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From the Executive Director Education Foundation Established to Preserve Longstanding Reputation of Success Donations Supplement District’s Funding to Continue Providing Critical Resources that Help Students Thrive Students come first, and the little things can make a big difference. Whether it’s involvement in a club, enrollment in a class tailored to specific interests, or access to mental health resources, some of our students’ most critical growth occurs outside of core classes. The State College Area School District has a longstanding reputation of excellence for positioning kids for success through innovative learning opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. Thanks to funding generated from your tax dollars, we’ve been able to offer a vast network of extracurricular clubs, innovative tools, developmental resources, and hands-on learning opportunities that enhance students’ educational experience.
We firmly believe in success for every student, and are counting on your support to achieve our mission. But, like all school districts nationwide—especially those in Pennsylvania—SCASD faces ongoing budget cuts that force us to make tough decisions that impact our tools, teachers, and programs. And while we do our best to maximize your tax dollars, the reality is that SCASD relies on additional funding to continue to thrive.
Inside… About the SCASD Foundation . . . . . . . . . 3 Success for Every Student. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Redefining the Public School Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Building On Our Strong Foundation. . . 15 Beyond the Classroom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 What’s Next for the Education Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
That’s why the State College Area School District Education Foundation was established. We want to ensure that all students in the district continue to have access to resources and support that will optimize their experience. We firmly believe in success for every student, and are counting on your support to achieve our mission. Enclosed you’ll find stories of students, faculty, and alumni whose lives have been shaped by the SCASD experience. With your help, we can ensure that many more generations of students have access to the same life-changing opportunities. Paul Olivett Executive Director
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Contact Us SCASD Education Foundation 131 W. Nittany Ave. State College, PA 16801 814-883-8067 | www.scasdfoundation.org Paul Olivett: pgo11@scasd.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.
What We Fund Student Opportunities Fund Every gift made to the State College Area School District Education Foundation helps us in our mission of putting students first. Annual donations help to support a robust educational experience, from a rigorous, competitive curriculum, innovative tools and resources, and enriching extracurricular activities for students each and every year.
What We Can Accomplish with Your Help: • Support student learning opportunities through 100+ cocurricular and extra-curricular organizations that enhance the educational experience outside of the classroom. • Fund up-to-date academic programs, tools, and resources that will provide students with the skills they'll need to succeed in college and their careers.
The Education Foundation ensures that all students will continue to have access to a wide variety of opportunities to enhance their educational experience.
• Provide more opportunities to all students, such as Community Education Extended Learning (CEEL), intramurals, and summer enrichment programs. • Raise awareness for mental health and foster a safe environment that combats bullying, depression, and teen suicide.
Learn more about giving opportunities at www.scasdfoundation.org. Fueled by a passion for helping kids reach their potential, the SCASD Education Foundation, in its inaugural year, has already begun raising funds to provide innovative learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom. - Robert O'Donnell, Superintendent The Foundation | 3
About the SCASD Foundation
Your Community, Your School District, Your Insights… Survey Results Show Strong Support for Education Foundation Public education is a community effort. As parents, neighbors, residents and businesses, we all play a role in the quality of education available to students in our community. In launching an education foundation—an important step toward securing the future for SCASD—insights from parents, alumni, faculty, and others were extremely valuable. Through surveying these stakeholders, we learned a lot, such as: • The community, parents, and faculty overwhelmingly support a foundation to help fund SCASD. • How SCASD shaped the way alumni have approached their careers, and even their family lives and volunteer interests.
• Areas that parents view as priorities for investing resources. • Why high quality public education is an important asset for our entire community. Thank you to the more than 700 individuals who shared their thoughts.
We invite you to join us on this exciting journey—learn more about the SCASD Education Foundation online at www.scasdfoundation.org. Sign up for regular news, or drop us an email with your feedback! l
Top 3 Priority Areas for Funding
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About the SCASD Foundation
Why Create an Education Foundation? Opportunity for Greater Impact on More Students Fuels Education Foundation Giving State College Area School District has long benefited from the generosity of alumni, families, businesses, and friends. In addition to charitable contributions that have been made directly to the district, the Centre Foundation currently manages 71 endowment funds that benefit students in the form of annual payments toward post-secondary scholarships and awards, professional development for teachers, and program-specific support for the enhancement of curriculum or student activities, predominantly at the high school. So, why create the SCASD Education Foundation? The simple answer: impact. • The impact of donations to the SCASD Education Foundation will be broad and far-reaching, creating opportunities for donors to benefit more students. ➢➢ The foundation will support all schools within the district, impacting students in K-12, and is not limited to funding specific programs or activities. ➢➢ The foundation will be open to advancing any curriculum area as well as programs outside the classroom, such as extracurricular activities, before- and after-school programs like Community Education Extended Learning (CEEL), and important initiatives focused on student health and well-being. • The impact of donations to the SCASD Education Foundation will be immediate, making it possible to support a variety of projects that are initiated and funded during the course of each year. In fact, the foundation, created in November 2015, is already funding its first project, working with faculty and students at the South Building to maximize usable study space in the midst of the construction project. • The impact of donations to the SCASD Education Foundation will focus on top priorities. The foundation will rely on students and faculty, along with district and school administrators, to identify areas of greatest need where opportunities exist to make significant gains. Partnering with Businesses for the Education Improvement Tax Credit Program Another key advantage of the SCASD Education Foundation is
its ability to accept contributions from businesses through Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. The Commonwealth awards tax credits to qualifying businesses that make a charitable contribution to an educational improvement organization (EIO), like the SCASD Education Foundation. EITC contributions cannot be made directly to a school district. SCASD Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and expects to be approved as an EIO for participation in the EITC program. A limited amount of funds is designated annually for PA’s EITC program, and businesses must complete and submit a simple online application to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. More information and links to qualifying criteria, and the application will be posted on the SCASD Education Foundation website at www.scasdfoundation.org. EITC is free for participating businesses and allows local business owners, or alumni who own businesses in PA, to support SCASD students. The SCASD Education Foundation is dedicated to giving donors more opportunities to challenge and inspire every student in every grade in every school with the district, inside and outside the classroom. l
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 814‑883‑8061 or pgo11@scasd.org for more information on planned giving opportunities. 3. By responding to requests for support through the mail. Watch for a letter in your mailbox later this spring.
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About the SCASD Foundation
Aren't My Taxes Enough? How Will My Student Benefit? What If I Don't Have a Student in SCASD? Answers to Your Most Common Questions Regarding the Education Foundation What is the SCASD Education Foundation? The State College Area School District Education Foundation exists to enhance the educational experience of the 7,000 students enrolled in our district—providing every student with the tools, resources, opportunities, and programming they need to succeed in the classroom, during their critical years of development, and in life after graduation. By raising voluntary donations that fall outside funding generated through the tax base for annual operating expenses, the Education Foundation provides financial support for innovative learning opportunities, including cocurricular and extra-curricular activities for all students, and supports development costs for new curricular programs to provide teachers and students with up-to-date tools, resources, and course material.
Why do we need a Foundation? Year after year, the district faces insufficient budgets provided by the state government. While state budget cuts have forced many school districts to downsize faculty, courses, and activities, the State College Area School District Education Foundation will help ensure that the district continues to thrive amid budget cuts. Funds raised by the Education Foundation will help preserve the critical resources that our students count on-quality faculty, advanced courses, numerous extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, and special electives and programs.
Aren’t my taxes enough? The Education Foundation exists to supplement the district’s 6 | The Foundation
yearly tax base by encouraging voluntary donations to fund tools and resources that enhance educational opportunities for local students—sustaining the reputation for quality we’ve proudly claimed for generations.
How will my student benefit? Donations will unequivocally impact all students in the district by supporting a growing number of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and upgraded tools and resources available to students both in and out of the classroom. Teachers, administrators, and students have the opportunity to recommend and select areas of need, giving them a voice in shaping the educational experience.
About the SCASD Foundation I don’t have a student in the district. Why should I give? A high-quality educational system benefits the whole community. Strong schools attract new businesses and residents, therefore strengthening the economy. Owning a home within our successful school district increases your property value. And the numerous service projects that SCASD students’ participate in further strengthen our entire community and nurture the value of giving back.
Where does my money go? Gifts to the SCASD Education Foundation directly impact the 7,000 students in the 12 schools within our district through programs and projects. The Education Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We’re just getting started and recently launched our first project—a student-led project at the high school’s South Building—but as our funding grows, we expect to support multiple projects annually.
Who decides where my donation goes? Students, teachers, and administrators provide suggestions for projects or programs, and work with Foundation staff and volunteers to prioritize those suggestions.
How can I give? You can make a one-time donation anytime throughout the year at www.scasdfoundation.org or through one of our direct mail solicitations.
Are donations tax deductible? Yes. The State College Area School District Education Foundation is registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Gifts to the Education Foundation are tax deductible up to the amount outlined by IRS regulations for charitable contributions.
Can I give stocks or leave a gift in my will? Yes. For more information on stock transfers or planned giving, contact Paul Olivett at pgo11@scasd.org.
How can I get more information? Visit www.scasdfoundation.org and sign up for our monthly eLetter containing the latest Education Foundation news and event updates. l
What Parents are Saying… "SCASD set their standards, both academically and behaviorally, very high, which sets a positive tone for the students when they achieve them." "The district does a great job tailoring instruction to students' individual needs and making the kids feel safe and welcome." "Students are provided a nurturing environment to learn and given many different types of opportunities to explore new areas, resulting in confident, caring citizens." "SCASD helps to create a passion for learning and lifelong skills, as well as exposes students to a wide variety of noncore subjects including music, language, and STEM." "My children have had some excellent teachers who have treated them with respect, brought them joy, made them feel cared for, and worked tirelessly to help them grow as learners."
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Success for Every Student
Making Birthdays a Little Brighter Elementary Students Learn Social Responsibility with Birthday Bag Donations to Local Food Bank The Community Education Extended Learning (CEEL) program, a before- and after-school program for elementary students, strives to meet the needs of working parents and provide extra learning opportunities in a relaxed, nurturing environment. Activities are designed to cultivate creativity, encourage diversity, and promote a healthy lifestyle. The dedicated CEEL staff, partnered with local education program providers, works to connect activities to the school day and maintain active relationships with students and families.
A child's self-esteem grows as he learns how much of an impact one person can have. In February, CEEL students assembled 177 birthday bags to donate to the State College Food Bank. The students put a personal touch on each bag with pictures, stickers, and birthday wishes. Families donated cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, and candles, for a total of nearly 450 pounds of food. Shannon Messick, SCASD Community Education Coordinator, said, “The students had fun decorating and filling the bags, but more importantly, were able to do something that directly benefits our community, perhaps even some of their neighbors or classmates.” Since its inception, CEEL has offered classes in the arts, language, culture, physical activity, and Science Tech8 | The Foundation
CEEL supervisors Suzanne Dannenmueller (Easterly Parkway Elementary School), Patty McKenna (Radio Park Elementary School), Lindsey Younkins (Ferguson Township Elementary School), Heidi Lauckhardt-Rhoades (Mount Nittany Elementary School), Lisa Vonada (Park Forest Elementary School), and Lisa Cocolin (Grays Woods Elementary School) dropped off 177 birthday bags weighing nearly 450 pounds to the State College Food Bank on Wednesday, February 24. Students at various CEEL sites collected goods and decorated bags to create special birthday gifts for those in need.
nology Engineering and Math (STEM). Now, supervisors are incorporating more social-emotional learning. “Part of that is helping our students learn how to show empathy toward others while strengthening their connection to the community,” said Messick. While other educational opportunities allow students to showcase individual talents, she added, “with service projects, every one of our students succeeds.” Social responsibility became a part of CEEL curriculum last year. Students knitted hats for newborns at the hospital and sponsored at tree at United Way’s Festival of Trees. “A child’s self-esteem grows as he learns how much of an impact one person can have,” Messick said. “He feels both more empowered and appreciative.” In the future, CEEL supervisors will lead students in making wreaths for residents of retirement and nursing and rehabilitation centers, no-sew blankets and stuffed critters for police and fire departments, and holiday cards for our troops overseas. l
Success for Every Student
Education Continues Long After School Day Ends through CEEL Program 400 District Students extend their day with before- and after-school care The school day has ended at Easterly Parkway Elementary School, but not education. Thirteen children sit in a music room. Instead of notes and scales, however, they’re learning about wings and fins — part of a zoology class led by two Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania staff members. Peter Licona, a curriculum developer/science educator with the children’s science museum, holds up photos of a shark and a crow and asks for differences. Raising his hand, a boy explains the shark has a strong sense of smell while the crow has better eyesight.
Students explore their artistic talents after school through SCASD’s CEEL program.
“Excellent,” Licona says, smiling. “Are you a biologist?” Elsewhere in the school, students focus on an art class while others enjoy free play or receive homework assistance — just another busy afternoon in the Community Education Extending Learning program. For the third year, the State College Area School District has offered CEEL, a blend of before- and after-school care with instruction in various subjects. Since starting with pilot programs at Radio Park and Park Forest elementary schools in the fall of 2013, CEEL has grown in size and popularity. Last fall, it expanded to six elementary schools, and now serves about 400
district children from kindergarten to fifth grade. Corl Street and Lemont/Houserville elementary students, who don’t have CEEL sites at their schools, take buses to Easterly Parkway and Mount Nittany elementary schools, respectively, ensuring that every district elementary school student has access to the program. “If someone had asked me two years ago if we would be where we are today, with six schools and almost 400 kids, I would have never predicted this level of success,” SCASD Community Education Coordinator Shannon Messick said. Care before school is available, but most programming takes place after dismissal until 6 p.m. Students have snacks and play for a while, then move on to different options. Some take art, culture, world languages, exercise, martial arts, and classes taught by community providers. Others enjoy more free play or tackle homework in quiet settings with assistance. CEEL arose from community demand. For years, Community Education had offered some after-school programming, but it was sporadic and sessions didn’t last all afternoon, leaving some parents in the lurch. Calls began growing louder for full-time after-school care coupled with extended learning opportunities. In the fall of 2012, Messick’s predecessor, Donna Ricketts, worked with school principals, district administrators, and the Board of Directors to survey elementary parents about after-school programming. Three years later, Patty McKenna oversees 77 children at Radio Park as the CEEL site supervisor. She also directs a staff mostly comprised of Radio Park employees — a tie to the school community shared by the CEEL sites. “We have students playing with and learning with children who are not their age, who they normally wouldn’t be interacting with during the school day,” McKenna said. “So in a way, it really brings the school closer together because they’re all here. They’re dispersed during the day through the school, but in CEEL, they’re all together.” l The Foundation | 9
Success for Every Student
Empowering Students through Self-Governance Delta Program Fosters Democratic Environment that Values Community, Freedom, Diversity, and Family Every Wednesday, Delta Program students can expect a quiz. They can’t prepare, but they look forward to it. Beloved Delta custodian Jim Fogleman pops another question in his popular Delta trivia game, with the correct answer earning an ice cream. “I ask them questions that are relevant to Delta so that they can get a history of where we’re at, where we’ve come from, what we do,” Fogleman said. It’s one of the bonds linking students, faculty, and staff in the Delta Program, an alternative, democratic school of choice started in 1974 that now includes a high school and middle school. The downtown Fairmount Building, its hallways adorned with funky student artwork, houses a community that believes in empowering its members and fostering ties. For starters, first names are the rule, a show of equality — and solidarity. When visitors ask what defines Delta, secretary Patty Smith points out a mat near her office. The studentdesigned school insignia bears Delta’s core values: community, freedom, diversity, and family. “The staff and students are in this together,” Fogleman said. To Delta Director Jon Downs, relationships and student voices form the heart of the “community we try to build here.”
Delta students participate in a STEM project to engineer a prosthetic leg.
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“I think students own this place,” he said. “They feel connected to it, and that’s a big part of it.” Classes are small because of Delta’s size: 130 students in the high school, a cap of 80 from 5th to 8th grade in the middle school’s second year. As in college, students are entrusted to pick their own courses with the help of an assigned advisor. Students may take State High classes, and 70 percent do. They also choose their own “experiential days,” dates marked for exploring topics such as bread baking, ceramics, or film studies. That trust extends to another Delta hallmark: self-governance. Students belong to “clumps,” small learning and social groups led by teachers. Each clump picks a representative to its school advisory councils. There, students experience democracy first-hand. Faculty and parent representatives sit on councils, but students hold the majority vote with determining school policies. It’s a bit of a gamble granting that power, but Downs said students take their responsibility seriously. Earlier this year, the middle school council considered allowing cell phone use during school. After lengthy debates, faculty input and a parent survey, the council voted no. “I tell that story a lot now, about how you can give kids power, but in the end, they’re probably going to make the best decision, that we think is the best decision as well,” Downs said. Students also sit in on hiring and curriculum committees. But everyone can be heard at weekly all-school meetings, a time for announcements, discussions, and kudos to peers. “Those are an essential part in not only building confidence in students, but also facilitating opportunity after opportunity for them to use their voices,” Downs said. Sophomore Reagan Brubaker said Delta makes school “enjoyable” because of its size, philosophy, and caring teachers. “It’s really awesome because students have a bigger voice than they do at other schools,” she said. “You can model your education after what you like.” l
Success for Every Student Preparing Students for Post-Secondary Programs and the Workforce Career & Technical Center Provides Hands-On Learning and Pathways to Industry Success While still in high school, many students simultaneously become chefs, healthcare aides, marketers, daycare assistants, auto technicians, and other professions—all through the Career & Technical Center. The CTC offer programs with courses that prepare students for post-secondary programs or the workforce. Students also learn "soft skills" necessary for their careers, like interviewing and professionalism. Current programs are accounting and finance, agricultural science, architectural drafting and design, automotive technology, building construction, Cisco Networking Academy, culinary arts, diversified occupations, early childhood education, engineering, health professions, marketing, and supply chain management. “CTC students graduate with a high work ethic and knowledge of what it takes to succeed in the career they have chosen,” marketing teacher Robin Verbeck said. CTC Director Sharon Perry said the programs, through internships and other partnerships, help students clarify their futures. Last year, for example, students worked in labs with Penn State professors through a partnership with the College of Health and Human Development. Other partners have included Mount Nittany Medical Center, Verizon, and Foxdale Village. In school, CTC students run the Roar Store and operate an informal restaurant. Perry calls the CTC experiences a “light bulb” for students—when they realize that their education matters. “It’s really powerful when you see the kids make that connection, and then they’ve made a path for themselves,” Perry said. Having the CTC at school also means students can take other classes and participate in activities without losing time to travel. “Students are able to delve into academics of their choice to support their post-graduate career while getting specifics of that career,” Verbeck said. “Students are not hampered by traditional notions of technical education, and as a result our
students continually produce the highest [National Occupational Competency Testing Institute] scores across the state.” Annual honors also reflect the quality of instruction. Among recent CTC achievements, the Roar Store was again deemed a Gold Nationally Certified School Based Enterprise, and the DECA chapter for marketing, hospitality, finance, management, and entrepreneurship was named tops in the state.
Students learn about Cisco networking at SCASD’s Career & Technical Center.
CTC students received numerous awards at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, DECA state conference, and Health Occupations Students of America state competition. “CTC classes bring a reality to a student’s education that ties all other classes within their 4-year curriculum together to provide true relevance and professional experiences for students to explore and investigate the real world careers that exist,” said building construction teacher Chris Warren. Many parents say CTC programs helped their children stay interested in school or overcome adversity. “For many students who do not play a sport or who never engaged in a club,” Warren said, “our programs can be the first time they find a positive path of enjoyment and success in school.” l The Foundation | 11
Redefining the Public School ExperiencE
Exploring the World through Innovative Learning Opportunities Classroom tools have greatly evolved since the introduction of pencils and paper—or even since computers and iPads have become education staples. Students at SCASD are exposed to a wide variety of hands-on learning opportunities that help them explore a variety of career paths and interests—including aquaponics, 3D printing, and even how toys are made.
Elevating Biology with Aquaponics
Hands-On Lessons Entice Young Learners
Students Create Their Own Sustainable Natural Ecosystem
Elementary Students Get Intro to 3D Printing, Toy Invention
Students in Jack Lyke’s biology class can add a new skill to their high school resumes: creating a sustainable food production system with fish, bacteria, and plants. Lyke introduced aquaponics to his classroom, which is a combination of hydroponics (growing plants in water) and aquaculture (farming fish). The fish produce waste, on which the bacteria feed and turn into nutrients for the plants—creating a natural ecosystem that can be managed in a greenhouse. “As a natural ecosystem, it has everything that I teach in my course: biology, basic chemistry, and ecology,” said Lyke. “Each topic I cover in the classroom can be found in the living system. Students apply what they have learned in the classroom to what is actually happening in the tanks and the plant grow beds.” Students were able to grow a sustainable food system using aquaponics, and donated the first crop of lettuce to the school cafeteria to utilize in daily lunches. The concept of aquaponics has been such a hit that Lyke started an after school Aquaponics Club so that more students can participate. “There is a lot of STEM in building and working with these systems to keep them working and healthy,” said Lyke. “It is a great teaching tool and we have only just begun to tap into how we can use it.” l
Even our youngest learners are benefitting from innovative learning opportunities and hands-on education in the classroom. At Radio Park Elementary, first graders had the opportunity to learn about 3D printing from Architecture and Engineering students at Penn State. Across town, first graders at Easterly Parkway Elementary learned while having lots of fun, serving as testers for a lot of newly-designed toys. State High students in Doug Ripka’s Advanced Physics 1/Advanced Engineering Technology class built toys designed for 6 year olds and brought them to focus groups at Easterly to assess the products for strength and weaknesses. While the objective was for the older students to learn how engineers plan and refine designs with test data, the younger kids learned a bit or two about engineering, too. “This is to give them an idea of the whole scope of the process,” said Ripka. l
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Redefining the Public School ExperiencE
DID YOU KNOW… Virtual Learning Extends SCASD’s Course Offerings?
Students don’t have to be present in the classroom to benefit from a SCASD education. The State College Area School District has offered virtual learning opportunities since the summer of 2011. Selfmotivated students have found a suitable, independent learning environment through SCASD’s virtual options. Students in grades 9-12 can enroll in the Virtual Academy at no cost, take all their courses online, and remain eligible for extracurricular activities at State High. For students who want to carve out additional time in the school day for courses of interest, virtual flex courses are available at no cost in health, physical education, and driver’s education.
State High Seniors Earn Rare Perfect Test Scores?
Three State College Area High School students recently achieved perfection on standardized tests, placing them in elite company. Sojung Kim earned a perfect score of 240 on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, the PSAT. Her accomplishment is equivalent to a 2,400 on the SAT. According to the College Board, which administers the test, only about 100 students out of the 3.5 million annually who take the PSAT earn a perfect score. PSAT scores based on three sections — math, critical reading and writing skills — are used to determine eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Cuyler Luck and Gopal Jayakar both received the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. While the actual number of students earning the top score varies from year to year nationally, fewer than one-tenth of 1 percent of ACT test takers reach the mark on average. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2015, for example, only 1,589 out of 1.92 million students earned a 36.
Technology Student Association Takes First Place in Multiple Competitions Students Build Technical Skills to Prepare them for Future Success The Technology Student Association (TSA) is an academic competition that spans many fields of technology, design, and communication. Nationwide, TSA supports over 230,000 students in 49 states. The competition provides an engaging environment for students to learn technical skills, present their projects, and learn the intricacies of modern technology— building skills that will help them launch their careers. With events in computer-aided and architectural design, students get the chance to immerse themselves in all aspects of design, including budgeting and physical model construction. Teams from all over the state and country compete and gain valuable experiential knowledge along the way. At State High, the club supports approximately 100 students in grades 9 through 12 and takes students to regional,
state, and national competitions. This year, State High students have taken first place awards at all three levels of competition and have succeeded in recruiting a large group of freshman. The club relies on outside sources of funding, like the SCASD Education Foundation, to pay for transportation to all levels of competition, new printers and supplies for the team, and competition registration fees. l The Foundation | 13
Redefining the Public School ExperiencE Counselor’s Corner
Featured Teacher
High School Counselor Paul Brigman Advocates Community Care for Each Child
Shawna Mukavetz Lays the Foundation for Mathematical Thinking
Background: State High Class of 2000 (Delta Program) Impact: Helping students reach their academic, personal, and extracurricular goals, even through some of the most difficult life hurdles like a death in the family, suicidal thoughts, clinical depression, and abuse.
Impact: Participating in students’ growth, above all else, is what makes teaching a rewarding profession for Mukavetz. “Seeing a child go from not understanding to comprehension, or from not appreciating academic endeavors to valuing what we’re doing together, or from feeling disenfranchised to feeling connected to the school community—those are the best moShawna Mukavetz ments,” she said.
Paul Brigman
Hope for the Education Foundation: To provide funds that enable the district to graduate students with an understanding of how to access and utilize resources and begin to destigmatize mental health issues and services.
Scary Statistics: In 2013, State High students in grades 10 and 12 completed the Pennsylvania Youth Survey that collects anonymous data on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that may pose a risk to their well-being. Fifteen percent of students statewide in grades 10 and 12 reported both considering and planning a suicide attempt, and 8% of students in both grades reported having attempted suicide. Words of Wisdom: “They say ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, it takes a community to care for that child until she or he reaches adulthood and beyond.”
Teaching Comes Naturally: It was through tutoring peers during her own studies that Mukavetz uncovered excitement and satisfaction in finding a way to explain something so it would make sense to another person—which laid the foundation for a career in teaching. Hope for the Education Foundation: An increase in free tutoring support available throughout the day to all students to help them reach their full potential. “We have pockets of services available,” Mukavetz said, “but I would like to see a committed, connected, accessible support network for children and their families.”
Park Forest Middle School Integrative STEM Team Wins Gerhard Salinger Award The Park Forest Middle School Integrative STEM team is the 2016 recipient of the national Gerhard Salinger Award for Enhancing STEM Education through Technological/Engineering Design-Based Instruction. The award is presented annually at the International Technology Engineering Education Association (ITEEA) conference to an individual or team of collaborators whose work has exemplified, promoted, investigated, and/or enhanced teaching and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects through the effective application of technological/engineering design activity. 14 | The Foundation
Building On Our Strong Foundation
Students and Faculty Shine In and Out of the Classroom For the 16th year, Jump Rope for Heart was held at State High in early February, raising over $30,000 for the American Heart Association. 120 students from seven elementary schools in the district participated, jumping rope for 30 minutes straight. This year, district contributions surpassed the $500,000 mark for the event’s history.
The Park Forest Middle School Science Olympiad team had a third place finish overall out of 25 teams at the North Central Regional in Wilkes-Barre. Here, Sarthak Parikh and Toby Ma show off the bottle rocket medals
Corl Street Elementary's guest readers for the annual AfricanAmerican Read-In included Duane and Letitia Bullick (Corl Street alumni family), Gary Abdullah, and the Penn State Black Graduate Student Association. Each February, district schools host the national event, which promotes diversity and literacy.
they earned.
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Building On Our Strong Foundation
Shrek the Musical Mount Nittany Middle School Drama Club presented a full orchestra. with an 82 -student cast and 16-student crew, along with ry sold out in Tickets to all three performances the last weekend of Februa
This spring break, State Hig h senior Lewis Yeaple rode his bike 500 miles in five days to rais e money for the American Diabet es Association Inc. and to suppor t the fight against juvenile diabetes.
advance of the show.
Camp Read S’more: At Mount Nittany Elementary, Mrs. William's first grade Reading Club members met their reading goals and went camping. They enjoyed s’mores in a tent while listening to stories and reading with their buddies.
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Park Forest Elementary students created Valentines and stuffed stockings to add to baggies of treats sent to military service personnel.
Congratulations to the regional winners (CIU #10) of the Governors PA STEM Competition who will represent State High at the State STEM Competition May 27: Iggy Liu, Ben Piazza, Bob White (Advisor), Gopal Jayakar, Steve Krupa, Ameya Patankar, and Kristen Baughman-Gray.
Building On Our Strong Foundation
pson announced U.S. Rep. Glenn Thom ell, a State High that Lachlan Campb sional District student, is our Congres ngressional App winner for the 2015 Co s” app Challenge. His “Noodle is designed to (https://getnoodl.es/) llection of recipes keep your personal co ludes features organized, and also inc recipes and that let you share your explore new ones.
Prithvi Vijay Narayanan, a 4th grader at Radio Park Elementary, was recognized by a leading Classical Indian Music magazine with an outstanding young artist award, “Isai Sudaroli.” Prithv i has been studying Indian Classical music with his teacher in India via Skype since the age of four.
Lemont Elementary students created robots out of recycled materials to learn the importance of the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Students combined their creativity and recycled goods and turned them into some fantastic robots and set up a museum for the school community to see.
State High senior Dina Kim recently received the national President’s Volunteer Service Award for nearly 300 hours of community service teaching English to refugee children and translating letters for South Korean children. Kim’s translation work has included service with Compassion International, a Christian child-sponsorship agency, and teaching English to Malaysian refugee children. The award included a congratulatory letter on White House stationery signed by President Barack Obama.
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Building On Our Strong Foundation
category Fifteen State High students placed in the top three in their State ) at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA which they Competition, and they placed in 13 of the 18 categories in and two ries, catego competed. Three freshmen won first place in their seniors placed first for the fourth year in a row.
The Intermediate classes at Easterly Parkway Elementary presented their Sakura program in culmination of their Japan unit. Sakura is Japanese for “cherry blossom.�
Mrs. Bierly's, Mrs. Rose's, and Mrs. Sutherland's second grade students of Ferguson Township Elementary celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up like they were 100 years old. 18 | The Foundation
The Delta Program held its first ever STEM Day to give students an inside look at the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the morning, guest speakers presented topics including wave motion, malaria research, and crime scene investigation with chromatography, while afternoon sessions consisted of field trips to locations such as the Penn State planetarium, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Fish Hatchery, and KCF Technologies, Inc.
Beyond the Classroom
“My Mental Health Matters…” New Club Raises Mental Health Awareness and Promotes Safe, Non-Judgmental Environment My Mental Health Matters, a new State High advocacy club started by students and advised by counselors Suzanne Lyke and Patty Devecka, aims to raise mental health awareness and promote wellness. Earlier this year, members posted student thoughts about mental health’s importance in the North and South buildings of the high school. With 15% of Pennsylvania 10th-12th graders reporting considering and planning a suicide attempt, raising mental health awareness among SCASD students and faculty is a priority within the district. The SCASD Education Foundation is committed to providing a safe, non-judgmental environment that helps students identify mental health issues within the school community and how to get help for themselves or a friend.
SCASD Continues to Boost Talented Athletes and Competitive Sports Teams The State College Area School District continues a longstanding tradition and reputation for developing talented athletes who excel on the playing field and in the classroom and the community. Here is a roundup of recent headlines, highlights, and accomplishments our athletes have achieved. • Boys' and girls’ swimming teams dominated the Class AAA PIAA District 6 Championships. Junior Filip Turecky broke the District 6 record in the 100-yard butterfly, and senior Kate Cooper broke the girls’ record in the 100 fly. • A number of athletes represented SCASD at the New Balance National Track & Field Indoor Championship in early March. • Athletes from the SCASD Field Hockey team competed with the Blue Lions U16 team in the National Indoor Tournament championship in early March. • The indoor track & field teams finished strong at state championships. The boys’ team finished second with 41
points, the highest finish for a State College boys’ team at a state tournament in the program’s history. The girls’ team placed fourth with 23 points at the PTFCA indoor state championships. Veronika Karpenko finished first and second overall in the triple jump and long jump. • Girls’ basketball player Kyla Irwin became just the second athlete in the county, male or female, to score more than 2,000 points in her career. • The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams both claimed district titles • State High IMBA finished its four-month regular season with the championship game played in front of the student body. Congratulations to the champion team, WASHINGTON D3 and all students who participated this year. The league consisted of 300 players, grades 9 through 12, on 24 female, male and coed teams. What a great way for 300 students to get through the winter months!
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Beyond the Classroom
Unsung Heroes: Student-Athletes Make an Impact Off the Field and Court Vinnie Albegiani and Emily Dry Prove You Don’t Need to Be a Top Athlete to Influence Your Team It was the end of the State High football team’s practice, and Vinnie Albegiani was about to fire up his teammates. They gathered around on the Memorial Field artificial turf, all eyes on him. Was he going to exhort them to crush their next opponent? Urge them to step it up? No, he had something better to say. Albegiani, the third-string quarterback and designated placeholder, became the star of the moment, as though he had tossed a touchdown. He reported that the team’s food drive, an effort he conceived and led, had delivered 387 pounds of groceries to the State College Food Bank. “He announced that, and the guys went nuts,” recalled Coach Matt Lintal. “It was the equivalent of us winning a big game.” The celebration last November, capped by Albegiani’s leading the traditional chant to break, will endure as one of the senior’s favorite memories from his time as a State High student-athlete. In addition to directing the food drive, Albegiani scored a running touchdown — on fourth and goal no less — persuaded a friend not to quit, and served as a respected figure off the field. At the team banquet, he received the “Unsung Hero” award for his senior-season leadership. Playing sports at State High can be a challenge. Because the talent pools are deep, some student-athletes who might start at a smaller school battle for minutes as reserves. But Albegiani’s experiences, like those of senior Emily Dry on the girls’ volleyball team, provide a reminder that studentathletes can find personal fulfillment and contribute to a program’s success in ways never reflected in box scores. “We don’t all have to be stars,” Lady Little Lions volleyball coach Chad Weight said. “It takes a lot of different pieces to make it work.”
Vinnie’s story Albegiani was first inspired by one of his mother’s friends, who helps a food drive in a small local town and told Albegiani how crucial the donations were, especially around the holiday season. 20 | The Foundation
Vinnie Albegiani and Emily Dry epitomize the definition of teamwork through active support and philanthropy.
“She was saying Thanksgiving and Christmas are the worst times of the year,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘Well, the State College Food Bank must be going through the same thing.’” That spurred another thought. “The environment at Memorial Field, with a couple of thousand people showing up, if everybody brought a 99-cent can of something, that could add a couple of thousands items to the food bank that could help hundreds of people across the county,” he said. Once he made his decision, he sought extra hands. After all, he was part of a team. At practice, he told his teammates that every year, residents generously supported the program’s door-to-door fundraising campaigns. “We rely on the community, so I was thinking maybe it’s time State College football gives back to the community,” he said. Teammates jumped on board. They hoped to fill a van, and
Beyond the Classroom they met their goal: 387 pounds of donated food brought to the game, enough for 322 meals. “It made me feel good — not the fact that State College football’s name was on it, or my name was on it,” Albegiani said. “It was that 322 people got helped by that, and it was because of us …. It was the team that made it grow.” Lintal said he has been proud to watch Albegiani mature as a leader who could inspire others. He called his reserve quarterback “a tremendous young man.” “I think he’s a big part of the culture we’re trying to create at State College in general and on the football team — of doing the right thing,” Lintal said. Albegiani made the right move late in one game, keeping the ball and darting through an unexpected hole into the endzone after his number was called on fourth and goal. “Coach, you don’t know how good that felt,” he said to Lintal, who rushed onto the field with a big hug. Years from now, Albegiani will treasure many other moments that didn’t elicit cheers — an ongoing game with a teammate while running sprints, the camaraderie on long bus rides, the satisfaction of leading the scout team in practice and preparing the starting defense, the friendships made. Sure, he wanted to play more, but he’ll always have more than stats to savor. “Being part of the program, it’s an experience I’ll never forget for the rest of my life,” he said.
Emily’s story Emily Dry has started a few matches as a defensive specialist, and she’s tasted success, most recently with the 14-7 district champion Lady Little Lions who bowed out in the first round of the 2015 state playoffs. But she knows what she’ll remember the most fondly from her playing days: People. “By far, I think, my team, meeting all the people I’ve met, even on the other teams through clubs,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of really amazing girls, and coaches, and coaches of other teams. I’ve honestly come to have some of my best friends because of the sport.” Age hasn’t mattered, she said. This past season, for instance, she befriended two freshmen as their mentor, a program her coach started to build team chemistry. The tips were simple at first: be sure to wear the right jerseys to practice, stash extra socks in the locker, bring snacks to ease post-workout hunger pangs.
Then the advice turned to school and life. “They started coming to me for stuff outside volleyball, which I valued,” Dry said. She volunteered to be a mentor because she once looked up to one — a State High player two years older who managed Dry’s middle-school team and then looked out for a nervous freshman. “It was just nice coming into high school and having this girl, who had already played, take me under her wing,” Dry said. “For me, it changed the way I thought of (joining the team), so I wanted to do that for girls who were younger.”
We rely on the community, so I was thinking maybe it’s time State College football gives back to the community. Coach Chad Weight said Dry’s willingness to counsel teammates, along with record of working hard in voluntary summer practices and workouts, indicate a deep commitment to her team and the sport. “I think she loves the game,” he said. “I think she loves the kids she’s around.” Of course, Dry looks back on a few court triumphs. There were the times, typically against weaker opponents, when Weight placed her and other shorter defensive players at the net for a spell, just for fun. Teammates would serve them ball after ball, and one led to a unforgettable spike for Dry. “I went for it and it hit the ground (on the other side),” she recalled. “Everybody was just standing up. It was the most exciting thing. We were screaming and jumping up and down.” She did that also from the bench, joining teammates to come up with “crazy cheers” during critical matches. But quieter moments stand out also, such as knitting a scarves for teammates during two-hour bus rides. “It took me a couple of games,” she said. “If we had a couple of games in a week, I could finish it.” All in all, Dry is glad she stuck with volleyball. “I’ve learned a lot of life lessons, which probably some of the normal starters wouldn’t have,” she said. “Other things are more important than playing time.” l
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Beyond the Classroom
100+ Extracurricular Clubs Enrich and Nurture Lifelong Skills Students Explore Interests and Find a Sense of Belonging Membership in SCASD’s 100+ clubs and organizations can help students feel at home amidst a sea of unfamiliar faces. The extensive list of extracurriculars encompasses academic, artistic, athletic, social, vocational, and cultural interests—you name it, SCASD has it covered. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how these clubs are enriching the educational experience for their members.
Benefits of participation: Members develop creativity, bolster historical knowledge, overcome age-group barriers, and build lifelong friendships and social support networks. They enance their public speaking and improvisation abilities along with their self-confidence. They learn how to sew their own clothing and fine-tune other specialized skills.
Renaissance Faire
Impact on school and community: Through the activities and sales at the Faire, the club is able to make donations to the State College Food Bank, the Youth Service Bureau, and other organizations that serve young people and those in need.
Advisors: Jesse Olson and Dana Zuhlke Membership: Typically 40+ high school students, with 1015 serving as officers on the steering committee What they do: The club takes a field trip to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope in Manheim each fall. Meetings are held throughout the year for members to plan the Faire, which occurs in late May on the soccer field behind Welch Pool (plan to attend this year’s event 11 a.m.5 p.m., May 22). A steering committee of students writes the day-long plot and coordinates activities held throughout the day, such as Merlin’s Market Crafts, tavern and pub refreshments, dancing, singing, archery demonstrations, a human chess match, and many more.
One student says... "As a new student coming in as a junior, this club made me feel like I was adopted into a really big family because everyone is welcoming of everyone else. It’s my safe-haven, especially when I’m having a rough week.”
Kiva Club
Advisor: Chris Felsmann Membership: State High and Park Forest Middle School students
Renaissance Faire members develop creativity, bolster historical knowledge, and build lifelong social support networks. 22 | The Foundation
What they do: Kiva is an international microfinance/lending organization that pools together small monetary donations from thousands of groups and individuals around the world in the form of loans to help disadvantaged people become economically independent. These are no-interest loans for specific groups and individuals that are starting or running small businesses with a set timetable for repayment. Chris Felsmann has used Kiva in the classroom, and now as a club, to both raise awareness about the value of microfinance as a positive socioeconomic model to combat poverty, and as a method to introduce students to a variety of countries and cultures around the world.
Beyond the Classroom LGBTA+ Alliance Advisors: Susan Marshall and Jackie Saylor Membership: 20-25 high school students
Kiva Club introduces members to the persistent condition of poverty around the world.
Benefits of participation: Kiva Club introduces students to an organization that is effectively addressing the persistent condition of poverty around the world and allows students to build a high school community of lenders and give them the responsibility to track and monitor the funds collected and the loans distributed through Kiva, while learning about the world of microfinance. They foster a sense of connection and accomplishment in making a tangible impact on lifting people out of poverty. From both the fundraising and lending sides, there are opportunities for students to gain skills in marketing, advertising, finance, accounting, teamwork, and leadership. Impact on the school and community: Students have raised over $7,000 to date, and have made nearly 800 loans totaling $32,000 that are now part of a revolving Kiva account Felsmann has set up for past, present, and future classes. Chris Felsmann Says... "Students involved in this club find that they can make a very tangible impact in helping to lift people out of poverty. [They] truly feel connected to the borrowers they lend to and a sense of accomplishment that they are making a positive impact in the world.�
What they do: The LGBTA+ Alliance has been in existence for 14 years and started as a GSA club (gay-straight alliance) when two students came to Susan Marshall looking for a way to support the LGBT community in the high school and Delta program. The Alliance aims to promote full acceptance of all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, through a comprehensive range of public awareness activities, education, social action, and advocacy. They participate annually in PRIDE week at PSU and National Day of Silence; and provide LGBT training at the Community Help Center twice a year. Benefits of participation: Through involvement in the Alliance, members learn to embrace diversity, communicate openly and effectively, and resolve conflict. They discover how education can be used to promote change, awareness, and acceptance. Leadership, courage, and advocacy are born as individuals find a voice for their beliefs. Impact on the school/community: The club has helped to build a safe and understanding environment for LGBT students so that they can feel free to be who they are. In addition to creating a second home for members, the club has provided education to other students, faculty, and staff and called for social change. Susan Marshall says...
"Being able to live your life authentically is a challenge to all of us. I believe that these students will take what they learn in this club and use those skills forever in their interactions with others.�
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
The Couple Who Came Home After Decades Away from State College, Steve and Amy Haffner Return to Their Roots to Raise Their Kids in SCASD They could have sent their kids to just about any high school in the world. But they send them to to State High. And when you think about that fact for a second, you’ll realize it says a lot about two State High alumni named Steve (’85) and Amy (Sichler ’86) Haffner. And it also says a lot about this State College Area School District. After years of living far from their native Centre County roots, in places about as far flung from Beaver Stadium or East College Avenue as you can get—we’re talking Texas, Italy, and even Russia—the Haffners were in a unique position. Steve had climbed a bunch of ladders and earned himself an audit partner position with the prestigious PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Which essentially meant that Amy and Steve could live almost anywhere in the world. Thing is though, they had kids. And like so many parents, they wanted their high school experience to be as ideal and memoThe Haffner family with son Jack on senior day at Beaver Stadium. (L to R): Amy, Pete, Jack, Carly, rable as their own. and Steve Haffner. “For almost 20 years, our family lived away would have some of the same opportunities that we did and go from State College,” Steve says. “We made the conscious decito State High.” sion to relocate back to State College in large part so our kids As their oldest son, Jack, approached his high school years, Amy and Steve looked each other deep in the eye and made the decision they knew they had to make, the one they wanted to For almost 20 years, our family make. They came home. lived away from State College. We The Haffner kids would be State High kids.
made the conscious decision to relocate back to State College in large part so our kids would have some of the same opportunities that we did and go to State High.
24 | The Foundation
A Connection That’s Still Going Strong Steve Haffner and Amy Sichler first met when they were just State High kids themselves, catching each other’s curious glances across the noisy hall, or maybe standing in the lunch line on some long lost Monday afternoon. Steve was a 10th grader and Amy was a freshman and it was the early ’80s, the MTV years.
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education Joe Paterno was only halfway through his Penn State gridiron legacy when something clicked in the stars and Steve and Amy connected. And connect they did. High school romances come and go, we all know that, yet sometimes things turn out differently. This one lasted. Of all the State High couples that have ever fallen for each other, this one is still going strong. That part of the Haffner family’s tale makes it riveting to hear, we think. You almost get the feeling that their decision to return, to allow their own kids the chance to attend State High, it’s all tied up in something almost magical. Hey, they don’t call it Happy Valley for nothing, right?
Lessons Learned at State High are Passed Down to the Next Generation Football, wrestling, baseball: Steve played them all in high school. Word has it he was darn good too. Amy excelled at sports as well, playing field hockey from the time she was a freshman right through her senior year, not to mention volleyball and indoor track. The games, the practices, the coaches, the wins, and even the losses were all a huge part of the couple’s State High years. Looking back, Steve recalls not just the wins or the victory moods sweeping through the school bus on a trip back from some away game triumph, but also the way defeats added up to something important and critical for a Centre County kid destined for a successful career and a global life. “Athletics accounted for many of the most positive experiences that I had in SCASD,” Steve remembers. “These experiences include sharing some exciting wins along with my teammates in front of many friends and family in the stands. Of course, along with some great victories also came some painful losses. There were plenty of lessons to be learned in those losses as well. I share stories of both with my kids often.” These days, the Haffners, who themselves come from a long line of State High grads, do as much listening to State High stories as they do telling their own. Their son, Jack graduated from State High in 2012. And the very next year it was daughter Carly's turn to receive her diploma. Next up? Their son, Pete, is junior, State High Class of 2017.
Coming Back to Happy Valley was a “Great Decision” Though they could have sent their kids to high school in Paris or Rome, in Tokyo or L.A., they didn’t. They could have chosen from an endless number of exotic locales or legendary cities to set up camp. But they did not.
We have a unique sense of SCASD school pride since our family has lived all over the world. Seeing the kids don the maroon and white has been a great experience as a dad. For a legacy family like this bunch, Amy and Steve are understandably proud of their district roots. “We have a unique sense of SCASD school pride since our family has lived all over the world,” Steve said. “Seeing the kids don the maroon and white has been a great experience as a dad.” Is that enough though, to just stand back and beam, to simply be proud alumni parents watching their own sons and daughters passing through the same exact school where they first met? No way. Steve and Amy Haffner walk the walk by remaining as active as possible in State High activities and athletics. “We remain involved in our kids’ activities as fans and through being involved in sports booster clubs,” says Steve. “Amy is the current football booster club president. I hosted some State High Accounting students on field trips to PwC in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. We both feel it is important to give back to the SCASD and support the success of its students.” In the end, the State High family leaves a tremendous sense of pride for the Haffner family. “Coming back to State College and State High was a great decision for our family,” said Steve. “My kids have had the opportunities to compete on the same fields that we did, to have a few of our past teachers for classes and to walk in our old hallways and classes.” Who knows? Perhaps the next generation of Haffner kids will follow in their footsteps, too. Only time will tell. l
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
From Happy Valley to Silicon Valley Young Alum Launches Luxury Beauty Business “Learning how to say ‘I don’t know’ is the single most powerful skill you can learn.” These are the powerful words spoken by young alum and entrepreneur Chloe Alpert ’09. Living by these words, along with hard work and dedication, Alpert finds herself as the CEO of her own startup in Silicon Valley just seven years out of high school. Her company, Savonbox, creates and sells luxury bath and spa products. Now, Alpert hopes to expand her business to Centre County to launch a local manufacturing facility. As successful as Alpert has been in just a few short years out of school, Chloe Alpert ’09 recently launched a luxury she does not hesitate beauty business in Silicon Valley. to give credit where credit is due. “I’m someone who learns through experience, and it was the diverse program offerings at SCASD that gave me the mental stimulation I craved,” she said. State High provided Alpert with the rigorous course load that she needed to thrive. While juggling classes, Alpert was also able to play five instruments, play two sports, and take two art and photography classes. And Alpert didn’t stop there. She took advantage the technology programs, which she credits for pushing her education well past her boundaries. “I was the type of student who was never satisfied inside a classroom, and I can directly correlate my success to being given the opportunity to try so many different things,” she said. “I learned how to succeed and fail. You learn to make the right choices by making the wrong ones first.” 26 | The Foundation
While Alpert excelled in all aspects of school, she gave the most credit to her technology teacher, Mr. Seamans. “When I was in 7th grade at PFMS, Mr. Seamans noticed I had finished the entire semester’s work in a couple weeks," she said. "He encouraged me to join Pennsylvania Technology Student Association (TSA) to fill my time, and it was that single encouragement that changed the direction of my life. It’s tough being a woman in Silicon Valley today, and having a male teacher encourage his female student to pursue technology nearly 10 years ago is something that should be recognized as truly progressive.” At only 12 years old, it was clear Alpert had a bright future. She was elected to the office of state president by of TSA by public vote at the young age of 17 and served in that role during her senior year. “It was the first time that I had direct authority over peers my age, had a public forum, and had a board of directors I had to report to. It was very much like my job as CEO now.” Although she succeeded throughout high school, Alpert realized quickly that she went about things differently than everyone else in her class, and she credits her teachers for allowing her to take her own path.
It’s tough being a woman in Silicon Valley today, and having a male teacher encourage his female student to pursue technology nearly 10 years ago is something that should be recognized as truly progressive. “I know I always managed to do this, and it was my counselors and certain advocates that enabled me to get my education at State College on my own terms,” she said. “I’m thankful that State High enabled me to march to the beat of my own drum because I kept that desire to keep trying new things.” l
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Bee Stings Lead to Ig Nobel Prize Justin Schmidt ’65 Recognized for Creating Schmidt Sting Pain Index The State College Area School District has graduated many successful alumni—doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, and even a Nobel prize winner. Justin Schmidt ’65 shared the 2015 Ig Nobel Prize in Physiology and Entomology at a ceremony September 19, 2015, at Harvard University. The prize was awarded for “painstakingly creating the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, which rates the relative pain people feel when stung by various insects” (based on Schmidt’s personal research and testing). The Ig Nobels are awarded for science published in peer reviewed journals that “first makes you laugh, then makes you think." Schmidt credits much of his success to the people in State College and the local school district who made his life a joy and helped to mold his future. “Everybody from my neighbors in the community to classmates and teachers in school was there to support me and my sometimes crazy-appearing ideas and activities,” he said.
“Although I didn’t realize it, the environment [at State High] was perfect for preparing me for life and for my future career as a biologist.” Schmidt describes the teachers he had in school as being byand-large interesting as were most of the subjects (with Latin
My life is good in large part from the excellent start I got from the State College schools.
grammar being an exception, he jokes). “I remember physics experiments, the stench of Dr. Bolton’s lab when we generated rotten egg smell, the excitement of being a part of the Model UN, and rooting for our wrestling team,” he said. “Marion Bressler taught me to write, Dave Clemson taught me to love math, Jackson Horner taught me to run, and I forget who sponsored our chess club. These all built upon my elementary schools in Lemont (remember marble games during recess?) and Boalsburg Elementary and junior high where we were bussed into the partially finished high school (complete with construction noises).” Schmidt is set to release his book, “The Sting of the Wild” in March 2016. Amazon.com is accepting pre-orders. You can also find a link to his latest article “Suffering for Science: Why I Have Insects Sting Me to Create a Pain Index” at www.scasdfoundation.org. He currently lives in Tucson, Ariz. where he is a biologist at Southwestern Biological Institute and works on the biology and evolution of desert animals and stinging insects from around the world. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, bicycling, cooking Chinese and Brazilian food, and relaxing with a good book. “My life is good in large part from the excellent start I got from the State College schools,” he said. “Please support the Education Foundation so that our children can enjoy as good a start in life as I did.” l
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
From Little Lion Basketball Standout to Super Bowl Champ Jordan Norwood ’04 Gained Critical Athletic, Time Management, and Classroom Skills at State High, but Surprisingly Didn’t Play Much Football for the Maroon & Gray Life is pretty good for Jordan Norwood ’04 these days. The State High alum was recently married, welcomed a daughter, and celebrated a Super Bowl win with the Denver Broncos in which he set a Super Bowl record with a 61-yard punt return to set up the game-winning score. Not bad for a player who got a late introduction to the sport at Memorial Field. Norwood, who arrived in State College as a sophomore, didn’t pull on a Little Lions football jersey until his junior year. Returning punts, a job where he’s carved out a niche for himself in the NFL, didn’t factor into the equation until his senior season at Penn State. “I didn’t do any of that at State High!” Norwood laughed. “I was a very, very underweight kid...but [then-coach Dave Lintal] gave me a great opportunity to play and make plays.” He recalls his guidance counselor’s surprise at hearing he would be playing football at Penn State; at the time, he just wasn’t known for his gridiron performance. “My athletic career at State High was almost completely centered around basketball,” Norwood said. He crafted a reputation at State High as a dynamic jumper on the hardwood, helping the Little Lions to a Class AAAA title in 2003, and as an excellent student.
State High provided courses that really pointed me in the direction that I wanted to go. At Penn State, while emerging as a standout for Joe Paterno, Norwood made the Dean’s list twice and completed an advertising degree thanks to the good study habits and time management skills he picked up at State High. Recently, Norwood’s mind wandered back to State High’s hallways and classrooms where he developed interests aside from athletics early on. After all, he’s had to ponder a career outside of football before. 28 | The Foundation
Norwood was signed by the Cleveland Browns in 2009 but didn’t make it through the final round of cuts out of training camp. It wasn’t until Week 5 that the Philadelphia Eagles called to offer him a spot on their practice squad. He then bounced from Philly, back to Cleveland, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finally to Denver, where he tore his ACL before making a comeback that included Super Bowl glory. “I don’t think I thought about football being a career until my second or third year in the NFL, honestly,” Norwood said. “I kind of took things moment by moment. I was Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan undrafted, started out on a Norwood (11) turns up field on a 2nd couple of practice squads. quarter reception against the San Even my first year, I was cut Francisco 49ers in the NFL game at at the end of training camp Sports Authority Field in Denver, CO in Cleveland and I was at August 29, 2015. (Photo credit: Eric Lars home for four and a half, Bakke/Denver Broncos) five weeks.” Norwood knows as well as any NFL player that football can be gone in an instant. One day he’d like to use the interests he developed as a student at State High in a new career. “They provided courses that really pointed me in the direction that I wanted to go,” he said. His interests were shaped by technical drawing courses with AutoCAD software and computer graphics classes “that maybe another high school wouldn’t have offered.” During the offseason, Norwood plans to return to his roots. He and his wife Aleah will travel to State College for Penn State’s Blue-White game in April and visit Norwood’s old high school, of which he still has fond memories. l
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
State High Music Programs Pave the Path for Successful Career Danya Katok ’02 Credits State High’s Thespians Cabaret and Music Department for Helping to Land Big-Time Singing Gigs From the North Building Auditorium to the New York Philharmonic, 2002 State High grad and current Manhattanite Danya Katok hasn’t lost her passion. Katok entered the world of the arts at Radio Park Elementary, where she was given one of her first singing solos in a Lion King medley and her first acting lead in a class play, Little Grunt and the Big Egg. Danya Katok ’02, a NYCAt State High, she was able to based singer and music administrator, found her build upon this foundation. Kotak passion for the stage at said, “I owe the path my career has SCASD. taken to the annual Thespians cabaret that I got to be a part of in 2001.” It was after the solo she performed in the show that Katok said, “I was encouraged to pursue a career in musical theatre.” The experience led her to a music major in Penn State’s BFA
program that influenced her career. She also credits Jim Robinson and the orchestra program at State High for shaping her development. “I played the violin long before I started singing seriously and it has made me the musician that I am today,” said Katok. Participating in PMEA festivals with choral groups and Jill Campbell’s spring musicals grew her love of singing. A freelance singer, voice teacher, and music administrator, Katok's career has evolved into a flourishing expanse of artistic endeavors. Her performance work ranges from choral singing, to opera chorus, to cabarets on Theatre Row. Katok revealed that one of her proudest career moments was sharing the stage with Broadway legend Kelli O’Hara and The Boston Pops. She said, “Getting to sing as a soloist in Symphony Hall, backed by such an amazing orchestra conducted by Keith Lockhart—well, it just took my breath away.” Singing the lead role in New York City Opera’s production of Where the Wild Things Are at Lincoln Center has also been hard to top.
And the Grammy Goes to… Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum ’97 Earns Coveted Gramophone for Best Engineered Classical Album Among the musicians bringing home Grammy awards this February was Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum ’97, whose collaborative album Ask Your Mama earned her the coveted gramophone for Best Engineered Album, Classical. When she looks back on her time at State High, KrollRosenbaum fondly recalls her experiences accompanying musical theater and chorus, playing in and conducting the orchestra and writing for all of these groups, as “a lot of fun and good training” for her career. In her senior year, she won a National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Gold Award for music composition, and went on to attend Julliard. For Kroll-Rosenbaum, teachers at State High laid the foundation for her personal and professional growth. “I appreciate great teaching and it sticks with you,” she said.
Today, Kroll-Rosenbaum lives on the beach in Los Angeles with her spouse and fellow composer Laura and their son Benny. Her work includes composing scores for films and video games. While she was honored to receive a Grammy, Kroll-Rosenbaum believes the deepest satisfactions of her career don’t necessarily come with trophies. “I think I feel most proud and most rewarded Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum when the music is good and deepens the '97 got great training at storytelling,” she said. State High. The Foundation | 29
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
This…Is…[State High Alum Therese Jones ’05 On] Jeopardy! Game Show Contestant Practices State High Quiz Bowl Philosophy to Score Second Place On Friday, March 4, an episode of Jeopardy! aired featuring State College native Therese Jones ’05 as a contestant. And it turns out that her experience in SCASD on Quiz Bowl field trips helped prepare her for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “We traveled across the East Coast to tournaments at least once a month, and to national competitions across the country,” she said. Jones recalls how Julie Gittings, now-retired learning enrichment teacher who coached Quiz Bowl at the time, would hold mini pep rallies for the students at nationals. “I think her Quiz Bowl philosophy of ‘no shame, only points’ helped me out at least once [on Jeopardy!],” said Jones. During her time at SCASD schools, Jones’s academic interests merged with a competitive spirit through extracurricular activities. She joined the Science Olympiad at Park Forest Middle School, led by dedicated coach Steve McAninch. It was through her involvement in the club that Jones was able to teach herself a great deal of astronomy, physics, and engineering that would become central to her higher education and career pursuits.
It was through her involvement [in the Science Olympiad at PFMS] that Jones was able to teach herself a great deal of astronomy, physics, and engineering that would become central to her higher education and career pursuits.
Following her studies within SCASD, Jones attended Penn State, graduating in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in astronomy, physics, German, and international studies. She then went to UC Berkeley for astrophysics, receiving her master’s in 2013, and transferred programs to RAND, a global policy think tank, to pursue a PhD in space policy. “Remarkably,” Jones noted, “all of 30 | The Foundation
these degrees have managed to converge in my current work.” But it was during her years on the Quiz Bowl that Jones began to dream distantly of being a Jeopardy! contestant. At a national competition, she and her teammates got to meet Ken Jennings. The final year of her quiz bowl Therese Jones ’05 (right) with Jeopardy! host Alex career coincided Trebek. Photo credit: Jeopardy! Productions, Inc. with Jennings’s Jeopardy! winning streak—to this day, he holds the record for longest run on the show. She idolized contestants then, but didn’t see auditioning for the show as a realistic possibility until she moved to LA and met former contestants who encouraged her to give it a shot. Last April, Jones took an online test, which landed her an in-person audition in July. The audition included a 50-question test, mock game, and interview. In October, she was invited onto the show, but she was in Vienna working on her dissertation. Her name went back into the contestant pool, and the call came again a month later. In mid-January, she was on the set. “They tape five shows a day, so it’s a busy schedule,” said Jones. “It’s also shot in real time—the game goes just as fast as you see on TV.” When it came time to get to know the contestants during the show, even Alex Trebek was taken aback by Jones’s description of commercial human spaceflight—on which she is currently studying as she finishes her PhD. She revealed that companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic will be sending passengers into space much sooner than most people are aware. While Jones and her competitors were stumped by a Final Jeopardy! question requiring knowledge of early-’70s pop music, leaving Jones in second place, she walked away with a $2,000 consolation prize—and the honor of having been a Jeopardy! contestant. l
What’s Next for the Education Foundation Foundation Will Honor Esteemed Alumni and Friends Seeking Volunteers to Help Develop Society and Plan Honorary Events The SCASD Education Foundation is in the process of creating a society to honor alumni and friends of the district. The yet-to-be-named society will annually honor people who have excelled in arts and music, academics, athletics, leadership, and teaching and whose achievements added to the overall experience and atmosphere at SCASD. The Foundation is seeking volunteers who are interested in developing the concept of the society and planning events that will honor inductees and celebrate the school district and community. We are tentatively planning to hold our first event during the fall of 2016. For more information and to discuss volunteer opportunities, please contact Paul Olivett at pgo11@scasd.org or 814-231-1021.
Pardon Our Progress Students Involved in Transformation of High School’s South Building As one of the Education Foundation’s first projects, students and faculty are assisting in transforming some areas of the high school’s South Building into more usable spaces. They’ve offered ideas to organize and furnish these open spaces for better use for student collaboration, meeting space, and individual study and planning. “With all the changes that have been taking place at the school, we’ve looked to the students and staff for input,” said Assistant Principal Chris Weakland. “What may look good to the administration may not be the best choice for students and teachers. This is a great opportunity to get them involved.” The idea was launched when administrators saw students and faculty using common areas of the building in untraditional ways. Teachers transformed egress exits to math centers, creating life-size grids out of floor tiles. Students sat on floors outside of classrooms to discuss team projects and homework. Teachers met on hallway benches between classes to collaborate. Students have been encouraged to generate ideas for repurposing these gathering spaces. They’ve shared ideas and drawings, and selected furnishings, lighting, and flooring for the spaces. Architecture students are actively engaging in the renovations as part of their graduation project, and the SCASD Educational Foundation will provide small grants to cover the cost of furnishings or materials.
By the Numbers 7000
Students in the district
88
Percent of graduates continuing post-graduate education/training
273
Students who took Advanced Placement tests in 2015
88
Percent of AP tests with a score of 3 or above
27
National AP Scholar students in 2015
1325
SCASD faculty and staff members
38
Teacher/administrators with over 30 years of experience
1642
Average State High SAT score 2015, which is...
157
Points above average SAT score for all PA students
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