Cultivating
SUCCESS
A supplement to The Intelligencer, News-Register, The Times Leader, Tyler Star News and Wetzel Chronicle February 26, 2019
Teaching New
GENERATIONS
Success in Education From stellar private schools to some of the top-rated public schools in West Virginia, education remains a key to success for the Ohio Valley. And local schools are not just about the three R’s — they are helping students learn how to learn more effectively, and using some new and unique teaching techniques to make that happen. For example, in the Bridgeport School District, the Raymond C. Stewart Exercise Science Lab has been operational since the start of the school year. The lab exposes students to a variety of science-based majors they may explore in college. At John Marshall High School, the Steel Band, led by Tracy Filben, is teaching students how to succeed through their music. The group recently traveled to Chicago to join music’s greats at the Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Conference. The Linsly School uses a strong counseling program to help its students succeed, as this year every senior already has been accepted into a four-year college. Counselors help students through mock essay writing exercises and other tools to prepare them for college admission. And at Wheeling Park High School, a special group of students on Park’s Speech and Debate team is keeping alive a 39-year streak of state title championships. As speech and drama coach Bill Cornforth puts it, “No player or coach wants to be the one to lose that first championship.” That level of commitment and desire to succeed helps set Park speech students apart as they strive for perfection.
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Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
WVNCC Expands Programs, Space While Keeping College Affordable By ALEX MEYER Staff Writer WHEELING — West Virginia Northern Community College has made great strides in recent years to help Ohio Valley students achieve their career goals. The college worked to grow its programs and expand its learning space, all while keeping the cost of its education affordable, Northern spokesman David Barnhardt said. “We like to take a proactive approach to the needs of the Ohio Valley and put our students in a position to be successful and train them for opportunities that lie ahead,” Barnhardt said. One of the main focuses of the college has been to grow its applied technologies programs, such as welding and petroleum technology, as well as other programs such as nursing and culinary arts. “At our Wheeling, Weirton and New Martinsville campuses, we offer programs and have partnerships that educate people and get them in a career quickly,” Barnhardt said. In August, the college opened up its new Industrial Technology Center, or ITC, building, which houses its welding and petroleum technology programs. Adding the center allowed the college to greatly expand both programs, Barnhardt said. “Formerly, the Welding and Petroleum Technology programs at (Northern) were confined by limited space,” he said. “The renovation more than doubles the amount of welding booths available to students to 20 booths.” The 20,000 square-foot ITC building, which previously housed an electrical supply warehouse, now offers a petroleum technology lab, a welding lab, classrooms and a student lounge. The building consists of both indoor and outdoor labs, which more closely replicates a real world environment, Barnhardt said. The facility also has additional area that will provide flexible space to accommodate new programs as the needs of the industry
Photos provided by West Virginia Northern Community College
West Virginia Northern Community College’s Industial Technology Center, a 20,000 square foot building the college opened in 2018 for its welding and petroleum technology programs. change, he said. “The programs are designed to prepare students for employment in the natural gas drilling, gathering and field operations industry associated with development of the Marcellus and Utica shales,” Barnhardt said. “It provides a strong foundation in oil and gas exploration, production and development in the Appalachian Basin.” The college has added a number other programs in recent years as well. For one, it added a cyber security program, which helps students become well-versed in handling security and risk in computing. Northern also added a mine maintenance associate degree program, in which students can work part-time with Murray Energy and
potentially be hired by the company. It also expanded its HVAC program to include more commercial training and added new equipment. Beyond educating students, the college has worked to offer training for employees. It now offers expanded industrial, business and customized training in a variety of topics to local and regional companies, Barnhardt said. “These courses will complement and expand our customizable training which we had previously offered,” he said. “Training courses are conducted on any of our three campuses, or can be arranged to be held at a local company site.” With all the additions in programming and space,
the college still remains affordable for many in the region. Northern was ranked the second most affordable community college in the state last year. “We pride ourselves on offering affordable, high quality education for all who wish to learn,” Barnhardt said. In addition, about 83 percent of students in the college who apply for financial aid receive it, Barnhardt said. In 2018, the college awarded 226 scholarships totaling $282,373, with
$50,000 of that money going toward scholarships for welding and petroleum technology students. Barnhardt added that the college has a robust student life on campus. It offers numerous events each month, such as a “Chicken Fest” with free food honoring its mascot, open mic events, movies, nacho and ice cream bars and others. Northern also offers a variety of organizations for students to get involved in, from student government to an astronomy club, he said.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
• An expanded learning space at WVNCC makes it possible for the college to accommodate a wider range of classes and training programs. • The curriculum is changing with the times, offering students better training for currently available careers. • Affordable tuition allows a large number of area residents to take advantage of all that WVNCC has to offer.
Brandy Killeen, welding instructor at West Virginia Northern Community College, welds in college’s new Industrial Technology Center.
Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers – 3
Linsly School Cultivates Success in College Counseling WHEELING — Starting in the freshman year and continuing through the senior year, The Linsly School’s four-year college counseling process is a recipe for success. In fact, 100 percent of Linsly’s graduating senior class is accepted into and attends a four-year college or university. From mock college admissions committees to college essay writing workshops, by the time a student is a senior at The Linsly School, he or she is prepared to confidently embark on the college search and selection process. Linsly Director of College Counseling Penny Cunningham begins preparing students for the competitive college search and selection process as early as their freshman year of high school. “One of the first steps we take with our freshmen is simply to conduct a transcript review with them,” Cunningham said. “Many of these freshman students transitioning to high school have never seen a transcript before or don’t fully understand the importance of their transcripts starting in the freshman year. So, we simply take time to review with freshmen what information colleges are going to be looking at over the next four years in terms of their transcripts, and why it is important. “This gets them thinking about the college search and selection process from day one of high school.” Now in her 15th year as director of college counseling at Linsly, Cunningham shares her expertise with students after also having years of experience on the college admissions side of the profession. Prior to her role at Linsly, Cunningham previously served as the assistant vice president of enrollment management and dean of admission at Chatham College in Pittsburgh, and also as dean of admissions at Bethany College. One of the programs that Cunningham leads at Linsly is the Senior College Seminar. This is actually a class required of all Linsly seniors that covers a variety of topics pertaining to the college search and selection process, including exploration of career and college majors, assistance with financial aid and scholarship applications, college application essay writing and using Naviance, an online-based college search resource program available to all Linsly seniors and parents. During Senior Seminar, Cunningham collaborates with other members of the Linsly community, including alumni, faculty and parents, to be guest speakers and presenters to share their areas of expertise to assist students in the college application process and financial aid process. Judi Olsavsky, Linsly senior English instructor and head of the Linsly English Department, is one of those guest speakers. “To spark students’ ideas about what they should write, I offer a presentation which explains how the essay is used in the admissions process and what admissions committees are looking for in the essay,” explained Olsavsky. “During this workshop, I show samples of essays, both effective and ineffective. While we talk about the college essay in senior English class, students independently write their essays.” Olsavsky also explained that during her college essay writing workshop, she covers descriptive writing strategies for them to use independently. “Colleges want students to own their essays,” Olsavsky said. “So my role is to offer some feedback as they talk out their topics, but I do not act as an editor for them.” Other Senior Seminar guest speakers this year include financial aid speakers, college visitors, alumni and parents who talk about their various careers and educational paths. In addition, Senior Seminar covers logistical topics such as deadlines for applications pertaining to regular, rolling, early decision, and early action, SAT and ACT registration, and requirements for the NCAA Clearing House. “One of my favorite activities that we do in Senior Seminar has to be the mock college admissions committee,” Cunningham said. “The students serve as the admission committee for a college and are given the profiles for four potential
Photo Provided
Linsly’s Director of College Counseling, Penny Cunningham, uses a personalized approach as part of Linsly’s four-year college counseling program, meeting with students individually as early as their junior year. She is pictured with Linsly seniors Elijah Ciotti of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, and Caitlyn Mead of Wheeling, who are finalizing their college search process.
“WE SIMPLY TAKE TIME TO REVIEW WITH FRESHMEN WHAT INFORMATION COLLEGES ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IN TERMS OF THEIR TRANSCRIPTS, AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT.” students along with a profile of a college. The profile lists what the college is looking for in potential students.” Cunningham explained that the class then talks through the pros and cons of each of the potential students. “The objective is for our seniors to admit two of the students, wait list one, and deny one,” said Cunningham. “This lesson always produces some lively discussion on who to accept and why. It is definitely a beneficial activity and allows the students to see how difficult and competitive this process is for admissions offices and students.” In addition to Senior Seminar and the transcript review process during freshman year, Cunningham also meets individually with members of the junior class each spring, to jump start their college search process. She also holds junior parent meetings to help parents know what to expect and what steps to take now, as they embark on their child’s senior year. She even introduces students and parents to the web-based program Naviance, which offers both students and parents resources on college comparisons, career choices, scholarship opportunities and more. Students at Linsly also have an opportunity to meet with college admissions representatives from all over the country, who visit Linsly on
— Linsly Director of College Counseling Penny Cunningham
a rotating basis. So far this year, Linsly has had college representatives visit from approximately 40 different colleges and universities. “We know that the earlier we prepare students for the college search and selection process, the more likely they are to find a school that is a good fit for them, and that is the ultimate goal,” Cunningham said. At Linsly, 100 percent of seniors are accepted into and matriculate at a four-year college or university. Last year’s graduating Class of 2018 was accepted into 110 different colleges and enrolled in 47 different colleges in 22 states and Canada. Founded in 1814, The Linsly School is a private, independent day and boarding school for students in fifth through 12th grades. Located in Wheeling, Linsly offers college preparatory classes that combine the traditional values of hard work, respect, honor, honesty and self-discipline within a challenging academic program designed to unlock the potential of each student. For more information, visit www.linsly.org or call the Admissions Office at 304233-1436.
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Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
St. C. Marching Band Earns ‘Superior’ Rating By RICK THORP Staff Writer ST. CLAIRSVILLE — After three years of being a bridesmaid, the St. Clairsville High School Marching Band finally became a bride last fall. The 83-member unit, under the direction of Justin Schwertfeger, earned the program’s first Superior rating following three consecutive years of garnering Excellent awards at the state marching band contest. Although Excellent ratings are certainly a worthy honor, Schwertfeger said, the Superior rating was a welcome accolade. “That was really exciting,” he said. “If you get a Superior at the regional competition you’re invited to the state competition, and that’s a whole different level there.” St. Clairsville competed regionally in Ohio Music Education Association events at Louisville, Zanesville, Warren Local, Meadowbrook and New Philadelphia before moving to Brunswick for the state competition. It was a fitting end, Schwertfeger said, for a group that had put in hours and hours of hard work, beginning in the sweltering days of summer. “The kids,” he said, “they work their tails off in the off season. But it’s such a rewarding experience. Why else would you want to march around with an instrument in the 100-degree weather all summer.” Like football players and other athletes who participate in fall sports, marching band members use summer months — mainly July — to put in place their plans for the upcoming season. For the Red Devil unit, that means days of toiling in the sweltering sun at home and on the road. “We start practicing about once a week during the summer,” Schwertfeger explained. “Then, at the end of July, we do a week’s worth of practices at St. Clairsville and a week at Bethany College.” That’s where the band fine tunes its show, which is usually presented to the public for the first time at the opening football game. And just like a game, a halftime show involves numerous facets that must come together at just the right moment. “Last year, we had over 50 sets in a seven-minute show,” Schwertfeger explained. That includes members of the band, flag corps and auxiliary. “I think these kids enjoy diving into the more difficult music and trying to really play it well and stay true to a high standard,” Schwertfeger said. When Schwertfeger, a Brooke High alum, arrived at St. Clairsville eight years ago, one of his goals was to not just improve the unit in how it marched, but heighten its music knowledge, too. “We’ve worked really hard to build the numbers up and to build the excitement up,” he said. “We have a pretty good balance. I remember when we first started we couldn’t get a tuba player. Now, we have five.” Last fall, the band presented its show — “Under my Umbrella” — in competition a handful of times, earning numerous awards, including honors for best auxiliary and best percussion. “We’re already planning for next year’s show,” said Schwertfeger, who also directs many of the feeder bands in the St. Clairsville district. “It’s long hours, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of the rest of the staff, parents, boosters and the administration.”
Photos courtesey of Lauren Nicole Photography
Members of the St. Clairsville High School Marching Band Color Guard post during a varsity football game during the 2018 season. The band marched into the Ohio Music Education Association state band competition at the end of the season and earned the school’s first ever Superior rating in the state’s highest adjudicated event for high school marching bands.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
• Weekly summer practices help students get a headstart on music and marching for the school year. • Support from parents, staff, the administration and boosters helps the band meet many goals. • The satisfaction of competing well at the state level motivates students to do their best.
At left, members of the St. Clairsville High School Marching Band perform alongside members of the Middle School Band during the homecoming parade. Below left, the band stirs up some Red Devil pride before a home football game.
Photos Provided
At right, drum majors Lyndsee Probst and Joel Panas, and above, the entire St. Clairsville High School Marching Band, celebrate after earning a Superior rating at the state band competition Nov. 3 in Brunswick, Ohio.
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Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers – 5
Student Feedback Plays Key Role in 1-to-1’s Future WHEELING — Teachers and administrators in Ohio County Schools believe the school system’s 1-to-1 Technology Integration Pilot Program is working. They believe that because the students tell them so. The Ohio County Schools 1-to-1 initiative was implemented at the start of the 2018-19 school year, and the initial phase involved providing a new Chromebook for each sixth-grade student in the county. The program has been such a success that the technology department is working to expand the program to students in grades seven through 12. Throughout this academic year, the district has gathered many forms of data to assist in decision making regarding the current and future iterations of technology implementation. At first, staff focused on preparing and supporting teachers as they embarked on the overwhelming task of learning to use a new device, of making purposeful decisions about the most appropriate and effective places to integrate technology within units of instruction, and of supporting students in gaining the necessary skills not only to engage in a technology-infused learning environment but also to develop “soft skills” like organization and responsibility as related to their new devices. Conversations with teachers as well as administrator-gathered data led officials to believe that the personal devices were making an impact on the type of instruction that was occurring in sixth grade. However, looking for success only from the point of view of teachers and administrators felt incomplete. In order to truly determine the impact of this initiative, the district needed to take a look from the eyes of the students who were engaging with the technology each day. “We decided that they could offer a unique and valuable measure to complement and balance the information provided by the adults who were involved in implementation,” Ohio County Schools Innovation Coordinator JoJo Shay said. “With the help of the building principals, we were afforded the opportunity to interview the county’s sixth-graders in small groups over several weeks.” One student told them: “I am shy, and I am not going to ask questions in class, but I will send a message to my teacher in Schoology.” Another said, “I had a partner, and I found out what a wonderful person she was, and it sparked a blooming friendship.” Yet another said, “I was so happy when we received our Chromebooks because it was the first computer that I have ever had.” These are just a few of the statements made by Ohio County Schools sixth-graders when Shay had the opportunity to interview them over the past few weeks about their experiences as part of the county’s 1-to1 initiative. Each time she completed an interview session in one of the county’s middle schools, she was more convinced than ever that this initiative made a positive impact on the academic success and personal growth of the students. “I was quite impressed with the students’ abilities to articulate their opinions and
Photos Provided
At left, Wheeling Middle School student Audrey Diehl works with teacher Jen Neff on one of the Chromebooks that have become valuable classroom teaching and learning tools. At right, Ohio County Schools Innovation Coordinator JoJo Shay is shown. tions from the teachers re- but that they were very willing confident themselves because keep moving forward with garding the same topic, will to ask each other and the stu- if the teachers were allowed our own ideas of what is best be used to guide the selection dents for assistance when they to have questions, then it was in the field of education, but encountered problems. This OK for the students to have when we take the time to lisprocess for future e-books. The sixth-graders also made the students nervous at them as well. ten to the students we serve • A 1-to-1 program has “Since completing the in- no matter what their age, we described their appreciation the beginning of the year befor the learning manage- cause they believed that their terviews, I have spent much only make our systems and put a Chromebook in the hands of every sixth-grader. ment system, “Schoology,” teachers should have answers time thinking about all of the ourselves better. “Do I believe that our 1:1 • Staff members prepared that is utilized throughout to “all of their questions.” valuable information that I the county. While I knew However, as time moved on, learned from the students and program has been a success and supported teachers in that it was one of many students reported that their the power of the changes that thus far? Yes. Am I more conthe use of new technology. tools that was being used, teachers’ willingness to col- will be made because of what vinced of it now that I have the students helped me to laborate when using tech- they had to say,” Shay added. our students have had their • Program organizers listened to student feedback. comprehend its role as the nology made them feel more “It is always very easy to just say? Absolutely.” central tool in the success of the 1-to-1 initiative. Students across all four critique and offer solutions to middle schools described the what they see as challenges to the success of the 1-to-1 way the tool allowed them to send electronic questions initiative,” she said. For instance, they praised to their teachers, to look for the county’s decision to assignment descriptions and move to Chromebooks be- due dates for assignments cause it allowed them to re- in all of their classes, and to duce the amount of textbooks check their grades. They said that they have to carry from these features supported their class to class and to and from personal organization and school each day. They also success in the classroom. “This feedback has shiftstated that they enjoy the idea that all of their materials, ed the way in which we will including textbooks, can be train those teachers in grades found on one device. They seven-12 who will be includfelt that this aided in their ed in phase two of the 1-to-1 personal organization, and rollout in the 2019-2020 actherefore, in their success as ademic year,” Shay said. Finally, the students restudents. lated their experience in At the same time, they provided effective feedback watching their teachers grow regarding the glitches that as users of technology in the occur with the particular ver- classroom. They stated that sion of one of the Chrome- their teachers have varying books that they use. This levels of comfort and knowlfeedback, along with sugges- edge when using technology
KEYS TO SUCCESS
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Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
WPHS Speech Team: 39 Championships, And Looking for 40 By JOSELYN KING Staff Writer WHEELING — It’s a topic worthy of oration, yet there is little debate on the facts. Arguably, the Wheeling Park High School Speech Team has been the most successful competitive high school team in West Virginia — if not the nation— for nearly 40 years. With 39 consecutive state championship wins, the team’s reputation continues to grow each year, as does the pressure to remain at the top. “No player or coach wants to be the one to lose that first championship,” said WPHS speech and drama coach Bill Cornforth. Each year, students compete to be among the 40 members of the team. Those selected then compete among themselves for opportunities to speak and debate for the team during competitions. “The students know what they are doing and getting into when they try out,” Cornforth said. “They compete with each other for spots, then they support each other by working with each other.” The team begins by preparing for each state championship and going outside West Virginia to compete in regional tournaments in the Pittsburgh area, Cornforth said. The first three tournaments of 2019 saw them win twice, and place a rare second on the third occasion. He attributes the success of the team to the support of the Ohio County Schools administration, the dedication of its coaches, and most importantly the hard work and creativity of the students. “Ultimately, it’s all about the students — working hard and doing the research,” Cornforth said. He said the team is fortunate in that the school district sees fit to employ not just one coach, but also three assistant coaches to assist members of the speech team. Assistant coaches are Kayla Nelson, Isabella Droginske and Bridget Mazure. There are also classes at WPHS in speech and debate, as well as honors classes in speech. “And there are practices after school — a lot of them,” Cornforth said. Cornforth has been associated with all 39 state championships by the speech team, starting out as an assistant coach. Former coach Fran Schoolcraft led the team to its first 25 championships, and set the bar high for its competitive niche in future years, he said. “She set the tone right away for discipline, commitment and
“NO PLAYER OR COACH WANTS TO BE THE ONE TO LOSE THAT FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP.” — Wheeling Park High School speech and drama coach Bill Cornforth
Photo provided
Members of the Wheeling Park High School speech team prepare to leave for a tournament. high-level excellence,” Cornforth said. “When I took over the program, it was already well-established. The • Support from the Ohio County Schools administration makes the tone continued, but it was established by her as a strong foundation.” team’s activities possible. Cornforth now is seeing the • The dedication of its coaches helps them team set and achieve second generation of speech lofty goals. team winners coming through • The hard work and creativity of the students carries the team to the program. Assistant Coach Bridget Ma- victory again and again. zure was on the team, and her son Vance Mazure is a member of the Susan Nolte. Nolte was a debater attorney and current West Virginia current team. Also on today’s team is Lauren on the team in the 1980s, Corn- Sen. William Ihlenfeld. His daughters, Sarah and Emma, competed Fox, the daughter of Ohio County forth said. Another alumnus is former U.S. and won awards with the speech Schools Human Resource Officer
KEYS TO SUCCESS
team last year. Cornforth said many past members of the speech team have gone on to success. This fact hasn’t gone unnoticed by Gail Adams, a former coach who now serves as a member of the Ohio County Schools innovation team. Adams is organizing a reunion of past speech team members, which has been set for April 14 in the WPHS food court. The WPHS speech team competes for its 40th consecutive state championship March 22-23 at Marshall University.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREER-TECHNICAL EDUCATION
More and more the conversation about jobs has been turning to the issue of how fast jobs are changing and the need to properly educate and train the current and future workforce for those changes. As technology advances in nearly all fields, the demand for highly skilled workers is at an all-time high. The problem is traditional education is not keeping up. That is why awareness and support for education that thinks outside the box and gives students real-world skills and a direct path to a good-paying job is becoming more important than ever. Career-Technical Education (CTE) has made great strides in the past decade to teach students real-world knowledge and skills while boasting a 93% graduation rate compared to the national average of 82%. Recent findings show that CTE students and parents are more satisfied with their education experience by nearly every aspect compared to those not involved with CTE. This was particularly true for aspects related to career readiness such as opportunities to explore careers, gain real-world skills and network with employers. In addition to understanding how CTE was performing for students and parents in the program, CTE leaders also learned what three elements of CTE was most important to prospective parents and students. They include: 1) CTE allows students to come out of high school with a real-world skill. 2) CTE classes allow students to earn college credits while still in high school. 3) CTE programs have partnerships with employers in their communities who may provide training, mentorship, opportunities for internships, networking and even entry-level jobs. While the findings were very exciting for CTE leaders and advocates, CTE continues to struggle with awareness. Just under half (47%) of prospective parents and students report having heard of Career-Technical Education. Meanwhile, 68% have heard of “vocational education.” This has contributed to CTE enrollment remaining stagnant over the last decade, even as demand for a skilled workforce has increased. “There is a perception in promoting Career-Technical Education and it is hurting our students and our society,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “We hear time and again about the need for skilled workers and the realities of careers requiring postsecondary education, not always a traditional four-year degree, in order to fill these demands.” As of late, however, CTE has been getting more attention as a solution to the skills gap problem that continues to grow in our country. Mike Rowe, former host of “Dirty Jobs” and well known for his Ford commercials, is an advocate of the skilled trades through his foundation “mikeroweWORKS.” He spoke before a congressional subcommittee that was looking into what changes can be made to strengthen CTE and better prepare students for the workforce. During the panel discussion, Rowe argued that there needs to be a shift in the perception that a four-year degree is the best path for most people. It is that belief, he said, that has come at the expense of community colleges, trade schools and apprenticeship programs and has helped widen the skills gap. “If you want to make America great again, you have to make work cool again,” Rowe told them. “You have to change the image of the opportunity.”
*Source: WorkingNation, by author Kristin Falzon
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Martins Ferry City School District’s STEM Academy Remains Active By ROBERT A. DEFRANK Staff Writer MARTINS FERRY — The Martins Ferry City School District’s Science Technology Engineering and Math Academy has come a long way in the past four years since its beginnings with a Qualified Zone Academy Bond loan of $1.5 million in 2015. Today, the high school library is a center of hands-on learning where students run multiple projects using robotics, applying code and producing practical items. Bruce Hotlotz, director of the STEM Academy, noted that the district earned Academy of the Year recognition in 2017 by the National Education Foundation and second place in 2018 out of the 19 STEM Academies nationwide. Stacey Bliss, high school librarian and adviser to the technology club, oversees a Makerspace, a collaborative workspace for students. This year, a new robotics class is being offered to students through the STEM Academy. “That’s where we’re expanding this year,” Hotlotz said. Bliss pointed out that the academy’s Makerspace incorporates different technologies and can be used by students independently in open-inquiry settings. The district has purchased a second 3-D printer, a Cricut vinyl cutter, and a color copier for the program. “So they can solve a problem, they can pursue an interest, and they can make a product,” Bliss said of the students, adding that it is normal to see the machines running constantly. The district purchased the second 3-D printer through STEM-allotted state funding of about $30,000. “We’ve posed some challenges to the students this year,” Bliss said, adding that contests and challenges include designing and producing holiday ornaments using design software. One of their projects used files downloaded from the website e-NABLE, allowing participants
KEYS TO SUCCESS • State-of-the-art equipment is available to STEM Academy students. • State and grant funding make purchasing equipment and curriculum products possible. • Students have the opportunity to compete in innovative fields. • Some projects provide the chance to create real-world products and give back to the community.
Photos by Robert A. DeFrank
Cameron Lapinsky, left, and Dalton Barris, both juniors at Martins Ferry High School, have been involved in the district’s STEM Academy since their sophomore years. From programming and coding, they have branched out to constructing a prototype prosthetic hand. Future hands will be customized to amputees in the local area. to design and construct a prosthetic hand. “We purchased the assembly kit,” she said, noting the kit includes strings and specialized finger tips and adding that the students made other parts themselves. Through the e-NABLE organization, they can be matched with an amputee needing a hand, and the students would 3-D print one to that individual’s specifications. “It’s one way that our equipment can be used as a service project,” Bliss said. Cameron Lapinsky and Dalton Barris, both juniors, produced the
prototype hand. They have been involved in the STEM Academy since their sophomore years. They said future hands will be customized to local amputees. “It took awhile to make sure it all works. There’s a lot of strings that run through the hand to close it,” Lapinsky said. “The website has a lot of different hand models.” Barris added that the process was a learning experience with no shortage of trial and error. The finished prototype took about three days to produce. Bliss added that in-school contests such as designing holiday
ornaments have attracted more student participants. “Participation from the middle school has almost tripled,” she said, adding that about a dozen students are involved. “The 3-D printers are running all day every day.” Hotlotz said that students move from Success Maker to the STEM Academy when they are at the ninth month of the eighth grade. More tools and projects are then available. “We have learned a lot on how the motors function and how to program individual things,” Isaiah Saus, a senior, said. “We’ve learned
how to program using blocks of programming on the computers. We’ve learned how to build a lot of different designs.” Hotlotz said while he knows several students who have since gone into graphics, digital editing and computer repair in college, he said such initiatives as 3-D printing and robotics have only been ongoing for a few, so there is limited feedback. “They’re getting interested in coding,” Hotlotz said. “Our coding is something we’ve just started the last couple of years, so we haven’t had any results yet as far as careers, but this is stuff we’re building on.” “We want to give our students every opportunity,” Hotlotz said. “Hopefully the results will bear out down the road.” Hotlotz said the QZAB loan was sufficient to finance the academy for five years, and the loans have since been discontinued. “We’ve got one more year, and then after that we’ll decide if we want to keep going with it. We’ll have to find other ways to fund it, either through the general fund or through another grant or some loan. We do believe it’s a worthwhile project,” he said. “We just hope to have the funds to keep it going.”
Above, Babe Sidon, Title math teacher, and third-graders, from left, Mia McCormack, Elijah Roby and Adeline Simpson, track their progress in math and reading. At right, eighth-graders Dylan Ward, left, and Landyn Hores work at Martins Ferry’s STEM Academy, operating spheres they have each programmed. They are currently preparing for a programming contest using the Minecraft program, creating a virtual amusement park.
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8 – The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers
Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Cultivating Success: Ohio Valley Churches
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Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers. – 9
Bethany College Launches Dynamic New Strategic Plan BETHANY — Ranked as one of the “Best Regional Colleges” by The Princeton Review, Bethany College seeks to educate effective, honorable, humane and intelligent citizens who believe in, and will promote, the creation of a world of worth and value. In recent months, Bethany has set a bold course for the next decade through the development of a dynamic new strategic plan called Bethany Connect, which is designed to move the liberal arts institution to exciting new heights of excellence, encourage students to connect more deeply in the world and find solutions to society’s most pressing needs. Since its founding in 1840, Bethany College has inspired critical thinking, service to humanity, responsible citizenship and leadership development, thanks to an innovative curriculum and a mission that seeks to integrate critical reason with the convictions of faith, personal accomplishment with ethical responsibility and individual development with service to others. Students have gone on to enjoy distinguished careers as business executives, judges, attorneys, authors, actors and in many other professions, with many others pursuing graduate degrees in medicine, engineering, law, physical therapy, public administration and theology. Named the Best College in West Virginia for Finding Employment, Bethany offers 32 majors and 33 minors, including programs in cybersecurity and international business.
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Old Main, a National Historic Landmark, remains the centerpiece of the Bethany College campus. Bethany College also has formed partnerships with several universities that allow its students to begin their college educations at Bethany before pursuing degrees in engineering, law, veterinary medicine and other programs of study. The partnerships include Case Western Reserve University (engineering) and at Duquesne University (law). Additionally, in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University’s H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management,
Bethany students may enroll in an accelerated master’s program that enables them to earn a bachelor’s degree from Bethany and a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon in either public policy and management, health care policy and management, biotechnology and management, arts management, information systems management and information security policy and management. The college also partners with West Virginia Northern Community College in allowing students who
earn an associate degree in social work to earn a bachelor’s degree in that field in two years at Bethany. A Master of Arts in teaching program also can be completed full-time or part-time at Bethany, with courses offered on evenings and weekends, and during the summer, as well as during the college’s short winter J-term. Educators can add a reading endorsement to their teaching certificates through studies at the college. Study abroad also is encouraged, which is why the college
partners with schools in England, Germany, France, Spain and Japan and exchange programs established in several other countries. Located near the intersection of W.Va. 67 and 88, Bethany provides a sanctuary for study, work and service, as well as access to major metropolitan areas, including Pittsburgh, which is less than an hour away, along with Steubenville and Wheeling, which are just 30 minutes from campus. To learn more about Bethany, visit www.bethanywv.edu.
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10 – The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers
Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Many Benefits Offered Through Exercise Science Lab at Bridgeport By KIM NORTH Staff Writer BRIDGEPORT — The nearly $500,000 Raymond C. Stewart Exercise Science Lab has been up and running inside the Bridgeport Exempted Village Schools building since the start of the school year. “The Raymond Stewart Exercise Science Lab has offered our students the opportunity to prepare for a wide variety of science-based majors and professions. The lab is a stateof-the-art facility, and it allows for the student to apply their acquired knowledge theoretically and, more importantly, practically,” Bridgeport schools Superintendent Zac Shutler said. “The district is extremely grateful for Mr. Stewart’s generous donation. “We have recently applied the finishing touches to the lab’s main entrance. You will notice Mr. Stewart’s name and image every time that you enter the lab, and we also included a brief biography on the plaque noting how his love of science led to his many career opportunities. His generosity left a lasting legacy.” The 2,000-square-foot structure came about when Stewart gifted $400,000 to the district. He was the valedictorian of the Class of 1954 and went on to become a successful patent attorney. A 24-inch by 36-inch pewter-colored plaque will adorn the wall to the right of the lab’s main entrance. The words Raymond C. Stewart Exercise Science Lab will be raised 4-inch letters. Stewart, who was inducted into the Bridgeport Alumni Association
KEYS TO SUCCESS
• A loyal alumnus donated $400,000 to make the project possible. • The facility is essentially a “living lab,” where students can gather data while staying physically fit. • The space is flexible and can be adapted for a variety of uses.
Photo by Kim North
Working on the treadmills are Bridgeport students Kayla Nowakowski, foreground, and Hailee Aubrey. Hall of Fame in 2011, received a Kolasch and Birch LLP was creat- came from and where his education bachelor’s degree in chemistry from ed. BSKB has grown over the years began. He wanted to give back to the Ohio State University in 1958 and from a very small firm in Falls district that he felt helped produce his master’s degree in chemistry Church, Virginia, to the No. 3 pat- his success,” Shutler said of Stewfrom the University of California at ent firm in the country. art. “He wanted it to be used in some Berkeley in 1960. Eight years later Stewart, 80, died April 26, 2016, realm of science, and we are very he was awarded his law degree from at Inova Fairfax Hospital after bat- grateful for that. His life’s work and Georgetown University, and his pat- tling Parkinson’s disease. The res- the money he accrued to give back to ent law career started that same year. ident of The Virginian Retirement the district is something that benefits In 1971, Stewart founded his Community was predeceased by his generations and generations of kids own law firm, together with Joe wife, Marie Grace Stewart, in 2009. from here on out.” Kolasch, forming Stewart and Ko“He thought so much of the According to Shutler, the donalasch Ltd. In 1976, Birch, Stewart, Bridgeport school district, where he tion came with the stipulation that it
had to be used for some type of science and had to be used in the high school. “As a board and a district, we sat down and thought, ‘What could give the most students here the benefit in the most amount of years?’” Shutler said. “We put all of that into the equation. What will benefit the most students for the longest time? We also looked to see what our district was missing to help kids. “An exercise science lab was something that we thought would benefit the most kids for the longest duration of time,” he continued. “We’re going to create essentially a living lab, where science teachers can go in there and do biometric experiments where we can use the Apple watches and just connect it to the iPad program to track fitness and movement ... a variety a things. “It will also be set up as a true lab and be used as a classroom to instruct with some light fitness equipment as well.”
John Marshall High School Steel Band Ensemble’s Success Story
By ALAN OLSON Staff Writer GLEN DALE — John Marshall High School students took a recent opportunity to pursue a chance at success — and they ended up getting invited to join music’s greats in Chicago at the Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Conference. Band director Tracey Filben said the high school’s band was the only steel band invited to the clinic, which drew a crowd of over 19,000 people. “Chicago was amazing, as we all knew it would be,” Filben said. “It’s a small world when it comes to things like this.” Filben said she met with numerous other directors from a variety of levels of performance. “There were female directors who came up and commented on how many females we had in the group. ... There were a lot of positive affirmations on including so many girls in the ensemble. Not everybody is used to that.” Calling the Chicago trip “a major high point,” Filben said the band will now need to take a year before it can be considered for invitation to appear before the West Virginia Music Educators Association, which was what prompted the submission for consideration to the Midwest Conference. “Going forward, we’re taking a little breather right now. We’re hosting a steel drum festival here at JMHS ... concerts, community performances, things like that.” “Moving forward, we’ll be eligible if we want to enter again, for the state level,” she said. “For Chicago, I have to decide if we
KEYS TO SUCCESS
• Community members support the ensemble by attending concerts and performances. • The steel drum genre is fairly unique to high school programs. • John Marshall’s steel band has more female members than many other similar ensembles do. want to submit again. If we submit again, I would only go if we were selected for the main stage concert.” The band performed near the exhibits for a total of three hours, meaning many participants and attendees were able to pass by and watch their performance. Aside from the clinic itself, Filben said the students were able to participate in numerous activities around town, from the Adler Planetarium to Navy Pier, which for most students was a unique experience. “I wasn’t so much as nervous, but I was nervous to perform in a completely new environment,” student Madi Blake said. “They don’t know anything about JMHS. Here, people come to the concerts every year. ... I would confidently say that at least half of the people there came and saw us — composers, other ensembles, teachers. That brought a different energy.” “Our hard work paid off. We were showPhotos provided ing an unfamiliar crowd what John Marshall Kaile Filben, Madi Blake, from front left, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Leah Reuschel, is, and I think we represented that well.” back, warm up at the Midwest Clinic.
Cultivating Success: Pet Care
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Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers – 11
Union Local Jets Band’s Success Leads to Special Events By LENNY WITTENBROOK Staff Writer MORRISTOWN — A string of recent accomplishments is evidence that the Union Local Jets Band program is soaring to new heights with the hard work of the students and leadership of director April Linard. This past November four members of the UL Marching Band were selected to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They were part of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which is made up of 200 performers chosen yearly from across the country. Elsa Bretz, Mollie Hamilton, Nicole Puperi and Nathan Brown were all selected for the national band after submitting applications and video auditions. They later participated in fundraising efforts to pay for their flight to New York and other travel expenses. For Bretz it was a return trip to the Big Apple, as she had been selected to march in the band the previous year. But all four students who took part in 2018 agreed that it was an amazing experience. In addition, the Union Local Marching Band as a whole qualified for the Ohio Music Education Association State Finals in both 2016 and 2017 after receiving superior ratings at district competitions. The group also marched in the Disney World Magic Kingdom parade in the spring of 2017. Linard, who has been at Union
KEYS TO SUCCESS • Students’ dedication to music and performing make it easy for the director to provide new opportunities for them. • Local, regional and state competitions prepare students to perform under pressure. • Working and having fun together builds connections among members.
Pictured are the four Union Local Band Members selected to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band this past November. From left are Elsa Bretz, Nicole Puperi, Mollie Hamilton and Nathan Brown. Photo by Lenny Wittenbrook
Local since 2006, said that typically between 15 and 20 of her students participate in the McDonald’s OVAC All-Star Marching Band each July. That band, consisting of student from throughout the local athletic conference, performs during the Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Football Game that pits the best players from Ohio
against those from West Virginia. Linard also said her students tend to do well at the state solo and ensemble competition, where they typically enter around 20 different events. Students may perform individually or in small groups, such as trios and quartets. A large number of those performances earn the much-sought-after “superior” rat-
ing, Linard said. And it’s not all work for the group, as members are planning a three-day “band trip” to Chicago next year. While in the Windy City they will see the sights and go to some shows, according to Linard. Linard spoke of her appreciation for the students and their commitment to music. She said each
one plays an important role in the ongoing success of the Jets Band “Since I’ve started it has just been a long, continuing process, and each year has led into the next year,” Linard said. “The kids from my first couple years were the ones who helped make it a little bit easier for these kids now to make it to that level.”
12 – The Intelligencer/News-Register, Times Leader, Wetzel/Tyler Newspapers
Progress
Tuesday, February 26, 2019