it state that bronze
equals beauty? And I mean the color, not the muscle. Why do girls idolize the
golden statues that aren’t lifelike in any way?
We need to have beauty and self-confidence based on what’s inside us because
as the saying goes, beauty only goes skin deep. Choosing not to tan in a tanning
bed is more than just preventing cancer. It’s choosing to accept the skin we’re in.
We’re all born with different shades of skin. There are the snow whites, the
ivories, the beiges, the olives, the chocolates, the mochas, the coppers, and many
more. I am proud of my skin. I may not be the fairest skin and I wish I had freckles,
but my skin is 100 percent mine. It’s an original, just like me.
Life is meant to be spent lived in the sun, not trapped in a tanning bed.
So let’s stop hiding out in those coffins and enjoy the golden life the sun offers
before it’s too late.
It’s a typical weekday for young individuals in
the United States. Report to school or work, go
through the motions of everyday life, and, when
the day is over, rush to a car or bus.
After walking in the front door of their home, I
would be willing to bet most individuals do one
of the following almost immediately:
1. Eat.
2. Sleep.
3. Log on to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.
Yes, social networking sites: the No. 1 choice
for most teens when given the option of what
activity to do in their free time. Everyone has a
profile; from grandparents to pets, and “creeping” on other unknowing people is how many
teens spend their evenings.
It’s an addiction that is quickly filling the
minds and schedules of today’s societies, making “face-to-face” interaction a thing of the past.
As a Facebook user, I can say that there are certain aspects of Internet communication that
make it valuable to us as a nation. But does the
good outweigh the bad? I don’t think so. Americans, as well as the rest of the world, need to cut
back on this online “social interaction” before
literally all the face-to-face social skills we’ve developed as a nation for centuries are forgotten
and replaced with an emotionless substitute
that does not equal the value of a normally spo-
Miranda Federinko, Grade 5, Homer-Center Elementary School
3rd
MEGAN
RESCINITO
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 12
ken conversation.
Americans spent a total of 53.5 billion minutes
on Facebook on average per month, and that
number is only growing. This means the average
user spends about 12.3 minutes per day on this
“most popular” social networking site.
That’s approximately 7 hours and 46 minutes
sitting behind the computer screen every single
month.
If a person ran 12.3 minutes per day, they’d
lose a sufficient amount of weight and start to
become a healthier person.
If a student studied 12.3 minutes per day, he or
she would most likely see a dramatic increase in
their GPA.
Megan Uptegraph, Grade 5, McCreery Elementary School
ARE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES HURTING OUR SOCIETY, SOCIALLY?, Megan Rescinito, Northern Cambria High School, Grade 12, third place
It’s rare to visit a restaurant or a public area
and not see someone carrying around
his/her cell phone, texting a friend or otherwise plugged into their electronic device,
sometimes multiple devices at one time!
I’ve been places where parents and children will be sitting around a table, ready to
eat their dinner, and no one speaking —
they’re all on their phones!
Is that “family bonding”?
I don’t think it is.
Another problem with my technology-obsessed generation: cyberbullying. Everyone
has heard of the term, but few older than
their early twenties actually know anything
about it.
Almost every person has been bullied at
least once in his/her life, but few have had to
deal with the constant harassment online,
which leaves almost no repercussions for
the bully unless reported by the victim. And
often, they are never reported.
It’s a lot easier to hurt someone when the
bully doesn’t have to see the victim’s face
and reactions to their comments and in-
sults, which leads to many teen suicides and
self-harm.
Facebook and other social networking
sites open the door for anyone who wants to
be a cyberbully, which would otherwise be
nonexistent.
A person may argue that the Internet is
helpful and allows families to connect that
would otherwise never have the opportunity
to: A soldier can now talk over a webcam to
his family back home; businesses can hold
conferences on completely different sides of
the globe over the same type of webcams,
which then reduces travel costs.
As true as this all is, I still believe the negative aspects of technology and the currently
popular social networking sites outweigh
the few positive qualities that go along with
it.
Our society is lacking the social skills it
possessed 20, even 10, years ago. Instead of
going to dinner with his mother, a son will
call her on the phone, or post on her Facebook wall.
Rather than hanging out with her friends
Who Will Rise
and Who Will Fall?
sure, that is when their true character comes
out. During a real crisis, people show their
true characters. Sometimes they rise to the
occasion, but most times they don’t.
Take the crisis of Hurricane Katrina, which
took people’s homes and families. People
were homeless and had no food.
The mayor sent the people of New Orleans
to the Louisiana Superdome for shelter.
That was where the true crisis happened.
BBC News reported that people killed
each other for food and water.
Women were raped and killed in the ladies
bathroom.
People just cared about themselves. They
didn’t even care that someone just died be-
side them, as long as they survived through
the horror of it all.
This proves that during a terrible time
those people’s true characteristics came out.
Those people only cared about themselves,
and didn’t even try to join together and work
as a team to overcome the crisis.
There are also the people who, during a
crisis, overcome their fear to focus on the
situation and help others.
An example of this is 9/11.
That day was a terrible day. People lost
family and friends. I personally think that it
could have been a lot worse if people did not
team up and help out.
Savanna Ahlborn, Grade 4, Homer-Center Elementary
The inspirational Martin Luther King Jr.
once said, “The ultimate measure of a man
is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands
in times of challenge and controversy.”
This quote is true about our world and its
people.
Anyone can act happy and calm when a
situation is going well, but put that person
under stress or during a tough time, that is
when you will see who they really are.
I believe that when people are under pres-
Kyle Minerd, Grade 6, United Elementary School
Instead, millions of Americans spend at
least 12 minutes per day sitting behind their
computer screen, commenting on posts and
uploading pictures, when really, at the end
of the day, they will have nothing to show for
their “efforts.”
In my opinion, I’m actually surprised that
this average of 15 minutes is so low.
Even if I just take into consideration my
group of high school and college friends, a
majority of these teenagers have smartphones.
Technology has given people the ability to
use their smartphones, along with Wi-Fi and
other wireless Internet capabilities, to connect to not only Facebook, but Twitter and
other social networking sites as well, 24/7.
This is why I have the ability to say I’m “on
Facebook” constantly, because I am. It never
logs me out. And I’m not alone.
The number of smartphone users has dramatically increased as they have become
more and more commonly seen in the
hands of Americans.
and telling them the latest things going on in
her life, she’ll tweet about them on her Twitter.
I feel society is greatly deprived of the faceto-face communication that used to be the
only way to talk to a boyfriend, best friend or
family member.
We lack the emotional satisfaction that
goes along with hugging and laughing along
with the people that mean a lot to us, and instead live in a blank world with little or no
emotion at all.
All in all, I feel that the Internet does more
to hurt America’s citizens than help them.
Maybe if we all take a step back from the
computer screens and keyboards and venture out into the world around us with the
people that love us, our relationships with
them would grow stronger and benefit from
the personal contact, rather than the colder
feeling that goes along with on-screen communication.
For sites that promote social interaction, I
think that social networking sites are dragging us backward on the social scale.
Honorable
mention
MICHELLE
LOUGHNER
Elderton High
School
Grade 12
Best opinion column winners
Untitled
DANIEL
Technology is stealing our souls.
MESSENGER
Honorable
Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy the benefits that it proSaltsburg
vides.
mention
High
School
I very much like my iPod, cellphone, the Internet, my
Xbox, etc. It’s fantastic. But our lives are becoming far
Grade 12
too entangled with it.
Everywhere you go, you will find people who are only
concerned with whether or not they have cellular service, or updating their status on whatever social network they fancy.
I’ll admit it: I do it, too. But, it’s still not right.
We have all been given a beautiful and serene world, but sadly, most of us simply ignore it, because
technology steals our attention.
It is so wonderful to go outside and just sit and think, and admire the color of the sky or the sound
of the wind.
But, we don’t, because technology consumes us.
WHO WILL RISE AND WHO WILL FALL?, Michelle Loughner,
Elderton High School, Grade 12, honorable mention
Firefighters and police officers teamed together and got people out of the buildings. Also, people in the falling towers came together and
thought of ways to get help, or to get out. Those
people were all scared and frantic.
They thought that they might never see their
loved ones again or that they wouldn’t be able to
get to the people in time to save their lives.
Those people stayed focused and worked together.
Many lives were saved because brave people
were able to focus. Under pressure their true
characteristics shined through and they became
heroes.
It has happened all throughout history; that is
how we have chaos and how we have control.
Put yourself in a stressful situation. What would
happen? We all handle pressure differently, but
what would happen to you? There are the people who can focus under pressure and there are
the people who lose it under pressure. That’s
just how our world works. If you do not handle
pressure well, that’s fine; we are all not supposed to be superheroes. We are just humans,
and we are not supposed to be perfect.
Nearly 4,000 students
participated in NIE
Kindergarten
Teacher: Amy Stofa
Braiden Ashbaugh, Logan Barnhart,
Nolan Bittner, Luxy-Lynn DeLousia,
Aubre Duffy, Gabrielle Emerick, Avery
Foreman, Tori Foust, Kaytlin Gable,
Walker Johnston, Zachariah Kralik, Isaiah Marsh, Mya McCallum, Sydney
Mize, Aiden Murphy, Kaylee Pine,
Carter Schaffer, Ethan Sleasman,
Emilee Staats, Aspin Wadding, Ava
Waltman.
Teacher: Sandra Ross
Logan Bollinger, Jacob Buchanan,
Naomi Cochran, Robert Cowan, Alex
Cribbs, Andrew Dickson, Roman Fridley, Jacob Gillin, Aurora Hutton, Sean
Kelly, Chevelle Kenney, Hayden Michel,
James Murphy, Braden Nagel-Shotwell,
Cody Nicholson, Ronny Ray, Siera
Shirley, Emerson Skirboll, Violet Strait,
Cody Taylor.
Teacher: Melody Zitterbart
Wyatt Ackerson, Sarah
Jonathan Kravarik.
Mariah Kephart, Grade 6, Dayton Elementary School
Covato,
Teacher: Kendy Shubra
Jack Julin, Westley Frenzel, Lucia
Powers, Nathan Rotosky, Charlie
Weber, Zachary Creighton, Leila Ganda
Nabi, Wynston Farrington, Evan
Sheesley, Isaac Anderson, Emma Eubanks, Averial Cobaugh, Natalie Bianco, Jiyan Azizi, Kaylynn Skinner, Alexis
Klimkowski, Izabel Dzuro.
Teacher: Tammie Brunetta
Alex Bauer, Camryn Carnahan, Gavin
Caruso, Braelyn Colgan, William Filipovich, Hannah Horvath, Jacob
Kardell, Kate Lehman, Noah McAfoos,
Fiona McQuaide, Joey Moody, Ella
Myers, Lizzie Olsen, Katelynn Rearick,
Lilianna Sedan, Isic Sleigh, Johanna
Welch.
Teacher: Sarah Bond
Ahmed Ainuddin, Mohammed
Alaquil, Connor Belleau, Reda El-alous,
Joshua Eubanks, Haley Hamilton,
Michael Jadzak, Thomas Kauffman,
Jacob Killam, Kayla Leon, Harrison
Martineau, Marcus McGill, Adam Nyland, Michael Tortorella, Sarah Tyger,
Delia Salser, Allisyn Welch.
Nearly 4,000 students participated in NIE this year
Adam States, Emilie Sullivan, Jenna Thacker,
Isabella Thompson.
HOME-SCHOOLED
Teacher: Becky Turner
William Turner.
Teacher: Kristy Scherf
Abby Scherf.
Teacher: Karen Morganti
Ixy Barnes, Ava Burglund, Marina Conjelko, Ryan Crook, Amethyst Finnegan,
Wade Jones, Ash Lockard, Katarina Medvetz,
Jaiden Myers, Tristan Redinger, Braden Riffer, Hunter Sexton, Eva Sharbaugh, Hayden
Sufka, Robert Whedbee, Da’leisha Williamson, Jacob Bradley.
Teacher: Heather Redinger
Jadyn Ball, Cassandra Boyer, Courtney
Cass, Cileigh Clemons, Benjamin Cochran,
Mackenzie Detwiler, Max Duffee, Dominic
Garzarelli, Jayden Hoyman, Tess Kuzneski,
Marus Laney, James Mill, Brynlee Schawl,
Zoe Sharbaugh, Bradly Stoker, Emma
Valentin, Jocelyn Emrock, Anna Shyrock.
Teacher: Carol Marcenzo
Abby Buterbaugh, Maria Carrozza, Olivia
Cramer, Braden Depp, Brianna Devore, Anthony Douglas, Nathan Druschel, Shawn
Harper, Brynn Koscho, Dallas Leasure,
Kowen Mowery, Kirestin Norwood, Elizabeth Paden, Ethan Sinclair, Landon Snyder,
Teacher: Sue Lieb
Katrina Barkey, Daniel Boring, Madison
Davis, Isabella Faught, Evan Falisec, Colton
Jarvie, Anna Layden, Liam Lamkie, Jakob
Misko, Hailey Nichol, Dennis Patterson,
Leeah Peles, Alex Seger, Brayden Shaffer,
Brock Small, Eddie Stewart, Hannah Stonebraker, Rachael Ward, Ashlynn Wells.
Teacher: Diane Fenton
Bradley Arnold, Alexandra Ball, Tyler Blystone, Jalyn Buterbaugh, Natalie Corson,
Denise Deyarmin, John Elick, Destiny Keener, Benjamin Lundberg, Kadance Nedrow,
Brady Petras, Brooke Piper, Carter Roberts,
Crystal Sillman, Jayden Sokol, Brooklyn Syster, Landin Wilson, Aubrey Atwell, Sameul
Smith.
Teacher: Andrea Perkovich
Alexandria Arnold, Edward Bell, Quentin
Brooks, Diana Dilts, Desiree Dressel, Charles
Edwards, Derek Fairman, Mykala Harriger,
Chelsey Himes, Leland Johnston, Peyton
Lavender, Kassandra McConnell, Stella Murdock, Gage Orf, Madison Petras, Sadie Shaw,
Toby Smarsh, Devin Whitney, Katelin
Woods, Zachary Yingling.
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Delilah Coy
Emma Shirley, Aaliyah Watkins, Risecen
Katie Burgess, Grade 4, Homer-Center Elementary School
McGinnis, Bonnie Kostella, Shiane Richard,
Averie Gerhart, Abigail Saxfield, Jeremiah
Brewer, Aiden Gallaher, Alexis Bias, Tabitha
Mason, Ryanna Collazzo, Hunter Bailey,
Nathan Van Leer, Gabriel Bryson.
Teacher: Brandy DelleDonne
Abelina Adkins, Colton Carr, Gabriel Cornman, Addison DiLascio, Andrea Dyson,
Marcus Knue, Hanna Koffman, Mackenzie
Lescinsky, Michelle Lynn, Bradley McDivitt,
Emma Prenni, Hannah Spahn, Dominic
Speal, Blake Strouse, Jaylynn Taliani, Shae
Willett.
Teacher: Jason Marshall
Christina Alsippi, Bella Botteicher, Ashlynn Branan, Paige Broadbent, Charlotte
Camp, Lilly Chelgren, Iva Fox, Landon Kodman, Lydia Miller, McKenzie Ruddock, Lydia
Seymour, Reid Smith, Vandi Vest, Noah
Weigner.
ST. BERNARD REGIONAL
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Teacher: Megan Pomputius
Sadye Barner, Gianna Brody, Kara Broskin,
Isabella Burkhart, Travis Calvetti, Elizabeth
Carion, Daniel Carpenter, Ava Elliott, Jadan
Grata, Jayden Learn, James Levendusky, Willow Murphy, Eliana Pineda, Connor Rohlf.
Grade 1
Teacher: Sharon Friday
Darek Baustert, Aidan Burkett, Brandon
Butler, Hannah Clark, Anthony Corso,
Hayleigh Dean, Isabel Gerheim, Peyton Kerr,
Reagen Kirkland, Lucius Maines, Sterling
Myers, Colin Saxion, Zakkery Shirey, Jayden
Snyder, Madison Tura.
Teacher: Mike Saxion
Braiden Anderson, Jordan Baum, Timmy
Bowen, Landon Clark, Ella Graham, Tyler
Hice, Tyler Jaworskyj, Olivia Krug, Tyler Murray, Kyra Myers, Maddox Myers, Kirsten
Parys, Emilie Rittenour, Jessica Ross, Jodi
Schreckengost, Hannah Simpson, Jesse
Stewart, Thomas Weston.
Teacher: Jan French
Payton Ammerman, Owen Crawford,
Ryan DeSantis, April Earnest, Macie Eckenrode, Michael Fryer, Landon Harmon, Evan
Hepler, Corbin Johnston, Conner McCracken, Dalton McKendrick Sydney Osan, Grace
Seita, Baleigh Sherwood, Austin Tichinel,
Brinley Toland.
Teacher: Jeneane Kehew
Mia Ament, Spencer Baker, Destiny Brewer, Ezra Bowser, Dominick Collier, Ryal
Coulter, Daniel Csonka, Sydney Duriancik,
Michael Grant, Joshua Holby, Dakota James,
Dokota Edwards, Sydney McCray, Celia
Pack, Madelyn Smoyer, Adam Sproat.
Megan Lentz, Grade 4, Apollo-Ridge Elementary School
Teacher: Renee Clawson
Jordan Abell, Michael Collier, Sophia Filippini, Delaney Fitzroy, Cooper Gourley, Gage
Johnston, Alyssa Luppe, Jacob Mull, Colton
Nagg, Austin Niel, Reed Venenziani, Colten
Walker, Connor Weigand, Ava Whitlinger,
Evan Yackuboskey.
Teacher: Liz Gatskie
Caroline Albert, Mohammed Alhasnan,
Allison Birge, Seth Brown, Deven Buterbaugh, Rayne Butler, Caleb Campbell, Owen
Cramer, Anthony Crook, Paul Ewen, T.J.
Kelly, Rylee Lee, Maycie Lorelli, Laken Ruddock, Maria Voorhies, Trinity Williams, Andy
Yeom.
Teacher: Katie McCutcheon
Jayna Olp, Ryan Shaffer, Garrison
Dougherty, Luca Cosentino, Sophia Rahman, Karmyn Smith, Alexandra Arbuckle,
Christian Jablunovsky, Joey McKendrick,
Marquita Dixon, Kaylie Bowser, Camille
O’Brien, Adriana Petroff, Emily Lybarger.
Teacher: Jackie Jones
Hannah Artley, David Baker, Andrew Barris, Kaylin Carlyn, Christa Cochran, Austin
Deyarmin, Jeremiah Dilts, Rylan Fairchild,
Brooklyn Furman, Brayden Henry-Yanity, K.
Garrett, Evan K., Aiden LaMantia, Aleena
Martin, Megan McConnell, Victoria McCully, Mark Perry, Gage Pierce, Nadia Pollard,
Nevaeh Stiffey, Cole Stuchal.
Teacher: Jessica Scardina
Mallory Bish, Paige Clawson, Kennedy
Garvin, Raymond Kellichner, Ethan
Kishlock, Caden Kuzemczak, Ryan Mandekic, Rylee McCallum, Christopher McKendrick, Savannah Mocek, Julia Platt, Marcus Raby, Luke Shannon, Olivia Stiles,
Zachary Strine, Robert Taylor, Amy Wang,
Antonio Garcia.
Teacher: Kathy Frola
Devon Bartlebaugh, Kylee Barton, Gabriel
Block, Michael Bradley, Derrick Bryner, KayLee Cole, Danika Davidson, Carson Elliott,
Jacob Farabaugh, Ava Gardner, Caleb Griffith, Emily Harkleroad, Katelyn Harris,
Nolan Howard, Anna Kurnocik, Makenna
Locke, Abigail Pynos, Gracy Risinger, Dillon
Roth, Madeline Serwinski, Carissa Stipcak,
Autumn Tatsch, Cole Kennedy-Citeroni.
Teacher: Mary Vick Boole
Noah Meckley, Dylan Wise.
Teacher: Mandy Yanoschick
Majeed Ben-Salamah, Laney Chamberlin,
Rowan Lemmon, Seven Barber, Addie
Raykes, Bailey Oakes, Sheyanne Hozak,
Jacob Van Luven, Cameron Bender, Taevion
Vearnon, Kia Cruz-Hoover, Nadia Goodyear,
Abbie Huey, Lilly English, Eddie Lloyd, Matt
Lloyd, Nathian Creighton.
Teacher: Melissa Bender
Ian Anderson, Austin Auyeng, Alyssa Carloni, Alexa Cikowski, Shannon Filipovich,
Taylor Fisanich, Justin Gibbons, Lily James,
Nick Love, Alvin Liu, Julianne Nickas, Tyler
Ream, Callan Romance, James Richburg, Sebastien Sedan, Regan Trusal, Olivia McCracken.
Teacher: Teresa Rinehart
Abigail York, Andrew Anderson, Kyra
Atherton, Americus Firestone, Brandon
Gardner, Logan Glidden, Matthew Green,
Jolena Hamrock, Andy Konda-Munongo,
Olivia Lechner, Lilly Mettee, Matthew Ray,
Meghan Rummel, Addison Sexton, Kahriya
Whittington, Jason Wallace, Kyle Zheng.
Teacher: Katie Stossel
Alayna Mack, McKenzie Greenawalt,
Robert Woomer, Domingo Benavidez,
Damian Arn, Cole McAnulty, Kaylee Moon,
Julia King, Ashli Mumau, William Liming,
Ryan Jackson, Grace Barnett, Clark Freed,
Kyle Henry, Riley Succheralli, JackLynn
Fleming, Arianna Sleasman.
Teacher: Elizabeth Woods
Caleb Anderson, Brandon Broskin, Olivia
Brown, Anna Cutshall, Lilly Freed, Kaydence
Fulmer, Chloe Gregg, Casey Harper, Josef
Kmetz, Michael Krejocic, Anderson Lee,
Payton Miller, Lex Morgan, Ian Pizer, Abigail
Ramsell, Rose Terranova, Katlyn White.
Teacher: Christine Kowchuck
Madison Apjok, Aidan Arone, Cameron
Cavalier, Michael Dixson, Brian Dunmire,
Lexus Eckenroad, Joshua Elkin, Aurora Ellis,
Kaitlynn Harper, Logan Huey, Molly Kosmack, Emmanuel McMillian, Grace Painter,
Tayvin Pizer, Macy Sardone, Alexandra
Schmidt, Joseph Succheralli, Vincent
Tagliati, Ashton Winkelman, Cordelia Zack,
Austin Zenisek.
Teacher: Betty Ann Pavlick
Liam Randolph, Madison Montague,
Mason Bell, Logan Henry, Annaleigh Spade,
McKenna Kishlock, Evan Tullis, Aiden Bekina, Haleigh Casteel, Caden Vitalie, Megan
Steffey, Dominic Deyarmin, Mya Boxler,
Justley Sharp, Zachary Rouser, Ethan Tullis,
Riley Clevenger, Sierra Hogan, Abby Skoff.
HOME-SCHOOLED
Teacher: Jane Mundorff
Abel Mundorff.
Teacher: Danielle Roadman
Emma Roadman.
Teacher: Cori Schrecengost
Madeline Anderson, Madison Conde,
Adam Cowburn, Camden Dean, Emilee
Fields, Connor Geesey, Emma Grim, Audrey
Hunter, Maura Knepper, Michael Lubold,
Victoria Manzek, Makena Redhead-Kriston,
Aaron Roadarmel, Ocean Rodgers, Sophie
Runge, Gustavo Scalzo, Tyler Skalican,
Brooklyn Williams.
Teacher: Anne Marie Shaffer
Joshua Allen, Daniel Bradford, Kenny
Christoff, Cole Chuhran, Lauren Daisley,
Angel Farabaugh, Katelyn Feighner, Morgan
Hassen, Cooper Keith, Sabrina Keith,
Jonathan Kirsch, Mary Kudlawiec, Peyton
Myers, Zane Novella, Lacey Patterson, Madison Piatiak, Meghan Vasil, Emmy Waugh.
Teacher: Anne Weber
Kara Abrams, Timothy Bassett, Daniel
Baxley, Malayna Boring, Owen Bougher,
Hunter Buterbaugh, Olivia Cavallo, Arla
Homady, Collin Jones, Simon Kent, Laurel
Kerekish, Eddie Luther, Brandon McCombie, Alivia McCracken, Colton Paronish,
Bella Pozzini, Alivia Tait, Shyanne Whited,
Evan Wiewiora.
Teacher: Toni DePetro
Bryce Barnosky, Mara Baum, Ariana Bush,
Zane Couturiaux, Dakota Delattre, Cody
Dumm, Cristina Ernest, Brianna Falduto,
Kylee Hutchison, Ben Janosko, Kelsi Klemann, Laci Lanzendorfer, Martina Miller,
Braden Moriconi, Erik Nagle, Ki Riva, Patrick
Smith, Lucas Weyandt, Jack Young, Rachel
Young, John Zemrose.
Teacher: Jackie Paronish
Nicholas Barrett, Courtney Bobik, Christopher Booterbaugh, Athena Colgan, Xander
Dolansky, Logan Dumm, Bryce Gibbons,
Madison Hassen, Dylan Hickok, Jonathan
Jacobs, Breanna Mallin, Isaac Schlosser,
Malia Shutty, Jonah Stivanelli, James Tayse,
Isabella Wargo, Logan Wargo, Jonathan
White, Meadow Spanella.
Teacher: Nancy Zatorsky
Brady Ashurst, Lakin Baker, Ryan Bloom,
Evan Corson, Makenzie Formeck, Samantha
Frantz, Joseph Griffiths, Rebecca Krug, Rylee
Maines, Corbin Mason, Haley Pattison,
Nicholas Pavelko, Morgan Prasko, Thomas
Rezk, Skye Rummel, Preston Tayse, Jeremy
Thomas, Joshua Yachtis.
Teacher: Amy Mountain
Adam Altemus, Eric Baum, Alex Beatty,
Heather Campbell, John Chilenski, Kyleigh
Coy, Kristyn Detwiler, Tru Duncan, Dominic
Gray, Ryen Gresko, Bailey Horn, Emily
Kendra, Kolton Kerchensky, Alex Kirsch,
Mindy Krouse, Nicole Myers, Adrianna
Scatena.
Teacher: Colleen Myers
Jenna Mumau, Eric Overman, Lauren
Hilty, Jenica Fleming, Andrew Beer, Benjamin Pearce, Madison Long, Kenny Raspe,
Devin Tomlinson, Zachary Wickens, Samara
Blose, Dakoda Patterson, Brenden Jarvie,
Isaiah Rice, Zaeda Cline, Madison Jenkins.
Teacher: Tina Anderson
Edward Clouser, Peyton Falisec, Kaitlyn
Gaston, Abigail Goncher, Autumn Gray, Silas
Harris, Tessa Hudson, Cole Keith, Derek
Komlosky, James Overman, Justin Patterson,
Madilyn Ruddock, Makayla Rummel,
Alexander Rushnok, Bentley Schultz, Austin
Stephenson, Ashly Wirick, Michael Zurenko.
Teacher: Christy Falisec
Adam Ball, Donavin Campbell, Chad Ferguson, Jeff Goss, Kara Harbrige, Makenzie
Houck, Lucas Huey, Courtney Jarvie, Joseph
Lamer, Jadyn Leamer, Olivia Mnich, Alexander Murdick, Emma Sadar, Andrew Smarsh,
Merissa Spellman, George Swanik, Bailey
Weaver, Charlee Woods.
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Linda Herr
Timothy Barrett, Jacie Bender, Aimee
Cessna, Owen Conner, Chloe Davies, Sophia
Forsythe, Rachel Fox, Gage Heilbrun, Brenna Hodak, Alexander Johnson, Milayna Leasure, Christian Lockard, Trevor Midock,
Emily Orr, Denton Park, Alexis Roush,
Bryanna Sheffar, Zackery Shultz, Daniel
Waltermire.
Teacher: Jackie Smathers
Jordan Bender, Nathan Bothell, Madelyn
Buffone, Alex Cessna, Morgan Chichy, Gatlin
Clark, Reagan Gallaher, Branden Gaston,
Dakota Johnson, Chelsea McAdams, Jeremy
McGraw, Travis Midock, Michael Murphy,
Braden Reichenbach, Hailey Reinard, Ethan
Smith, Klara Smith, Quintessa Briggs, Rebecca Spence, Angel Steffish, Mikey Strouse,
Hailegh Worley, Aliyah Bost.
Teacher: Becky Stiffler and Julie Obney
Jimmy Barrett, Maggie Bates, Leah Carr,
Matthew Clark, Savanna Fink, Billy Gibbons,
Bradley Henigan, Anna Hudson, Lukas
Montgomery, Sydnie Nicewonger, Tyler
Pierce, Bryce Schmidt, Nathan Simpson.
Teacher: Carly Hruska
Casey Allshouse, Kodi Bair, Layne Baum,
Carmhyne Brown, Brianna Campagna,
Alana Cindric, Heinz Cindric, Dalton Clawson, Leigha DiLascio, Rylee Doak, Addison
Heeter, Mackensie Irwin, Aiden Lassick,
Devin McCullough, Garrett Pace, Sara Petro,
Sara Shaner, Blake Vincent, Cheyenne
Weimer.
Teacher: Heather Bole
Ashlyn Anderson, Olivia Beatty, Kevin
Brunner, Aliyah Eckenrode, Tiffany Evans,
Alexander Frain, Emma Heeter, Bradley
Miller, Madison Miller, Rylie Miller, Michael
Muir, Justin Murphy, Abigail Pazak, Kyle
Roessler, Michaela Rugh, Korey Schmidt,
John Taliani, Kayla Vought, Henry Spoly.
Teacher: Carly Blake
Casey Allshouse, Kodi Bair, Layne Baum,
Carmhyne Brown, Brianna Campagna,
Heinz Cindric, Dalton Clawson, Leigha DiLascio, Rylee Doak, Addison Heeter, Mackensie Irwin, Aidan Lassick, Devin McCullough, Garret Pace, Sara Petro, Sara Shaner,
Blake Vincent, Cheyenne Weimer, Alana
Cindric.
Teacher: Sharon Vivian
Braydon Albright, Izaak Bloch, Christian
Brown, Faith Ellis, Kaite Hood, Sadie Juart,
Victoria Lippert, Amara Moore, Kobi Parks,
Gabriel Sleigh, Sabrina Smith, Gabi Van
Wieren, Henry Wolfe.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Teacher: Maria Hastings
Emily Bennett, Olivia Burkhart, Ryan
Conn, Eve Fiala, Daniel Gornick, Isaac Marshall, Lia McAnulty, Rhyan McCracken,
Nicolas Pacconi, Benjamin Reynolds,
Alexander Tebbs, Emma Weishner, Ivan
Youssef.
Grade 2
Teacher: Jacalyn Matz
Ethan Beighley, Madison Boyer, Nick
Drahnak, Nate Ebeling, Kayden Edwards,
Melina Hilliard, Jacob McCracken, Verner
McKendrick, Brenna Nutter, Shylina Parson,
Logan Rode, Garrett Shaffer, Hunter Smathers, Lillian Todhunter, Jodi Tucker, Zora Watson, Kiara Wilson, Zoe Yagle.
Teacher: Laura Cunningham
Amarie Brown, Amber Hendricks, Brock
Petras, Carly Wang, Cipriana Salazar, Evan
Clawson, Jake Niehenke, Korey Ferringer,
Kristianna Shearer, Leighanna Patterson,
A.J. Fedor, Thomas McCurdy, Tristin Wiggins, Tullia Dietz, Xavier Semone, Aziriah
Dealmeida.
Teacher: Nancy Obush
Zainah AlMaita, Nyle Bajwa, Jenna Bell,
Antonio Bizzaro, Lily Cunningham, Kamryn
Fulmer, Zack Herrington, Blake Hodak,
Anne Kinneer, Anna Margita, Zyanne Miller,
Carter Robbins, Dylan Shaffer, Amanda
Skursky, Brett Winckler, Michael Wood.
Teacher: Patricia Hilliard
Leah Amsler, Connor Burtick, Alexandra
Chelgren, Sarah Hozak, Brooke Johnson,
Madeline Menta, Haley Mibroda, Carson
Midkiff, Melanie Navaratna, Landen Leasure, Matthew Shupe, Jon Vennard, Caitlin
Wilson, Jon Paul.
Teacher: Monica Bell
Andrew Baker, Francis Benko, Ryan Bonadio, Falisha Bopp, Michael Busani, Bella DePree, Caleb Empfield, Adrian Escalona,
Jacob Flickinger, Brin Gardner, Aliyah
Kendall, Amber Long, Kody Long, Logan
Platt, Nathan Potter, Isabel Pynos, Phoebe
Ringler, Gloriannys Santiago, Kira Shirley,
Hank Skirboll, Briana Taylor, Maximus Wilson.
Teacher: Jennifer Shirley
Mikaela Bittner, Brianna Blazek, Cortney
Bracken,
Ella
Burkhart,
Spencer
Burnsworth, Jayme Delousia, Sarah Fisher,
Hannah Foust, Evan Harris, Tyler Henderson, Isiah Lawson, Carson McCully, Bryce
Miller, Audreonna Putnan-Murphy, Logan
Nortan, Timothy Palmer, Karlie Patterson,
Riley Provias, Kaitlyn Simpson, Braden
Staats, Madison Stutzman, Jackson Vukman.
Teacher: Robin Henry
Kasey Baird, Jolene Cribbs, Sarah Detwiler,
Jaydn Dreischalick, Rayne Fink, Dylan Gaggini, Ty Hertzog, Brandon Kelly, Jules
Kirouac, Kiersten Marquis, Jaydon McCurdy,
Daniel McGinity, Hannah Miller, Payton
Mlakar, Paige Podolski, Cameron Reaugh,
Conner Rebo, Sedona Reilly, Cade Simmons,
Connor Vatter, Isaac Witmer, Trenney Yanoff.
Teacher: Patti McCausland
Cameron Anthony, Alexis Bandi, Callen
Claypool, Autymn Cockroft, Ethan
Crownover, Kamden Eddy, Ethan Egley,
Brooke Fatta, Savannah Graczyk, Nathan
Hill, R.J. Kirkwood, Avrey Kromer, Seth Matson, Zachary Meyer, Hunter Miller, Tyler
Ramer, Kiersten Shields, Madison Shoop,
Steven Steele, Carina Warr, Colten Williams,
Lexie Young.
Teacher: Mary Vick Boole
Miranda Pounds, Evan Stewart.
Teacher: Deb Patterson
Lilliana Blank, Jenna Conrad, Alyssa Dalesandro, Jormann Embry, Amy Fedder, Andrew Giermanski, Noah Grattan, Megan
Henning, Brock Kephart, Devon Laney,
Lizzie Lee, Zach Long, Margaret Lowery,
Abby Mazey, Tristan Menifee, Avery
Olenchick, Sam Overman, Anne Rizzo,
Nicole Shaver, Lauren Vu, Rachel Wilson.
Teacher: Peg Soukup
Madison Bence, Maggie Bennett, Ally
Conrad, Hope Cook, Emma Doyle, Kate
Ghiardi, Josiah Johnson, Maria Kowchuck,
Donovan Laney, Carter Lychalk, Sarah
Madey, John Manna, Madyson McGee, Sara
Mock, Logan Oberlin, Loughlin Pagnucci,
Edward Phillips, Owen Putt, Aiden Rizzo,
Luke Sell, Amaura Sutfin, Tony Trent.
Brett Abrams, Grade 6, Calvary Baptist Academy
Teacher: Jill Kaszubowski
Lina Al-Shraah, Sara Argueta-Valle, Hanan
Azizi, Emma Bernini, Gabby Clark, Nadia
Fairman, Sean Fenk, Payton Firestone, Aisha
Ganda Nabi, Noah Hutton, Abby Killam,
Owen Lawson, Luke Leon, Victoria Lloyd,
Daniel McAnulty, Isaac Myers, Tyler Pecany,
Desiree Stewart, Lincoln Trusal, Hayden Zilner, Taylor Zook, Miranda Zuzek.
Teacher: Alicia Clark
Yumma Al-Shraah, Zach Tortorella, Sarah
Bolyard, Aidan Cessna, Owen Clifford, Asher
Cobaugh, Kenzey Colgan, Mikayla Cramer,
Bryce Vojtek, Spencer Hatfield, Rylee
Homer, Reagan Homer, Sally Kingan, Emma
Levan, Trista Newman, Louie Pesci, Natalie
Schaeffer, Katrinette Sexton, Ashley Shaw,
Autumn Smith, Sara Welch, Tiana Moracco,
Willow Hone, Sarah Aiqueel.
ELDERTON ELEMENTARY
HOME-SCHOOLED
Daniel Turner.
Teacher: Julia Fairchild
Soren Fairchild.
Teacher: Bob Rado
Isabella Anderson, Hannah Baumer,
Michael Castro, Logan Chamnik, Maksym
Conjelko, Autumn Fanella, Isabella
Garzarelli, Josalynn Guida, Luke Hunter,
Natalie Fletcher, Grade 5, McCreary Elementary School
Kariss Knuckles, Andrew Kuzneski, James
Latson, Dakota Lemmon, Hailey Lupinetti,
Grant Miller, Destiny Moronto, Tyler Pennington, Sara Poydence, Jordan Roman, Abigail Smith, Antonio Sobrinho, Catherine
Stauffer, Jennifer Todd, Maria Valentin,
Mason Whedbee.
Teacher: Nancy Skultety
Nevaeh Allshouse, Sage Bernard, Toby
Bishop, Morgan Brendlinger, Ryan Fabin,
Mya Fatula, Devin Flint, Cody Housholder,
Jamey Howard, Sydney Kishlock, Victorino
Maratita, Matthew Mlakar, Dalton Myer,
Collin Quick, Jason Rice, Aubrey Ruddock,
Xander Silvis, Rebecka Smith, Lindsey Succheralli, Caleb Zack, Riley Zeiler.
Teacher: Kathy Daskivich
Marcus Bowser, Alexander Broskin, Brittany Casteel, Michaela Catalano, Sophia
Eastman, Bruno Foust, Kyersten Gett, Noah
Henry, Jacqueline Lear, Chad McQuiston,
Peyton Mohney, Brooklynn Neal, Christian
Penrose, Zoe Renz, Wayne Shirley, Ethan
Spaid, Matthew Steffey, Mariah Strong,
Collin Troup, Isaac Turk, Justin Walbeck,
Michael Yount.
Teacher: Kathy Hawk
Kadin Boring, Aleasha Brendlinger,
Nicholas Buterbaugh, Zachary Ellis,
Greyson Esgro, Casandra Ferguson, Hunter
Hagerman, Jake Johns, Hannah Lieb, Aaron
Lute, Michael Maderer, Keirstin McCachren,
Hannah Mogle, Adalynn Ondo, Lily Orr, Natalie Pileski, Tony Rizzo, Julianna Shank, Kai
Shultz, Taya Sinclair, Brock Sleppy, Austin
Stapleton, Alisha Ward, Nickolas Yackuboskey.
Teacher: Debbie Hoover
Kylee Bartlebaugh, Cameron Custer,
Nolan Detwiler, Benjamin Dumm, Sydney
Duvall, Ty Fennell, Matthew Ferguson, Reilly
Hill, Makaylah Koscho, Brandon Lawer, Abigail Lewis, Ashley Mason, Keara Patterson,
Christopher Pilston, Luke Rainey, Gretta
Ratay, Julian Shultz, Russell St. Clair, Hayden
Sturgeon, Joshua Summers, Caroline Super,
Brent Tuorinsky, Samuel Weaver, Matthew
Zayachak.
Teacher: Loraine Ludwig
Jeffrey Berdomas, Anna Buggy, Jacob
Buggy, Hayley Douglas, Aidan Druschel,
Megan Dumm, Hannah Emigh, Steven Fisher, Alyssa Grant, Tyler Hill, Cole Jarvie,
Joseph Johnston, Bryan Koches, Aaron Lowman, KayLeice Mowery, Koda Patterson,
Connor Rainey, Andrew Rhea, Alyssa Stack,
Xander States, Kendra Thomas, Nadya Wilson, Gabrielle Wise.
Teacher: Melissa Lynch
Issac McCullough, Katie Stiffler, Carter
Knepp, Haley Little, James Huey, Morgan
Passmore, Madison Scalese, Hailey Kachmarchi, Ashley Stebbins, Mason Gearhart,
Michael Stibrik, Traver Wise, Hannah
Homerski, Avery Falisec, Brady Syster,
Gabriella Burgett, Cory Hudson, Sarah
Smith, Joseph Johnson, Brayden Faught.
Teacher: Deanna Gay
Haley Anderson, Robert Askew, Tommy
Bartlebaugh, Jayce Brooks, Maximus Falisec,
Kahlan Lavender, Alex Leydic, Brock Lloyd,
Jack Matz, Jade Misko, Kailee Mumau, Serinity Pearce, Tyler Piper, Vincenzo Scott, Faith
Smith, Haleigh Thacker, Ashton Weaver,
Alexis Wilshire, Korbin Wilson.
Teacher: Meredith Zurenko
Keygan Batten-Richmond, Ethan Bracken,
Paige Dilts, Sean Furman, Abigail Goss,
Cody Diezel Jobe, Ryan Little, Christopher
McCoy, Logan R. McCracken, Madison Orf,
Noah Peles, Tanner Platt, Zoey Scott, Chessa
Shaffer, Bethany Smith, Nolan Stewart,
Zachary Stiffler, Jesslynn Swanson, Kyan
Taylor, Carlena Ward, Brandon Wilshire.
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Luke Sitosky
Lillian Bryson, Garrett Griffith, Bradey
Heberling, Rachael Hill, Claudia Hilty,
Amanda Jack, Tyler Lingenfelter, Zach Lutz,
Trenton Marshall, Ethan Miller, Logan
Miller, Ashley Palmer, T.J. Reichenbach,
Calvin Rombaugh, Allison Semetkoskey, Jocelyn Stanford, Brady Tonkin, Madison
Walker.
Teacher: Rebecca Blews
JoAnn Abbey, Sydney Anderson, Ashley
Cherry, Dorothy Cronan, Preston Fox, Charlotte Gardner, Morgan Gelles, Garret Isenberg, T.J. Lynn, John Mason, Hailie Murphy,
Daniel Niel, A.J. Pacconi, Nate Strittmatter,
Cody Thompson, Luke Winters.
Teacher: Ramona Taylor
Ronnie Appleby, Anthony Ashbaugh, Angelo Bartolini, Sophia Biem, Dillon Buchinsky, Molly Clawson, Corbin Cullen-Shearer,
Kleo Curry, Derek Graf, Haylee Henry,
Matthew Izzo, Austyn Kovalcik, Thomas
Maruca, Jesse McGuire, Jason McKnight,
Abbigail Motes, Hannah Muir, Shaylee Nicewonger, Madison Prenni, Anthony Sharp,
Courtney Smith, Chad Spaugy, Kelsey Zebley.
Teacher: Steve Shannon
Timothy Allshouse, Rocco Bartolini, Kodie
Bathurst, Noah Bole, Jack Brink, Josh Brown,
Taylor Carr, Raychel Cass, Hailey Clark, Lillian Harris, Robert Koczan, Chris Lydick,
Amber Matson, Kyle Misner, Morgan Nelson, Ian Pavelchick, Madison Petro, Hunter
Pratt, Riley Schmidt, Eric Shaulis, McKenna
Shellhammer, Myhlie Skillings, Isabella
Spoly, Kerra Stover, Aidan Williams.
Connell, Lillian Davie, Tucker Davis, Shaylee
Eiselman, April Elder, Austin Homer, Courtney Hozak, Zack Huey, Brody Kunselman,
Olivia Kuzneski, Jordan Lauer, Kiley Libengood, April McKendrick, Teagan Merriman,
Kylen Sawtelle, Dalas Waltemire, Jesse
Greve.
Teacher: Jacqueline Bartolini
Cameron Albert, Hasan Ali, Jason Bowser,
Haylee Chappell, Gia Cosentino, Emma
Cramer, Jon Dietz, Cole Dillon, Jonnessa
Hughes, Ethan Marcozzi, Elijah Mauk, Curtis Ruddock, Hailey Schrecengost, Alexis
Single, Daniel Williams, Zachary Wood, Ella
Zhou, Sara Zimmerman, Justin Reese.
Teacher: Nicole Griffith
Hannah Barr, Ella Chelgren, Emma Gold,
Kara Marshall, Lydia Murphy, Kaeden Parks,
Josh Saurer, Kayla Seymour, Noah Shepler,
Alexandria Williams.
Teacher: Hope Staats
Anthony Bouchard, Alexander Dickson,
Brett Fails, Dalton Fairchild, Dakota Francis,
Donna Fridley, Brayde Furman, Luke
Garvin, Donevan Graham, Hannah Griffen,
Kyle Ickes, Austin Kovalcik, Skyler Lutman,
Alexis Pace, Amber Palmer, Abigail Pierce,
Sydney Reed, Lexi Risinger, Trinity
Tessendorf, Devon Witmer, Alexis Yanits.
Teacher: Susan Dunlap
Lauren Alamo, Zachary Artley, Morgan
Ashbaugh, Noah Ashbaugh, William Barnhart, Myrissa Beskid-Perez, Richard Block,
Alaina Constantino, Harrison Gilligan, Abby
Hays, Raven Jones, Alex Kirkland, Daniel
Kukula, Elizabeth Lamantia, Amber McConnell, Madison Repine, Corbin Ryan, Ian
Smyth, Izabella Sprague, Cole Townsend,
Janelle Weaver, Eleighsa Bodnar.
Teacher: Janet Lukacs
Haley Baird, James Barger, Joseph Boehm,
William Canty, Madison Chambers, Vincent
Farally III, Madeline Ganoe, Jacob Haynes,
Brandi Hebenthal, Marissa Hoover, Jayson
Lickenfelt, Heavenlee Lowman, Jeremiah
Marsh, Ravi Mikeska, Jacob Mocek, Ashton
Perfetti, Roman Podolski, Isabella Previte,
Molly Sisitki, Kerigan Staats, Thomas Wagner Jr., Harper Wehrer, Charwan Wood.
Teacher: Mary Hileman
Madison Almes, Skyler Borbonus, Robert
Bowser, Ryan Endress, Haley Farabaugh,
Jacob Faser, Dravyn John, Lincoln Kovach,
Savannah Liscsak, Daniel Schrack, Cody
Taylor, Alison Walbeck, Autumn Zedick,
Demetrius Negron.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Teacher: Janet Arone
Jonah Arone, Vince Belice, Zachary Brody,
Anthony Colonna, Benjamin Dean, Ainsley
Freyvogel, Mara Kirsch, Kennedi Kunkle,
Dylan Majernik, Devon Murphy, Ryan Stossel, Monica Turnbull, Athena Yang.
Teacher: Sherri Kutsch
Kaeleigh Aikens, Jeremy Brewer, Sara
Burkhardt, Tim Cummins, Morgan Daugherty, Brady Filipovich, Becca Kirkland, Angel
Komlosky, Maleia Miller, Bekah Miloser,
Josh Rishell, Grace Rougeaux, Dylan Rummell, Jayde Rummell, Ty Ryen, Jared Scott,
Gavin Stewart, Robert Wetzel.
Grade 3
Teacher: Nikki Rametta
Alivia Acevedo, Delaney Ashbaugh, Adeline Baustert, Ashley Bender, Elizabeth
Bowen, Kailyn Bowser, Abby Bush, Hope
Byers, Dean Callen, Tinesha Claypoole, Savanna Cricks, Mason Cymbor, Andrew Lytle,
Jacob McElhoes, Zachary McMaster,
Thomas Oraskovich, Twila Phillips, Anastasia Rabickow, Lynzi Rupert, Cole Sells, Delaney Shaffer, Zachary Smalling, Alexander
Suman.
Teacher: John S. Mazurek Jr.
Halyn Biddle, Alexis Blake, Chad Brown,
Jessica Carnathan, Jonathon Coleman,
Justin Coleman, Falon Durand, Vanessa
Grantz,
Logan
Harmon,
Delaney
Hempseed, Hayden Hitchman, Zachary
Hreha, Ashtin Krantz, Brice Laurenti, Madison Nacey, Hanna Renwick, Cody Shellhammer, Olivia Stiffy, Hannah Stoughton, Emma
Taylor, Emily Tichinel, Elliott Weigand, Tracy
Weng, Aaliyah Zaffuto.
Teacher: Angela Petroff
Jasmine Burtick, Leah Campbell, Lucas
Teacher: Jenna Bleggi
David Stahlman, Clayton Weaver, Ethan
Shearer, Acey Cassidy, Dustin Miller, Sophia
McCabe, Gavin Bernard, Janet Barber, Isaac
Gibbons, Isabella Edmonds, Tanner Agnello,
Zachary Eisenhower, Adam Abrams, Emily
Eutsey.
Teacher: Natalie McKee
Gracie Agnello, Kaylee Becker-George,
Megan Brocious, Alyssa Colen, Dexter
Froud, Joshua Glaser, Timothy Hauge, Luke
Hilliard, Chloe Hunter, Sara Kane, Matthew
Nelson, Kylee Rifendifer, Nathan Semsick,
William Swanson, Samuel Szep, Taylor
Weaver, Rikkella Yachisko.
Teacher: Heidi Higbee
Adam Rapach, Allison Rutledge, Carolyn
Bish, Chloe Stancombe, Dakota Palmer,
Daniel Miller, Ethan Agnello, Ethan Tomb,
Gracie Porter, Hannah Reilly, John Woodward, Kassidy Helman, Lars Wingerter,
Madelyn Thompson, Madhav Sharda, Shae
Smith.
Teacher: Ed Kocinski
Quinn Mortineau, Tyler Gonos, Stone
Williams, Aiden Hanthorn, Eva Novak, Max
Kovalchick, Evan Jackson, Walker Raykes,
Evan Truman, Greta Uschock, Xander Cruz,
Alex Jadzak, Taylor Sheesley, Caleigh Cessna,
Alyssa Lyman, Amber Gonzales.
Teacher: Dawn Smith
Adriana Guth-Borowski, Kiara Donofrio,
Anna Romance, Orlando Clark, Sarah Love,
Ariel Fultz, Ryan Brocious, Ian Steele,
Nathan Metzger, A.J. Nickas, Nate Clarkin,
Sam Fefolt, Josh Kardell, Ethan Richardson,
Lilly Nath, Alicia Mitchell, Libby Craig, Declan Kubala.
ELDERTON ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Barbara Carnahan
Evan Boyer, Anna Chapman, Jeremiah
Gillespie, Justin Hebenthal, Brendan
Heitzenrater, Abby Oesterling, Emily Peters,
Ethan Prugh, Grace Schrecengost, Eric
Spencer, Brittany Steele, Travis Swartz, Lindsey Townsend.
Teacher: Mary Ann Ciranni
Arianna Ash, Caden Brown, Haley Clark,
Samuel Darr, Allison George, Brianne Ginter, Aliyah Isenberg, Evann Keslar, Emma
Kwisnek, Brett Mlakar, Caitlin Mumau, Evan
Ober, D’Shaun Robinson, Jacob Rowles,
Shannon Sisko, Thomas Smith, Jared Smyers, Genevieve Spade, Matthew Valenti, Lauren Walters, Genesis Gilbert, Tristan Hogan,
Brennen Berfield, Jonah Henry.
Teacher: Nicole Baker
David Avey, Richie Bencic, Maitlyn
Berfield, Ariel Bishop, Tyler Blystone,
Graceann Bush, Rebecca George, Ethan Hazlett, Casey Hippchen, Patricia Hullenbaugh, Micah Hurd, Isaac Kelly, Abigayl
McAdams, Travis Mock, Isabella Morgan,
Kevin Plowcha, Ryan Sardone, Cylie Shaffer,
Teagan Sharp, Hannah Sisak, Mitchel Stillwagon, Dominic Terranova, Breanna
Zenisek.
Teacher: Joe Kotelnicki
Julieann Alexander, Conner Alsippi,
Kaylee Babco, Abbey Bekina, Kyleigh Bell,
Richard Bowman, Tyler Bowser, Clark Bush,
Alex Cessna, Debra Flint, Clinton Goldberg,
Bryson Graham, Drew Kochman, Matthew
Lee, Nicholas Manzanilla, Jordan Putnam,
Robert Randolph, Ben Schmidt, Kendall
Stains, Madison Succheralli, Emily Taylor,
LaVada Walbeck, Gillian Williams.
HOME-SCHOOLED
Jack Turner.
Emily Scherf.
Teacher: Shannon Tokar
Lee Coy, Nick Detwiler, Ryan Francis, Parker Fritz, Dominic Groman, Miles Johnson,
Roderick Jones, Bonnie Lin, Audra Moore,
Glenn Ooten, Olivia Peters, Sarah Pierce,
Adam Shephard, Nathan Skalican, Hailey
Stineman, Jason Stoker, Trent White, Makayla Williams.
Teacher: Kristine Cook
Makayla Adderly, Andrew Barker, Ethan
Black, Lance Bleakney, Sydney Brice, Kaden
Duffee, John Fischer, Rebecca Fries, Judah
Greene, Cameron Hamryszak, Maggie Medvetz, Gavin Millen, Bryce Myers, Erin Okey,
Kevin Roadarmel, Bastian Webber, Brandon
Wolfgang.
Teacher: Karen Laney
Autumn Arotin, Alivia Chila, Sati Davis, Allison Harris, Nathan Hill, Alexis Keith,
Emma Kollar, Adam Lanzendorfer, Garett
Livingston, Olivia Mason, Dominic Mitory,
Brady Myers, Gabrielle Phillips, Jade Rezk,
Alex Ryen, Haley Smarsh, Gary Smith, Skyler
Valeria, Adam Yachtis.
Teacher: Leslie Hanley
Chelsea Arnold, Joslin Barto, Marcus Deyarmin, Brooke Eyler, Max Gromley, Kelly
Jennings, Gabriel Lamar, Tara Leamer,
Rachel Lundberg, Danielle Luzier, Austin
Lydic, Brandon Mumau, Rachael Myers,
Carmen Overman, Hunter Pantall, Samuel
Powell, Derek Ramos, Hannah Richards,
Lydia Ruddock, Lindsey Small, Dustin Stahl,
Dana Wilshire, Samantha Young.
Teacher: Brietta Mighells
Terri Bugay, Shianna Buterbaugh, Sydnee
Elick, Halli Flynn, Madison Geer, Isaac Huey,
Hailey Hughes, Nathan Johnson, Karen
Langham, Molly Leasure, Nicholas McCoy,
Logan McCracken, Kailin McWilliams, Hai-
ley Murdick, Aliya Nichol, Dyllan Overman,
Cassie Roberts, Jayme Schuring, Tyler Scott,
Aveena Snyder, Quenton Strong, Joshua Syster, Jordyn Weaver.
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Lisa Nelson
Noah Bennett, Hunter Berg, Blake Blystone, Tyler Brubaker, Megan Costello, Hallie Filler, Andrew Helman, Jacob Hubbert,
Justin James, Areil Jordan, Jonathan Jordan,
Sarah Miller, Gaven Palko, Krista Saxfield,
Anthony Scott, Benjamin Shoop, Sophia Sigworth.
Teacher: Diane Greene
Marcus Badzik, Dallas Dailey, Mychaela
Doolin, Gavin Effinger, Conner Fairman,
Eric Gaston, Emily McNutt, Hunter Mock,
Michael Reinard, Brady Sheffar, Lauren
Shirley, Dylan Sipos, Kayli Smith, Julia
Spence, Aaron Tennant, Riley Weaver.
Teacher: Jeff Smathers
Santino Bartolini, Jenna Beatty, Carolynn
Bucco, Karly Cindric, Jacob Gyenes, Isabella
Koffman, Adam MacDonald, Harley Moran,
Dylan Murphy, Emily Peters, Eden Plowman, Tristan Roessler, Alex Singel, Kirstin
Smith, Michael Stover, David Stuller, Emily
Woodring.
Teacher: Melissa Hall
Anthony Aronson, Mariah Baker, Logan
Bonnoni, Hope Bryner, James Clawson, Antonio DiLascio, Cody Fairman, Morgan
Gamble, Damian Gunter, Zoe Johnston,
Nicole Kovalcik, Kaitlyn McManis, Tabitha
Shields, Brooke Shirley, Colton Smith, Connor Smith, Nadia Spoly, Hope Stano, Storm
Wilds.
Teacher: Doug Titmus
Alyssa Adams, Candra Bair, Gino Bartolini,
Charlie Brunner, Abbie Dickie, Thomas
Dionisi, Emily Golick, Camryn Luther, Mark
Lynn, Kevin McNellie, Rachel O’Day,
Makenzie
Simpson,
Jacob
Speedy,
Brady Yard.
Teacher: Timothy Johnson
Benjamin Brown, Gabriel Crawford,
Joshua Diecidue, Ethan Marshall, Blake
Mears, Korpo Parks, Gabriel Seevers, Grace
Schrack, Bryn Smith, Eric Smith, Rachel
Smith, Beau Vest.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Teacher: Vera Leonard
George Benamati, Carlie Carion, Aidan
Cattau, James Clark, Kailyn Diaz, Branden
Kanick, Alyson Krecota, Emily Marshall,
Fima Sissoko, Giavonna Spadafora.
Teacher: Ed McCunn
Andrew Adams, Joel Beckwith, Noah Bennett, Cassandra Blystone, Morgan Blystone,
Jenna Bourdess, Justine Brocious, Michaela
Gett, Abbrealla Griffith, Jasmine Hill, Tanner
MacBlane, Alexis Morgan, Preston Orr,
Justin Peterson, Robert Rainey, Zachary
Short, Abigale Shuey, Ellivia Solien, Kole Uptegraph, Danielle VanHorn.
Teacher: Kimberly Todd
Alexa Ackerman, Betha Anderson, Marvin
Beatty, Adam Caylor, Ashlynne Coble, Robin
DeHaven, Alexis Evans, Waylon Ferringer,
Morris Fleming, Hayden Johnston, Isabella
Lee, Bradley McCunn, Savannah Mimis,
Austin Moore, Fawntanna Plyler, Kristin
Richards, Sarah Richardson, Jadyn Schoch,
Jack Shearer, Sunnie Shelstad, Alexis Stonebraker, Emily Willard.
Teacher: Reneé Tiesi
Austin Bailey, Callie Bland, Trey Blose,
Brandon Burtt, Jerzey Coble, Evan Crooks,
Kerry Frye, Clairissa Gallo, Breanna
Hanayik, Hailie Juart, Carter Lydic, Garrett
Marshall, Sandra Matts, Alexander Melkonian, Skylar North, Dylan Roach, Brianna
Sirochman, Elizabeth Smith, Anna Spade,
Jordan Walker, Levi Waltermire, Bradley
Ward.
Grade 4
Teacher: Cindy Kulick
Stephanie Benninger, Donald Biddle,
Logan Clark, William Cyphert, Roslyn Eckenrode, Joshua Faber, Ashley Geiger, Robert
Harkleroad, Brittany Haugh, Kaylyn Hubert,
Lucas Krawczyk, Megan Lentz, Alyssa McCormick, Ethan McKendrick, Sarah Peace,
Joel Prebish, Victoria Querry, Camryn Shedlock.
Teacher: Lisa Henry
Zuhayr Affan, Nathan Birch, Cole Brown,
Megan Coleman, Lexus Dadson, Michelle
Davidson, Jordan DeBar, Danielle Domino,
Sylvia Galeno, Nicolas Hilliard, Brayden
Hodak, Harley Kessler, Bradley McCurdy,
Julie McCurdy, Jenna McDermott, Michael
McGarvey, Jeremy Montgomery, Ryan Olechovski, Nick Owens, Alec Petroff, A J Ryan,
Vinny Sherry, Nick Vennard, Grace Wadding,
Herbert Watson.
Teacher: Donna Sabbia
Avery Redd, Gia Grettler, Kayley Palmer,
Alissa Gornick, Jason Kovalchick, Lindsay
Booth, Natalee Ferringer, Trey Mock, Cloe
Williams, Joey Kuzneski, Lexi Smathers,
Austin Edwards, Adam Fulmer, Alex Holby,
Cole Thome, Drew Rado, Dustin Buterbaugh, Eddy Charlesworth, Daylynn Enriquez, Dante Adamson, Christa Kunkle,
Tommy Blystone, Nathan Myers.
Teacher: Lori Laverick
Derek Marshall, Justin Raible, Alyssa
Golinsky, Katelyn Ondo, Megan Wood, Jessa
Degnan, Lucas Claypool, Ray Kovach, Jeff
Skursky, Nick Shaffer, Moe Al Maita, Haleigh
Trabert, Joey Steffish, Sam Frumkin, Nicole
Aloise, Will Ferguson, Malik Turner, Keith
Sprenger, Haley Hibsman, Josh Pahel, Ashley Fulmer, Reggie Altman, Braedon
Rearick.
Allison Tomb, Grade 6, United Elementary School
Jordyn Williams, Grade 5, Saltsburg ElementarySchool
Teacher: Alissa Joyce
Nadia Bongianino, Jonathan Bush, Timothy Campbell, Julia Canty, Angela Deyarmin,
MacKenna Emanuel, Kaleb Gamble, Alyssa
Hixson, Krystaleena Laney, Dawn McGaughey, Kayla Moran, Mackenzie Nagel,
Kolton Palmer, Morgan Patterson, Emily
Payson, Paighton Pierce, Charis Roth,
Brooke Sleasman, Jacob St. Clair, Saphia
Tate, Taylor Yanits, Sierra Zedick, Gwennavyr
Fernandez, Wyatt Harbaugh, Brian Hartzog.
Teacher: Scott Stuchal
Jaqué Askew, Kevin Barton, Ethan Boone,
Cloe Bowser, Skylar Burnsworth, Makayla
Clemons, Larson Dolan, Josh Gillin, Marcus
Goodlin, Brenna Henry, Autumn Lickenfelt,
Emily McCallen, Cody Mocek, Ali Murphy,
Kyle Platt, Payton Potter, Cheyanne Quidetto, Beth Schroth, Leah Shannon, Isabella
Smith, Ashton Stiles, Bobby Walker.
Teacher: Michele Sisitki
Konnar Cahill, Lucas Chambers, Elijah
Clevenger, Andrew Cole, Sonya Demacek,
Abagail DePree, Bridget Doyle, Garrett Henigin, Rachel Jackson, Gabriel KennedyCiteroni, Jesse Klingensmith, Jacob Leary,
Zachary Liscsak, Ivy Long, Noah McAdams,
Carlos Reyes, Lily Ringler, Michaela Rowser,
Aaron Steiner, Natasha Urso, Caitlin Walbeck, Hellen Wang, Alex Wilson, Sydney Zias.
Teacher: Diane Burbank
Amber Maderer, Shane Meckley.
Teacher: Zachary Whited
Lauren Berezansky, Aja Cassidy, Luke
Ciocca, Laken Dills, Daniel Lee, Owen Lydick, John Makara, Grace McGee, Tanya
Mukasa, Jared Murdick, Shane Nicewonger,
Zachary Palko, Samuel Phillips, Hannah
Scardina, Terry Shields, Cassaundra
Stahlman, Lola Van Leer, Katie Wachob,
Kristina Waddy-Anderson, Abigail Walker.
Teacher: Hollee Jones
Cameron Anderson, Dillon Berezansky,
Rachel Bowersox, Brooke Boyer, Enoch
Clark, Zephaniah Cooksey, Bryce Cunningham, Sarah Denver, Sarah Detweiller, Lauren Fletcher, Travis Gershman, Natalie Grattan, Shelby Kerstetter, Jameson Kutz,
Michael Mazey, Reese McFarlane, Alyssa
McLaine, Payton Smathers, Michael Trent.
Teacher: Barbara Bell
Bryn Beck, Alexis Bonatch, Lily Boulard,
Molly Butler, Jacob Fulmer, Maddie Gauntner, Ally Ghiardi, Hayley Peiffer, Wyatt Lychalk, Kendall Menifee, Matthew Moran,
Josh Neese, John Oskey, Cormac Pagnucci,
Emily Sebring, Elias Sutfin, Cian Williamson
Rea.
Teacher: Carol Tanweer
Abdulelah Abujamil, Alex Beatty, Simon
Bianco, Cleusio Branco, Antonio Caporossi,
Hanna Contrucci, Elizabeth Evanick, Santa
Firestone, Arianna Goodyear, John Gunter,
Courtnay Leydic, Kenneth Lyman, Natalia
Malandro, Ryan Putt, Megan Ruffner, Kevin
Tomko, Cheyene Vansyckle, Hannah Wagner, Julian Yerger, Kevin Zheng.
Teacher: Susan Stitt
Hazim Al-Shraah, Eric Atherton, Morgan
Beard, Jack Cikowski, Owen Cochran, Allie
Coker, Caleb Hockenberry, Joshua Killam,
Jasper Konda, India Krug, Connor McQuaide, Haley Orr, Jonathan Pecany, Henry
Powers, Ryan Ream, Preston Satterfield,
Hunter Shotts, Hannah Steele, Katie Stump,
Jordyn Truman.
ELDERTON ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Trisha Dilick
Tristan Testut, Madison Long, Josh Ohler,
Janey Cessna, Heather Pleyo, Ashlyn
Townsend, Hailey Graczyk, Adam Englert,
Alex Roush, Sarah Barker, Chantelle Gray,
Joseph Steele, Ethan Oesterling, Kaden Tir-
Teacher: Lauri Shoup
Ian Adamson, Allyssa Black, Jaden Blatt,
Gavin Brown, Aliyah Clowser, Brandon
Cramer, Trever Day, Jaden Evanick, Morgan
Faris, Kayla Bell, Keylee McCormick, Jacob
Kishlock, James Loughner, Desiree McQuiston, Cory Miller, Grace Neal, Ron Peak, Cobe
Smith, Lilly Taylor, Kayla Troup, Damian
White.
Teacher: Dawn Yurky
Zachary Aaron, MaKenzie Arone, Heaven
Bailey, Jacob Bennett, Katie Burgess, Carter
Cavalier, Molly Dixson, Jonathan Gearhart,
Dakota Koleszar, Franklin Maratita, Kathryn
Nippes, Nathan Potts, Riley Rura, MaKenna
Simms, Jacob Stiffey, MaKayla Taylor, Todd
Trainor, Ian Vilcek, Logan Williams, Nicholas
Woods, Brittanna Young, Emily Zerfoss.
Teacher: Cathy Hays
John Sprague, Hayden Sisak, Mikayla Martin, Kayla Kishlock, Hunter Kunkle, Melissa
Coffman, Natilie Hill, Wyatt McElheny, Savanna Ahlborn, Robert Scott, Averi Shirley,
Madison Fairman, Matthew Lewis, Cade
Patterson, Amira Elliot, Aaliyah Bowman,
Tyler Gearhart, Alexis Clark, Robby Clevenger, Josh Freed, Tabitha Marunowski.
HOME-SCHOOLED
Teacher: Jane Mundorff
Gracie Mundorff.
Sidney Turner.
Teacher: Danielle Roadman
Isaac Roadman.
Teacher: Jennifer Shoenfelt
Jacob Shoenfelt.
Teacher: Kim Hartle
Faith Hartle.
Teacher: Melissa McCracken
Selah McCracken.
Teacher: Linda Medvetz
Abby Opdyke, Jacob Fritz, Isabella Sharbaugh, Catherine Bevevino, Maddie Caroff,
Kiara Smith, Jorie Meil, Noah Karcher,
Amelia Kuzneski, D.J. Gaillot, Ashley Yanni,
Rodge Reschini, Ben Davies, Danny English,
Paige Mitsko, Kendra Grube, Portia Gibson,
Eliza Ray, Hannah Housholder, Ethan Muir,
Sara Rahkonen.
Teacher: Julie Duffee
Ivy Allison, Kasey Anderson, Heather
Cable, Abby Chamnik, Stella Chepaitis,
Maggie Conjelko, Justice Cowen, Parker
Fanella, Jack Finegan, Emma Kovaks, Taylor
Long, Gwen Lindberg, Hannah Lupinetti,
Nick Meyer, Owen Morris, Alec Norland,
Layla Smith, Hunter Takach, Martin Tyme.
Teacher: Melinda Hosey
Josiah Duncan, Carrie Spicher.
Teacher: Tracey Ruddock
John Barrett, Zolton Campbell, Karl Cidor,
Zach Corson, Faith Firment, Caleb Jones,
Jenna Lutch, Michael McCall, Riley Nagle,
Madison Nagle, Courtney Nealen, James
Platko, John Scott, Seth Semelsberger, Sydney Sheredy, Giana Stein, Tyler Smith, Alex
Stabley, Jacklynn Weaver, Jorden Wise, Brianna Zernick.
Teacher: Michele Paronish
Jason Bacho, Rayna Buza, Isabelle Cunningham, Abigail Daisley, Zachary Daisley,
Autumn Donatelli, Averie Holtz, Jonas Kent,
Megan Bozzer, Grade 5, Homer-Center Elementary School
Cortney Brocious, Grade 4, W.A. McCreery Elementary School
pak, Chance Wesner, Autumn Claypool, R.J.
Frain.
Teacher: Vickie Watters
Nicholas Bullion, Kennedy Eddy, Olivia
Elkin, Blake Fairman, Michael Fields, Corey
Grates, Alex McConnell, Bailey Miller,
Dohminic Miller, Emma Norman, Riley
Prugh, Kameron Ramer, Arin Rearick, Rylee
Riggle, Cody Sitosky, Brock Tedesco, Carissa
Warr.
Karlie Kirsch, Aaron Krug, Katarina Krug,
Sarah Krug, Chandler Lentz, Brooke Lieb,
Britney McMullen, Sydnee Miller, Zoey
Novella, Johniemarie Olenchick, Troy Paronish, Joseph Rezk, Gabriel Riva, Diane
Smith, Mara Yahner.
Teacher: Sandra L. Serafin
Rachel Bradley, Aiden Buterbaugh, Angel
Davis, Brayden Davis, Ariel Dospoy, Josh
Hassen, Isaac Keith, Adam Kopera, Jenah
Lombardo, Sidney McConnell, Isaac
McEvoy, Carson Pershing, Hannah Phillips,
Dakota Shonsky, Devin Shultz, Derek
Stafford, Bryce Stein, Joe Wagner, Courtney
Williams.
Teacher: Richard Work
Justin Ruffing, Abigail Montanaro, Shawn
Farabaugh, Jordan Delattre, Scott Mognet,
Chris Perrone, Briana Smith, Abby Strong,
Courtney Nave, Auri Riva, Tyler Bobik, Alex
Lazendorfer, Kurt Lowe, Noah Keith, Emma
Hasson, Brock Moriconi.
Teacher: Donna Driskel
Bailey Orr, Zachary Brilhart, Morgan
Smith, Victor Santiago, Nick Wolfe, Ed
Crook, Nick Harkins, Luke Lieb, Gavin Good,
Bryce Chiodini, Elizabeth White, Kacey
Berdomas, Isabella Kirk, Alex Smith, Zack
O’Neal, Michael Rizzo, Dylan Somogyi,
Tahlia Perdue, Katie Offman, Madalyn August, Jeremiah Geisel.
Teacher: Kim Rhea
Lauren Bagley, Marisa Barber, Jacob
Crook, Lauren Dumm, Megan Dumm, Jordan Hill, John Hopkins, Joey Jarvie, Tony
Johnson, Tyriq Johnson, Haylie Kellichner,
Tommy Letso, Alyssa Newlin, Morgan
Peach, Alyssa Pratt, Trey Rainey, Justice
Ratay, Caely Redden, Megan Schwartz,
Nathan Super, Kody Templeton, MaKenna
Tinsman, Alycia Zayachak, Brooke Shaffer.
Teacher: Cynthia Long
Justin Alter, Larry Cressley, Alexandria Deyarmin, Zachary Geisel, Miranda Gibbons,
Brock Hagerman, Alyssa Isenberg, Cody
Kranik, Casey Kunselman, Mitchell Laverick, Moriah Marshall, Reece McCombs,
Michelle Phillips, Zada Price, Autumn Raffaele, Alexander Shultz, Devon Sinclair,
Abbey Sleppy, Alexus States, Destiny Ward,
Andrew Weaver.
Teacher: Tarrah Armstrong-Wahl
Destiny Bingaman, MaLeah Bouch, Crystal Boyer, Frank Brocious, Cortland Craig,
Todd Deyarmin, Faron Flynn, Kirsten Goss,
Nicolas Leamer, Logan Lute, Logan Lydic,
Jenna Rice, Destiny Salyers, Benjamin
Smith, Makenna Stover, Seth Toth, Taylor
Ward, Hannah Wirick, Emily Woods, Anthony Wyno, Cody Young.
Teacher: Kristen Peles
Addaleia Beer, Emilia Bracken, Marlee
Butz, Matthew Gooderham, Jacob Himes,
Brianna Leamer, Brianna Long, Iszabella
Rice, Logan Richards, Giovanni Scott, Hannah Short, Bria Small, Emma Smith, Deven
Troup, Karie Tyger, Cole Watkins, Adam
Woods, Kristin Zurenko.
Teacher: Robin Laney
Alisabeth Aldridge, Hunter Antisdel, Kaliub Boychuck, Thomas Buterbaugh, Kyle
Day, Harley Deyarmin, Damon Froum,
Cullen Goncher, Chehalis Kephart, Hunter
Leamer, Colin Matz, Jenna Nichol, Charles
Schmittle, Tia Sillman, Angel Stephenson,
Rebecca Strong, Emileigh Syster, Makayla
Wholaver, Megan Wilkie, Jacob Yates, Benjamin Yingling.
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Christina Stone
Shawn Blystone, Brooke Bothell, Brandon
Brewer, Shawn Cessna, Michael Costello,
Rhys Davies, Colin Fox, Bridget Gardner, Jessica Girolami, Adam Hile, Kaori Kashiwabara, Mya Mano, Carl McCullough, Hailey McCunn, Mason Pearce, Hunter Peterson, Kassandra Roush, Austin Sipos, Aidan
Taylor.
Teacher: Kristy Rado
Camryn Adair, Maylee Bates, Kelsey
Bruner, Jason Buchinsky, Colton CullenShearer, Daniel Golik, Rebecca Handke,
Amy Hodil, Garrett Johnston, Richard Meadows, Gavin Miller, Christopher Pavelchick,
Haylee Raypush, Breanna Reesman,
Michael Shirley, Zachary Simpson, Nathan
Slapinski, Tai Sphon, Austin Testa, Isabella
Watkins.
Teacher: Heather Reo
Courtney Battistelli, Reese Bole, Zachary
Brady, John Calandrella, David Gabrielson,
Chris Gerstel, Joshua Gibbons, Blair Hutchison, Nicole Jorgenson, Alex Lassick, MaKenzi Meckley, Dylian Palmer, Emily Pazak, Lauren Rager, Mitchel Rager, Colin Roessler,
Tyler Roman, Katrina Shearer, Martina
Webb, Izabella Wentzell.
Teacher: Stacy Marquez
Evelyn Bennett, Kendall Branan, Jessica
Buchanan, Emily Ellis, Brady Kodman,
Molly Kodman, Megan Marquez, Chase
Walker, Stone Williams, Erik Wolfe, Emily
Findley, Lauren Saurer.
Teacher: Shannon Race
Daniel Brody, Lily Carone, Amanda Iandiorio, Kimberly Kirsch, Alec Majernik,
Joseph Massie, Donovan Murphy, Cecilia
Sherwood, Cecilia Sobolewski, Anistashia
Weishner, Kaleb Wensel.
Teacher: Janie Fryer
Sidney Sheaffer, Shawn Cypert, Ariel
Holmes, Jacob McMaster, Tori Lentz, Marquie Mazza, Nicole Weiblinger, Hannah Pozzuto.
Teacher: Janie Fryer
Sydney Maldanado, Hannah Suman,
Owen Bernard, Thomas Moore, Madison
Sapinsky, Kelley Smith, Jordan Sowers,
Zachary Kostelansky, Ethan Boyd, Emilee
Barber, Ace Haggarty, Jenna Penrose,
Michael Crosby, Steven Stockdale, Kyle Bowman, Natalie Shaffer, Devin Palmer, Cory
Renwick, Kylie Miller, Eryn Watson, Dominic
Cicala.
Teacher: Alyssa Antalis
Abigail Adams, Torri Ashbaugh, Emily
Busija, Aurora Buterbaugh, Ty Clowser, AnnaPearl Diamond, Kaleb Farmery, Alexis
Fisher, Brandon Gaston, Adam Johnson,
Hunter Lydic, Chrissy Lyttle, Ian McDaniel,
Gabe Rishell, Tyler Sacco, Madison Shaffer,
Teacher: Eileen Jeffries
Jonathan Annon, Gregory Bartholomew,
Summer Fritz, Clowie Gill, Hannah Hays,
Geoffrey Helm, Seth Herdman, Gregory
Himes, Joseph Kelp, Madison KennedyCiteroni, Kameron Lockhart, Jewel Mardis,
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Joy Swasy, Grade 6, St. Bernard School
Sarah Bard, Grade 6, Homer-Center Elementary School
3rd
Izabella White, Keegan Whitfield, Bethany
Zapach, Eric Kotula, Caitlin Harkins.
Teacher: Deb Malicky
Michelle Baker, Cortney Brocious, Clayton
Coble, Tia Cramer, Stormy Dunmire, Logan
Elkin, Deseray Fisher, Gauge Gess, Alaina
Kutsch, Teddy Learn, Brad McClafferty,
Gabe McClellan, Cleo McMahan, Lauren
Miller, Lyza Miller, Dalton Nichol, Hailey
O’Hara, Amelia Smeltzer, Josh Tozer, Garrett
Weaver, Garet Wells.
Teacher: Lee Hudzicki
Peyton Lightcap, Dennis George, Chloe
Scott, Cherise Shultz, Jonah Vaglia, Alaina
Leasure, Gabby Juart, Alisa Stitt, Alyx Cornetto, Seth Steele, Jon Smith, Jaime Harbosky, Donovan Mimis, Melanie Sinan, Anthony Toner, Karina Fisher, Gage Castellano,
Hunter Armstrong, Madison Mumau, Taylor
Harper, Riley Hays, Luke Smeltzer.
Grade 5
Josi McConnell, Kevin McEwen, Isaiah Nelson, Andrew Paouncic, Lucas Platt, Shannon
Podolski, Abigail Rega, Emily Risinger,
Maggi Sarver, Nick Tauriello, Blake Tonkin.
Teacher: Jane Foust
Nash Bennett, Nick Boord, Quinten Borbonus, Cory Campbell, Julian Chisolm,
Matthew Deemer, Courtney Fabian, Timothy Gilbert, Christian Graham, Laurel Henry,
Isabella LaMantia, Richard Malarkey, JayeMaurie Matthews, Matelyn McAfoos,
Arieanna Painter, Ayrton Platt, Quinn Roth,
Chase Sandy, Colby Staats, Adrian Staples,
Noah Stiffler, Kegan Stiles, Kathy Torres,
Patrick Noel.
Teacher: Diane Antonacci
Hanna Alamo, Jillian Barger, Devin
Burkhart, Charles Conrad Jr., Benjamin Detwiler, Jiexin Dong, Luke Duffey, Kourtney
Horchar, Joshua Koches, Xander Kopco,
Amy Kukula, Geona Kuzemczak, Ethan
Libengood, Clarissa Luker, David McAfoos,
Sidney McCully, Allison Oswald, Brandon
Payson, Lexie Platt, Cole Schrack, Abigail
Stone, Seth Sulkosky, Makayla Whitfield, Victoria Casto, Kylie Jasper.
Sam Colgan, Logan Hoburg, Skylar Park.
Teacher: Mark Morrow
Lance Albright, Amy Arotin, Matt Berzonsky, Joey Bujdos, Katelyn Hagens, Mercedes
Hippchen, Brooke Ianarelli, Sydney Jones,
Cassie Kerstetter, Andrew Kimmel, Maddy
Kiral, Lydia Lewis, Jarod Minzer, Ainsley Neiderhiser, Andrew Nelson, Alex Rosas, Laura
Simms, Raeleigh Smith, Patricia Szep, Keith
Uncapher.
Teacher: Patrick McKee
Hannah Zacherl, Creed Wingerter, Luke
Wachob, Joseph Spohn, Malcolm Sadler,
Abbey Moody, Josalynn Mittermeier, Mia
McGee, Talia Mastalski, Theresa Lamantia,
Kendall Jacobson, Gage Hess, Tavan Davis,
Katie Conrad, Aaron Burkhart, Jasmine
Blank, Madison Barker, Paige Almes.
Teacher: Brad Trout
Isaac Arguetta-Valle, Lauren Bailey, Alyssa
Bender, Nicholas Glidden, Ewing Greenhill,
Meagan Hatfield, Barbara Klimkowski, Axel
Kovalchick, Marie Marcoline, Ty Matos,
Maddison McCracken, Anthony Packer,
Julie Pittman, Garrison Sharp, Brittany
Stump, Emma Zuzek, Nathaniel Pebley.
Teacher: Grace Bennett
Kelsey Anderson, Maura Buggey, Kristin
Gonzales, Katelyn Green, Madison Hughes,
Josh Mbogo, Dylan McAnulty, Zach McDivitt, Amanda Mettee, Andrew Nguyen, Erika
Orr, Taran Price, Skyler Renwick, Tanner
Russella, Hannah Taylor, Elijah Warren, Jack
Welch, Laura Welch, Sydney Wells, Veronika
Vodopyanova, Hailey Smith.
HOME-SCHOOLED
Parker Scherf.
Teacher: Chris Kochman
Zack Penrose, Seth Pribish, Logan
Williams, Shyenne Debar, Courtnie Piper,
Jacob Zeiler, Colton Duke, Paige Palmer,
Caleb Learn, Baily Miller, Jason Hippchen,
Kelsey Babco, Tyler Sprankle, Brian Sisko,
Nate Davis, Abigail Hart, Haley Bakina, Maggie Stains, Megan Bozzer, Katelyn Lemley.
Teacher: Sherry Dellaposta
Kristina Andrei, Tyler Balogh, Araina
Berkey, Tyler Dunn, Miranda Federinko,
Ashley Gardner, Abby Goldberg, Zack Good,
Kaleb Kolesar, Cassie Michael, Trevor
Mlakar, Sean Patterson, Canyon Rankin,
Jayke Saiani, Keely Skultety, T.J. Tagliati,
Morgan Troup, Connor Weaver, Hailey
Zayac.
Teacher: Carol Mlakar
Chris Ober, Garrett Mock, Brittney Shaw,
Tanner Yancy, Zach Zelensky, Samantha
Miller, Austin McAdams, Michaela Pitzerell,
Katlyn Hippchen, Tyler Federinko, Patrick
Andrei, Faith Buggey, Katelyn Brown, Rodney Johns, Seth Carney, Jill Kelgren, Abby
Griffith.
Teacher: Justin Brode
Sam Meil, John Harper, Laurance Nakrosis, Lily Scalzo, Grace Mullen, Tibet
Bleakney, Jessica Morse, Hannah Wiltrout,
Evan Ray, Kaiden Johnson, Erik McCunn,
Zack Gallagher, Zack Somerville, Shayne
Gonner, Lizzie Brand, Nikita Johnson, Frank
Pennington, Connor Ballas.
Teacher: Katie Bungo
Abdul Aljehani, John Anderson, Haley
Baumer, Deanne Branan, Vitoria DaSilva,
Blake DeArmitt, Griffin Elkin, Zack Fries,
Nathan Kerchensky, Madalene Kipp, Liam
McDaniel, David McElravy, Rachel Okey,
Maddy Redhead-Kriston, Donovan Robinson, Emma Roth, Nick Skalican, Josh Smith,
Maddie Todd, Jacob Valentin, Muhsin WahiAnwar, Payton White.
Teacher: Melinda Hosey
Megan Markel, Malachi Pugh, Jordan
Sloniger.
Teacher: Marty Condino
Haley Brooks, Jimmy Lightner, Lexy Zack,
Danny Larkin, Cassidhe Shetter, Madison
Britton, Erick Keith, Pauline Spielman, Abby
Tomayko, Isabelle Clayton, Autumn Fennell,
Austin Yeager, Ashley Kane, Haleigh Uber,
Brennan Keith, Gwyn Keith, Jacob Buterbaugh, Mary Ellen Lohr, Morgan Buterbaugh.
Teacher: Beth Palilla
Jodilyn Stiles, Trina Long-Tate, Spencer
Coy, Hannah Ellis, Colton Bash, Brittany Stapleton, Dylan Ribbeck, Madison Heckman,
Mathew Somogyi, Nate Miller, Savanna
Smith, Charity McCachren, Kaytlin Dixon,
Garrett Patterson, Kyle Detwiler, Larkyn
Crowe, Alissa Joiner, Gretchen Meagher.
Teacher: Gregory Pack
Crystal Bartlebaugh, Ian Buterbaugh,
James Collins, Taylin Frantz, Kurtis Geer,
Shaina Leamer, Jaime Long, Conner McCoy,
Samuel McWilliams, Morgan Overman,
Brandon Pearce, Marley Rearick, Max Ripple, Brent Shultz, Chelsea Wilshire, Roxy Wilson.
Teacher: Denise Bence-Fetsko
Payton Balogh, Lauren Boring, Dominique
Campbell, Kiana Froum, David Fyock, Levi
Karlinsey, Bryce Knepp, Danni Leamer,
Jonathan Leasure, Tommy Long, Eliza
Moore, Austin Myers, Emily Peies, Brittany
Phillips, Leila Powell, Quinn Scalese, Anne
Small, Ethan Webster, Elizabeth Wyne, Kaleb
Yarger.
Teacher: Debra Miller
Devin Smith, Noah McCullough, Dragon
Powell, Christian Gromely, Charity Pearce,
Cecilia Kravarik, Tanner Berringer, Kaitlyn
Bartlebaugh, Abigail Long, Jennifer Lowmman, Kaely Woods, Nicole Shaffer, Abigail
Ewing, Riley Pearce, Madison Bouch, Jaimz
Myers, Cameron Yoder, Elick Webster.
Teacher: Molly Carr
Jenna Beitel, Blaze Bertelle, Bryar Bieda,
Jack Bruce, Garrett Carr, Robert Clark, Destiny DeMase, Dylan Downey, Ryan Elwood,
Kayla Fox, Joseph Grguric, Matthew Grimplin, Brian McGuire, Nathan Miller, Troy
Montgomery, Allison Shondelmyer, Aurora
Stover, Megan Treece, Jordyn Williams, Xaiver Zvara, Brendon Poe.
Teacher: David Gerstel
Ethan Ainsworth, Gunner Bialo, Ken Biem,
Bethany Buchinsky, Tommy Cass, Dylan
Cherry, Dylan Cindric, Raven Clawson-Marshall, Riley Edmundson, Charity Halldin,
Ryan Hutchison, Jessica Izzo, Ryan McGuire,
Mathew Razpotnik, Michael Shoup,
Stephanie Thomas, Sierra Clawson.
Teacher: Sandra McCracken
Madison Albright, Noah Clark, Maddie
Kodman, Katharina Lippert, Kaiya Parks,
Ann Patterson, Marah Simpson, Maranda
Stokes, Ben Van Wieren.
SHANNOCK VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Jammie Myers
Jacob Allen, Dylan Shankle, Carrie Slease,
Tori Hawkins, Lauren Montgomery, Zaryn
Good, Logan Douglas, Gillian Stark,
Genevieve Kyle, Sydney Dailey, Samuel
Barker, Payton Rayko, Sydney Fowler, Emily
Groff, Haley Goldstrohm, Steven Schaeffer,
Kayla Baum, Isaiah Hidalgo, Dane Richardson, Clairesse Walker, Jeremiah Linhart,
Colton Rocco, Daniel Goldstrohm, Kenneth
Silvis, Brianna Topick, Devin Pribesh.
Teacher: Michele DiMaio
Brady Wensel, Kaden Connell, Hunter
Kaplin, Selina McClafferty, Haley Sickel,
Lyndsey Shankle, Ethan Odosso, Emma
Fetchko, Leanne Kintz, Caleb Mechling, Eric
Perkins, Cara Cupp, Amanda Shirley, Shane
Stevenson, Katie Perry, Westyn Miller,
Michael Fouse, Carson Dewitt, Lance Lux,
Niko Howard, Cierra Dinger, Brent Harris,
Kyle Stroupe, Allen Beers.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Teacher: Denise Swope
Maggie Arone, Alexi Belice, Ian Bertuzzi,
Anthony Beverino, Saige Bowditch, Hanna
DiSalvatore, Ryan Dixson, Owen Dougherty,
Michael Kirsch, Anthony Larch, Jenna Montelone, Conner Montgomery, Ella Spadafora,
Kaitlyn Stossel, Persephone Wensel.
Teacher: Christine McGee
Corey Blystone, Ethan Stewart, Jordan
Leasure, Vinnie Fry, Bryce Gromley, Kimberly Oswalt, MaLeah Adamson, Matt Himes,
Tiffany Banks, Sydney Kimmel, Brennan
Buterbaugh, Tosha Blystone, Holly Orr, Jackie Fetsko, Emma Bland, Hunter Waltermire,
Edwin Anderson, Alyssa Leasure, Aaron Kellar, Allix Monoskey.
Teacher: Susan Dotts
Candace Rainey, Seth White, Natalie
Fletcher, MacKenzie Gapshes, Travis Parsell,
Brooke Beckwith, Derek Pearce, Shylynn
Smicklo, Kevin Uptegraph, Derek Pennington, Katelyin Poproch, Dalton Elkin, Curt
DeHaven, Sarah Stewart, Shyra Lute, Elizabeth Matts, Jessica Weaver.
Teacher: Max Falisec
Kyle Miller, Ariah Alabran, Jacob Adamson, Rylie Schoch, Ryan Gemmell, Chad
Wetzel, Jared Mumau, Jade Fulmer, Elizabeth Vaglia, Megan Uptegraph, Zach Hicks,
Bobby Livingston, Taylor Lingenfelter, Zakk
Painter, Tyler Lightcap, Sierra Wilson, Sarah
Fulton, Amanda Beatty, Emma Cannillo,
Brant Lydic, Charles Learn.
Grade 6
Brett Abrams, Luca Covato, Scott McCoy,
Austin Meckley.
DAYTON ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Kathy Kephart
Madeleine Aimino, Keeley Bruno, Shaun
Cunningham, Jasmine Grates, Timothy
Greenawalt, Mackenzie Irvine, Mariah
Kephart, Lexie Lightner, Kristen McGinnis,
Andrew Muth, Gavin Neal, Max Neal, Lakien
Porter, Alyssa Sadecky, Evan Wingard.
Teacher: Suzanne Mateer
Gabrielle Barlak, Tim Blair, Corey Cavalier,
Isaac Clevenger, Gavin Cloud, Dylan Coleman, Brandon Darr, Haley Dies, Holly
George, Alyssa Geroux, Addison Goldberg,
Zachery Hilliard, Gunther Kishlock,
Matthew Miles, Dakota Miller, Alexis Newhouse, Ryan Orsargos, Jason Pittman, Kimber Randolph, Carson Schloder, Emily
Schmidt, Eric Shirley, Joshua Timko, Kaylee
Turner, Destanie Stiles.
Teacher: Ruth Yatzkanic
Sarah Bard, Zachary Boyer, Jonah Coy,
Michael Dawson, Dominick Edwards,
Samantha Fairman, Emily Fatula, Abigayle
Ginter, Mikaila Haight, Laken Hill, Kai
Hrabovsky, Drew Hurd, Jesse Lee, Austin
Perry, Ryan Popovich, Kaylie Semsick,
Matthew Smith, Shelby Ursiak, Ethan
Woods, Mya Zemlock.
Teacher: Cheryl Turk
Noah Blatt, Derrick Bowman, Samuel
Cunkelman, Michael Ginter, Jenna Henry,
Logan Hill, Gabrielle Leysock, Joshua Longwell, Jason Monko, Emma Nippes, Abbigail
O’Hearn, Richard Peterson, Stephen Plowcha, Mary Posgay, Nicholas Schmidt, Shawn
Trausi, Madison Valyo, Zachary Vought,
Emily Worcester, Scott Yackuboskey, Savannah Young, Molly Zack.
HOMESCHOOL
Teacher: Rochelle King
Brielle King.
Teacher: Jennifer Shoenfelt
Alayna Shoenfelt.
Teacher: Melissa McCracken
Eden McCracken.
Teacher: Susan Kovalcik
McKenzie Misleany, Ann Beatty, Skylar
Pruett, Jacalynne Stahlman, Lauren Boda,
Michelle Raymond, Fiona Murphy, Alexa
Legros, Clara Sherwood, Samantha Sneddon, Allison Ream, Amaya Smith, Madison
Zometsky, Tea Colgan, Maeve Morris, Kenzi
Kessler, Noah Gibson, Braedon Sheesley,
Keegan Schuller, Emily Harris, Danny
Millen, Noah Sleasman, Jarrett DeFoor, Tim
Sexton, Lauren Hartnett, Trajan Jones,
Mackenzie Prosser, Kelsey Wagner, Kai
Southard, Mark Wagner, Jacqueline
Sprenger, Amanda Elias.
Teacher: Jeff Reed
Taylor Sebring, Jill Black, Allyson Wheatcroft, Nabeeha Affan, Kristen Forrester, Mia
Lenzi, Hannah Uschock, Holly Minnich,
Morgan Zometsky, Alex Donahue, Tyler
Barker, Jessica Cash, Hunter Hite, Dylan Latore, Alyssa Romanie.
Teacher: Christine Carpenter
Isabella Berkavich, Hunter Cessna, Lucas
Cessna, Lauren Domino, Adam Dumm,
Catherine Fackler, Jeremy Hill, Zac Horwat,
Brody Jackson, Katie Johnston, Kateri Johnston, Zach Johnston, Cassie Keith, Chris
Newlin, Kate Polenik, Kiara Renninger,
Yanessa Shabbick, Rachel Spielman,
Mackenzie Stanick, Ben Weaver, Maddie
Weaver.
Teacher: Amberly Jordan
Zachary Sinclair, Brady Smyers, Kyle
Gearhart, Lahna Silman, Ethan Yarger, Alexa
Anderson, Shamar Campbell, Jarvis Baker,
Jacob Karlinsy, Cody McCoy, Kenny McKendrick, Whitney Lowe, Robert Lutz, Julea
Leasure, Kelly Stiffler, Brandon Davis, Ciarra
Goodlin, Madelyne White, Brady Gallaher,
Brittney Jennings, Lucas Syster, Sierra
Stiffler, Beca Stahl, Leroy Ferguson, Daniel
Huey, Robert Swauger, Jeffrey White, Jared
Schuring, Solomon Davis, Jon Stanford.
Teacher: Gretchen Anderson
Blaine Arotin, Rachel Brand, Aaron McMunn, Sierra Nehrig, Kaitlyn Smith, Paige
Smith, Ezra Wadding.
Logan Penrose, Emma Arblaster, Joshua
Bowers, Evan Orr, Dalton Dick, Travis Mack,
Michael Krevetski, Easton Shetler, Dom Eritano, Antonio Bufagna, Caitlin Ressler, Tyler
Brown, Nash Cramer, Jared Brown, Riley
Miller, Emily Furjanic, Madison Garshnick,
Chad Platt, Reed Tantlinger, Gabe Heming,
Tylor McLaughlin, Keven Kremer, Jon Grissom, James Chero, Brandon Collier, Hunter
Figard.
Teacher: Chris Matava
Helena Karcher, Sarah Rensko, Anna Higgins, Mark McCloskey, Montana Rummel,
Michaela Bracken, Jaden Draksler, Lauren
Miller, Morgan Allison, Rylee McCully, Savannah Yugovich, Caitlin Henry, Bryce
Lichtenfels, Cayla Short, Kyla Clarke, Kiersten Baird, Jodi Wilson, Hannah Veraldi, Breanna Glance, Eliza Knupp, Daelynne Marsh,
Brock Barbus.
Teacher: Greg Mytrysak
Skye Cramer, Kallie Beard, Lexie Kernan,
Madison Geisweidt, Jacinda Kingsbury,
Daelee Baird, Dylan Clement, Tim Baker,
Elizabeth Boring, Taylor Ponchione, Leah
Henderson, Cory Penrose, Amanda
Michaels, Abby Rager, Emily Coy.
Nathan Fabrizio, Nathan Thompson,
Dean George, Liz Hill, Sam Arblaster, Casey
Moyer, Nathan Pollino, Ryley Lear, Sean
Marsh, Kyle Minerd, Adam Donelson, Josh
Evans, Noah Slippy, Donovan Traves, Alex
Ringler, Tyler Lenhart, Eli Wolfe, Tommy
Rager.
Garrett Duckworth, Alexis Rager, Felicity
Regan, Logan George, Montanna McCloskey, Allison Tomb, Raeley Ickes, Trever
Henry, Reegan Yaworski, Logan Lichtenfels,
Isabella James, Brittney Marsh, Lucas Murray, Isabella Hixson.
Grade 7
Teacher: Carol Hayes
Kayla Chambers, Jack Marshall.
HOME-SCHOOLED
Hannah Turner.
Teacher: Rebecca Jones
Joshua Jones.
Teacher: Jamie Lichtenfels
Aaron Kingan, Leesa Blystone, Jocelyn
Clayton.
Grade 7-9
Teacher: Amy Kunselman
Colten Peachey, Stacee Spicher, Julianna
Nevseta, Jason Sloniger, Nicole Wallace,
Nathaniel Churchill, Kyle Markel, Dakota
Peachey, Justin Spicher.
ST. BERNARD REGIONAL CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
Teacher: Tracy Dixson
Abby Novak, Lauren Krecota, Edward
Clark, Madison Cattau, Jacob Botteicher, Joy
Swasy, Sal Tate, Abigail Colonna, Mohamed
Sissoko.
UNITED ELEMENTARY
Teacher: Chris Matava
Mia Lenzi, Grade 6, Indiana Junior High School
Ethan Oesterling, Grade 4, Elderton Elementary School
NIE contest winners for the best photos
BEST NEWS PHOTOS
3rd
TYLER
COUSINS
Indiana Area
Senior High
Grade 11
1st
ABBY
SERGENT
Indiana Area
Senior High
Grade 11
2nd
CYNTHIA
WATTA
Indiana Area
Senior High
Grade 12
BEST FEATURE PHOTOS
1st
CHRISTINA
BRYNER
Blairsville
High School
Grade 12
2nd
NOAH
DOSPOY
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 10
Zac Horwat, Grade 6, Penns Manor Elementary School
Gracie Mundorff, Grade 4, Home School
BEST SPORTS PHOTOS
1st
ABBY
SERGENT
Indiana Area
Senior High
Grade 11
BEST FEATURE PHOTOS
3rd
MEGHAN
HASSON
Northern
Cambria
High School
Grade 11
BEST SPORTS PHOTOS
2nd
3rd
CAITLYN
PALMER
Indiana Area
Senior High
Grade 12
KATIE
JACK
Indiana Area
Senior High
Grade 11
Riley Edmundson, Grade 5, Saltsburg Elementary School
Ciarra Goodlin, Grade 6, Purchase Line Elementary School
ELDERTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Grade 8
Rachel Covato, Joel Knupp, Johnathan Maderer, Caleb
Martin, Brittany Prugh, Isaiah Sharp, Hao Tang.
HOMESCHOOL
Ben Turner.
Hunter Scherf.
Teacher: Glenda Brewer
Kelsey Altman, Danielle Blatt, Bethany Petras, Morgan
Hollabaugh, Marissa Smail, Kylie Minnich, David Battistelli.
PURCHASE LINE HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher: Nancy Rescinito
Jenna Neff, Amy Elling.
MARION CENTER JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher: Megan Filler
Rachel Johns, Lindsey Fulton, Julia Davis, Katie Dotts, Sierra Filipovich.
Grade 9
Teacher: Geoff Dixon
Marissa Meckley, Malinda Pistininzi, Marquis Gallo, Emilie Okopal, Briana Pizer, Abby Peace, Mark Shondelmyer,
Tosha Galloway, Brooke Cass, Jessica Pratt, Tyler Bendis.
Briana Carr, Olivia Humphrey, Dominic Feiling, Ben
Shirley, Dustin Dewitt, Bobby Muir, Jenna Kopchick, Savannah Anderson, Tom Roman, Matthew Litton, John Dice,
Katie Corridoni, Destinee Kelly, Rayannon Willett.
Grade 10-12
Charly Colgan, Hannah McConnell.
Grade 10
Ben Bradshaw, Tyler Chambers, Amy Frick, Joshua Helman, Matthew Hilliard, Jeremy Houser, Andrew Knupp,
Dale Pearce, Megan Plants, Erica Stephens, Wu Di, Jerry
Zhang.
Dospoy, Meghan Hasson, Demi Hoover, Kylie Laney, Cole
Lowe, Zach Lowe, Bryanne Michaels, Justin Nagle, Julie Pawlikowski, Carina Perrone, Megan Rescinito, Amber Sharkey,
Regina Sherry, Lauren Uchaker, Marissa Whited, Taylor
Whited.
Grade 11
Paige Heiple, Kristen Henck, Diana Marshall, Matthew
Scott, Lauren Wolfe, Hyun Seung Woo.
Grade 12
Tim Pan.
ELDERTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher: Glenda Brewer
Michelle Loughner, Stephanie Lightner, Erica Wissinger,
Amber Hobbins, Karlee O’Harra, Alyssa Battick, Alyssa
Clark, Cassandra Wright, Lauren Schultheis.
Teacher: Amy Kunselman
Wilson Spicher, Jessica Quesenberry, Garrett Richardson,
Derek Wallace Alicia Zack.
HOME-SCHOOLED
NORTHERN CAMBRIA HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher: Deb Frontino
Ashley Back, Giana Butterworth, Ashley Delfonso, Noah
Teacher: Rebecca Jones
Sarah Jones.
Daniel Messenger, Zoe Peace.
‘I feel proud when ...’
There are times when we all feel proud
about something we have accomplished or
someone we have helped.
The third-grade students were asked to
write about their experiences and talk about
times they feel proud.
I feel proud when …
FIRST PLACE
(Jacqueline Bartolini)
COLE DILLON
I help a person who needs help or when I
give money to the church.
It makes me feel good
when I give money to people or when I help people
get over their fears.
I feel proud when I stand
up for myself or someone
else.
But some things feel more
than proud, like when I
save or help someone that I
COLE
don’t know or someone
DILLON
who I know but I am not so
close to them.
But I really feel good when I do something
that I know God wants me to do.
I feel proud when I tell people to stand up
for themselves and when they listen to me
and they stand up for themselves right after
I tell them to.
SECOND PLACE
(Hope Staats)
HANNAH GRIFFEN
I feel proud when my dad
went to Iraq for a whole
year.
I really missed him and
we went to New Jersey
while he was gone, but it
didn’t help. I cried and
cried. I couldn’t sleep at
night.
I remembered how much
I loved him. We got a
HANNAH
chance to see him once. I
GRIFFEN
cried when he left again.
When he came home, I
was proud of us both. I was proud of him for
surviving the war.
I was proud of myself because I went
through it.
THIRD PLACE
(Nikki Rametta)
JACOB McELHOES
I do good things. For example, I felt proud
when I built a tricycle for my baby sister. The
other day, I helped my mother clean the
dishes.
We had a big load of them and I washed all
of them, all by myself. It was a great feeling!
In fact, I even feel proud
NOW, because I’ve never
written to a newspaper before, and I’m glad I could
build up the courage to do
this.
A couple of days ago, I got
my report card and I got all
A’s!
I like report cards because
if I don’t get good grades, I
can just try harder.
These are ways I feel
proud.
JACOB
McELHOES
HONORABLE MENTION
(John Mazurek)
VANESSA GRANTZ
I am rewarded with a treat for doing something good. I watch my sisters a lot and I am
responsible for their actions. I like it when
my mom will say I did a good job. My mom
will often take us to the mall for a reward.
Even at the mall I will keep track of my sisters for my mom when she shops.
AALIYAH ZAFFUTO
I take care of my pets because when I take
care of them my mom feels proud of me.
When I feed and give them water I feel
proud of myself. I like playing with them,
too. They like to cuddle with you, too. I love
taking care of them. When my mom doesn’t
have to take care of them she is happy that I
did it. I’m very proud of myself. That’s why
I’m writing this.
(Nikki Remetta)
DELANEY SHAFFER
I feel proud when I get to help someone.
When I help my brother who can’t walk I feel
so good. It just makes me want to cry. It
makes me feel like I’m a good person.
I feel proud when I help my older sister
pick out clothes for school.
I say “WOW.” I helped my OLDER sister
pick out clothes. When I lay down with my
mom, she goes to sleep quickly. I feel proud
to help.
DEAN CALLEN
I do something to help my family. I feel
proud because I help my family. I help them
do dishes. I also help cut the grass. I help
weed gardens. I help my grandparents do
laundry. I feel proud because I can repay my
family for when they do nice things for me.
(Angela Petroff)
LILLIAN DAVIE
I earn money and other stuff when I do
good deeds. When you do good deeds, you
earn something you really want.
I did a good deed by helping my mom
beat Mario. I really felt proud last night because I did the laundry and folded the
clothes for her. She did help, though.
1st
Katelyn Brown, Grade 5, Homer-Center Elementary School
Talia Mastalski, Grade 5, East Pike Elementary School
Jacinda Kingsbury, Grade 6, United Elementary School
Sonya Demacek, Grade 4, Blairsville Elementary School
Emily Schmidt, Grade 6, Homer-Center Elementary School
I feel proud when I:
1. Do the dishes.
2. Clean my room.
3. Get good grades.
4. Help my mom beat Mario.
5. Help my mom with cleaning.
I love to do hard work around the house.
Me and my mommy are a great team.
I also am very proud when I reach all my
goals and succeed on tests.
That’s what I am proud of.
TEAGAN MERRIMAN
I know I work hard and I accomplish
something other people might not be able
to do. To be proud is to feel like you have accomplished something or to reach a goal. To
be proud, one must work hard and give all
they’ve got. You don’t have to win in order to
be proud. You can still lose and be proud of
what you did because you were brave
enough to do it. I felt proud when I won second place showing horses with my cousin.
Even though I didn’t win, I still felt proud because I was brave enough to do it. I knew I
would learn from my mistakes, and if I set
my mind to something, I can do it. I hope
you have a proud moment in your life, and if
you don’t, you will achieve something if you
set your mind to it.
(Jacqueline Bartolini)
ALEXIS SINGLE
I spend time with my mom and dad. They
cheer me up when I’m sad. It’s fun when we
go to the beach together. I like to play “Mario
Kart” with them. We like to go to Hershey
Park. We’re thinking of going to Niagara Falls
for my birthday. We always go to church on
Sunday together. My mom goes to CCD with
me on Sunday. My dad does a really good
shrimp dinner. It makes me very proud to
have my mom and dad. It makes me feel
good inside when my mom and dad make
me laugh. I feel proud when my mom and
dad congratulate me when I have a dance
show. I love my mom and dad, and I’m
proud to have them.
CAMERON ALBERT
I just finished a gymnastics move. After I
finish I have a moment where it is silent. Nobody is saying a word in my mind. Really,
people are cheering or whispering or commenting. When I’m done, I feel like a new
me. It’s one more accomplishment closer to
my life goal. When I stand up and I’m finished, there is a spark and that spark makes
me so proud. I have a moment where I feel
motionless. I’m so proud of myself I’m
shocked. I feel like it’s a dream. After I’m
done and my spark is finished, I think “This
is why I work so hard to get something.” My
hard work has paid off. When I land a move,
it’s so exciting! I wonder if I can do it again.
BLAIRSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
(Janet Lukacs)
HARPER WEHRER
I learned to multiply. At first I couldn’t
multiply, so first I had to learn that multiplying is just a big addition problem like 8 x 2 is
like 8 + 8.
I worked really hard on small multiplication problems. As soon as I got better at
them, I worked on the harder ones. Soon I finally got good. Now I love multiplication.
HEAVENLEE LOWMAN
My pappy and I started a garden! First I
asked my pappy if I could plant sweet potatoes for my dad’s Fathers Day present. My
pappy said we could try, but we would need
to buy seeds.
We watered and planted peas, onions and
potatoes.
First pappy and I found a spot and started
digging. Second, we planted the seeds. Last
we watered them and we weeded.
(Mary Hileman)
DRAVYN JOHN
I do a great job on my spelling test. It takes
a lot of time to study my work. You get a
nervous feeling.
When I get them all right, my mom says,
“Great job!” My family and I have a celebration. We eat cake. My sister always stuffs her
mouth full, and it is all worth it.
LINCOLN KOVACH
The U.S. Army protects us. I especially feel
proud when I see a soldier.
I am proud of my mom’s boyfriend. He
jumped out of airplanes. He was a leader. I
think he is cool.
I saw pictures of him in the Army. I have
his suit, vest, helmet and his badges. He has
been in Kosovo, Iraq and Serbia.
(Hope Staats)
DAKOTA FRANCIS
I caught my first eight fish when I was a
Tiger Cub. It was the summer of 2010 and
Troop 345 went to Twin Lakes.
It was my first time fishing, and I caught
seven rainbow trout and one bass; I think it
was a largemouth.
My dad used chicken livers, but he didn’t
catch anything. My mom caught one fish.
When it was time to go, just when I was
about to give up, something took my line. I
tried to reel it in, but it got away. I was thinking it was a catfish. I tried a second time and
it came back. I tried, but I didn’t get it.
Although I was disappointed that I didn’t
catch the mystery fish, I still had a great time
catching eight fish.
SYDNEY REED
I helped my grandma plant some white
and pink flowers. It was summer; I went to
my grandma’s house for the weekend. She
asked me if I could help her plant some
flowers by her sidewalk.
She said they would be pink and white. I
asked if we could plant purple flowers, too.
My grandma said sure. My grandma dug a
little hole, and I put the seed into the
ground.
We made a pattern with the flowers. It was
pink, white, purple, pink, white, purple.
When we were finished, my grandma and I
went inside. I told my grandma that they are
going to look great.
(Susan Dunlap)
COLE TOWNSEND
I cook breakfast for my family. Every Sunday, since we do not go to church, I get up at
7:15 to cook breakfast.
I have business cards, a menu, an apron, a
hat and tools, etc. What’s on my menu is
basic stuff like eggs, scrambled eggs, egg
sandwiches, omelets, slop (a mixture of
eggs, meat and cheese), crepes, pancakes,
waffles and stuff like that.
Each Sunday I pick a special, and that is
what they normally have. That’s what I’m
proud about.
MORGAN ASHBAUGH
When my mom saves lives. My mom is a
nurse at the Walk-in Medical Care in Indiana. She loves to work there and be there. I
go there when I get sick and my mom gets
my medicine. I tell her that’s my favorite
doctor’s place in the whole wide world. And I
tell her thanks for saving lives. And she says,
“You’re welcome. I like to save lives. It makes
me proud!”
My mom tells me her stories from her
work all the time. I love to talk to her. Mom
tells me about all the workers’ names; there
are Mandy, Jen, Linda, Mary, Jane, Carla and
Michelle. I like them all. They are all good
nurses, and they are friendly.
I love the Walk-in Medical Care. It’s the
best doctor’s place in the world. The doctor
there is Dr. Fegley. I love the doctor’s office. I
feel proud of my mom, and they have their
own desk. I love nurses!
(Jenna Bleggi)
GAVIN BERNARD
I see a soldier who has risked their life to
save lives. That just makes me feel safe all
day and night.
It takes a really brave person to fight. I
hope I can show my pride by being a Marine.
ACEY CASSIDY
I return things that are not mine.
Once, I found a $1 bill. I saw a lady drop it.
I went and picked it up, and then I went to
give it to her. She said thank you. I felt proud
of that because I did the right thing.
She gave me a hug and said thank you for
not thinking about yourself. Then I knew I
did the right thing for sure.
I went home and told my mom. She gave
me a $5 bill because I did the right thing!
The right thing always counts. I felt so
proud of myself!
(Heidi Higbee)
GRACIE PORTER
I entered the science fair and got third
place. It was a great feeling to have.
I worked my hardest and got a great result.
Jordan Hill, Grade 4, Penns Manor Elementary School
Aidan Taylor, Grade 4, Rayne Elementary School
Jacob McMaster, Grade 5, Apollo-Ridge Elementary School
I had a good time doing this. It was also a
learning experience.
The day of my presentation I was nervous
and had butterflies in my tummy. When it
was my turn, I answered all of the questions
and told a lot about it. I still feel very proud!
DAKOTA PALMER
I participate in baton and gymnastics. I
also feel proud when I do something in front
of a crowd of people because I’m really shy.
If I’m doing baton and drop it, then I will
be embarrassed. Even if I dance in front of a
lot of people and mess up, that would be
embarrassing.
I would be proud because I only did it two
times. When I did it and wasn’t nervous,
then I calmed down and wasn’t nervous anymore.
This year when I participate I will be proud
when I am done.
(Natalie McKee)
KYLEE RIFENDIFER
A time I was proud was when my little sister gave up her bottles. We went to Walmart,
and she saw sippy cups with Minnie Mouse
on them. She wanted them.
So, my mom said, “OK, you can have them
if you give up your bottles.” Then my sister
said, “OK.”
That was a time I was proud.
ALYSSA COLEN
Every year I go to March for Life. March for
Life is when mothers don’t want their baby
when they aren’t even born. So you march at
Pittsburgh.
I do this every year. One year I saw two
people at the March for Life. They traveled
for a day on the bus just to go to the March
for Life. I will do this until people stop doing
this to babies. The babies don’t do anything,
but their life gets taken away. I think that is
cruel.
I’m proud for doing this for all the lives
that are taken away and for the lives that
might get taken away. That is when I feel
proud.
EISENHOWER
(Ed Kocinski)
QUINN MARTINEAU
I felt proud when I won my golf championship. One day, my mom and dad took me
up to the golf course. I swung my club. I
knew that I wanted to play golf. I was only 4
years old when I started. I took golf lessons
on Wednesdays and Fridays. My friends
were there so it made it even more fun to be
there.
I, at first was bad, but I practiced and practiced so I got better. The first season of the
championship I got a 67, and compared to
other kids, it was bad.
The next season, I got private golf lessons
to help me get better. I would have it on
Thursday to get practice for the championship. Every Wednesday, my family and I
would play six holes. Each time, I would get
better and better. By the time it was the
championship, I was great, because I hit it
farther. I thought I was going to get better.
Finally, it was time for the championship
to start, my first shot was almost on the
green and I was surprised, because 20 people were watching me. I got three or four
shots each hole, then my friend came over to
me and said you’re tied for first place. I was
filled with joy. I ran over to the score board.
So, because I was tied, I had to have a putt
off, and I won the putt off. I was one shot
away from getting the putt off tied. So, I
came in first place! When I won I started to
jump up and down. I was filled with joy.
Every time I hit the ball off the tee, I start to
smile.
ALYSSA LYMAN
I feel proud when I got an A++ on my math
test.
It all started at Eisenhower. I heard that we
had a test on Friday. My friend Amber came
up to me and told me everything will be fine.
I was nervous, but I thought I was going to
get a good grade. The next day was Friday, I
was so scared I wanted to stay home from
school.
My teacher said I could do it, but I couldn’t. I thought maybe I should cheat and then
get an A, but then I realized all I have to do is
study. So, I studied and I worked so hard that
I didn’t watch TV for three days.
It was the day of the test and I was so nervous. I took the test. When I was done, I
thought “I am going to flunk this test.” But I
didn’t. When I got it back it had no errors,
and I got the bonus question right! I was so
happy. I showed it to my mom, dad, brother
and grandma. I was so proud of myself. If
that ever happens again, I will just think of
that moment and try, try and try, and I will
earn a big fat A++.
(Dawn Smith)
ORLANDO CLARK
I feel proud when my hockey team went to
the championship. We played a good game. I
even scored a hat trick!
A hat trick is when you score three goals in
one game. We played the Southpoint Rink
Rats. There were so many penalties that the
ref should have called. We were winning
after the first and second periods. But,
halfway through the third period, they tied
the game up. With three minutes to go, the
other team scored. They got a penalty (finally) with a minute in the game. We pulled our
goalie and after that, WE SCORED! We tied
the game again with two seconds left in the
game. But, in the overtime, they scored and
we lost. But, we tried our hardest and I
scored a hat trick, and we got second place
in the league. The score was 5 to 4. I felt
proud of that. We’ll win this year!
KIARA DONOFRIO
I feel proud when I get someone a present
for a holiday or a birthday or just because I
want to. I feel proud, because if they like it
Skylar Pruett, Grade 6, Indiana Junior High School
Emma Norman, Grade 4, Elderton Elementary
then I got them what they wanted and they
will feel happy! I also feel proud when I help
my neighbor take out her garbage, because
she has a lot of steps. Anything makes me
proud as long as I did a good deed for another person. That will always make me happy
to see another person smile! I am so proud
of myself when I help someone do something for them. I love to see one of my
friends, neighbor or even my teacher smile
at me! Every time a person smiles because I
did a good thing, it always makes my day. I
love helping people! It also makes me smile
when I shovel snow for neighbors. I am
proud of myself when I help my teacher run
errands or when I make a friendship
bracelet for my sister! I think it is fun to do
good stuff!
ELDERTON ELEMENTARY
(Barbara Carnahan)
ABBY OESTERLING
I feel proud when I get A’s on my test, because my mom and dad and my teacher are
proud of me. I might get a treat or candy. My
mom and dad hug me. I feel proud of myself.
GRACE SCHRECENGOST
I feel proud when I get to shoot baskets for
my team. I like it, because my mom yells
loud yay! I feel good when my mom cheers. I
hear good job, yay, and that feels good. It
also feels good when I get high fives. It feels
Samuel Barker, Grade 5, Shannock Valley Elementary School
good when you get high fives from
grownups. My teammate are proud when I
get high fives. Also, we get points. We get
more points to win. Also, you get to have a
smile, because I’m proud. That’s why I am
proud of getting points.
HOME-SCHOOLED
(Kristy Scherf)
EMILY SCHERF
I feel proud when I go to the nursing home
and visit the older people. It’s fun to sit and
talk with them about when they were little.
When they drop something, I pick it up for
them. Three weeks ago, my friend Victoria,
her mom and I made Valentine’s with them
at St. Andrew’s Village. My favorite part
about the residents is when they smile and
hug me for coming to visit them.
(Rebecca Turner)
JACK TURNER
I feel proud when I get an A in math or a
perfect paper in grammar. When I win a trophy or win a soccer game, I feel proud. I feel
proud when I win a wrestling match, I even
feel proud when I lose, and I had done my
best. I feel proud when I ride my bike on the
country roads and when I climb a tree. I feel
proud when I get a baby brother.
(Nicole Baker)
CYLIE SHAFFER
I feel proud when I sell cookies and when I
help my friends. Being proud makes me excited. I feel proud when I sell cookies. I
wanted to get 400 boxes sold. I got 450 boxes
sold! I didn’t think I could do that! I did do it.
Next year, I want to sell 500 boxes. I can do it.
I feel proud when I help my friends. I make
them feel better so they won’t feel sad. They
thank me. I like when people thank me. I can
help a friend by telling the teacher when
they are hurt. They would go to the nurse.
In conclusion, selling cookies and helping
my friends make me feel proud. Next time
I’m doing these things, would you like to
join me?
KEVIN PLOWCHA
I feel proud when I do my chores and help
my mom. When I do these things, they make
me feel good.
I feel proud when I do my chores. I can
clean up the garbage. I clean up the garbage
around and inside my house. I make my
bed. I make it nice. I sweep the floor. It is
nice and clean. I feel proud when I help my
mom. I help her with the laundry. I help her
wash and dry the laundry. I also help her do
the dishes. I dry the dishes. I help her at the
grocery store by getting groceries.
In conclusion, doing my chores and helping my mom are things that make me feel
proud. These things make me feel good.
(Joe Kotelnicki)
CONNER ALSIPPI
I feel proud when I help my mom by helping with the girls. I feed them, burp them
and I babysit them. I help my mom and dad
by taking out the garbage, dressings and
toppings after dinner. I help my dad pick out
the food and go shopping with him, and
whenever my mom and dad have to go
somewhere, I help my pap and grandma
with the girls. These things make me feel
proud to help others.
DEBRA FLINT
I feel proud when I’ve helped someone
else. I have a neighbor who is 97 years old.
Every day I take her trash and wash her dishes and clothes for free.
I also go to the store for her with my
money. Right now, she is in the hospital. My
brother and I are saving to help her with the
hospital bill and her other bills.
(Mary Ann Ciranni)
SAMUEL DARR
I feel proud when I think about the USA
and our flag. It reminds me that soldiers
risked their lives for us. Another thing that
makes me feel proud is when soldiers fight
for our country. They protect our families
from harm. They probably know that all of
us want a family and they want a family, too.
They try to do as good as they can.
CAITLIN MUMAU
I feel proud when I see my sister, Ashli, try
and do what I do. Ashli and I love to sing. I
sing and my sister starts. I feel proud of her.
I play guitar and trumpet. When I start
playing, she starts singing and dancing.
She has the most amazing voice. I have a
great voice, but my sister’s is better than
mine. She is always wanting to dance and
sing. I love it! She is the best sister ever in the
whole world and I love her more than anything in the world.
(Kristine Cook)
ERIN OKEY
I feel proud when I complete my best work
and my parents or teacher like it. It makes
me proud because I know I’ve done a good
job and pleased someone. For instance,
when I bring home a good report card and
my mom and dad are pleased or when I help
make dinner and my family likes it, or if I
have turned in very neat work to my
teacher. It also makes me proud when I help
something or someone because I make
them happy. For example, when class goes
to the nursing homes or if I give a dog or a
cat in a shelter a good home.
KADEN DUFFEE
A poem: I feel proud when I get good
grades,
And also when I wear cool shades.
I feel proud when I make a play,
I feel proud most every day.
I feel proud when skies are bright,
I feel proud all day and night.
I feel proud in summer breeze,
I feel proud when I wear skis.
I feel proud when robins sing,
I’m proud of most everything.
(Shannon Tokar)
AUDRA MOORE
I feel proud when I get good grades in
school. I work hard, try my best and never
give up. I get good grades in math, spelling,
reading and English. Getting good grades
makes me feel proud because I know my
parents will be proud of me too. My parents
will be proud of me because my good grades
makes them think I am well-educated. I
need my good grades so I can pass third
grade and get through other grades and college. I will have a lot of job choices when I
get older because I get good grades.
MAKAYLA WILLIAMS
I feel proud when I score a goal in soccer.
My mom always screams “good job!” Everybody on my team makes a lot of racket. The
hard part is getting the ball in the goal. When
I score, I get to go somewhere. I normally go
to the Dairy Queen. When I go there, I get an
M&M Blizzard. My dogs usually try to jump
on me. At night, I can’t sleep.
McCREERY ELEMENTARY
(Ed McCunn)
ANDREW ADAMS
I feel proud when Karma and I win trophies. To start off, Karma is my horse. It
makes me feel proud when I show my horse.
I feel proud because, one time, it put Karma
and I in the paper. One time, I was at a horse
show. Karma and I won a shiny trophy. I’ll
never forget that moment. I’m so proud
when Karma and I win trophies.
ZACHARY SHORT
I feel proud when I give. I feel very proud
when I share or I let people borrow my
things or I give people things to keep. I feel
proud when I donate things to the Army or I
donate things to charity. I feel proud when
people take things I give them and when
people thank me for things. The conclusion
is I feel super proud when I give.
(Kimberly Todd)
SARAH RICHARDSON
I say something nice to someone! When I
say something nice to someone, like “you’re
pretty” or “you’re awesome,” they feel good
and that’s what makes me happy and proud.
I was walking down the hall and I said to
someone I didn’t know, “Hi. You have a pretty dress on today.” That made her say
“Thank You,” and that was nice. I was at recess and my friends and I were playing together and having fun and that made me
happy and proud. It’s nice and good to be
nice to each other; that’s why you do it
everyday! That’s what I think you should do.
ISABELLA LEE
I feel proud when I teach my brother stuff.
When I taught him the ABC’s, I felt really really good and he is 4. None of his friends
know it! I taught him 1 through 5, but he
says “free” instead of “three.” Also, I taught
him how to dance. It is so funny because he
wiggles his hips and throws his hands up in
the air. I taught him to ride a bike and do
jumping jacks. I am really proud of myself
for being a good big sister.
(Renee Tiesi)
EVAN CROOKS
I feel proud when I play soccer and practice tae-kwon-do. When I am playing soccer,
feeling proud isn’t the only thing. I am meeting new friends, which makes me happy. I
feel proud when I win, but winning isn’t
everything.
Losing helps me realize what I need to
work on to get better. In tae-kwon-do, I learn
self defense and to never give up. I met new
friends here too. Most things are easy, but
when I get things hard done or pass out of a
level, I feel very proud. These are the things I
feel proud about when I accomplish something.
CALLIE BLAND
Others like my work. I won third place in
the science fair. I worked so hard. I chose to
see the evolution of plants.
Once I chose them, I planted and made a
guess on what they would turn into. I was
surprised. I was so excited. I waited until
they were finished giving out awards. I
found my mom for pictures. We sent pictures to my dad. He was so proud. I never
wanted that day to end. That was the day I
won third place in the science fair. I was so
proud!
Arienna Painter, Grade 5, Blairsville Elementary School
Josiah Duncan, Grade 4, Indiana Weslyan School
(Karen Laney)
EMMA KOLLAR
I get to hold my new baby sister. It makes
me feel calm and relaxed. It makes me feel
really good because I am a big sister. It
makes me put all of my troubles away. That’s
how I feel proud.
ADAM YACHTIS
I open the door for elderly people. First,
they say thank you. Second, my dad says
that was great. Third, they smile at me so I
know I was helpful. This is why I feel proud
when I open the door for elderly people.
(Leslie Hanley)
LINDSEY SMALL
I take care of my brother. My brother is
going to kindergarten, so I do the alphabet
with him.
I practice his name every night. I make
games for his age to help him learn. He loves
to do his shapes and colors too. I love working with him and he is a smart kid! When we
are at the computer, he loves to play games
like shapes, colors, letters and numbers. I
think he will do good in kindergarten. He
likes to write x’s, y’s and z’s. I hope he has a
blast at kindergarten.
BROOKE EYLER
I got first place riding my horse. I live on a
huge horse farm that has almost 100 horses.
I have my own pony. Her name is Honey. I
was not even 1 year old when I started to
ride her.
The time I won first place, I was 4 years
old. I was so proud of myself but the problem was that I didn’t do anything. I just held
on to Honey. My mom was leading her. But I
won first place.
The trophy was not the biggest in the
world, but it was purple, my favorite color.
That was the time I felt proud — when I got
first place riding my horse.
(Brietta Mighells)
HAILEY HUGHES
I won first place in the talent show. Last
year I was at the Purchase Line High School
for the elementary talent show. I won a gold
medal in second grade. I was singing by myself. I sang “If I Die Young.” It was hard to
pick a song. I picked this song because it
made me think of my grandma. I kept practicing and I got better and better. When I
went on stage, I was a little bit scared, then I
wasn’t scared. It was a little like practice.
This was the best day ever. I was so proud to
win first place.
KAILIN McWILLIAMS
I got a trophy for my artwork. I was in
kindergarten and all the kids entered the Reflections contest. We drew pictures. The winners were announced at a PTA meeting. I
was sitting with my mom in the cafeteria,
while my brother played in the gym with
other children. While we were waiting for
names to be announced, I asked my mom
what I was going to get. She told me I was
getting an award that I can wear around my
neck. So I sat and waited to hear my name.
Finally, my name was called and my mom
told me to go up and pick up my award. My
mom was shocked when they called me up
there because my artwork had gone onto the
next round. She was even more surprised
when I came back with a trophy. So we were
proud that night.
RAYNE ELEMENTARY
(Diane Greene)
GAVIN EFFINGER
I feel proud when I help my mom. I feel
proud because I help her with the dishes.
Mom washes the dishes and I dry them.
Another time I helped my mom when the
garage needed cleaned. The garage was really dirty. I hope that I can help my mom
with more projects.
JULIA SPENCE
I earn badges for Girl Scouts. I feel proud
because this is my third year, and I already
have a lot of badges. I feel that I am being a
good influence, and everybody in my troop
claps.
For example, when I first started, I was not
very good at selling cookies and earning
badges. Now that this is my third year, I’ve
gotten the hang of it. I hope I make it to the
last level in Girl Scouts, I get a lot of patches,
selling a lot of cookies and doing it alone.
(Lisa Nelson)
SARAH MILLER
I feel proud when I am a star student because I love when people say nice things
about me. One time I got a star student
award and I was so happy. The reason I was
so happy was because I was not expecting it.
Some of the things they said about me
were that you are kind and you are somebody that participates a lot. I hope I get
many more star student awards in the future.
ANTHONY SCOTT
I feel proud when I compete at swim
meets. I feel proud because I win at the
swim meets. I remember I got second place
and my time was 20 seconds on freestyle. I
swam so fast and kicked so hard that I was
out of breath.
I hope I get first place in the freestyle competition. My goal is to get 18 seconds.
(Doug Titmus)
MAKENZIE SIMPSON
I feel proud when I do stuff for my friends
and family. At lunch in the room I gave
Abbie my cookie because I was full and she
wanted it. I also let my mom sleep in while I
get ready for school.
I also feel proud when I get things correct.
When I got my homework right I jumped up
and down.
Also, once I got a question right in church,
and I got a piece of candy. Those are some
examples of when I feel proud.
GINO BARTOLINI
I feel proud when I do nice things for others. I helped my dad paint, pound nails into
the wall and clean the basement. I also
helped my mom wash dishes, clean my living room and take out the garbage.
I also feel when I teach my brothers how to
do things.
I teach my little brother how to play sports
on nice days. I teach my other brother how
to play my old and new video games when it
rains outside. These are some times I felt
proud.
(Melissa Hall)
STORM WILDS
I feel proud when I got to be a big sister because I look out for my sister. She always
gets into trouble, so I help her.
I also feel proud when I got an A+ on my
math test because I worked hard and studied for a long time.
I also feel proud when I get good grades
because then I show my parents that I’m
doing well in school.
ANTONIO DiLASCIO
I feel proud when I get 100 percent on my
test because I get a good grade, I get straight
A’s, and I can stay in school. I feel proud
when I get a good grade on a test. It shows
that I have learned and understand the information. It also makes me happy because
I get to go eat at a Japanese restaurant.
(Jeff Smathers)
EDEN PLOWMAN
Have you ever been so proud you could
have just burst? I have. One time I got a 100
percent on a reading test. It was the first one
the whole year. I was so proud and so were
my two parents.I also got to pick out of the
special prize box. That’s the only time I got
100 percent on a reading test.
CAROLYNN BUCCO
Have you ever done something that you
are so proud of that you could just burst?
Well that happened to me once.
Colin Matz, Grade 4, Purchase Line South Elementary School
Johnniemarie Olenchick, Grade 4, Northern Cambria School
Kindergarten classic comic winners
1st
MARIA
CARROZZA
Penns Manor
Elementary
2nd
WILL
TURNER
Home-schooled
3rd
CASSANDRA
BOYER
Horace
Mann
First-grade classic comic winners
1st
JOSHUA
ELKIN
Homer-Center
Elementary
2nd
MALIA
SHUTTY
Northern
Cambria
Elementary
3rd
AURORA
ELLIS
Homer-Center
Elementary
Second-grade classic comic winners
1st
TULLIA
DIETZ
Ben
Franklin
Elementary
2nd
GRETTA
RATAY
Penns
Manor
Elementary
3rd
MAKAYLAH
KOSCHO
Penns
Manor
Elemenary
In second grade I did a cartwheel for the
first time. I have to tell you it’s not so scary
once you try it.
If you keep trying and trying, you will soon
get it right. When you have someone to help
you, it’s much easier. I was so happy I was
like a mother having a baby.
SEEDS OF FAITH
(Timothy Johnson)
JOSHUA DIECIDUE
I feel proud when I accomplish something
good. I feel proud when I help my family. I
feel proud when I give my money to the
church, and finally I feel proud when I obey.
ETHAN MARSHALL
I get to ride my dirt bike and when I get to
play with my cousins. I feel proud when I
help my neighbors and when I help mow my
grandma’s lawn.
CATHOLIC SCHOOL
(Vera Leonard)
EMILY MARSHALL
I go to dance class because my mom
danced for a long time, and now I’m taking
after her. I go to Sharon’s School of Dance
and Gymnastics. I have gone there for four
years.
Although there are many different things I
want to do, I love to dance more. My dance
Aja Cassidy, Grade 4, East Pike Elementary School
school encourages me to dance. All I do in
dance is ballet, which is very difficult. That’s
why I feel proud … when I go to dance!
pictures. Many parents took pictures. I felt
so proud that I was holding my trophy.
ALYSON KRECOTA
I win a swim meet and win a race because
I win trophies or medals. I love to be on the
Indiana Piranha swim team. It is fun to swim
on a competitive swim team. My favorite
swim meet every year is “Sprint For the
Duck.”
The travels are long sometimes, but we
don’t mind because when we get to the pool,
we hang out with friends. My friend swims
with my sister Lauren and I. The practices
are hard, but it is worth the hard work because my sister, my friend and I are all good
swimmers.
(Mary Ann Ciranni)
ALIYAH ISENBERG
I feel proud when I think about my dad in
heaven. I know my dad is watching down on
me because he always loved me and cared
for me.
I still miss his hugs. It feels like he’s here
right now saying how proud of me he is. I
love him very much — more than anyone in
the world loves him.
(Leslie Hanley)
RACHEL LUNDBERG
I win trophies. I won a cheerleading trophy at a cheerleading banquet. I won it
when I was 7 years old. It was at an old community center in Commodore. I was really
scared to stand in front of a huge crowd.
When I stepped on stage, I received a trophy that had my name on it. The trophy said
Pee Wee Cheerleading, Rachel Lundberg.
I was so excited to get it. I was supposed to
make a speech. That made me nervous but
then the coach called another person up.
The coach told the parents they could take
(Ed Kocinski)
ALEX JADZAK
I was proud when I learned multiplication.
At first, when I was at school, it was a beautiful day.
I was enjoying myself until my teacher
said we were doing multiplication today.
When he said that, I got really, really nervous.
When we were about to do it, everyone
looked like they were better than me.
By a couple of minutes, I was up next to
answer one. The person I was versing looked
like they knew multiplication better than
me. I was about to die when he showed us
the card. I shouted out the answer and it was
right! I felt so proud of myself. It was because I practiced!
Kristen Forrester, Grade 6, Indiana Junior High School
(Susan Dunlap)
WILLIAM BARNHART
I felt proud when I got an IV done to my
arm. It is not very comfortable! It really, really hurts. They stuck a needle in my arm! I
also wasn’t able to move my arm. I had to
keep it there a long time! I felt like a pinch.
The doctors said they were proud of me!
McCREERY ELEMENTARY
(Ed McCunn)
PRESTON ORR
I feel proud when I share my feelings with
people when I feel down or left out.
I also feel proud when I help others like my
friends, my nana’s and pappy’s, my cousins
and my parents.
Last, I feel proud when I help mom, dad,
blue nana, pink nana and pink pappy cook
dinner or snacks, lunch and all kinds of stuff.
I really feel proud when I do all these things
because I think feeling proud is something
that makes everyone feel happy.
(Jeff Smathers)
KARLY CINDRIC
Training a dog is a lot of effort. I felt proud
when I trained my dog. I trained my dog to
sit and then to jump for the treat. I trained
my dog to stay. When I back up, he will jump.
I trained my dog to lay on his belly and roll
over.
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classic comic contest 3rd grade writing

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