PASC News - January 2013

PASC News Inside This Issue News & Notes...................... 2 • Altoona High School to Host 2014 PASC State Conference • National Council of Excellence Applications Due in February • 2012 State Charity Funds Distributed Join PASC in Welcoming New Members to the Board....... 3 Mark Your Calendar for These PASC Summer Leadership Workshop Dates for 2013........................................ 4 Staff Applications Now Available for Workshops............. 4 “Feel The Rhythm” in Boyertown in 2013......................... 5 Junior Member to be Selected for PA State Board of Education............................... 6 2013 PASC District/Regional Conferences.......................... 7 Present at NASC National Conference............................ 7 Introducing Our 2013 Middle Level Representatives.......... 8 PASC Heads to Vegas for 2013 Conference................. 9 Project Sharing: Feed-aFriend...................................... 9

Volume 37 Issue 5 January 2013

“Less Fluff, More Stuff” Is the Goal of PASC State President in 2013

By Danielle Croner, Boyertown High School When I think back to this time, last year, I remember the nervousness of placing our bid, the excitement of being chosen to host, and then the hurdles we’ve had to overcome in state conference planning. And although a lot has changed in the last 12 months, many of my feelings have stayed the same.

I still feel nervous, now for my role in becoming president.

I still feel excited, this time for my journey with such an amazing association. But my feelings towards the hurdles have changed, because I’m not as afraid of them anymore.

I’m determined and ready to

overcome anything that is in my way; thanks to PASC and the lessons I have already learned.

PASC President Danielle Croner delivers her

As I enter my presiinaugural address. dency, I am reminded of are leaders yet and motivate my PASC experiences and current leaders to reach their one particular thought always full potential. As a Board, we comes to mind... “less fluff, should use this time to set our more stuff.” Yes, of course we own example of civic engagewant the delegates and advisors ment and exercise our own to have fun and enjoy their mission statement. It is time time with PASC, whether it we replace the fluff with more be at a conference or a summer stuff and take on an active role workshop. However, I want as a group. us all to remember why we are This Association has so many here, and that would be to crecommunication outlets that ate better student leaders. can and should be exercised. A The events we host provide prime example of this would be ample time to ignite a spark in our regional and middle level students who don’t know they continued on page 2

PA Seniors Named As Horatio Alger Scholars The Horatio Alger Association for Distinguished Americans named three Pennsylvania seniors as National Scholars and an additional 50 Pennsylvania State Scholars. A total of $310,000 in scholarships will be given to these 53 Pennsylvania seniors in 2013.

The National Scholars are: Durinda Barker, Mechanics-

burg HS; Dray Cottingham, City Charter HS-Pittsburgh; and Dylan Hartlaub, York County School of Technology. These students will be recognized at the Association’s National Scholars Conference in Washington, DC, in early April. The names and schools of the 50 Pennsylvania State Scholars can be found at www.

horatioalger.com. Enter the site, click on scholarships, and then click on “State Scholars of Pennsylvania.”

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans will be accepting applications from students in the graduating class of 2014 beginning on August 1, 2013 with a deadline of October 25, 2013. continued on page 3

News & Notes Altoona High School to Host 2014 PASC State Conference The Executive Board was disappointed to learn in early January that no schools had expressed interest in bidding for the 2014 state conference. However, the advisors at Altoona Area Schools have come forward with an invitation to again host the state conference. Altoona hosted the 2011 conference and with the support of their students, faculty, and administration will host again in November 2014.

Altoona looks forward to creating a conference that will feature many different experiences for students and advisors.

One major change will be that students and advisors will be housed in several hotels in the Altoona area. Altoona HS will now proceed to name the PASC President-Elect and 2014 conference chairs and begin their detailed planning process as they point toward November 6–8, 2014. We thank Altoona HS and look forward to again working with their students, staff, and administration.

National Council of Excellence Applications Due in February With less than one month remaining till the deadline to submit Councils of Excellence applications, it is time for your student council members to organize information on projects, minutes and agendas of meetings, and other information that can be used to support your council’s application to NASC as a National Council of Excellence for 2013.

Many PASC member councils have done many outstanding things since January 1, 2012. PASC would like to encourage all councils to apply for this prestigious award. Details on the application process and the appropriate forms can be found at www.nasc.us. The application, based on the council’s accomplishments for calendar year 2012, is due to NASC on February 15, 2013.

2012 State Charity Funds Distributed The State Charity for 2012, selected by state conference hosts Laurel JSHS and Union MS/HS, was a joint effort to act both locally and globally through the Keep It Campaign.

Through the efforts of PASC member schools, a total of $10,125.25 was raised. Of these funds, $5,062 was distributed to aid schools and communities affected by the floods caused by Hurricane Irene, which devastated communities along the Susquehanna River and its tributaries. Communities most affected by these floods were in PASC Districts 7-8-9. The PASC District Board in districts 7 and 9 selected local community and relief organizations as recipients of continued on page 5

2

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

State President’s Inaugural Address (cont’d from pg 1) representatives. You are the students that this association exists for. Because of that, always remember to voice your opinions to the Board but also voice the opinions of students in your Region.

After all, you are Region and Middle Level representatives. By ensuring communication with both your schools and districts, you become a very valuable asset to this board. Likewise, every board member should see it a responsibility to become a similar outlet for communication with members. We all need to take advantage of every conference and see it as an opportunity to motivate that one student who needs it that day or that one council that is going through a challenge. As an association, we can be the people who turn a follower into a leader and a club into a council.

During my term, I would also like to see PASC thank its member schools who faithfully attend conferences and workshops, the schools that put their trust in PASC to change their council for the better. After becoming familiar with NASC’s National Council of Excellence Award, I believe that a proper way to recognize these schools would be a Pennsylvania Council of Excellence Award. As an Executive Board, I would like us to come together and sketch out what the ideal student council would look like.

To me, it would be a council that has attended PASC conferences, provides leadership opportunities to students, promotes school spirit, and serves its local community. Much like we try to embody our mission statement, those recognized councils should also exemplify it. In the future, this award could be extended to individual students as well, who can be deemed excellent Pennsylvania Leaders.

But for now, I want you all to brainstorm what an excellent council means to you. After reviewing the National Council of Excellence Application, I was able to produce a rough draft of what our application could look like. However, other states also sponsor this award already and I have found there are various ways for it to be organized. Because so many approaches can be taken, I would like to work with the Special Projects committee to discuss further development of this award and provide them with specific details. This project is not a brand new idea, but it would be a new addition to our association that could take it to the next level.

Part of the vision of PASC is to “recognize school and individual achievements” and I hope that during my term we can collaborate as a board to achieve this goal and in turn, help carry out the vision of PASC. As I assume my role as president, I would like to thank the Board for being so welcoming already and giving me such a fantastic opportunity. I look forward to representing Pennsylvania at conferences and events and coming back to share my experiences with all of you. I promise to always remember that being a leader is half speaking but the more important other half is listening. With this, I will strive to openly communicate with all members of the Board, no matter what side of the state I am on. I hope, with your help, to continue the wonderful legacy PASC has created to bring out the best in Pennsylvania’s young leaders.

Join PASC in Welcoming New Members to the Board The PASC Executive Board began its work for 2013 at the first of four meetings for this year.

The meeting saw the conclusion of the two-year terms for four student board members: • Troy Davis (Region A Rep—Ford City HS) •Caroline Steliotes (Region E Rep—Quaker Valley HS) • Mallory Mokay (Region G Rep—North Pocono HS) • Bonaire Berry (Region E Rep—New Oxford HS).

PASC thanks each of these board members for their dedication and service to the students and advisors of the schools of Pennsylvania.

Six new members assumed their Board positions at this meeting: •Danielle Croner—President, Boyertown HS • Trey Quealy—Region B Representative, Norwin HS • Sierra Gehringer—Region D Representative, Cowanesque Valley HS • Autumn Capouillez—Region E Representative, Halifax HS • Joey Moyer—Middle Level Representative, Fleetwood School • Noah Pollio—Middle Level Representative, Union MS New PASC Board Regional Representatives and Middle Level Representatives (bottom right) attended their first Board meeting in January. From left: Noah Pollio, Sierra Gehringer, Trey Quealy, Autumn Capouillez, Joey Moyer The full student complement on the Board includes (top right): Top Row: Katie Waverka; fourth Row: Mitchell Koval, Maura Gouak, Elizabeth Bina; third Row: Danielle Croner, Trey Quealy; second Row: Sierra Gehringer, Emily Howald, Autumn Capouillez; first Row: Noah Pollio, Molly Hundertmark, Brynn Martin, Joey Moyer

Seniors Named as Horatio Alger Scholars (cont’d from pg 1) Please share the following information with your Guidance Department and with present juniors you know who might fit the following criteria: The Horatio Alger Association seeks to assist students who have demonstrated integrity, perseverance in overcoming adversity, strength of character, financial need (under $50,000 adjusted gross family income), a good academic record, commitment to pursue a college education, and a desire to contribute to society.

During the Association’s Awards Ceremonies on April 5, 2013, Mr. Joseph Neubauer, Chairman of the Board of the Aramark Corporation will be recognized with the Horatio Alger Association’s most prestigious award, the Normal Vincent Peale Award. Mr. Neubauer has been an association member since 1994. He helped initiate the association’s endowment campaign with a $3 million gift towards a highly successful $100 million capital campaign. Most importantly to our Pennsylvania students, Mr. Neubauer facilitated a collabo-

ration with the Pew Charitable Trusts to sponsor the Franklin Scholarship Program and heavily underwrote the association’s part of that collaboration.

Between 2007 and 2011, the Franklin Scholars program each year recognized an additional 25 Pennsylvania scholars, provided them with a $10,000 scholarship and sponsored an inspirational program on the campus of the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge. Each year, through the efforts of Mr. Neubauer and his wife, Jeanette, 50 Pennsylvania seniors continue to

receive state scholarships. Mr. Neubauer led the formation of a Scholars Alumni Association, has helped to sponsor Alumni Summits in 2004, 2007, 2010, and will again in 2014. He is now championing research to help identify what factors make Horatio Alger Scholars so resilient and, thus successful in college and in life despite the adversities that they have overcome. Congratulations to this distinguished Pennsylvanian and champion of the youth of our state.

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

3

Mark Your Calendar for These PASC Summer Leadership Workshop Dates for 2013 Share these dates with underclass members of your student council, class governments, NHS, and other student organizations so that they may plan now for a week of learning, fun, and personal growth this summer.

Blue workshops are for middle level students in grades 7–9 while Gold workshops are for high school students in grades 9–12 (2013–2014 school year). Costs listed below include registration, room, and meals. The 2013 PASC Workshop Brochures will be emailed to PASC member advisors and students who receive PASC NEWS during the first week in February. The hard copy of the brochure and application will be mailed to advisors as of March 15.

Please note the following dates and locations and begin planning now for students to attend in July.

Costs & Deadlines:

Blue (Grades 7–9) Grove City College July 14–18

Early Bird (May 10th)

Regular ( June 7th)

$345

$370

Alvernia University Gold (Grades 9–12) Grove City College Susquehanna University Advanced Gold (Grades 11–12) University of Pittsburgh/Johnstown

July 28–Aug 1

$345

$370

July 7–12 July 28–Aug 2

$375 $375

$400 $400

July 14–20

$495

$520

PASC NEWS is published monthly during the school year. To submit announcements, articles, or corrections for newsletters, please email the Executive Director or Assistant Executive Director. Articles or information from PASC NEWS may be reproduced for use, with appropriate credit.

Executive Director Jim Finnemeyer North Penn HS 1340 Valley Forge Road Lansdale, PA 19446 215-280-9299 215-855-0632 (Fax) Finnemeyer@aol.com PASCInfo@aol.com Assistant Executive Director Kathy Ann Coll 174 Link Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-366-5744 Kcoll1@comcast.net PASC President Danielle Croner Boyertown High School 120 N. Monroe Street Boyertown, PA 19512 PASC President-Elect Altoona Area High School 1415 6th Street Altoona, PA. 16602

Staff Applications Now Available for Workshops PASC is seeking students who will graduate from high school in 2013 (or have graduated in 2011 or 2012) to serve as group advisors for one of the five PASC Summer Leadership Workshops.

4

Additionally, advisors, other teachers, or individuals with experience in leadership development are encouraged to apply for teaching positions at the PASC Blue Workshops (grades 7–9) or the PASC Gold Workshops (grades 9–12) for the

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

summer of 2013. Applications are now available at www.pasc. net, by contacting the PASC Office at PASCInfo@aol.com, or calling 215-280-9299. Deadline for submitting applications is February 28, 2013.

PASC News Editor Lyn Fiscus Leadership Logistics PASC Email: PASCInfo@aol.com PASC Website: www.pasc.net

Feel The Rhythm in Boyertown at 2013 Conference Boyertown Area High School invites students and advisors from PASC member schools to attend the 2013 State Conference in Boyertown, PA (District 13). The Boyertown Area School District is noted for all aspects of their music program, and thus the student council has captured that musical prominence with their state conference theme, “Feel the Rhythm of Leadership”. The conference decorations, conference entertainment, and speakers will utilize the musically inspired theme throughout the conference program. Here is a preview of plans for 2013 that the “Boyertown Team” has developed: The Conference will be held Thursday, November 14 through Saturday, November 16, 2013. Conference general sessions and student workshops will be held at the high school. The advisors’ program and workshops will also be held on the high school campus.

Registration and welcome

activities will be held Thursday afternoon at Boyertown Area High School. A free dinner for advisors will be held in the high school cafeteria. Student delegates will go to host homes for dinner and will return to the high school for the first general session which will feature keynote speaker, Monte Selby.

On Friday, advisors will have breakfast at their hotels while students eat at host homes.

Students will spend the morning attending student-led workshops. The Friday morning advisors’ program will include roundtable sessions, a special presentation with keynote speaker Scott Backovich, and workshops that will highlight topics to be featured in the 2014 Activity Advisors Seminar to be held at Susquehanna University. Then, students and advisors will attend lunch and Region caucuses followed by the second general session.

The second general session will feature keynote speaker Scott Backovich and the recognition of the PASC high school

and middle school advisors of the year.

Then everyone will return to their host homes or the hotels to prepare for the banquet and dances.

Students and advisors will return to Boyertown High School’s “Bear Gym” for the banquet and then separate for the middle level and high school dances.

On Saturday morning, the third general session will be held with keynote speaker Judson Laipply.

The conference will end on Saturday morning by 11:00 AM. Information on the talented and creative speakers at the 2013 conference will be featured in upcoming issues of PASC NEWS. In 2013, PASC will again use host homes for student delegates, but will also provide an option for schools that require that their students be housed in hotels. Please note however

that the number of hotel rooms for the housing of both advisor and student delegates will be limited. The February edition of PASC NEWS will provide hotel information. Reasonable hotel rates have been negotiated and will be published at that time. Conference information will also be available at www. pasc.net and at the conference website www.pasc2013.org as of February 1. Details of the registration process and the per-delegate fee will be announced in March.

Circle Your Calendars Now and Join Us in Boyertown November 14–16, 2013 for the 77th PASC State Conference 2012 State Charity Funds Distributed (cont’d from pg 2) funds provided to them. In District 8, the funds were given directly to the American Red Cross to meet needs in hardest hit areas.

The other half of the funds raised ($5,062) was given to support the Ivory Park Project in South Africa created by former PASC Summer Leadership Workshop Director

Bob Tryanski and his wife Hannah Brittan. This project was one many PASC member schools and schools throughout the United States helped by contributing $80,000. over 4 years.

In 2012, PASC promoted schools sponsoring dodgeball tournaments to specifically raise funds for this project.

With the donations from PASC in 2012, the project was completed and the community center and library are now totally up and running. It is now self-sustaining and also will be supported by South African government funds. The Ivory Park Project has included the start-up and running of a soup kitchen for senior citizens and orphans, a child care center

for infants to kindergarteners with a master teacher, funding for an eye doctor and an eye glass clinic, the building of the community center complete with a library filled with donated books and a librarian.

This success would not have been achieved without the contributions made by PASC in 2012 as well as by other funds contributed since 2008.

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

5

Junior Member to be Selected for Pennsylvania State Board of Education Since September 2008, a senior and a junior student have served on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. The term of Senior SBE member Erin Agnew, of Springfield Township HS, will end with the SBE meeting on May 8–9, 2013. We are happy to announce that Emily Clark, Junior SBE member of Seneca Valley HS, will be appointed to serve as the next Senior SBE Member. Thus, PASC has been charged with the responsibility to select the next Junior SBE Member. This student will be named this spring and will begin his or her term as of July 1. However, Emily and the new Junior Member will attend their first meeting together in mid-May. What Is the State Board of Education?

The State Board of Education sets all policies regarding public school education in the Commonwealth. It consists of Councils of Basic and Higher Education. The Board of Education has 17 adult members selected by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The chair and minority leader of the House and Senate Education Committees serve as well. The board meets in Harrisburg on Wednesdays and Thursdays in July, September, November, January, March, and May. A detailed job description is

available at www.pasc.net or by contacting PASC at PASCInfo@aol.com.

student representatives on their State Boards of Education.

What Are the Duties of Students on the Board of Education?

PASC is seeking to name a present sophomore to the Junior SBE Member as of July 1. The process will be implemented in the spring of 2013 to select the next Junior SBE Member whose term will begin on July 1, 2013. Any sophomore in a public high school in Pennsylvania may apply for the position for the 2013–2014 school year. Students do not have to attend a PASC member school to apply. Travel, meals, and lodging in Harrisburg or other meeting sites in the state will be paid for by the State Board of Education. Travel, meals, and lodging for the required meetings of PASC will be paid by PASC.

The new Junior SBE Member of the Board of Education will join Emily Clark in representing the 1.8 million K–12 public school students in the Commonwealth. Although they can not be an expert on every issue or idea coming before the Board of Education and its committees, they will be expected to do their “homework” to become knowledgeable about topics of interest to Pennsylvania students including special needs students and vocational and technical school students. Working with PASC, the student members will use the PASC NEWS communications system, the PASC website, and PASC survey tools to communicate with their constituents. The students will report periodically to the PASC Executive Board and attend the state conference and January Executive Board meeting for face-to face reporting and feedback. Being the “student voice” on the Pennsylvania Board of Education is an incredible opportunity for the students involved as well as for all Pennsylvania students. Only 13 states in the nation have

Who May Apply?

Application Includes • Basic contact information • Student resume • Two essays • Three letters of recommendation • Signatures of approval and support from the student, parent/guardian, school administration Download the information cover letter, application, requirements and expectations, and overview of the State Board of Education at www. pasc.net.

Advisors: Please share this important information with your student leaders right away!

Application deadline by mail or fax is Friday, March 8, 2013.

6

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

Selection Timeline March 8: Postmark or FAX deadline for all application information and letters of recommendation.

March 12–16: Review of all applications by an adult and student screening committee of the PASC Executive Board.

March 18: Contact with the finalists for the Junior Member position regarding the interview process.

April 6 or 13: Interviews in Harrisburg with finalists for the Junior Member position; PASC makes recommendations to the State Board of Education April 26: Notification of student selected as State Board of Education Junior Member May 8–9: First meeting of the State Board of Education for new student member.

Please direct any questions regarding these positions and the application process to 215-280-9299 or PASCInfo@aol.com. Fax 215-855-0632 Attn: Jim Finnemeyer

2013 PASC District/Regional Conferences Mark your calendar and plan to attend the district/regional conference in your area.

District/Region Date Location Region A Districts 1 & 2 March 22 Leechburg HS

Theme: R3=Respect + Respond + Reflect

Program: Team RWB activity, student-led workshops, a special activ ity

for the senior delegates, and a keynote experience by the Leechburg

Taiko Ensemble

Contact Amy Barley: abarley@leechburg.k12.pa.us 724-842-0571,

ext. 502 or Patty Osborne posborne@leechburg.k12.pa.us District 3 March 27 Chartiers Valley HS

Theme: Raise Your Voice

Speaker: Jeff Yalden

http:/raiseyourvoice13.weebly.com Contact pascd3conference@gmail.com District 4 March 22 Doubletree Hotel in the Meadowlands

Hosted by Fort Cherry Jr.-Sr. HS

Theme: Live the Game of Life

Speaker: Honorable Jesse White, State Representative, 46th Legisla-

tive District of Pennsylvania

Contact Donna Horcick: dhorcick@fortcherry.org District 6 May Shade SHS-Flight 93 Site-Mine Rescue Site

Contact Mindy Leonard: mleonard@shade.k12.pa.us District 7 March 8 Lycoming College

Theme: Putting the Pieces Together

Contact: Karin Knaus: karin.knaus@ntiogasd.org District 8 March 1 New Oxford HS

Theme: Set Sail on the LeaderShip

Speaker: John Robinson

http://setsail2013.weebly.com Contact: setsail2013@gmail.com Sarah Rudasill, Chair 717-749-0589 District 9 March 6 Elk Lake JSHS

Theme: Let’s Start a Mooovement

Speaker: Alvin Law

Contact Kristine Smith: Kristine.Smith@elklakeschools.org Region F Districts 11 & 12 February 15 Marple Newtown HS

Theme: It’s a New…

Speaker: Jill Esplin

https://sites.google.com/site/regionfitsanew/

Contact Collin Hannan: channan@mnsd.org or

Brian Isselmann: bisselmann@mnsd.org Region G Districts 10–13 April 2 Governor Mifflin HS

Theme: Climb Aboard the Leader Ship

Speaker: Bob Tryanski

Apply by Feb. 15 to Present Workshop at NASC National Conference Expand your leadership experience and share your great ideas and the skills that you have learned by being an NASC Conference workshop presenter this June in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Workshop applications are available at www.nascconference. org. If you have any questions, email PASC Asst. Executive Director, Kathy Coll at kcoll1@ comcast.net.

Application Process: To complete an application visit www. nascconference.org and follow the detailed directions. The 2013 application is a PDF form that features data entry fields and online submission. It also allows presenters to save copies of their completed applications. With few exceptions, the majority of presenters will be able to complete the application process electronically.

Be sure to also send a copy of your application and supporting materials to PASC Assistant Executive Director, Kathy Coll electronically or by mail to 174 Link Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. When accepted, be sure to contact Kathy Coll so you are included on the PASC trip to Las Vegas.

Questions may be emailed to Tammy Wightman at wightmant@nassp.org.

Contact Nancy Brady: nbrady@gmsd.k12.pa.us PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

7

Introducing Our 2013 Middle Level Representatives Each fall at the state conference, seventh graders are interviewed and chosen to serve as Middle Level Reps from January of their seventh grade year through August of their eighth grade year. Each attend six PASC Executive Board meetings (JanuaryMarch-August) during their 20-month term along with their advisor. During their term they serve as co-chairs of the Middle Level committee, serve on one of the other seven PASC committees, and participate in state, district, and NASC Region 2 conferences. The following introductory articles were written by PASC’s two newest middle school board members, Joey Moyer and Noah Pollio. They join Molly Hundertmark and Brynn Martin who will continue to serve as eighth graders on the Executive Board.

Joseph “Joey” Moyer

Noah Pollio

Fleetwood MS

Union MS

Hello, my name is Joseph Moyer, but you can call me Joey.

I’m looking forward to working with all of you during the next year. Let me tell you a little about myself. I am involved in several groups and activities in school. I participate in Math Counts, Reading Olympics, football, and of course, Student Council. I am also a library aide for my school library. This is a perfect job for me because I absolutely love to read. I am also in my school’s gifted program where I get to do a lot of really cool projects. Currently, we are working on creating a 3D video game version of a utopian society. All of my teachers are really great, and keep things interesting. My school has a lot of spirit and pride, and I am very proud to attend Fleetwood Area Middle School (District 13).

In my personal time, I enjoy target shooting, video games, drawing, teaching myself physics, and other forms of math, and last, but not least, reading. My favorite types of books are detective novels, especially the Sherlock Holmes series. I like making new friends, and traveling for my new position will give me lots of opportunity to do so. I am excited to meet as many of you as I can.

I applied for the Middle Level State Representative position to learn more about the organization and broaden my experience in Student Council. I believe by collaborating with the other members of the board, I will be able to help enrich my school and other schools as well. I am very excited that I was selected for my position, and I am looking forward to a great year!

PASC Is Proud of Our Middle Level Representatives 7th grade: Joey Moyer & Noah Pollio 8th grade: Molly Hundertmark & Brynne Martin 8

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

Hi PASC, my name is Noah Pollio, and I will be serving as your Middle Level Representative. Allow me introduce myself to you. I live in Union Township with my mother, father, and little brother. I am 13 years old, and I am in seventh grade at Union Area School District.

I am currently the vice president of the Union Middle School Student Council (District 2), which is led by my advisor, Miss Rose Ann Fulena.

In addition to my role as the vice president, I partake in a number of other extracurricular activities. Aside from council, I love athletics. I love them so much, in fact, that I play them all year long. First, in the summer and in the fall, I am always ready for a round of golf. Next, basketball keeps me up and active all throughout the winter. Finally, I will also run track this spring, which I look forward to. Aside from sports and council, I also enjoy music and theater. I sing in my school’s choir, and I will represent them this February at our District Chorus Festival. Moreover, I participate in school plays, which are very fun and creatively challenging. Finally, I participate in Academic Games to test myself and enrich my education.

However, serving the PASC Executive Board is by far the most exciting venture of my scholastic career. I am very eager to be learning from some of the greatest student leaders and educators from across the state. I am also very enthusiastic about working for and representing my fellow Middle Level delegates.

I have been a member of PASC ever since fifth grade and I know how truly wonderful it is. PASC is a family dedicated to producing the leaders of tomorrow, a very noble undertaking.

As your representative, I promise to uphold the great traditions of PASC and to keep the Middle Level as my number one priority. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.

PASC Heads to Vegas for 2013 Conference On June 20, students and advisors from all over PA will head West to the bright lights of Las Vegas to begin an amazing pretrip experience in the city of neon lights, multi-leveled architectural masterpieces, and adventures around the world.

Travelers will depart from either the Pittsburgh or Philadelphia Airports and head to the amazing Hilton Grand Vacation Suites on the Strip where we will enjoy luxurious suites during our stay.

PASC squads, comprised of advisors and students, will then begin their venture on the strip.

• “Dolphins, white tigers, and panthers, oh my!” at the Mirage • Screaming at the top of your lungs on the rollercoaster at New York, New York • Partake in the Fremont Street Experience of sound and lights • Shop at more than 160 Forum shops at Caesars Palace • Neon Museum, Mob Museum in Vegas? For sure, it’s history • Fountains to music, circus acts, and performers galore These and more will all be part of your experience on The Strip on Thursday. Dinner together will be in one of the impressive casinos with a view of the city at night. Then, it is on to a spectacular Vegas show to complete the day.

Friday is anther full day of adventure. We will finish up sightseeing and breakfast on the strip and then head to the hidden treasures of Red Rock Canyon, just outside the city limits. Red Rock offers desert beauty, towering red cliffs and abundant wildlife. There will be lots of “Kodak” moments on the hiking trails and a visit to Bonnie Springs, an Old Nevada Western mining town. The evening will be spent with all the students and advisors of Region 2 (NY, NJ, MD, and DE) for a western barbeque and amphitheatre show under the stars.

On Saturday, the real adventure starts as we join fellow SCI: Nevada Student Council Investigators from across America to head to Sunrise Mountain High School and the excitement of the NASC Conference. Check out www.nascconference.org for more details about the actual conference schedule and programs. Our

Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas will host the 2013 NASC National Conference in June.

delegation will leave the “glitz,” the friends, and the excitement of the Vegas conference as we journey home to PA on Monday, June 24, late evening.

All the current information and registration process is online at PASC.net. The total fee for the trip and conference is $1,500.

This will include all transportation (plane and busing), registration fee for the conference, hotel stay at a resort, entertainment including a Vegas show, meals (except lunches on pre-trip), chaperones, a special Region 2 activity on Friday night, buttons, and state and region shirts.

A PASC reservation form and $500 non-refundable deposit are due by February 15, 2013.

Present your Student Council workshop at a NASC conference to students from all over the country! What an honor and all details and forms are available on the PASC.net website under PASC trip to NASC conference or at www.nascconference.org. All applications for presenters need to be sent to NASC and to Kathy Coll, PASC Trip Coordinator, by February 15, so watch that deadline!

Make PASC and the NASC experience a part of your summer!

For questions, contact Kathy Coll at kcoll1@comcast.net.

Project Sharing: Feed-a-Friend

By Molly Hundertmark, Middle Level Rep, Emory H. Markle Intermediate School Many schools have a high number of participants in their spirit weeks. Others have high attendance rates at school dances. But at my school, everyone’s excited to be a part of a big tradition, Feed-a-Friend!

Feed-a-Friend is a food drive

sponsored by my town’s local radio station. My middle school has been the highest contributor for a number of years! Teachers, students, and faculty members bring in cans and money and compete to see which grade level can bring in the most. Homerooms set up goals for themselves, and the whole school comes together to

achieve a common goal.

Our crazy awesome faculty members have volunteered to have dodgeballs thrown at them, be turned into human tacos, been taped to a wall, and this year our assistant principals shaved their heads. It’s so fun for everybody!

The sense of community and service everyone has by the

end of the week is amazing. I hope that you have something like this in your school! Please share an interesting project from your school with us at PASC by emailing an article about it to PASCInfo@aol.com and watch for us to share it with others in a future issue of PASC NEWS.

PASC News • January 2013 • www.pasc.net

9