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Computer Fair Standouts The Pennsylvania Regional Computer Fair was held at the Carnegie Science Center this past March, and several Upper St. Clair students were very successful! First place winners went to the state competition at Dickinson College in May. The students competed in animation, computer fair logo, digital movie, graphic design, programming, and web page design. The projects were facilitated by USC teachers Susan Fleckenstein, Connie Gibson, and Dr. Timothy Wagner. n
Sam Burt; first place recipient of Middle School Programming
Dina Leyzarovich; first place recipient of Middle School Graphic Design
Connor Byrnes; first place recipient of High School Programming
Boyce students Julia Brubach, Millena DeIuliis, Nicolette DeIuliis, and Maggie Halloran; second place recipients of Middle School Digital Movie
High School Welcomes UNICEF Speaker Debbie Rentschler, USCHS Librarian
This past spring, the USCHS UNICEF Club, the high school library, the Gifted Program/IB Program, and the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair sponsored Taryn Fusco, National Office Fellow within the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, to give two presentations about the role of the United Nations and, in particular, UNICEF, in helping impoverished children worldwide. Taryn holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Villanova University and a master’s in public health from Boston University, where she concentrated in the field of international health. She wrote her thesis on the medical male circumcision rollout program in Kenya and the resulting urban rural disparities in HIV/AIDS incidence. Shortly after receiving her MPH, she worked on a project in Kenya, where she and colleagues tested water quality in the Kimana region and provided recommendations to ensure drinking water would not continue to cause illness, especially diarrheal illnesses in children under five. She has since worked in resource mobilization at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and led the New York volunteer branch for Oxfam America. Taryn explained that, “UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs, and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.” (See unicef.org.) In addition to UNICEF’s history and mission, Taryn discussed UNICEF’s program areas, current work in emergency locations, specific long-term development projects, and what and how
students can get involved in volunteering to make a difference. A question and answer period followed, during which Taryn highlighted ways in which students can obtain Left to right are USCHS UNICEF club member internships at the Suzan Turan, speaker Taryn Fusco, and UNICEF club member Mohini Vakil United Nations. She closed by encouraging students to participate in fundraisers, including Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, and to support UNICEF’s mission to provide clean water, nourishment, immunizations, education, and inclusive socialization for every child. Last year, USC School District raised $1170 during the Trickor-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Sponsored by USCHS librarian Debbie Rentschler, the high school UNICEF club raised $775, which included a $130 prize money donation by USCHS gifted coordinator Pat Palazzolo’s Global Q competition winners Jimmy Bregenser, Robby Burke, Yasaswi Duvvuru, and Devan Zella. For the first time, UNICEF club members Deepikaa Sriram, Shivani Patel, and Deepika Narayanan coordinated with Fort Couch students to raise an additional $394 under Fort Couch guidance counselor Laura Madia’s supervision. n Fall 2014
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
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