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From the Foundation Board Education Foundation Helps District Students Pursue Their Goals and Make an Impact Donations Bolster District’s Funding to Continue Providing Essential Resources that Help Students Thrive Like you, I have big dreams for the kids in our district. I believe they can make a real difference in the world. That’s why I agreed to volunteer for the SCASD Education Foundation. Think of the possibilities: a local child could cure a disease, invent a life-changing technology, solve global problems, or even educate a new generation of students. And we can help. SCASD Education Foundation was created to give us this opportunity. I know we share a vision for our area’s children. We want our district to offer an enriching educational experience that challenges and inspires every student to reach his or her full potential. While that potential extends far beyond their K–12 years, what our students learn today impacts what they achieve in the future. Your generosity can help turn these possibilities into realities. Contributions to the SCASD Education Foundation would enable us to enrich the learning experiences of our children. Here are a few ways that our education foundation can invest your contributions toward further developing our students: • After-school learning experiences for underprivileged students • Piloting an elementary foreign language program (K–5 students) • Support to enrich fine arts programming (out-of-cycle music equipment & unique art supplies not supported via annual budget) • Creative, hands-on robotics and coding club experiences (K–5 students) • Start-up fees relating to international programs for student experiences (International Baccalaureate Organization, www.ibo.org)
Inside… About the Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Success for Every Student . . . . . . . .5 Issues Facing Our Students . . . . . . . 7 The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Building on Our Strong Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 The Foundation in Action . . . . . . . .22
Join me in supporting the SCASD Education Foundation. Together, we can inspire SCASD students to pursue their goals with confidence and enthusiasm. With sincere thanks, Douglas C. Loviscky SCASD Education Foundation Board Member
P.S. Your help can ensure that every student has a chance to pursue their dreams. 2 | The Foundation
Contact Us SCASD Education Foundation 240 Villa Crest Drive State College, PA 16801 814-883-8067 | www.scasdfoundation.org Paul Olivett: pgo11@scasd.org www.scasdfoundation.org
About the SCASD Foundation
Our Mission
Our Vision
The State College Area School District Education Foundation is committed to enhancing the educational experience of students within the State College Area School District by providing financial support for innovative learning opportunities.
An enriching educational experience that challenges and inspires every student to reach his or her full potential.
NEW
The Bill Cahir Memorial Scholarship Fund for Journalism
For more information about this new fund, see page 16 for the full story.
What We Fund Student Opportunities Fund
Every gift to the State College Area School District Education Foundation helps to preserve invaluable tools, resources, and programs offered both in and out of the classroom. Students are counting on continued hands-on learning opportunities and extracurricular resources as they build the foundation for their future.
What We Can Accomplish with Your Help: • Access to and awareness of mental health resources in a time of alarmingly high rates of bullying, depression, and suicidal thoughts among students. A recent statewide survey found that 15 percent of 10th–12th graders had contemplated suicide in the past year. • Safe, fun, and educational before- and after-school extended learning opportunities through the district’s Community Education Extended Learning (CEEL) program. Currently, families of 400 elementary-aged children have peace of mind in knowing their children are cared for during typical working hours, and many additional financially-disadvantaged families will be able to participate in the program through funding from the Foundation. • Maintaining hundreds of extracurricular, co-curricular, and intramural programs that create a vital sense of community for students but fall outside of what the district’s budget can continue to cover.
The SCASD Education Foundation preserves the tools and resources our students rely on to succeed. Photo courtesy Centre Daily Times
Ways to Give You can make your contribution: 1. Online at www.scasdfoundation.org. 2. Through a planned gift, such as a bequest, by naming the State College Area School District Education Foundation as the beneficiary in your retirement or life insurance plan, or by leaving gifts of property or real estate to the SCASD Education Foundation upon your passing. Contact Executive Director Paul Olivett at 814-883-8067 or pgo11@scasd.org for more information on planned giving opportunities. 3. By responding to requests for support through the mail.
Learn more about giving opportunities at www.scasdfoundation.org. www.scasdfoundation.org
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About the SCASD Foundation
The Power of Community in Public Education Foundation Board Gets to Work As Executive Director of the State College Area School District Education Foundation, I am pleased and thankful to introduce our inaugural board members. Each member brings a valuable and distinct set of experiences and perspectives that will help immensely as we grow the foundation. Those perspectives range from parents to alumni to youth coaches to community volunteers. They are parents of graduates and parents of students. They are business owners, Penn State faculty members, long time residents, and recent transplants. And that depth and breadth of community knowledge will help guide the foundation and shape our mission to enhance the educational experience of district students. In the coming months, the board will be discussing plans to
promote that mission through a variety of outreach initiatives, including more extensive use of social media, sponsoring and hosting a district-wide “Hall of Fame” to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of the State High community, and continued communications with members of the State College area and alumni throughout the country. In addition to recruiting a few more board members, we will need volunteers for a variety of roles relevant to the work of the foundation. Please let us know if you are interested in serving in some capacity. I can be reached at pgo11@scasd.org or (814) 883–8067. Paul Olivett Executive Director
Ben Lawrence
Chris Buchignani
Independent Marketing Consultant
Attorney and CPA
Doug Loviscky
Michelle Frisco
“My wife and I are raising three daughters here. Collectively, my kids have spent more than 20 years in this district and how many bad teachers have they had? ZERO. How many worldclass teachers? ALL of them. Couple our world-class teachers with a world-class foundation and WOW— the sky’s the limit.…
“I have lived in the Nittany
“My wife and I are alumni (’88 and ’86, respectively) and parents of Kendall (’15), Andrew (’17) and Keira (’24). As a parent of three children in the school district, I appreciate the quality of education they have received at every step of their journey—in elementary, middle, and high school.…
“I’ve lived in State College since 2005. I have a daughter in first grade at Radio Park Elementary School and a son in sixth grade who attends Park Forest Middle School. I joined the board because I have been extremely impressed with what the district offers students in State College…
VP of Sales for KCF Technologies
Valley for almost 20 years. As a parent and engaged resident, contributing to the collaborative relationship between the community and our schools is a top priority for me. Because both of my parents were public school teachers, and many other members of my family have also worked…
PSU Professor of Sociology & Demography
For more information on these board members, visit www.scasdfoundation.org. Stay tuned for profiles of our other board members in the next magazine. (Photos provided by board members) 4 | The Foundation
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Success for Every Student
Providing Accessibility for Everyone Special Needs Students Receive New Bikes By Chris Rosenblum, SCASD Director of Communications Charlie LaVallee cut right to the heart of why parents were smiling and children were fidgeting in anticipation inside Park Forest Elementary School’s gym. LaVallee, the chief executive officer of Variety—the Children’s Charity, looked happy himself. “When you think about it, 10 kids getting bikes today, how great is that?” he said to his audience. LaVallee had traveled from Wexford, home of his charity, to present adaptive bicycles to local students who need special education and services. In various bright colors, the bikes stood arrayed in a row on either side of him, like cars in a dealer’s lot, each bearing its new owner’s name tag and a red bow. The students, largely from State College Area School District schools but also from the Clearfield and Bald Eagle Area school districts, received snappy gifts from Variety’s signature My Bike Program. About $1,800 each, the three-wheeled bikes came with Velcro fasteners on the pedals, sensitive hand brakes and other special features that allow children with physical or intellectual challenges to experience the joy of bicycle riding. Variety even included a stand that creates stationary bikes for exercising. “For many families, that’s often out of reach,” LaVallee said about the bikes’ cost. “They have other expenses to take care of.” Supported families at the August 9 event applied to Variety’s program through the SCASD Special Education Department. “We are very excited to have you here,” Director of Special Education Sharon Salter said in her introduction. In the audience, Jim Fogleman shared the feeling. “To think it started with one phone call,” he said. Fogleman, a Delta Program custodian, took the call last January from his union regional director, Mickey Srgo, who’s also a Variety board member. Srgo said the charity had been trying to get a toehold in Centre County for a couple of years to no avail. Could Fogleman help? He knew just the person. Salter set up a preliminary meeting with Variety, then contacted families with invitations to apply. Months later, thrilled children wearing colorful helmets climbed on their bikes, some helped by their therapists. To his delight, Fogleman saw one girl who just couldn’t wait. www.scasdfoundation.org
“When she came into the gym and ran to the bicycle and was just vibrating, it was worth every minute we put into this,” he said. As soon as Photo courtesy SCASD/Nabil K. Mark she climbed on wearing a My Little Pony helmet, Houserville Elementary fourth-grader Cheyenne Lychens loved her bike—especially the cargo area between the rear wheels. “It’s pretty and fun, and I can put stuff in the back so I won’t have to carry it,” she said. Christie Lychens said she appreciates her daughter having a chance to ride easily and safely. Taking the training wheels off a regular bike was tough for her, Lychens said. “Being on this, she seems ecstatic and comfortable,” she said, adding her daughter also looks forward to pedaling indoors with the stationary stand. Hrishidip Pal, a Park Forest Elementary first-grader, now can have the fun of riding, the wind on his face, despite being visually impaired. Thanks to grips at the back of his bike, his parents can guide and steady him as he pedals. “It’s wonderful,” his mother, Parama Pal, said. “We are so happy to have this for our son.” Salter even joined in the fun, leading a parade around the gym on one of the larger bikes as beaming parents and grandparents took photos. Before the rally, LaVallee shared stories about other children who had received bikes from Variety, and asked parents to recite a pledge to always keep the brake on when their child is getting on and off. Srgo had some advice for the students—specifically about their parents back home. “Make sure they have to chase you down the sidewalks,” he said. “Go like heck.” l
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Success for Every Student
“Hola” to the Sights and Sounds of New Cultures Spanish Club Gives Students Access to Native Speakers, Travel, and More It isn’t every day that Americans get to participate in a World Cup soccer tournament, but that’s just what members of State High’s Spanish Club did. With club members staging their very own World Cup on the soccer fields of State High, and battling against the Latin Club students, a fun competition was had by all. Competing in a World Cup is just one of the many The Spanish Club carving pumpkins perks of membership Photo courtesy SCASD/Nick Gallo in the Spanish Club. “Students get to see a different culture and learn about different traditions in other countries,” said Nick Gallo, Spanish teacher and the Spanish Club Advisor for the past four years. “They get to meet new people in the school and learn from native speakers.” Other activities that the club participates in include preparing delicious Hispanic food, playing games, participating in the school’s World Language Fair, and much more. “Students benefit by learning more about Spanish-speaking countries and their cultures,” said Gallo. “They get to see a world outside of their own.” Paulina Rodriguez Camacho ’18 is originally from Puerto Rico. She’s the current Vice President of the Spanish Club. She joined to meet people with similar interests and to make friends. She was also excited at the possibility of meeting others from her home. “I enjoy helping others to learn Spanish,” said Rodriguez
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Camacho. “I also love to share my culture and traditions.” Whether they are doing activities, participating in events, or travelling, Rodriguez Camacho summed it up nicely when explaining what the Spanish Club is really about. “The club is all about interaction and communication,” she said, “without it we wouldn’t learn anything. Talking with others is what makes the club fun and interesting.” Rodriguez Camacho has been surprised to learn that many Spanish Club members have traveled to Spanish-speaking countries purely as a result of their interest in the language. “During the club meetings, we share our experiences of speaking Spanish and the places that we have traveled,” she said. “Some students even want to go to Spanish-speaking countries to continue studying.” Travel is a definite possibility with the Spanish Club. Gallo has accompanied students on several trips abroad, including one to Peru. There, students visited ancient ruins in Lima, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu. Originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Gallo received his Bachelor’s in Spanish Education in 2011. He has traveled and studied abroad to places like Cuernavaca, Mexico, Malaga, and Spain. He has taught in the United States and in Spain and he is currently working on his Master’s in teaching.
The club is all about interaction and communication. “Throughout all of my experiences, my love for Spanish language and culture has continued my enthusiasm and passion of teaching,” said Gallo. “I am excited to share this with the students in the Spanish Club.” The Spanish Club is an open club for grades 9 through 12. It holds monthly meetings, which anywhere from 10 to 40 students attend, and it maintains an email list of around 100 members. l
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Issues Facing Our Students
Empowering Students to Make the Best Personal Choice Counselors Encourage Students to Apply to the “Right” Schools With a large pool of above-average students in the academicallycompetitive State High, the district yields many candidates for elite colleges and universities. But is a student’s dream school always the right one? The pressure to get into a top college is overwhelming for high school students. Even with perfect test scores, an exemplary academic record, and a list of all the right extracurricular activities, admission is not a guarantee. In fact, it’s not even close. Only five to six percent of applicants nationwide are accepted to the most prestigious schools, like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. For those who don’t make the cut, the feeling of failure can be detrimental. State High graduate Sarah Wylie ’14 was one of those students. After being rejected from her dream school, Brown, and her runner up, Tufts, she was devastated. “It seemed like I had worked myself so hard for no reason; I felt like such a failure,” she said. “It completely threw off my plans for my future, because I realized that my only long-term goal had been to get into an Ivy League school, and after my rejection I didn’t even know what I wanted anymore.”
The college application process provides an opportunity to have conversations with your children. Wylie is among many young students across the country who faced similar despair when applying to and entering college. The tremendous pressure has led to alarming rates of anxiety and depression on college campuses, putting a strain on mental health resources. Counselors at State High are advancing the district’s focus on mental health awareness by helping to curb this epidemic before students leave high school. That means that many students are encouraged to consider colleges and universities that are a great fit for them individually. Wylie is a perfect example of that model. Now a thriving junior at Colgate University, she www.scasdfoundation.org
says she likes the life she’s built for herself there. She feels it’s the best choice for her based on a number of factors, including financial aid, variety of majors, proximity to home, and opportunities. Over the years, Head Counselor Susan Marshall has watched many students spend their high school careers doing what they think are the right things to get into their dream colleges, then watched their devastation when they didn’t get accepted. “So, we’re trying to have students and families rethink ‘What is a good school?’” she said. “We are in the business of helping students get off to the best possible start in their college career.” Marshall and her fellow counselors start by educating students and families on the benefits of exploring a variety of schools—encouraging them to apply to two to seven schools of different sizes, reputations, and appeal. They also encourage parents to open a dialogue with their children to mutually determine the schools that are the best fit for them and their families, based on factors like finances, interests, distance, and environment—just like Wylie did. “The college application process provides an opportunity to have conversations with your children,” said Marshall. “It’s a time to empower your child, and trust that they can make good decisions.” She also stresses that it’s a good time for parents to remind their students that unknowing and unsettled times don’t mean unhappy times. “This is the last time you’ll have your kid in your home,” she says to parents. “Enjoy it, and don’t make getting into one college be the sole focus of their senior year.” l The Foundation | 7
Issues Facing Our Students
Taking the “Pressure” Out of Peer Pressure Students, Counselors, and Administrators Work to Build A Sense of Unity at State High When you think of peer pressure, you might picture a bully convincing another student to try drugs or alcohol, or a student being persuaded to cheat on an exam. While these examples of negative peer influence do occur in today’s school communities (including at SCASD), the leading form of peer pressure is the pressure to achieve academically and/or in extracurricular activities. “Perhaps there has always been a sense of competitiveness in high school,” said Paul Brigman, counselor for the class of 2018 at State High. “But for a student to earn stellar grades, play a varsity sport, and maintain any semblance of a social life, things like eating, sleeping, and general wellness maintenance take a distant back seat.” Not to mention, he adds, that nearly every teenager in high school feels like he is being watched and judged by the entire school community at all times. “Some of this pressure comes from competitive and highlymotivated peers,” he said. “But a hefty dose of pressure is often self-inflicted or delivered from societal culture or well-intended families.” Brigman has seen this concerning form of social pressure lead to clinical levels of stress and anxiety in students at State High. So he and other district officials have worked to strengthen the school’s approach to combatting peer pressure in today’s high school environment. In recent years, counselors have transitioned from utilizing peer mediation to implementing positive school-wide behavior initiatives and a restorative practices model for addressing behavioral misconduct and student conflicts. “Both of these programs promote honest and direct communication between individual students, as well as faculty members and other school professionals,” said Brigman. Additionally, the State High Student Senate and Student Government have worked closely with counseling, administration, and the athletics program to promote an all-inclusive and community-minded sense of unity at State High, embodying a student-generated motto of “All One Team in 2017.” “Combatting peer pressure and promoting acceptance among one’s classmates must be a grassroots effort,” said 8 | The Foundation
Brigman. “The vast majority of our student population wants to come to school every day and contribute to an atmosphere in which they feel appreciated and respected by their peers.” “The buzz I hear in our hallways is that most students are proud of our school and believe in the power of the masses in creating a culture of positivity and social justice,” he added. Parents are encouraged to help their students navigate peer pressure scenarios and other potentially harmful social situations they may encounter at school. It all begins with keeping an open, healthy dialogue about their school experience and social relationships, then helping them to develop effective language that can be used in response to uncomfortable social situations. “Support your student in developing resiliency,” said Brigman. “All of us must encounter challenges, roadblocks, and life hurdles in our youth and adolescence so that we are better equipped to overcome challenges as adults.” Brigman also encourages parents to talk to their students about available resources and how to find help when they need it. “School counselors are well trained and prepared to respond to complex social situations, including those involving peer pressure,” he said. “But there are many other sources of support available to students, both inside and outside of school.” l
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Bill Thies ’97 Awarded MacArthur Genius Grant Using Technology to Amplify Effectiveness of Healthcare and Communication For Bill Thies ’97, life’s journey took him from State High to India, where he was recently awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant. The grant provides the Microsoft Research India researcher with a no-stringsattached $625,000 grant over the next five years. The hope is that Thies will use the funds to further invest in the innovative research he does that is bringing Bill Thies technology to those in need in John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation rural India. Since 2008, Thies’s research has resulted in the use of technology to develop surprisingly simple solutions to issues facing people in the area. For example, many don’t have regular access to doctors, but most do have access to cell phones. Thies was part of a team that created 99DOTS, a system that encourages tuberculosis patients to continue taking their medication long after they feel well again. Treatment can last for up to six months, but many patients discontinue treatment long before then, often leading to relapse. With 99DOTS, patients’ medication comes in a customprinted blister pack. Patients open the window in the pack for each day’s medication and call the phone number printed under it. “It gives us just enough information to know that that person has the specific dose of medication in their hand on a given day,” said Thies. “Other research has shown that if that dosage is in their hand, it will very likely be swallowed.” Tuberculosis kills about one million people each year, so an effective treatment plan is key. After a successful pilot program for 99DOTS, the program is now being expanded into other locations. Another of Thies’s initiatives is called CGNet Swara. CGNet Swara is a system that enables people in remote and isolated communities who have little access to media to become their own journalists. Again using a simple cell phone, citizens can call in news which is then monitored, published online, and www.scasdfoundation.org
sometimes made available for audio listening. Hundreds of problems have been addressed based on information first received through CGNet Swara, including everything from reports of unpaid wages to an outbreak of cholera in a village with no medical assistance. SCASD is understandably very proud of Thies and proud to have him as an alum. “For Bill Thies to be recognized by the MacArthur Fellows Program as one of the world’s most impactful people is incredible. He is a very talented and creative human being who is making our world a better place,” said State College Area School District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell. In a recent radio interview with WPSU’s Emily Reddy, Thies said that his family still lives in State College and that he would welcome the opportunity to connect with current students. “I fondly remember all my years at State College,” he said. The MacArthur Foundation awarded grants to 23 recipients this year. According to their website, this year’s fellows were chosen based on the impact they are having and their ability to inspire others.
For Bill Thies to be recognized by the MacArthur Fellows Program as one of the world’s most impactful people is incredible. “They are breaking new ground in areas of public concern, in the arts, and in the sciences, often in unexpected ways. Their creativity, dedication, and impact inspire us all,” said MacArthur President Julia Stasch. After graduating from State High, Thies attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned two Bachelor’s of Science degrees—in Mathematics and Computer Science and Engineering. He also earned a Master’s in Computer Science and Engineering, and a PhD in Computer Science. In 2013, he married his coworker, Indrani Medhi Thies. They have a daughter named Tara. l The Foundation | 9
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Nuturing the Entrepreneurial Spirit Nate Woodman ’16 Launched Premium Clothing Line Thanks to Support, Stability, and Security Found at State High “Trust the process.” Those are the words that young entrepreneur Nate Woodman ’16 lives by. And, words that were put into action during his time at State High. As a senior, Woodman followed the process at State High to launch his own clothing line, Dolphin Apparel—a company that mixes premium clothing with a good cause. Ten percent of sales are donated to organizations that protect dolphins—a cause dear to Woodman’s heart. Fellow State High students and staff were among some of Dolphin Apparel’s first and biggest customers and supporters, helping to get the business off the ground. “During my time at State High, I was challenged to go outside my comfort zone and was encouraged to take risks,” he said. “Whether hardships were faced as an individual or as a community, they were met with courage and resilience.” Entrepreneurship has deep roots in his family, and Woodman learned much of what he knows from his father, who has been involved in several business ventures dating back to his college years when he sold—coincidentally—T-shirts.
SCASD nurtured the self-assurance of my own abilities every day I went to school. “I have been lucky to grow up in a household that enjoys talking business and is willing to give honest, and sometimes tough, feedback of ideas,” said Woodman. “I learned the ins and outs of business from just listening at the dinner table.” But, Woodman says, his school nurtured this entrepreneurial spirit as he developed into a young businessman. “SCASD nurtured the self-assurance of my own abilities every day I went to school,” he said. “I’ve become skilled at selling my brand through an amazing process and system at State High.” Woodman credits his classroom experience, specifically
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Advanced Accounting II with Jennifer Miller, with the success of his business. “I have to say that without the opportunity to have her as a teacher my junior and senior years, this company wouldn’t be here,” he said. “She knows how to get the best out of individuals and there is something magical about sitting in her classroom.” “I’ve talked to her so much about my life and my company. From day one it became clear that she was going to change high school for me,” he added. Today, Woodman is a Nate Woodman ’16 (front) and freshman at La Salle Univerfriends show off some pieces sity, where he’s in the Unifrom the Dolphin Apparel line. For versity Honors and Business Woodman, State High nurtured his Scholars Co-Op programs, entrepreneurial spirit and helped and is on the men’s swim him launch his company. team. (Woodman was also an Photo courtesy Nate Woodman avid swimmer in high school and with the Nittany Lion Aquatic Club—hence the dolphin connection. In fact, thanks to donated proceeds from Dolphin Apparel sales, the company has officially adopted two wild dolphins, helping to rehabilitate them without bringing them into captivity.) He hopes to continue to grow his business while earning his degrees in Finance and Business Systems & Analytics. He encourages the next generation of young entrepreneurs at State High to take advantage of all of the resources the district has to offer. “There aren’t many times in your life when there is going to be a safety net if you take risks, and SCASD provided me with that security and the stability and support to make the hard decisions,” he said. l
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Building On Our Strong Foundation
Students and Faculty Shine In and Out of the Classroom Park Forest Middle School student Nico Cardenas-Miller made a horror film called The Guest, which was accepted into the All-American High School Film Festival in New York York. Photo courtesy Centre Daily Times/Abby Drey
Students in Jessica Boyer’s Delta Program Expedition Chesapeake Science class studied Thompson Run in State College. The class has taken part in grant writing and stream work over the past several months. Photo courtesy SCASD/Nabil K. Mark
Congratulations David Narehood and Kristen Nodell, State High’s 2016 Homecoming King and Queen! Photo courtesy Todd Judd
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Building On Our Strong Foundation Students from State High, Mount Nittany Middle School, and Park Forest Middle School choirs joined Penn State choir students to sing the South African peace hymn “Ukuthula” in September. The Avoice4peace project (avoice4peace.org) brought the groups together to reflect on promoting peace in our world and community.
Photo courtesy Steven Hankle
The State High girls’ golf tea m won this year’s District 6 Champion ship. Pho to courtesy State High girls’
Many Easterly Parkway Elementary students viewed and created artwork at an evening Art & Literature Fair in October. Photo courtesy SCASD/Mike Maclay
Nicole Titus (pictured), instru ctional coach at Park Forest Elementa ry and Middle schools, and And rea de Carle, second grade teacher at Easterly Parkway Elementary, were bot h awarded the national Claudia A. Balach Teacher/Researcher Award.
Photo courtesy SCASD/Nicole
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golf
Titus
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Building On Our Strong Foundation
Jenco is ’12 State High alum Saige league playing professional minor Loons. e baseball for the Great Lak es Loons rtesy of Great Lak
Photo Amanda Ray, Cou
State High football players, cheerleaders, and this year’s Drum Major visited Lemont Elementary and other schools ahead of a Friday night football game to read to kindergarteners and teach them to march and cheer.
Photo courtesy SCASD/Nabil K. Mark
Radio Park Elementary instrumental music teachers Mary Krohn-Smith and Matthew Nelson partnered with Penn State to put on an orchestra and band demonstration for students in September. Photo courtesy SCASD/Zachary Wynkoop
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Building On Our Strong Foundation
Corl Street Elementary fourth graders Avery Myers, left, and Yazen Baabdullah, right, talk about their social studies project, for which they learned about the history of Native Americans and where they lived. Photo courtesy Centre Daily Times/Phoebe Sheehan
The State High Project continues on schedule this fall.
be
Photo courtesy Centre Daily Times/Phoe Sheehan
Local teachers raised $1,000 for Louisiana schools damaged by flooding. Gene Ruocchio, a State High earth systems science teacher, launched the fund drive.
Photo courtesy SCASD/Eugene Ruocchio
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Former Classmates Collaborate to Bring Joy and Hope to Autistic Child Sarah Wakefield ’00 lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her friend, former State High classmate, and current Transformers comic book artist, Livio Ramondelli ’99, lives clear across the country in Los Angeles, California. Despite the distance, the two recently worked together to bring joy and hope to a young man with autism. Wakefield works as an assistant professor and clinical audiologist whose specialties and teaching areas include auditory processing disorders and rehabilLivio Ramondelli itation. She first saw the patient Photo courtesy Livio Ramondelli (who we’ll call “Matthew”) when he was seven for an auditory processing evaluation due to difficulty learning phonics. He came into the evaluation with prior diagnoses of high functioning autism, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a connective tissue disorder), and autoimmune deficiencies. Because of his compromised immune system and tendency to become sick easily, it was best for Matthew to avoid public school environments. “Due to these conditions,” explained Wakefield, “he was home schooled and developed a love for comics and drawing comic book characters. Their super human strengths inspired him.” A few years later, Wakefield evaluated Matthew again. At that time, he was also diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which resulted in his losing the ability to walk and episodes of severe stuttering. During the evaluation, Wakefield happened to mention Ramondelli and his work. She put the two in touch with one another and Ramondelli took it from there. “She reached out to me in an email about her patient, and it was great to be able to give him some tips and guidance,” said Ramondelli. “I certainly appreciate all the help and advice I was given when I was younger, and being able to pass it along now feels like I’m able to repay the kindness I was shown.” Wakefield happily reports that Matthew is doing much better. At his last follow-up he was walking again and his stuttering had been resolved. He had been in contact with Ramondelli several times and was excited about the possibility www.scasdfoundation.org
of meeting him the next time he visited Miami. “It provided him with hope that he could accomplish his dreams of becoming a comic illustrator,” said Wakefield. “Also, that even in his most difficult times he could connect with something that brought him joy and could help him engage with others who shared that joy.” Both Wakefield and Ramondelli have fond memories of their time at SCASD. “I feel that the exposure to the arts and sciences I received at Sarah Wakefield SCASD helped me excel in my Photo courtesy Sarah Wakefield current field,” said Wakefield. “I also was very fortunate to interact with students who had disabilities, something I also gained a lot from for my current field.” Wakefield and her husband live with their daughter, Harlow (age 2), and two pugs, Zeke and Zulu. Not surprisingly, Ramondelli’s fondest memories of his time at SCASD involve art. “My favorite memories involve art classes with teacher Robert Placky,” he recalls, “where I met a lot of other talented people looking to pursue art. Mr. Placky was a big inspiration in terms of me wanting to pursue art professionally.”
I’d d just like to encourage anyone reading this to follow their passions and dreams, because they can absolutely be achieved. Ramondelli currently works as an illustrator for several clients, most notably, on Transformers for IDW Publishing. He divides his time between drawing in his home studio and traveling the world. His family still lives in State College and he returns there whenever he can. “I’d just like to encourage anyone reading this to follow their passions and dreams,” said Ramondelli, “because they can absolutely be achieved.” l The Foundation | 15
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
From Spirited Student to American Hero SCASD Remembers Bill Cahir Through Memorial Scholarship Fund Everyone who knew Bill Cahir always knew he would do special things in his life. From his humble beginnings at State High to his final days as an American hero, Cahir lived up to his reputation. Cahir was born in Bellefonte in 1968 to parents John and Mary Anne Cahir, and was raised in State College. “He was a very kind person,” said John. “Of all of our four children, he was by far the first to give up the favored seat, or the last piece of cake. He was the one who wrote the most letters and sent the most gifts.” Bill Cahir Photo courtesy Express-Times As a teenager at State High, Cahir showed a passion for journalism and communication. He led State High’s newspaper The Student Voice as its editor, then went on to work for student newspapers at Penn State before graduating cum laude with an English degree in 1990. In his career as a journalist, he wrote for The Express-Times in Easton, Pennsylvania, and Newhouse News Service, receiving several awards for his writing. He also worked on the Congressional staff of Senators Ted Kennedy and Harris Wofford. Through it all, he carried with him the same passion to always report the truth and take a stand for what he believed in.
Defending Our Country After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Cahir’s world—like so many others—flipped upside-down. He was deeply affected by the tragedy and felt that he had to act. The Sunday after 9/11, his father said, Cahir was already talking to him about joining the military. At the age of 34, Cahir formulated an atypical plan, and it took his family and friends by surprise. “I was concerned that he would have no influence as a Marine,” said John. “They are very rank-conscious, and he was too old to be commissioned. But I was wrong, as I often am.” As it turns out, Cahir became something close to famous among the Marines. According to his father, he was known to colonels and generals by name. He was promoted three times during his service. In total, he served three tours: two in Iraq 16 | The Foundation
and one in Afghanistan. Despite his family’s concerns, he had become a Marine in the truest sense: respected, admired, and loved by his comrades.
Running for Office After returning from his first deployment, Cahir started yet another mission: running for Congress in Pennsylvania. He came in second in the primary by a narrow margin, and garnered many supporters from both parties. SCASD Education Foundation board member Doug Loviscky recalled that he actually switched his political affiliation for that single election just to vote for Cahir. “He could make things happen and not just talk a big game,” said Loviscky. “He was selfless.”
He could make things happen and not just talk a big game. He was selfless. Afghanistan Deployment And, as he usually did, Cahir had a unique and selfless vision when he was called back for his second deployment: To build a school for girls in Afghanistan. Shortly before his death, he traveled to the Bagram Air Base to personally ask the Commanding General for funding for the schools. On August 13, 2009, Cahir was killed in action by a single enemy shot. He was 40 years old. His wife, René E. Browne, was pregnant with their twin daughters at the time. His death left a void in the lives of his family, friends, colleagues, and so many others whose lives he had impacted. But Cahir continues to live on through all those who remember him.
Cahir’s Legacy Lives On “[The twins] never had the opportunity to meet him in person, but they hear stories about him every single day,” said Browne. “Stories about Bill as a boy, as a reporter, as a Marine. Our daughter Elizabeth tells me that writing is her favorite subject www.scasdfoundation.org
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Bill Cahir (center) during his service in Afghanistan Photo courtesy US Marine Corps Cpl. Artur Shvartsberg
in school, and Caroline just told me that she wants to be an author when she grows up.” And Cahir’s impact has done more than live on—it has grown. He has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, and the Purple Heart, among other forms of recognition. In 2014, legislators voted to name New Jersey’s Route 22 toll bridge The Sergeant William John Cahir Memorial Bridge in his honor. His life and death have been covered by many news sources, all citing his patriotism and commitment to his country. “I’ve had senior military officers tell me that he was the most patriotic person they’d ever met,” said his father.
A rock solid foundation in journalism skills is something that is going to help prepare these students to be more civically engaged in many different aspects of their lives. The Bill Cahir Memorial Scholarship Fund for Journalism Now, Cahir’s kindness will live on in a new way: By shaping the lives of State High students just like him through the Bill Cahir Memorial Scholarship Fund for Journalism, established by the SCASD Education Foundation. The fund will give students in www.scasdfoundation.org
State High’s Journalism Program important opportunities for a future in the field, such as summer camps, conferences, workshops and competitions. The scholarship will be Cahir, in uniform while at boot camp, with awarded to students his parents John and Mary Anne who show enthusiPhoto courtesy Ellen Cahir McFarland asm and passion for the field, commitment to the program, and leadership potential. An exemplar of the foundation’s mission, the fund will provide students with an enriched and innovative learning experience. The idea for the fund first came from Loviscky, who wanted to figure out how to honor Cahir in a way that Cahir would have done—not just with empty words, but with action. According to Loviscky, what Cahir really cared about was helping to make an impact in his community, and the scholarship fund through the SCASD Education Foundation seemed like the most fitting way to accomplish that. The fund’s development was a joint effort between the foundation’s Executive Director Paul Olivett, State High journalism teachers Becca Thorsen and Sarah Rito, the school district, and Cahir’s family. “I think it’s a terrific idea, and I think Bill would be really honored and humbled,” said Browne of the fund. “He would be 100 percent supportive of the mission.” According to Browne, Cahir developed his passion for communicating as a teenager at State High, and the skills he learned as a journalism student there were what shaped him so well for the rest of his life. How to write, how to communicate, how to build and nurture relationships—those were the same skills that were so important for Cahir to transfer to his work as a politician and a Marine. “A rock solid foundation in journalism skills is something that is going to help prepare these students to be more civically engaged in many different aspects of their lives,” said Browne. As of today, thousands of schools have been built or rehabilitated in Afghanistan, and it was Bill Cahir and others like him who paved the way. Now, the Bill Cahir Memorial Scholarship Fund hopes to help pave the way for others to make their own difference in the world. And according to Cahir’s family and friends, that is all he ever wanted. For more information about how you can donate to the Bill Cahir Memorial Scholarship Fund for Journalism, visit www.scasdfoundation.org. l The Foundation | 17
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Celebrating 100: Max Confer Shares Memories On August 20, 2016, friends and family of Max Confer packed Juniper Village at Brookline Senior Living Community to celebrate an incredible milestone: his 100th birthday. But even a grand celebration and three different birthday cakes could never sum up the life Max has lived. Born in 1916, Max was a student at State High when the Great Depression hit the country. Before finishing school, he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps, Roosevelt’s work relief program for unemployed young men in need of jobs during the Depression. “You got a dollar a day,” said Max. “That was a good thing.” In 1942, Max enlisted in the Army because he had grown tired of waiting Max and Clark Confer to inevitably be Photo courtesy SCASD Education Foundation drafted into World War II. Knowing his eyesight made him unfit for his dream of flying planes, he planned to be a mechanic in the Air Corps instead. However, the Army had other ideas. Instead, they sent Max to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to train as a surgical technician. “They decided that I would be a medic,” said Max. “I was shipped over to North Africa. I ran an aid station over there, in a place called Orléansville [Algeria].” Max returned from the war to marry his sweetheart, Jeanne, back at home. Together they would have a son, Clark, and a daughter, Carol, both State High alumni. Max went back to work at Automotive Supply Company—the wholesaler he had worked for before enlisting—where he would stay until his retirement at age 65. In Max’s words, he did “all right” with Automotive Supply Company. In reality, he worked his way up until he was managing stores and working as a traveling salesman, solving the company’s problems from town to town around the State 18 | The Foundation
Max Confer while he served in World War II as a medic (left), and as a child during World War I (right) Photo courtesy Max Confer
College area. Max helped to build the company to a point where it would eventually be bought out—the new company now operates 800 stores, and Max recalled that he hired the man who is now in charge of those 800 stores. But as if raising children and working full time weren’t enough, Max had another thing to accomplish. He went back to State High, taking night classes until he eventually graduated. Max has seen and done more in his life than many ever will. He is able to say that he once purchased a ’29 Model A Ford for $5 and used the body of a ’31 Roadster to rebuild the car with his own two hands. He got to travel to Florida in the winters with his wife, stopping to visit their daughter in North Carolina on the way. He has lived everywhere from Snow Shoe, to D.C., to Algeria, to right here in State College. His son, Clark, only half-jokingly stated that Max knows “half the people in Centre County.” Best of all, Max went on to learn to fly airplanes after all, and even had his own plane. “I have no regrets, had no problems,” said Max. “I did everything I wanted to.” When asked about his secret to staying so healthy, Max answered that he supposes he is just lucky. But to everyone who knows him, they are the ones who have been lucky to have him for these 100 years and counting. l www.scasdfoundation.org
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education Training the Next Generation of Journalists & Storytellers Storytelling. It’s a fine craft that is perfected through State High’s journalism program, where budding journalists learn the skills to report, produce, and deliver the latest news and information within the school community. This program is led by two women who know SCASD well. Journalism teachers Rebecca Thorsen ’98 and Sarah Rito ’97, both State High graduates, hope to leave their students with the ability and confidence to tell someone’s story. “Our journalism program is very student centered,” said Thorsen. “Each year, we revise the leadership structure and individual expectations based on the students we have in our program, allowing the students to take more ownership of the process and products. They leave our program understanding how their efforts can directly affect the outcome.” Through the program, students learn the skills of interviewing, journalistic writing, photography, editing, and layout, and study the history of news, current media practices, and media ethics and law. As students gain more experience, they are invited to become leaders in the program, taking responsibility for managing and editing others’ work in addition to producing their own. “Interviewing and leadership skills help students to be more confident in social interactions and to really listen to what others are saying. The research and writing skills that our students take with them make them better in all other disciplines,” said Thorsen. “The best journalists are generally well-rounded, curious people who love to multitask!” Several notable alumni who went through the program at SCASD have gone on to land great journalism jobs after college. Candace Smith ’07 writes for ABC News. Brittany Corl ’09 produces a news broadcast for a local Fox affiliate. The Winter 2016 Issue of The Lions’ Digest www.scasdfoundation.org
And many others have gone on to have careers in advertising or public relations. Both Thorsen and Rito feel privileged to be able to pay forward much of what they learned at State High to the State high journalism teachers Rebecca next generation of Thorsen and Sarah Rito Little Lions. They Photo courtesy SCASD/Rebecca Thorsen & Sarah Rito both credit specific teachers who molded them and helped them find their passion for teaching. “My senior CP English class with Rachel Alexander (who has since moved on from State High) helped me to realize my passion for English and also instilled in my non-ambitious self a sense that I could be successful if I was willing to work hard,” said Thorsen.
Interviewing and leadership skills help students to be more confident in social interactions and to really listen. The research and writing skills that our students take with them make them better in all other disciplines. “I love that I feel grounded in a place living and teaching here,” added Rito. “In such a transient community, and indeed in a transient world, I relish the opportunity I have to build a life with deep roots, and to explore ways to continue to grow and change as a person while working to foster positive growth in my community.” l
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Inspiring a Love of Music and Fostering Leadership Skills State High Choir Led by Director Erik Clayton ’00 By Chris Rosenblum, SCASD Director of Communications Erik Clayton craves “the moment.” As the State High choir director, he strives to feel it, that point when everything clicks during a concert and dozens of voices magically blend into a rich sonic tapestry. It inspires him forward, and he’ll do everything he can to help his students experience the same thrill. “The feeling of it, it’s Erik Clayton almost a larger collective Photo courtesy Erik Clayton consciousness, all at once, towards the same purpose and the same emotional expression,” he said. “It still gives me chills. It’s what makes every concert for me a fantastic experience.” But reaching those heights requires hard work, and during a weekday lunch rehearsal in the school’s choir room, he pushed Master Singers choir members to improve. Standing while playing piano and singing, he continued helping the ensemble jell for performances later this year—one bit of praise or instruction at a time. “Tenors, get the timing down!” “Choir 2 sopranos, nice job getting below the altos.” “We really need that to be in a high key there.” “Nice and easy. It’s about accuracy right now, not so much as expression.” “Work it altos, come on!” It’s a deeply familiar setting for him, even though he’s only in his second year directing State High students standing on the risers. Once upon a time, he stood in the same spots. Clayton found his love for choral music growing up in Park Forest and singing in school choirs through his 2000 graduation from State High. Moving over to Penn State, he earned an undergraduate music education degree, specializing in choral music, and a masters in piano performance while 20 | The Foundation
honing his conducting chops. “I’m definitely a homegrown product,” he said. He comes from a musical family on both sides; his mother, a singer, filled their home with piano tunes. But among his many influences, one stands out in particular. Retired State High choir director Bob Drafall started in Clayton’s freshman year, launching the Master Singers choir and inspiring one of his singers with demanding yet caring direction to follow in his footsteps. “I owe 90 percent of my philosophy of how a choir should be to him,” Clayton said, noting that Drafall’s can-do spirit and optimism continue to shape his directing and teaching. “I can never hope to be as great at that as he was, but I do try to do that as much as I can.” It was only fitting then that Clayton succeeded Drafall in 2015. He returned to his alma mater from stints in the Williamsport and Central Dauphin school districts, and brought a couple of key lessons learned to the job. From his early teaching, he discovered the importance of having student officers. Not only do they take some of the planning and administrative work off his shoulders, they also set a good example with their commitment and leadership for other students. To Clayton, the officer system helps promote a sense of “ownership” and unity within choirs.
It still gives me chills. It It’s what makes every concert for me a fantastic experience. “They understand that being part of the choir isn’t just a class,” he said. “It’s being part of an organization.” Choir President Emily Kiver and Vice President Ellen Maple have embraced the philosophy. Maple said she views her role as “someone in a leadership position who others can approach and trust.” “My actual job involves a lot of paperwork, planning and www.scasdfoundation.org
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education communication with the other officers, but being recognized as an officer in the Choral Department is a great way for people to know that they can contact me if they feel the need for help from someone who knows the department and the school well,” she said. “It is especially nice for the underclassmen to have a group of students that they can reach out to. I have been very involved with music in the district for a long time, and when Mr. Clayton created the officer system I thought I could offer a good amount of insight and connection with other students.” Kiver sets out to be “of assistance in all areas, choirs and to Mr. Clayton.” “I applied to become president because I shared his belief in the program and determination to improve it and make it an even greater source of pride for the school,” she said. In his directing, Clayton has also come to believe deeply in the value of building camaraderie, in one kind of harmony leading to another. This fall saw his first annual “Choir KickOff ” party, which Kiver noted “was a great success in getting kids that are involved in choir to interact, regardless of grade level or which choir they belonged to.” “Positive feelings make anybody’s work better,” Clayton said. “If you feel you’ve had a good experience, if you know the person next to you better, it helps you make better music.”
He has extremely high standards, which in turn pushes students to pursue the greatest music level possible. So far this year, the approach seems to be working. After several summer rehearsals, the Master Singers performed Mozart’s “Requiem,” a complex and sophisticated piece, with the State College Choral Society for a September 11 remembrance concert at Penn State. “He has extremely high standards, which in turn pushes students to pursue the greatest music level possible,” Kiver said. “He teaches the importance of self-discipline and working hard when you have a goal.” Both Kiver and Maple give Clayton high marks for his dedication to students outside rehearsals, for always being willing to hear concerns, share jokes and just be a friend at times.
www.scasdfoundation.org
Erik Clayton helping choir students with their singing form. Photo courtesy SCASD/Nabil K. Mark
“Mr. Clayton puts a lot of focus on being a strong community that has respect for each other,” Maple said. “I think stressing this idea alone creates an enjoyable experience, on top of Mr. Clayton’s friendly and outgoing personality. He cares a lot about students, and it can be seen in the quality of choir experiences at State High.” Clayton said it all boils down to building trust and rapport with students as much as perfecting timing and expression. “They know that if it’s ever a hard rehearsal and I’m being pretty demanding of my expectations of them, it has nothing to do with them as people,” he said. “That’s what I always just say: ‘Look, you all are wonderful people, and I really care about you, and I want you to be happy and healthy and feel good, but this is what the music demands of us. This is what you need to accomplish.’” This is what it takes to attain the sublime, “the moment.” Clayton needs to get back to it, but he can’t do it alone. He must lead the way. “Choir is enjoyable because of the excitement that comes with achieving great things through hard work,” Kiver said. “In rehearsal, I become enthralled by the beauty of the music we are singing and I am captivated by Mr. Clayton’s energy that stems from his love of music. This love of music is shared with us through his teaching of the history of the piece, the composer and his or her intentions, and the musicality which flows through the piece, and for this reason, choir is a truly joyful experience.” l
The Foundation | 21
The Foundation in action
Community Support Keeps Little Lions’ Pride Alive Matt Suhey Delivers Inspiration, Golden Football Generations of football alumni and Little Lions fans gathered at Memorial Field on September 16 with a lot to celebrate: the Little Lions home opener marked the first annual Alumni Night, highlighted by special alumni guests Super Bowl champ Matt Suhey and Temple coach Matt Rhule. Before the game, the SCASD Education Foundation hosted Suhey and a group of alumni and community members. Suhey spoke about how his State High athletics experiences contributed to his success at Penn State and with the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears. He reminded the crowd, “Before I was a Nittany Lion, I was a Little Lion.” Suhey added that he’s living proof of the power of a strong, well-rounded educational experience, and said he hopes alumni and the community will come together to support the foundation’s goal to provide enriching opportunities for every student. He recalled life-changing moments at Memorial Field that helped him become a champion professional athlete. SCASD Superintendent Bob O’Donnell shared preliminary plans for much-needed improvements to athletic facilities, including historic Memorial Field, now home to a wide variety of State High athletic teams and activities. During the game, Suhey presented the Little Lions with the NFL’s Golden Football Award, which all Super Bowl winners receive and pass on to their high school alma mater.
the pregame speech and I assure you, our kids will never forget that moment. The inspirational words and memories shared between State High’s last five football coaches celebrate alums was the first-ever Alumni Night priceless and Photo courtesy SCASD/Mary Kay Montovino something we look forward to continuing annually. On behalf of the State College Area School District and our football team, we sincerely thank all of our alumni and fans for their continued support. One additional way that folks can support our program is through the Pave it Forward campaign. We have a brick walkway beside Memorial Field, where donors can purchase a brick to help to support the State College Area School District. This is a great way for individuals or families to leave a lasting legacy at Memorial Field.” l
A Word from Coach Matt Lintal “Our first ever State College Football Alumni Event (Memories on Memorial) was an incredible experience and it turned out to be the highest attended game at Memorial Field since 2005. Our current players had the opportunity to see the huge amount of support and pride that our alumni have for the State College Football Program. Matt Suhey with the Golden Football on Matt Suhey and Memorial Field with State High Little Lions Matt Rhule gave Photo courtesy SCASD/Nabil K. Mark
By purchasing a personalized, engraved brick today, you’ll be helping SCASD Athletics enhance recent updates to include locker rooms, bathrooms, a concession stand, and rebuilding the East Side stands and press box.
22 | The Foundation
Memorial Field in Our Community: Key Facts • About 25 percent of State High students play or perform on Memorial Field. • Various district football teams, boys’ and girls’ soccer, field hockey, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, and marching band all use the field. • Various community groups use the field when available. • An average of 3,000 fans attend Friday night football. Return the form on the next page to support SCASD Athletics and leave your legacy.
www.scasdfoundation.org
Pave it Forward:
Foundation in action LeaveThe Your Legacy at Memorial Field
Join Us in Support of Memorial Field
Become part of history and pave the way for the future of Memorial Field. Purchase and inscribe a brick on the west-side walkway to Memorial Field along Fraser Street. Donations to Pave it Forward will fund future For all of these reasons, and more, we are asking for your supJoin the hundreds to of alumni and friends improvements Memorial Field. of State High who port. Become part of the permanent history of Memorial Field have already purchased bricks in honor of their experiences at Memorial Field, thehave 4,000-seat venue for State College Area School District has been with a personalized, engraved brickAthletics, on the west-side walkway Memorial Field. They now left aoutdoor lasting legacy through home to wins and to losses, to triumph and to heartache, and most importantly, to unforgettable moments leading to the field. the Pave it Forward campaign. that have shaped the lives of countless young people. These moments have centered on unparalleled teamwork, overcoming adversity, and more as State College students have competed Simply complete Becomepersonal part of thisaccomplishment, history and pave the way for the future of in athletics and gathered for graduation other significant events the form below on their home field. Memorial Field has Memorial Field. Purchase and inscribe a brick on and the west-side also been a key venue for community like parades and return it to theand other activities. walkway to Memorial Field along Fraser Street. events Donations to Arts Pave Festival, address listed with a it Forward will fund future improvements to Memorial Field. Dedicated to has thebeen memory ofwins State High graduates who gave their lives in World Wars I and II, and rededione-time payment Memorial Field home to and to losses, to triumph cated to honor all those fallen in wars since, Memorial Field serves not just as an athletic complex, but as of $250. The brick and to heartache, and most importantly, to unforgettable moa community gathering place where neighbors and friends come together campaign is open to to support the students of State ments that have shaped the lives of countless young people. College. Currently home to football, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse, Memorial Field was constructed durindividuals, families, These moments have centered on: ing the Great Depression as a Works Progress Administration project and remains situated in the heart of and businesses, ✓ Unparalleled the Borough ofteamwork State College. and will serve as a ✓ Personal accomplishments true, permanent Now you can become part of the permanent history of Memorial Field with a personalized, engraved brick reminder of the strong ✓ Overcoming adversity on the west-side walkway leading to the field. Simply complete the form below and return it to the address community that supports listed with a one-time ✓ Celebrating milestones payment of $250. The brick campaign is open to individuals, families and businesses, the State College Area School and will serve as a true, permanent reminder of the strong community that supports the State College Area ✓ Bringing the community together District and its students. School District and its students.
YourYour legacy can live atMemorial Memorial Field. Pave it Forward! legacy can liveforever forever at Field. Pave it Forward! www.scasd.org/buyabrick • 814-231-1021 scasd.org/buyabrick • 814-231-1021
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TheDistrict Districtreserves reservesthe the right right to accept, reject, negotiate brick The reject or negotiate brickinscription inscriptioncontent. content.
Please make checks SchoolDistrict. District.(Donations (Donations bricks deductible to the extent allowed by law.) Please make checkspayable payableto:to:State StateCollege College Area Area School forfor bricks areare taxtax deductible to the extent allowed by law.) Mail check and this form to: State College Area School District Memorial Field Brick Campaign, 131 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801 Mail check and this form to: State College Area School District Memorial Field Brick Campaign, 240 Villa Crest Drive, State College, PA 16801 or go or gotoonline to scasd.org/buyabrick online www.scasd.org/buyabrick www.scasdfoundation.org The Foundation | 23 894-014
240 Villa Crest Drive State College, PA 16801
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"Our district is bursting with expertise on how to raise our kids and build a strong community." 24 | The Foundation
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