www.scasdfoundation.org
The Foundation | 1
From the Foundation Board
Education Foundation Enriches Student Experiences, Celebrates District Successes Every gift furthers the efforts of the district, impacting lives and strengthening our community. For every student that enters the doors of a SCASD school building, a wealth of resources, talents, and time are invested in order to ensure they reach their full potential. Talk to any one of the SCASD faculty and staff and they’ll tell you — that potential is far above and beyond what most of us can imagine. Whether it’s performing onstage here in State College before going on to perform in the Big Apple (check out the Supina family on page 10), or training as a culinary artist before returning to the area with big ideas for the local food scene (like Mark Johnson of Big Spring Spirits on page 11), our students do a little bit of it all once they graduate, and most give credit to the district for the investment the schools have made in their lives. SCASD continues to make these investments in the lives of today’s children, and are always looking ahead to the students of tomorrow. We're investing in top-notch curriculum (and seeing excellent results, like you can see on page 9), new facilities (page 5), and groundbreaking extracurricular programs (like an all-girls STEM program, page 12). SCASD has even been given recognition for the nutritional resources offered to students (page 13).
Inside… About the Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Success for Every Student. . . . . . . . 6 Our Strong Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Issues Facing Our Students. . . . . . 14 The Foundation in Action . . . . . . . . 15
Check out our recent projects and see how you can get involved. Join us on our mission to ensure that, for the SCASD alumni of tomorrow, an outstanding future is within reach. With sincere thanks, Douglas C. Loviscky SCASD Education Foundation Board Member
Contact Us SCASD Education Foundation 240 Villa Crest Drive State College, PA 16801 814-883-8067 | www.scasdfoundation.org Paul Olivett: pgo11@scasd.org 2 | The Foundation
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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.
Meet Our SCASD Education Foundation Board Members
Ways to Give You can make your contribution: 1. Online at www. scasdfoundation.org.
Carol Grimm I was born and raised in Boalsburg, Pa., attending the SCASD kindergarten through 12th grade. My husband and I have three wonderful children who all graduated from SCASD. My father and grandmother also graduated from SCASD. My grandma attended the two-room Frazier Street School. My connection to the district is a family affair and joining the Foundation is a way I can give back to the school district…
Betsy Whitman “I worked, variously, as a public school teacher; preschool and college environmental educator; writer and editor (Ranger Rick books and Learning Magazine); professional storyteller; and community organizer (Rails to Trails, Earth Day 1990, Friends of State High). I live in Patton Township with my husband, Dave. Public education is a foundation of democracy. State and federal funding for education have not kept pace with needs…
Ann McGlaughlin “I have lived in the Centre Region for more than 30 years and currently reside in Harris Township with my husband Ron. My two children are graduates of State High. I work as an accountant for a local small business and am a proud graduate of Villanova University. I am a past member and past president of the SCASD School Board. During eight years of service on the board, I learned a great deal…
2. Through a planned gift, such as a bequest, by naming the State College Area School District Education Foundation as the beneficiary in your retirement or life insurance plan, or by leaving gifts of property or real estate to the SCASD Education Foundation upon your passing. Contact Executive Director Paul Olivett at 814-883-8067 or pgo11@scasd.org for more information on planned giving opportunities. 3. By responding to requests for support through the mail.
Read more about these and other board members, at www.scasdfoundation.org. (Photos provided by board members) www.scasdfoundation.org
The Foundation | 3
About the SCASD Foundation
Students to Benefit From New Programs Funded by Local Donors and Businesses The EITC program makes it possible for Pa businesses and investors to earn tax credits by giving support. One of the SCASD Education Foundation’s first projects as an organization was obtaining permission to solicit Educational Improvement Tax Credit eligible donations from local businesses. The EITC program makes it possible for any eligible business in the state to earn tax credits when they give to SCASD and other similar groups. Several businesses have already taken advantage of this opportunity, including First National Bank, Fulton Bank, and Weis. First National Bank gave a donation of $10,000, while Fulton Bank gave a donation of $5,000. “First National Bank is very pleased to be able do this, and it’s all because the school district applied for funding through the EITC program,” Vice President and Market Manager Nick Lingenfelter said. “That’s how we’re able to go and see if we have anybody in our community (eligible for EITC funds), and of course, the SCASD Education Foundation was a great match for us… It’s very important because we want to support the schools and the businesses in the communities we live and work in.” In order to participate in the EITC program, the SCASD Education Foundation was required to submit educational programs for approval, toward which the funds would be designated. The two programs that are currently slated for inclusion are the Oracle Academy and the International Baccalaureate Programme. The former is a globallyfocused computer science curriculum, Jean Galliano, with Fulton Bank, gives a donation to the State College Area School District Education Foundation. President Doug Loviscky, right, and while the Superintendent Bob O’Donnell, left, accept the donation March 16, 2017. 4 | The Foundation
latter is an academically advanced multi-year curriculum that is recognized all over the globe. First National Bank Vice President Treasury Management Mike Shuey said few educational foundations apply to the EITC program. When The SCASD Education Foundation receives a the SCASD Education Foun- generous donation from First National Bank. dation did, the bank decided a donation was a natural choice in light of its previous ties to the district. “We have a really great relationship with the school district,” Shuey said. “The school district has been a really good partner with us for a long time.”
The school district has been a really good partner with us for a long time. To assist more businesses and qualified investors in the area with discovering how they can participate in the EITC program, the SCASD Education Foundation hosted two information sessions March 14 and March 16 at the Panorama Village Administrative Center. During these information sessions, guests learned how businesses and individual investors could make their program participation as easy as possible, benefit from a smaller overall tax burden, and directly affect the strength of the local school district. Presenters included SCASD Education Foundation executive director Paul Olivett and president Doug Loviscky. For more information, contact Paul Olivett directly at pgo11@scasd.org. l
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Success for Every Student
Renovation Enhances Athlete, Spectator Experience Board of Directors approves Memorial Field Changes. Memorial Field is currently the district’s only stadium facility, and is used by more than a dozen teams for a wide array of interscholastic competitions. The facility is also used for community events throughout the year. Unfortunately, however, the current facilities aren’t meeting the needs of students or spectators, and could much better serve the community with some upcoming upgrades. As is, the facilities are considered “seriously deficient” and below Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association competition standards as well as federal, state, and local guidelines for hygiene, accessibility, and safety. The district has been planning for a Memorial Field renovation project for quite a while now, but it wasn’t really known whether or not the district would choose to keep Memorial Field in its current location, or move it elsewhere. While there were pros and cons to both options, the former was finally decided last year, for a multitude of reasons, including a lower cost. Two design options were revealed last fall by architectural firm Weber Murphy Fox. Both designs were created after thorough reviews of the currently standing resources, and surveys of district staff, coaches, parents, and more. Early this year, one of the two options was finally approved unanimously by the Board of School Directors. The new, chosen design concept will completely demolish the Nittany Avenue Building (which was built in 1924 and is considered a “contributing building” within a historic district), rather than just renovating the interior, replacing it with a brandnew locker room facility. The design also will replace the existing
A mock-up shows the new field’s design.
east side “home” bleachers, and create a new concourse along the southern end zone to connect the existing bleachers on the west side. The new seating capacity will be close to 3,500. The total cost? Just around $8.8 million. Now, the Board of School Directors will go on to approve design processes at 30-, 60- and 90-percent milestones. The construction will begin in May 2018, hopefully wrapping up in 2019. The new locker rooms and spectator restrooms should be open for the fall 2020 football season. Throughout the project, the district aims to keep the facility open for fall sports in both 2018 and 2019. l
Memorial Field Renovation Timeline
The district’s capital financing plan:
• May–June 2018
Demo Building
• August–November 2018
Football Season
• Includes capacity to fund debt service for borrowing a portion of, or the entire project cost.
• December 2018–July 2019
Construction
• August–November 2019
Football Season Simultaneous Interior Work
• January 2020
Substantial Completion
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• Using capital reserve funds rather than borrowing would lower total project cost, but may alter financing of other district projects. • Financing scenarios will be reviewed and considered based upon market conditions. The Foundation | 5
Success for Every Student
Students Share Success Through SCASD Transition Programs The District Takes Steps to Ease Students Into New Schools. Whether moving up from elementary grades to middle school, or from middle to high school, the process can be an intimidating one. Becoming accustomed to new surroundings, new procedures, and new faces — on top of tackling new academic challenges — can become overwhelming. State College area schools strive to make this transition as comfortable and simple as possible, through pre-semester events, tours, and preliminary visits to not only help students ease into the process, but also help them decide which schools in the county they would prefer to attend. At Mount Nittany Middle School, each incoming sixth grader visits the school for a tour of the building, as well as a student-led question and answer session. In addition, a middle school counselor and administrator visits each elementary school to answer any student questions that may arise there, during a presentation on the upcoming transition. In May, parents accompany students to the school, to meet with teachers, discuss the curriculum, and get a general sense of what’s to come. The Delta Program, a smaller and more personalized education opportunity within the district, takes these efforts a step further, by offering incoming or new students the chance to shadow a current student, and giving each the opportunity to meet with the principal himself on a one-on-one basis to further determine if the transition to this particular school is a good fit.
Even before parents apply, I meet with every single family. So there’s no lack of information sharing or conversation. “We try to do a lot of things over the summer and before school even lets out, because this could be a new school not just only for fifth and sixth graders, but also any grade, because it’s a new building, some kids haven’t been here,” said Delta Program Principal Jon Downs. He goes on to add that the first week of classes includes plenty of orientation activities to alieve student anxiety. “We do some transition stuff where we reach out to the 6 | The Foundation
counselors, sending staff,” said Downs. “Even before parents apply, I meet with every single family. So there’s no lack of informaStudents Katherine, 8th grade; Sage, 6th grade; and tion sharing Abby, sophomore, all enjoyed their transitions into the or conversaDelta program. tion. We never have a family apply without meeting me first, so it’s part of the context. And also we want every kid to come shadow for a day. So there’s all these layers.” How do the students feel about the process? According to Sage and Katherine, sixth and eighth graders, respectively, at the Delta Program, the transition was easy and even, in some instances, fun. Sage, a former Radio Park Elementary student, noted that visiting the school and meeting staff several times before attending was very helpful, and that she particularly enjoyed participating in classes during her shadowing session. Katherine, who previously attended Mount Nittany Middle School, agreed that the transition wasn’t difficult, specifically mentioning the ease of finding her classes once she began attending the school. Regardless of where and when a student is making an educational transition, counselors at every school in the district play a huge role in making these changes successful. The school district’s Student Services Department offers general guidelines for counselor-led student transition activities. At an elementary level, counselors introduce new students and lead new student groups for discussion. During the move from fifth to sixth grade, counselors at both elementary and middle schools often meet to discuss specific student needs. Additionally, at the beginning of each school year, the counseling staff holds a New Student Orientation for middle school students just joining the district. It’s all in a day’s work to make the transition as seamless as possible. l www.scasdfoundation.org
Building On Our Strong Foundation
Students and Faculty Shine In and Out of the Classroom
Mike Harper jokes with students in his class at Park Forest Middle School.
Cooper Price uses a fly swatter to identify colors during a German lesson. David Strock teaches sixth grade exploratory German as part of the district’s foreign language program. www.scasdfoundation.org
Easterly Parkway Elementary School held its annu al Helping Hands Fair February 1, 2017.
Mount Nittany Elementary students from 2nd to 5th grades explore Makerspace Monday, February 13, 2017. The Foundation | 7
Building On Our Strong Foundation
The IMBA Championship basketball game was held at State College Area High School March 2, 2017.
A Native American and Nutrition museum was held at Corl Street Elementary as the finale to the project that allowed students to learn about history and health.
Artist and poet Douglas Florian visited Ferguson Township Elementary School as part of the visiting author program. 8 | The Foundation
Park Forest Middle School holds its ROAR Team Building Day. www.scasdfoundation.org
Success For Every Student
SCASD Students Raise the Academic Bar Recently, the State College Area School District released data showing its students’ excellent performance, as they surpass many of the state and national averages.
Elementary Education • 61% of students in grades 2–6 met or exceeded one year of growth in mathematics (11% over the national average) • On the PSSA, SCASD overall scores were above the state average by 15–25% in grades 3–8
High School Performance • SAT scores ranked 24th out of 650 schools in the state • 88% of students who take AP exams scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam (the state figure is 68%)
In response, Supervisor of Elementary Education Vernon Bock has noted that he’s very pleased with the elementary proficiency percentiles, and that they’re “something to be excited about.” Assistant Superintendent Jason Perrin is already planning ahead for next steps to extend this significant progress, through… • A continued focus on the curriculum development process • Targeted professional development associated with ELA and math instruction • Monitoring of curriculum implementation to ensure equal access to quality curriculum • A focus on supplemental opportunities for students with individual needs
Have you seen the new SCASD app? Released earlier this year, the new mobile app is available for everyone in the community, giving you all the information you need about the district in one, easyto-use spot. All of the district’s communications are available within the app, so that students, parents, teachers, and Centre County residents can all see and understand everything that’s going on in the district’s schools. Enjoy a newsfeed, photos, and links to the various school and department websites, as well as direct access to multiple calendars, sports scores, staff resources, emergency information, school menus, My School Bucks accounts, and even student grades and absences. You can also choose to receive notifications. Download the app now for free, for both iOS and Android.
www.scasdfoundation.org
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The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Musical Siblings Get Strong Start in SCASD Performing Arts The Supina Family Reflects on Opportunities from Middle School and Beyond. The State College Area School District is committed to providing a top-tier learning environment that allows students to grow and realize their true potential. For Richard and Martha (Marti) Supina, SCASD was a catalyst for their children’s success in the performing arts. From the time they enrolled their children in Mount Nittany Middle School, Kat ’06, Meg ’07, and Kevin ’09 were heavily involved with the district's performing arts programs. In middle school, they were involved with choir, band, and the drama club. Their experiences in these extracurricular activities encouraged a love of music that they continued through high school. In high school, Kat, Meg, and Kevin were involved with Master Singers, Chamber Singers, Glee Club, and Symphonic. Kevin was also a member of the Jazz Band. These organizations opened many doors. “I would say the experiences had been phenomenal with regard to the opportunities that were afforded, both academically and from an extracurricular perspective,” said Marti. The performing arts instructors always set high standards for their students. Academic success was expected of those involved with music programs. These activities helped prepare the Supinas for their futures. “I was able to get a great glimpse into life as a college music major and there was no question in my mind that that was what I wanted to pursue as a career,” said Meg. SCASD allowed for the Supinas to make many lasting friendships. Marti and Richard found connections with the parents of the students and their children found a support system within The Supina family following a performance of their peers. “Pirates of Penzance.” 10 | The Foundation
“Making music with friends helped me to find my purpose and drive,” said Kat. “That has influenced my life in a tangible way.” As parents of children involved with The three Supina children perform in the 2006 the performing Memorial Day marching band. arts programs at SCASD, Marti and Richard were able to chaperone various trips. They both chaperoned marching band and adjudication trips, but their favorite school trips were to Europe. Marti and Richard collectively chaperoned trips to France, Italy, and Switzerland. “It was just phenomenal,” said Richard. After high school, Kat, Meg, and Kevin all pursued college educations. Kevin went to the Manhattan School of Music where he studied jazz. After living in New York City for eight years, he toured with a band that ended up in Boulder, Co. He is now living in Boulder and playing with a soul-funk band. Kat and Meg attended Richard’s alma mater, The University of Delaware, and majored in classical voice. Each then pursued their Master’s degrees in the same. Both now reside in New York City. Meg is going through the process of auditioning for various organizations and Kat is singing with the 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church Choir. “I have no doubt that my experiences at State High led me on this path,” said Kat. Marti and Richard think their children, without being a part of SCASD, would not have been exposed to nearly as many opportunities for success. The strength of the administration and encouragement from the educators and board alike constantly pushed their students to be the best they could be. “The district really helped to shape our children into the adults that they are today,” said Marti. l www.scasdfoundation.org
The Lifelong Impact of a SCASD Education
Mark Johnson ’96 Brings Talents to the Local Food Scene One State High alum credits his SCASD experience with the encouragement needed to stick to his passions. Mark Johnson’s experience at State High was filled with a broad range of interests and learning alongside many childhood friends. From baseball to bass guitar, skateboarding to backpacking, and a senior year spent on the State High Enviro-thon Team, Johnson’s wide array of extracurriculars transferred nicely into his later college and career choices. Through all of it, he said, he learned the importance of good communication and problem-solving skills, which would help him out later in life. After his graduation, Johnson went on to Penn State University, where he graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Geography. Then, it was off to culinary school in Philadelphia, where he graduated from The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in 2003. This ultimately led to roles in restaurant kitchens, where he’s been acting as chef ever since. “My curiosity for the natural sciences, the camaraderie and sportsmanship learned playing with my classmates, and the encouragement from teachers and fellow students to stick with my passions, led me to study geography at Penn State, and soon after immerse myself in the culinary world in Philadelphia,” he said. “Post-graduation, I entered the restaurant job market confident, open-minded, and appreciative that I was able to develop in high school with such a diverse group of students from every walk of life and
Johnson shows off the tricks of the trade at a local food festival. www.scasdfoundation.org
from many cultural backgrounds.” Now, Johnson is a private chef at MJ Custom Craft Cooking, where he’s doing what he loves — providing local, seasonal cuisine for the businesses of Centre County and the culinary scene of central Pennsylvania as a whole. Moving forward, he said, he’d love to expand that business further Mark Johnson now enjoys a thriving career into different regions in the Centre County culinary scene. of the state, and to also integrate educational cooking classes into the services that he offers, which all would highlight the importance of the sustainable food movement and local food systems.
Post-graduation, I entered the restaurant job market confident, open-minded and appreciative that I was able to develop in high school with such a diverse group of students from every walk of life and from many cultural backgrounds. For current State High students, Johnson offers up the following advice: “Find your strengths. Follow and nurture those strengths, and align your goals to match what you find fulfilling so that your future profession is filled with passion!” l The Foundation | 11
Success for Every Student
CSI Program Engages Female Students in STEM Fields Girls get involved in male-dominated fields of science early on. In today’s society, there is still a wide gap between the number of men versus the number of women who have careers in the STEM fields. In fact, according to the National Science Board, women remain underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce, with the greatest disparities occurring in engineering, computer science, and physical sciences.
Challenging Science Investigations provides a positive, engaging environment where the girls are encouraged to be creative problem-solvers. For more than a decade, the State College Area School District has been trying to close the gender gap and engage female students in STEM through a program called the Challenging Science Investigations (CSI). “The CSI program began 11 years ago, when the American Association of University Women approached the high school science department about the need to engage young women in science,” explained Beth Keim, State High Chemistry teacher.
The CSI program currently involves girls in sixth through eighth grade at both Park Forest and Mount Nittany middle schools. 12 | The Foundation
The goal of the CSI program is to provide an afterschool opportunity for middle school girls to engage in STEM activities, work directly with women in the STEM fields, develop problem-solving skills, and learn to work collaboratively with their peers. The program currently involves girls in sixth through eighth grade at both Park Forest and Mount CSI program projects help students Nittany middle schools. develop problem-solving skills and Through the CSI program, work collaboratively. students are able to learn science and engineering skills by focusing on hands-on projects. “Our core activities have been roller coaster construction, crime scene investigation, Rube Goldberg devices, spaghetti bridge design, and an oil clean-up simulation,” said Keim. The program currently runs both winter and summer sessions and on average, sees anywhere from 20 to 40 female students enrolled. According to Keim, the current session saw its best enrollment to date. “This winter, we have close to 50 students enrolled, along with 10 high school volunteers, as well as Penn State volunteers.” Engaging the community is important to the success of the program. The girls have had mentors from the AAUW who have or had professions in STEM fields. High school students who have gone through the program in middle school often come back as volunteers, and CSI utilizes the PSU staff and Engineering Ambassadors who volunteer their time and share their experiences with the students. Keim knows that this program has made an impact over the years: “The students are engaged and excited. Challenging Science Investigations provides a positive, engaging environment where the girls are encouraged to be creative problem-solvers.” Not only do the students gain self-confidence in their ability to work in the STEM fields, but they also have an opportunity to connect with women who have gone before them, paving the way. “Having female mentors in science, from teachers to volunteers, gives our students strong role models, showing them that there are successful women engaged in the fields of science.” l www.scasdfoundation.org
Success for Every Student
Fuel for Education: Middle School Recognized for Food-Service Excellence SCASD cafeteria receives rave reviews from the national Smarter Lunchrooms Movement assessment program. By Chris Rosenblum, SCASD Director of Communications As lunchtime springs into action at Park Forest Middle School, food service supervisor Chris Meckley goes with the flow. Perched at a register, she has no choice. One after another, sixth graders bring burgundy-colored trays full of pizza slices, chef salads, fruit chunks, and colorful raw veggies. Meckley keeps up, logging their meals with friendly banter, until the chattering rush ends. She and her staff of 10 do a brisk business, about seven minutes to serve each of three lunch periods, but efficiency is just one of their hallmarks. Everywhere, extra touches create a warm and inviting bistro atmosphere. And the food? Let’s just say these aren’t your father’s middle school lunches, or even the ones you may remember. The staff makes its own lasagna, sloppy joes, and other dishes, and artfully prepares cut fruit displays and freshly-made salads. A Thanksgiving turkey feast comes with a relish tray and homemade stuffing and apple crisp. All of it, including daily breakfasts, earned Meckley’s cafeteria a rave review: a high gold rating score this fall in the national Smarter Lunchrooms Movement assessment program. The national average is bronze.
We consider ourselves partners with the parents and teachers to give the kids a good education. “My team works very hard, and it’s nice to be recognized for what we do,” Meckley said. Run by the Cornell University Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Program, the federally-funded Smarter Lunchrooms Movement program aims to “equip school lunchrooms with evidence-based tools” that improve children’s eating behavior and health. According to the program, “smarter lunchrooms” demonstrate core values that include low cost/no-cost solutions, lunchroom environment focus, promotion of healthful eating behaviors, and sustainability. www.scasdfoundation.org
In the spring, Smarter Lunchrooms evaluator Cynthia Dawso Van Duff gave Park Forest’s cafeteria high marks — a score of 72 out of 100, good enough for a low gold rating. She called the visit “a pleasure,” praisThe food at Park Forest Middle School has been called “tasty” and “nutritious” by Smarter ing the well-lit, Lunchrooms evaluators. decorated service areas; the fruit and vegetable bar that included a hard-carved fruit display; the variety of entreé and side dish choices; the cleanliness of the service and prep areas; and the “engaged” and “polite” staff. But Dawso Van Duff also had several suggestions, including enhanced menu boards, removing mops and other clutter from view along a dining room wall, and adding a fourth serving option, the Express Café. After Meckley made the changes, a second evaluation in the fall boosted her score to 91, among the best in the state. For Meckley, her daily work is all about student learning. “We provide nutritional education for them,” she said. “We’re trying to teach them how to pick healthy choices. We consider ourselves partners with the parents and teachers to give the kids a good education. To do that, you need good nutrition.” To that end, she makes sure her menus do more than simply list the day’s choices. She adds mini-nutritional lessons, including more than the important vitamins and minerals. “I’ll go a step beyond,” she said. “I’ll put notes in there. If we have pineapple, I’ll say pineapple is good for your hair and your teeth. Studentsdon’t care about the vitamins listed — A, C, or whatever — but they do care if it makes their hair shiny.” l The Foundation | 13
Issues Facing Our Students
Paying For College: Options and Obstacles Facing Families SCASD Expert Weighs in on the Vital Questions. It’s no secret: college is expensive and paying for a student’s college education is no easy feat. Luckily, there are many different ways for parents and students to find money. It’s all about looking in the right places. When it comes to finding the right school, State High Head Counselor Susan Marshall says there are many options that can be pursued. Parents are encouraged to find a school with a diverse setting that will meet their child’s specific needs. It is important to stay open-minded in this situation and allow for several different options. The more options, the more avenues there are to obtain financial aid.
When searching for the right college, it is important to stay open-minded in the situation and allow for several different options. “Don’t just stop short at the price tag,” said Marshall. If State High students have parents that are professors at Penn State, they have the option to attend the institution at a 75 percent discount. Penn State branch campuses are also an affordable option. There are 14 other state-funded institutions in Pennsylvania such as Slippery Rock University and Lock Haven University that offer lower tuitions. High school students also have the option of attending a community college at a much lower cost. Some students even find that they benefit from taking a gap year to work full-time and save money. Families are encouraged to apply to FAFSA, which opens October 1 of their child’s senior year. If families file taxes on time the previous year, it is a relatively easy process that takes between 20 and 30 minutes. Marshall encourages her students to apply for student loans, and gives them information about when and how to pay them off. She also reminds students that in order for them to be eligible for a loan, they need to have someone cosign for them. If a parent is unable to take on this financial responsibility, loans are no longer an option for that student. 14 | The Foundation
“It’s a family financial decision,” said Marshall. “Since most students are financial dependents, they need someone to cosign.” A prominent way that Marshall sees students receiving financial aid is through scholarships. She says that students receiving athletic scholarships at State High are few and far between; and those are often for very little money. The scholarships that have a really dramatic impact are the academic scholarships. There are websites that notify students of the scholarships they are eligible for based on their demographic information. “Students with good grades and good SAT scores are more likely to get good scholarships,” she said. “Scholarships are mostly offered through small, liberal arts schools.” Many of these liberal arts schools also have financial aid calculators on their websites. This helps parents estimate exactly how much it will cost their child to attend that specific institution. If a parent is planning on paying for their child’s education, a recommended method is through the Pennsylvania 529 tuition account program. This is a program that allows parents to put any amount of money into an account that can be used to pay for their child’s education. The program buys college credits at the current rate, saving parents thousands of dollars in inflation. But if a student decides they do not want to attend college, parents are only able to obtain a percentage of their money back from the account. “It’s a really smart and great way to save,” said Marshall. Marshall says that finding money for college requires a lot of time and effort. The process requires students to do a lot of searching and essay writing. Although it is time consuming, it is a necessary process that will benefit families in the long run when paying for a student’s college education. l www.scasdfoundation.org
Pave it Forward:
Foundation in action LeaveThe Your Legacy at Memorial Field
Join Us in Support of Memorial Field
Become part of history and pave the way for the future of Memorial Field. Purchase and inscribe a brick on the west-side walkway to Memorial Field along Fraser Street. Donations to Pave it Forward will fund future Join the hundreds to of alumni and friends For all of these reasons, and more, we are asking for your supimprovements Memorial Field. of State High who have already purchased bricks in honor of their experiences at port. Become part of the permanent history of Memorial Field Memorial Field, thehave 4,000-seat venue for State College Area School District has been Memorial Field. They now left aoutdoor lasting legacy through with a personalized, engraved brickAthletics, on the west-side walkway home to wins and to losses, to triumph and to heartache, and most importantly, to unforgettable moments the Pave it Forward campaign. leading to the field. that have shaped the lives of countless young people. These moments have centered on unparalleled teamBecomepersonal part of thisaccomplishment, history and pave the way for the future of work, overcoming adversity, and more as State College students have competed Simply complete Memorial Field. Purchase and inscribe a brick on the west-side in athletics and gathered for graduation and other significant events the form below on their home field. Memorial Field has walkway to Memorial Field for alongcommunity Fraser Street. events Donations to Arts Pave Festival, also been a key venue like parades and return it to theand other activities. it Forward will fund future improvements to Memorial Field. address listed with a Dedicated to the memory of State High graduates who gave their lives in World Wars I and II, and rededione-time payment Memorial hasall been homefallen to wins to since, losses, toMemorial triumph Field cated to Field honor those inand wars serves not just as an athletic complex, but as of $250. The brick and to heartache,gathering and most importantly, to unforgettable mo- friends a community place where neighbors and come together campaign is open to to support the students of State ments thatCurrently have shapedhome the lives countlesssoccer, young people. College. tooffootball, field hockey,individuals, and lacrosse, Memorial Field was constructed durfamilies, These moments have centered on: ing the Great Depression as a Works Progress Administration project and remains situated in the heart of and businesses, ✓✓ Unparalleled the Borough ofteamwork State College. and will serve as a ✓✓ Personal accomplishments true, permanent Now you can become part of the permanent history of Memorial Field with a personalized, engraved brick reminder of the strong ✓ ✓ Overcoming adversity on the west-side walkway leading to the field. Simply complete the form below and return it to the address community that supports ✓✓ Celebrating milestones payment of $250. The brick campaign listed with a one-time is open to individuals, families and businesses, the State College Area School and will serve as a true, permanent reminder of the strong community that supports the State College Area ✓✓ Bringing the community together District and its students. School District and its students.
YourYour legacy can live atMemorial Memorial Field. Pave it Forward! legacy can liveforever forever at Field. Pave it Forward! www.scasd.org/buyabrick • 814-231-1021 scasd.org/buyabrick • 814-231-1021
Yes! I want to buy a brick for:
Donor’s Name: ____________________________________________________
❍ An individual name $250 ❍ A family name ❍ A business or organization name
Signature: _______________________________________ Date_____________
q I have enclosed a check q Please bill my credit card Please charge my: q MasterCard
Address: ______________________ City/State/Zip: ______________________ Phone: ______________________ Email: _______________________________
Please engrave as follows, up to 16 characters per line (including spaces). q Visa
Name ________________________________________ Signature ____________________________________ Account # ____________________________________ Expiration Date _________________ CVV __________
TheDistrict Districtreserves reservesthe the right right to accept, reject, negotiate brick The reject or negotiate brickinscription inscriptioncontent. content.
Please make checks SchoolDistrict. District.(Donations (Donations bricks deductible to the extent allowed by law.) Please make checkspayable payableto:to:State StateCollege College Area Area School forfor bricks areare taxtax deductible to the extent allowed by law.) Mail check and this form to: State College Area School District Memorial Field Brick Campaign, 131 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801 Mail check and this form to: State College Area School District Memorial Field Brick Campaign, 240 Villa Crest Drive, State College, PA 16801 or go or gotoonline to scasd.org/buyabrick online www.scasd.org/buyabrick www.scasdfoundation.org The Foundation | 15 894-014
240 Villa Crest Drive State College, PA 16801
Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID State College, Pa. Permit No. 2
On the Web Stay Connected WITH the SCASD Education Foundation throughout the Year Visit www.scasdfoundation.org for the latest news and important information from the SCASD Education Foundation. While you’re on the site: • Sign up for our monthly email newsletter • Learn more about giving opportunities • Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings within the Education Foundation and the district
“Our community is passionate about education…” 16 | The Foundation
www.scasdfoundation.org
240 Villa Crest Drive State College, PA 16801
On the Web Stay Connected WITH the SCASD Education Foundation throughout the Year Visit www.scasdfoundation.org for the latest news and important information from the SCASD Education Foundation. While you’re on the site: • Sign up for our monthly email newsletter • Learn more about giving opportunities • Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings within the Education Foundation and the district
“Our community is passionate about education…” www.scasdfoundation.org
The Foundation | 17