Laurel Valley/Ligonier Valley merger 'went better than most people expected'

If any group of seniors had to be the first to graduate from a consolidated Ligonier Valley High School, Bo Stewart is glad it was the Class of 2011.

"We didn't have much control over the (consolidation), but I was really glad it was our class that was the one that had to lead this and set the tone," said Stewart, 18, of Fairfield Township, co-president of the senior class. "I was glad to have some control over the situation."

For Stewart and his fellow senior class president Trey Stoner, 18, of Ligonier, their senior year was not just an ending to their high school careers but the beginning of a new era in the Ligonier Valley School District.

Both said the closing of Laurel Valley Middle/High School and merging all the students in grades 6 to 12 into Ligonier Valley Middle and High schools was better received by most students than many expected.

"... Any change like that is challenging and it can be scary. But personally, I took a positive attitude going into it. I think that was definitely the right way for me because it's been a great year for me," said Stewart, who moved from Laurel Valley to Ligonier Valley.

Stoner, who did not have to move, said the change just meant he had to meet a new group of people, though he knew a lot of Laurel Valley kids already.

"Some of my closest friends are now from Laurel Valley," he said.

Ligonier Valley High School Principal Ron Baldonieri said that overall, the students responded very well to the consolidation.

"The statement about the young adapting to change much better than those of us who aren't young was evident here this year," said Baldonieri.

But to make that happen, students, administrators, faculty, staff and parents worked hard on the transition.

They held joint activities during last school year, including a dance and an open gym. They brought the students from Laurel Valley to meet with students from their grade levels at Ligonier Valley during school hours as well.

And each grade -- except for the freshman class who selected their officers in the fall -- had two officers in each position representing both schools. Next year, each class will have one set of officers after elections were held this spring.

Baldonieri said the fact that many students played sports with their counterparts on teams that had already been combined or played against each other in sports like football and basketball probably helped.

The new school adopted the mascot of the former Laurel Valley school, the Rams, over the Mounties mascot.

"The kids got a long very well. You could see a lot of friendships have been made. You could see the kids interacting with each other," Baldonieri said. "I 'm not going to tell you kids were perfect here, but I think if you polled all the staff and the other people here, I think they'd say it went better than most people expected."

Some students from the northern end of the district made T-shirts listing the names of the students who would have graduated from the former Laurel Valley school. Some from the southern end made T-shirts that said "Mounties Forever."

But both Stewart and Stoner said those actions seemed more like students reminiscing rather than political statements.

"Now when you look around it's hard to tell that person was from Laurel Valley (or) that person is from Ligonier. It's very much integrated now," Stewart said.

Stoner agreed.

"It's almost hard to imagine the school without (Laurel Valley teachers and students) at this point," he said.

Academic excellence honored

The following students were honored by Ligonier Valley High School at the school's 2011 commencement Friday:

• Vincent Pierre Anto, valedictorian

Activities : Student council, class committee, Interact, science team, quiz team, gifted program, Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, cross-country, indoor soccer, reading team, theater guild.

Awards/Honors: Challenge Program Award for academic excellence, Physics Award, Excellence in Chemistry award, Leadership Scholarship, academic scholarship at St. Vincent College

Anto plans to attend St. Vincent College to major in biochemistry and biotechnology and then continue onto medical school to become a physician.

• Elise Kristin Poerschke, valedictorian

Activities: Youth and Government, theater, National Honor Society, One Road, AFS, German National Honor Society, Impromptu Speech Competition Team, Reading Team, Social Ministry Committee at St. James Lutheran Church, peer mentoring.

Awards/Honors: Outstanding Young Citizen Award, Judge McCormick and Judge Pezze Award of Artistic Merit in theater, Tribune-Democrat Academic All-Star, The President's Community Service Award, Edwin and Nancy McKinnon Scholarship, Sandra Neiderhiser Memorial Scholarship, Krichbaum-Bossart Scholarship.

Poerschke plans to attend the University of Virginia to study chemical engineering.

• Bo Alexander Stewart, valedictorian

Activities: Class president, student council (president), National Honor Society (vice-president), SADD (officer), soccer (captain), track and field (captain), Quiz Team (captain), Spanish National Honor Society.

Awards/Honors: Outstanding Achievement in Foreign Language Award, Coronat Scholarship at Syracuse University, Terry R. Marolt Memorial Scholarship, Krichbaum-Bossart Award.

Stewart plans to study political science at Syracuse University and then continue onto law school.

• Clayton William Nanassy, salutatorian

Activities: National Honor Society (secretary), student council (secretary), Spanish National Honor Society, indoor soccer, Math Team, varsity football, wrestling, track and field.

Awards: Ligonier Valley Coaches "MVP" Award, Podlucky Memorial Award, Trib Total Media Outstanding Young Citizen Award, Pennsylvania Football News honorable mention All-State linebacker, Pennsylvania State Wrestling Championships qualifier, Student of the Month, Judge Driscoll Award, Heritage Conference recognition, Wendy's High School Heisman Award, Ligonier Lodge 331 Masons Scholarship, Greater Johnstown Scholarship for son/daughter of staff member.

Nanassy plans to attend Saint Vincent College to become a physician's assistant.