Kittanning native presents music recital

Grove City College senior music major Janelle Dodd presented a joint recital on April 26. The performance was in the Recital Hall of Pew Fine Arts Center on campus.

Dodd of Kittanning performed piano and soprano vocal selections from Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig von Beethoven, Francesca Maria Veracini, Émile Paladilhe, Roger Quilter, Michelle Bachelet, Franz Peter Schubert, Giacomo Puccini, Johannes Brahms, Maurice Ravel and Sergei Rachmaninoff. A daughter of Daniel and Beverly Dodd, she is a student of Dr. Beverly Carter and Joanne McFarland. Dodd’s recital partner was fellow senior Nicholas Burlett of Butler.

Moyer earns state award

Colton Moyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim McCleary of Elderton, a senior studying cosmetology at Lenape Technical School, won third place in a statewide award that recognizes students who have overcome barriers in realizing life/work potential.

The 2009 Life/Work Challenge Award was given to Moyer by the sponsoring organization, the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Education Special Populations. This association is an advocacy group for educators working on behalf of career and technical education students with challenges. Moyer received the award at the association’s 32nd annual mid-winter conference held March 2. He was the recipient of the $200 check.

Annually, the association gives the award to recognize students who have overcome barriers in realizing their potential and are seniors enrolled in an approved career and technical education program. Moyer attended Elderton Junior-Senior High School until his junior year, when he transferred to Lenape Technical School to enroll in its full-day technical instruction program.

Marjorie Eckman, who chairs the award committee for the state association, said Moyer is a senior in the cosmetology program, a nontraditional program for males.

“His cosmetology teacher reports that he’s an outdoorsman who hunts and fishes and traps, and at first, he was a little heavy-handed when it came to shampooing and facials,” Eckman said. “However, with instructional support, strategies, and personal enthusiasm, Colton began to experience success and this was the catalyst for overcoming his apprehension.”

To be eligible for the state award, students must be enrolled in an approved career and technical program. They must also receive services from a special populations program, and being enrolled in a nontraditional program qualifies for this, Eckman said.

Moyer participated in Skills USA “Total Look” Competition and earned a third-place award, in both his junior and senior years. He was the first volunteer to participate in after-school clinics and community projects. He actively recruits a variety of students throughout the school to visit the clinic and receive salon services as his patron. Once a month, Moyer provides cosmetology services to a group of adults with disabilities, a testimony to his dedication, passion, and sensitivity towards all clients.

Moyer was nominated by Carla Thimons, special programs coordinator, at Lenape Technical School. Thimons said state Senator Don White, R-41st District, is planning to present a congratulatory citation to Moyer at a future school event.

Poster winners named

The 2009 Deaf Poster contest, sponsored by the Rural Valley Grange, was judged on March 23 and the top three winning posters were sent to the Pennsylvania State Grange for judging. Theme was “Being Real, But Keeping It Safe.” Fifth- and sixth-graders from Shannock Valley Elementary School participated with 28 entries from fifth grade. The winners were first place, Emilee Wilson; second place, Courtney Dilick; and third place, Sierra Dailey.

There were 31 entries from sixth grade. The winners were first place, Morgan McCaslin; second place, Kayla-lyn Boyer; and third place, Laura Gearhart.

First-, second- and third-place winners at the state level will have their poster designs printed in the Grange Advocate.

The Rural Valley Grange deaf activities chairman is Beverly Stewart.

Stroup inducted into honor society

Lauren Nicole Stroup, daughter of Charles and Avanelle Stroup of Kittanning, has been inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma National Collegiate Scholastic Honor Society at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Stroup, an accounting/finance major at Clarion, was inducted in a ceremony at Clarion University on April 5.

Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society for college freshmen. The society’s goal is to encourage and reward academic excellence among first-year students in institutions of higher learning. All students who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale at the close of any curricular period during their first year are eligible for membership.

Cousins earns honorable mention

The Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association awarded Brady Cousins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Cousins of Templeton, honorable mention in the seventh grade division of its annual Fire Prevention Essay Contest on March 21. A banquet and special awards presentation was held at a WPFA meeting hosted by the Springdale Fire Department at its social hall in Harwick. During the ceremony, the officers and members of the association commended all participants for the excellent work submitted and for their interest in fire safety.

Cousins’ effort and interest in fire safety shows a unique attitude towards the safety of family, friends, and loved ones. This attitude is indeed commendable. He is a seventh grader at West Shamokin High School.

The contest encourages sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to prepare essays on the topics of fire prevention and fire safety, and then have their fire department submit them to the western association for the competition. Fire companies from 23 counties in western Pennsylvania submit essays.

For information on the Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association or its essay contest, contact local fire departments or call the association’s office at 724-339-1017.

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