< PreviousYour SchoolsYour Schools N Magnus Hieber studied welding at Parkway West Career and Technology Center when he was a student at West Allegheny High School. Then, right after graduating in 2017, he enlisted in the Navy. During training, though, he didn’t sign up to become a welder. Instead, he chose to become an aviation technician. About a year later - at just the age of 19 - he was changing out avionics components in the cockpit of one of the Navy’s most advanced jet fighters, the F-18 Super Hornet, aboard an aircraft carrier. For Hieber, it turned out to be just the beginning of a career in electronics engineering. “I did all kinds of electronics troubleshooting, radio communications, software updating, pretty much anything you can think of,” he says about his military career. Hieber says he learned some electronics theory during his high school years but never delved into the field until he was in the Navy. During deployments aboard the USS Ronald Regan in the Pacific Ocean from 2018 to 2021, Hieber gained considerable experience in the field yet quickly found himself wanting to learn more. He says that while pulling apart a display in the cockpit of an F-18 was interesting, he wasn’t crazy about the fact that most of his days were spent troubleshooting equipment. What he really wanted to learn was how the complex circuitry in those components worked. Hieber says that, though he loved the Navy, not being able to take his knowledge and skills further ultimately led to him deciding not to re-enlist. Instead, Hieber became a civilian and began researching electronics programs at technical schools. Through the GI Bill, he knew he could get tuition assistance, but Hieber says he wasn’t optimistic that he’d find a rigorous program. After all, working on some of the most advanced and complicated flight equipment in the world would be a tough act to follow. These days, though, Hieber couldn’t be happier. He’s now in his second year at Pittsburgh Technical College and studying in the school’s electronics engineering technology program. Next March, he’ll take on a required internship that will help him transition to the workforce. “His maturity and life/military experience have assisted him,” says Bryan Martin, one of Hieber’s instructors at PTC. Martin also served in the military and, during his time in the Air Force, became a security specialist. He finished as an E4 sergeant. “He was not afraid to ask questions and he always worked through any challenges,” Martin says about Hieber. “As a vet myself, I usually see most prior service folks do well in our program (and am proud to see it).” During a recent day at school, Hieber spent class time learning about inverting and non-inverting amplifiers. He then stuck around to assist Martin with a class behind his as a lab assistant. Hieber says that what he is learning in the classroom has far exceeded his expectations and advanced his knowledge well beyond what he learned in the military. It was exactly what he wanted out of an electronics education. However, he’s also finding that his military training has been useful, particularly now that he’s delving into those much more advanced concepts. “There were basic troubleshooting steps they’d teach you in the military and now I can put those into effect with my work and with students I’m helping to teach,” he says. “There are basic housekeeping skills, like accountability for all the tools you’re using so you’re not missing anything. Those basic work skills I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t gone into the military. It’s not even just the technical knowledge but the interpersonal and problem-solving skills are really what I’m using now in college.” Hieber’s military background isn’t unique in his classroom. In addition to Martin, there are several students with military experience, and that has also helped Hieber. He says that sometimes when the class is learning a difficult subject they’ll try to break down concepts by relating them to aspects of military service. As he gets ready for his upcoming internship and eventual career, Hieber says his education at PTC is helping him with the transition to civilian life. The only question now is where he wants to eventually end up - but for Hieber, that’s easy. “I’d like to work for SpaceX or Tesla,” he says without hesitation. “I want to get people to Mars. I think that’s the coolest thing.” Pittsburgh Technical College Through PTC’s electronics program, a service member pursues a future career while adjusting to civilian life Magnus Hieber is pictured in his electronics classroom at Pittsburgh Technical College. PHOTO BY ETHAN MANSBERGER STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY 20 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2022lLegislative Update Legislative Update At the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission finalized the new maps for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate. As a result, the 44th Legislative District will see some changes due to the tremendous growth we have seen in our region since the last U.S. Census in 2010. The new maps are based on a requirement in the U.S. Constitution that every 10 years there must be a census done for the purpose of apportioning the U.S. House of Representatives and the State Legislatures. The results of the 2020 census showed us that populations shifted around the state quite considerably. As such, a new map must be drawn to equally divide the 203 House of Representatives and 50 Senate seats in Pennsylvania into new districts. Pennsylvania House seats are drawn with districts of approximately 64,053 people and the Senate with districts of approximately 260,004 people. With the population of the current 44th District reaching approximately 72,000 residents, according to the 2020 census, a change in district lines was inevitable. I will continue to serve constituents in the existing 44th District through Nov. 30. Afterwards, I will continue to serve the residents of West Allegheny School District just as I have in the past. The new district, which will be adding the areas of Leet and Leetsdale and removing Ohio Township, will enable there to be less splitting of municipalities. My district will encompass the three complete school districts of Moon Area, West Allegheny and Quaker Valley beginning Dec. 1. Please see the map above. If you have any questions on redistricting or any other state-related matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. The phone number is (412) 262-3780. State Rep. Valerie Gaydos Redistricting in the 44th Legislative District As co-chairs of the House Cybersecurity Caucus, Rep. Gaydos and Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware) combined to sponsor legislation to use the Pennsylvania National Guard to combat cyber criminals. In April, House Bill 2412 passed the House overwhelmingly. The FBI reported almost 800,000 complaints in 2020 alone, and governments are a prime target, especially of ransomware and ID theft. Pennsylvania is home to two military cybersecurity teams: The Pennsylvania Army National Guard Defensive Cyber Operations and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron. The bill would give the Pennsylvania National Guard the authority to provide functional support for cybersecurity needs across the Commonwealth. In addition, the legislation would allow trained military cybersecurity experts to support requests from state agencies in need of immediate assistance or training. Further, the bill will allow the guard to receive requests and provide support to non-government entities with cybersecurity education and training exercise assistance as needed. As government is housing more and more of your information, both personal and professional, it is imperative that we must do all we can to ensure our systems are safe. In addition, we need to support educational initiatives to help train people to work in the cybersecurity field. House Bill 2412 now moves to the Senate for consideration. House passes Gaydos, Williams legislation to enlist National Guard in fight with cyber criminals June/July 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 21Remember When? Remember When? N The Imperial Fair A century ago, Imperial was home to the biggest annual fair in Allegheny County STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY In the early 20th century, thousands of people used to flock to Imperial for a few days each year for Allegheny County’s annual agricultural fair. The fair typically took place in the late summer or early fall and featured many of the trappings that we typically associate with fairs today. There were games, food, cars, vendor booths and even circus performers. The main attraction, though, was the horse racing that took place on the fairground’s half-mile dirt track. During its heyday, it wasn’t unusual for well over 100 horses - many of which were owned by local farmers - to take part in the fair’s various racing, trotting and pacing events. There were grandstands on the fair grounds for spectators and hundreds of stables built to house the horses brought in to race. The fair took place on property along McClaren Road in Imperial, not far from the five-way intersection with Craig Street and West Allegheny Road. The property at one point belonged to John R. McCune, who also owned the mansion in Moon Township where Montour Heights Country Club is now located. William Craig, president of the Allegheny County Fair Association, later took over the property where the fairgrounds were located. The first Imperial fair took place in 1905. Prior to then, it had been held in a number of other locations, including downtown Pittsburgh and Tarentum. During a hiatus that lasted several years, another agricultural fair had also sprung up in Clinton. That fair, which was organized by the Clinton Agricultural Association, is mentioned in a 1901 article in the Pittsburgh Gazette. It seems that it ceased, though, once the county fair moved to Imperial. A 1911 article makes mention of the old Clinton fair, stating that the new fair was continuing the “race meets” once held in Clinton. Presumably since abandoned, the article describes the old race track in Clinton as “now covered with weeds and gas wells.” According to a 1905 article in the Pittsburgh Gazette, the Imperial fair was quite a sight that first year, with “the clear qualities of the jellies and the jams, the deft handiwork of the crazy-patch and the battenburg makers, the obesity of the hogs and the chickens and the speed of the horses.” There was also a merry- go-round and carnival games. Lew Hensel, a “famous Panhandle engineer who hauls the fastest trains between Pittsburgh and Columbus” and “calls a two- minute gait slow” became a “hero of the hour” in the “spirited” horse-racing heats, according to a Pittsburgh Gazette article. The reporter even notes Hansel’s engineer’s golf cap and railroad jumpers. The following year, in 1907, the Allegheny County Agricultural Association held a special July 4 event on the Imperial fairgrounds that featured both horse and automobile racing. The event attracted 1,500 people and, in the stripped car event, E.B. Barnard covered five miles in 7:37 and eight miles in 10:36.5 in his Pope-Toledo car. When the county fair rolled around that September, the auto races returned, along with exhibitions for prize cattle, farm products and more, according to an ad in the Pittsburgh Daily Post. By 1910, attractions at the fair had grown, and so had the crowds. According to a Daily Post article published that year, about 5,000 people attended on the second day alone. Attractions included “music and acrobatic stunts on trapezes and ladders between heats: the ‘Midway,’ with its wonders and marvels and freaks of nature; the barkers, with their grotesque costumes, ready wit and strange tales regarding the merits of the shows they advertise; the games of chance and skill, with prizes to lure everyone; exhibits of farm products which make the city people stare in amazement; pens of live stock and coops of fowls which represent the best of their kind in the county; a merry-go-round, and, in fact, a thousand and one other features.” There were also turnips as big as pumpkins, baked goods and fancy embroidery that proved to be an attraction for the women. Free attractions included a performing horse, acrobats, prize- winning livestock and a “freak of nature” chicken named Peggy with four feet. This Pittsburgh Gazette newspaper clipping featuring photos from the inaugural fair at Imperial comes from the Sept. 20, 1905 edition. The captions read (from top): “Railbirds watching hot finish in races. A crazy-patch quilt with a history. Exciting finish in 2:40 trot. Lew Vensel, the engineer turfman, who calls a two-minute gait slow.” This Sept. 29, 1911 Pittsburgh Gazette clipping features photos from the 1911 fair at Imperial. The captions read (clockwise from left): “At the paddock. Finish of the 2:27 trot. W.A. Springer getting signers for a petition for a new county road. On the Midway.” 22 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2022 While area farmers came to the fair in their buggies and wagons, “automobiles conveyed a large part of the city contingent,” according to a Press article. Plenty of others traveled by train and the Pennsylvania and Lake Erie Railroad even established special schedules to accommodate fair goers. According to a 1907 article, the hour-long round trip from the terminal end of the Smithfield Street Bridge to Imperial cost $.80. The trip, though, wasn’t entirely pleasant, according to a 1911 article that also describes Imperial as a place that, “Few persons even know how to get to...” “From Montour Junction to Imperial the road reminds one of a serpent,” the reporter writes. “It winds through the valley, screeching at every crossing where it stops or does not stop. At every cross road the train, part freight and part passenger, really hesitates, if it does not stop.” Even that reporter, though, couldn’t help but describe the bucolic beauty of the country setting, where there was no real town, but rather pastures. The food and accommodations weren’t bad, either. According to another article from that same year, the fair’s home-cooked meals were “the last word in deliciousness” and finding a place to stay the night at an area home or hotel wasn’t difficult. In 1919, the fair’s livestock exhibition was exceptionally large, according to a Pittsburgh Press article. Entries included “75 head of cattle, 50 sheep and goats, 50 swine and 250 fowl.” Apparently, big business had also found its way into the fair by then, as one event featured “demonstrations on the practicability of tractors in farm work.” In 1924, the fairgrounds got some updates, with new bleachers, stables and even electric lights installed throughout the grounds. The township widened the road to the fair while the association built a new gate and a fence to protect parked cars. Apparently, the updates were part of an effort to rejuvenate the fair and improve its accommodations for the growing crowds. A Pittsburgh Press article reports that “Years ago the Imperial fair was one of the most important events in this part of the country, and it is being revived this year under the direction of William M. Craig, president of the Allegheny County Fair Association.” The article also notes the 125 entries for its races. Horse racing that year was part of the Keystone Short Ship Circuit made up of nine fine racing towns with some of the best horse owners in western Pennsylvania. There were also ball games and an effort to arrange polo matches. To get people there, trolleys ran on five-minute schedules from Ingram and McKees Rocks. Attempts to update the fairgrounds and accommodate the growing crowds seem to have proven inadequate, however, as the last fair held at the Imperial fairgrounds took place the following year, in 1925. The fair later moved to South Park. As William White, a Press staff writer who covered the fair in 1911, notes in a retrospective column, the Imperial fairgrounds could only accommodate one-tenth of the crowds that would eventually head to South Park for the fair each year. Looking back, White recalls the Imperial fair as a classic agricultural one, with livestock exhibits, shows, games and, of course, horse racing. For the farmers who raced horses, it was yet another opportunity for them to show. “Farmers had trotters and pacers, too, and the county fair was their show day,” White writes. “After a spectacular victory by a farmer’s horse in one race, I heard the comment: ‘And she’s been pullin’ a plow all summer.’” White notes that by the time of his writing, the property had gone back to the family of the late John McCune. His daughter, Mary, continued to run a farm there called Montour Farm until the 1970s. She even raised racing horses there. The farm had a horse trainer and farm hands cared for the old dirt track for many years. The farm’s white barns and picket fence along McClaren Road became a well-known landmark to many locals. For more on that farm, and its barns, which were razed in 2020, see page 26 of the August 2020 edition of Allegheny West Magazine at awmagazine.com under the archives tab. Today, the old fair grounds remain undeveloped and overgrown. The property sits between Main Street and the Woodcreek Manor neighborhood. Just south of the development, a faint but obvious outline of the racetrack where thousands once flocked to take in some of the best horse racing in the county can still be seen on Google Maps. June/July 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 2324 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2022 In 2019, when local property developer Henry Duckstein decided to bid on the old Western Area YMCA property at 195 Montour Run Road in Robinson Township, he knew exactly how to fix the water problems that had forced it to close in 2018. As the owner of a 51-year-old insurance restoration company, he was also particularly well suited to rehabilitate the building. Now, after two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into the property, the former YMCA has been converted into a commercial flex space and businesses are grabbing up spots in its new storefronts. PetWellClinic, a veterinary clinic that specializes in walk-in veterinary care, recently became its latest tenant. A hair salon is expected to move in soon and CRS, a content disaster recovery business, has established its headquarters there. Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz and former University of Arizona and Duquesne University receiver Wayne Capers have also signed on to open a high-performance training center in the complex called Vizion Athletics. As for the 25,000 square-foot space housing the YMCA’s old tennis courts, Duckstein has a couple of different options for that. While he says converting it into office or warehouse space would make the most business sense, what he’d like to do is turn it into a sports complex. A Montour graduate who grew up in the area, Duckstein says he realizes how important the Western Area YMCA was when it was in operation. When it closed, the 40-year-old facility had nearly 1,000 members who had long relied on it for everything from tennis lessons to summer camps. From what Duckstein has been hearing lately, there are a lot of people in the area who would like to see a sports complex open there again. “As long I’ve been working here on the building, people will drive by and say, ‘Please tell me you’re putting a sports complex down there,’” he says. “I also get stopped when out and about in Robinson Township, and they say the same thing. People ask if they can rent the tennis courts or if they can bring their kids in to play.” The location is so synonymous with former ownership that Duckstein decided to name the complex “The Olde Y - Business Park” because, he explains, “that’s just what everyone calls it.” Duckstein says he’d like to see a big portion of the complex dedicated to local youth sports teams, which would provide them with a place to practice year-round. As a parent of kids who play sports himself, Duckstein says he sees the need for such a facility in the area. He currently drives as far as Washington County to get his own kids to their indoor leagues and practices, which go all year. “My kids are in softball and soccer, and when I went to school, we usually played three sports, but now with how competitive everything is, seventh or eighth grade comes along and they’re focusing on one sport so they can get a college scholarship,” says Duckstein. “So, when you’re playing basketball, you’re playing all season long and you need other places to continue playing as the school districts don’t have enough gymnasium space. Western Allegheny County has a great need for somewhere local, but just doesn’t have anything like this.” To get the ball rolling on the idea, Duckstein has been reaching out to area schools to ask for input. He’s also actively looking to connect with athletic organizations that could benefit from such a complex and to hear how they’d utilize it. To help subsidize operations and pay for upgrades like turf and the proper facilities needed to get it ready for basketball, deck hockey, volleyball, tennis, soccer and more, Duckstein is looking to secure sponsorships in the form of naming rights and banners. Recently, his company determined that the facility could fit 68 12-foot wide by five-foot high sponsorship banners. They’ve also estimated that the facility could attract upwards of 100,000 people each year. From traffic patterns, they’ve estimated that more than 13,000 cars pass the building on Montour Run Road each day, along with another 15,000 on adjacent Beaver Grade Road. Duckstein says he’d also like to see the complex meet the needs of parents. He says that is lacking at the sports complexes he visits on a regular basis. “When I go to these places there’s no place for parents to go,” he says. “I usually end up waiting in my car”. To that end, he says he’d like to convert the second-floor space that the YMCA once used for its offices and that looked out over the tennis courts into a lounge with Bringing back “The Olde Y” The Western Area YMCA was once a vital public asset. With some help, the building’s current owner wants to bring it back. Henry Duckstein (at center) has rehabilitated the former Western Area YMCA building on Montour Run Road and turned part of it into a mixed-used business park. He’d like to develop the rest, including the old tennis court portion which is still intact, back into a sports complex. He is pictured in front of the building with realtors Christian Wilhelm and Nick McCune of the Wilhelm & McCune Real Estate Team. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY STORY BY DOUG HUGHEYfood vendors and free wi-fi. With service-based businesses moving into the building, the complex could give parents even more options while they’re waiting. Duckstein says he’s also actively talking with several food vendors and would like to see a restaurant open there that could give families a place to go after their kids are done playing sports. All of that could bring back many of the things that the YMCA offered, and more, before it closed. “When the YMCA closed, it created a large void in the community that now needs to be filled,” says Ashley Taylor, CEO of CRS. Taylor says she’s been on board with the idea of converting part of the facility back into a sports complex and has been working with Duckstein on it. “That’s the goal. Ultimately, we have that space here, let’s fill it and provide the opportunity for children to hone their skills and get everyone involved,” she says. One thing is for certain: the water issues that once plagued the facility are no more. Contrary to popular belief, Duckstein says that nearby Montour Run creek had nothing to do with the problem. Instead, stormwater runoff cascading off the facility’s roof and sloped parking lots had caused it to act like a giant retaining pond. The problem was fixed, and no further issues have occurred. To cut down on the facility’s giant electric bills, Duckstein also ran a dedicated gas line a mile down Beaver Grade Road, with the help of People’s Gas, to the building. He says that when he purchased the property, the entire structure, including the dome with the tennis courts, was heated entirely by inefficient electric heaters. He has also installed new LED lights with the help of Duquesne Light in the tennis court area to brighten it and significantly reduce energy consumption. He’d even like to install some new windows at either end of the tennis courts. Though this is the first “sports plex” that Duckstein has ever renovated, commercial development is nothing new to the Duckstein organization. In 2005, after Duckstein took over Duckstein Restoration from his father, who started the business in 1971, he began expanding its operations. Today, the company has 45 employees and several property ventures under its belt. Across Beaver Grade Road from the The Olde Y, Duckstein is rehabilitating property once owned by Robinson Petroleum. Before those ventures, the Duckstein organization developed a 52 single-family home development called King Henry’s Court in Robinson Township and multiple apartment buildings in Kennedy and Robinson. The company is currently working on a patio home development with 20 homes called Sir Henry’s Haven in Kennedy Township and a 40-townhome development called Moon Run Place in Robinson Township. With the proper interest, and help, Duckstein would like to make The Olde Y a resource that would benefit the entire community. Anyone interested in getting involved is urged to visit theoldeY.com and complete the jot form. Storefront space is also going fast in the building, with several build-to-suit units ready for their new tenants. The Olde Y will be hosting an open house June 30 from noon to 7 p.m. with food trucks provided by CRS. Local teams and clubs will be invited to sign up for time spots and collect deposits. For more information, visit theoldeY.com. ABOVE: With 25,000 square feet of available space, ownership of The Olde Y could potentially convert the former Western Area YMCA’s tennis court area into a pair of basketball courts and an indoor soccer field. BELOW: A rendering shows a potential layout for the space. PHOTOS SUBMITTED ABOVE AND BELOW: The exterior of the Western Area YMCA has been completely refurbished and four new storefronts have been built out in the front of the building. New commercial tenants are grabbing up the spots quickly. PHOTOS SUBMITTED Open House - June 30, 12-7 p.m. 195 Montour Run Road, Robinson Township Food trucks! Sports teams and clubs invited! Want to help make the old YMCA into a sports complex once again? Visit theoldeY.com and complete the form.y > Learning Curves Learning Curves BY MICHELE P. CONTI Michele P. Conti is an estate planning and elder law attorney. She is also the owner of Conti Law, a concierge law firm. Conti attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Oxford University and Duquesne University School of Law. She received her LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University. She can be reached at (724) 784-0239 or at michele@contilawpgh.com. All too often, I consult with clients who had a parent who passed away who had remarried but hadn’t made the prerequisite arrangements for their estate. This essentially leaves two different families with the task of sorting through what passes to whom. Questions like, “Why wouldn’t they have done this before they died?” or “Why didn’t they think about this before they died?” or “Shouldn’t this have been handled when they remarried?” aren’t uncommon. In these situations, the mystery as to why those arrangements weren’t made remains largely unsolved. I’m sure the decedent’s intention was for everyone to get along and continue to live in harmony when they passed, but in reality that is seldom the outcome. Is the expectation for the second spouse to treat the decedent’s children as their own? Is it the decedent’s intention for the spouse to ask their kids for an allowance? The most common estate planning mistakes, especially when dealing with a blended family, include the procrastination of doing what needs to be done. For instance, did you update your beneficiary designations? No grieving widow wants to hear that your previous spouse is still the beneficiary of your IRA or life insurance policy. If you intended for your children to receive your life insurance rather than your spouse for tax reasons, make sure that you actually complete and submit the change of beneficiary forms. Though changing your beneficiary on financial documents will avoid leaving the balance to your ex, your will determines much of who gets the rest of the assets you and your spouse accumulated during your lifetimes. You probably don’t want your ex to get your home, either. A common misunderstanding is when the will directs the beneficiary and when an asset directs the beneficiary. A specific beneficiary designation trumps your will every day. Therefore, if you have your spouse as your primary beneficiary and your children as the contingent beneficiaries, so long as a beneficiary is living from your designations, then this asset falls outside the terms of the will. Typically, people direct that their surviving spouse gets all of their assets when they die, and only upon the death of the second spouse will the remaining assets be divided evenly among all of the children. This assumes, of course, next year, or in 20 years, everyone will still be getting along AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, that your spouse won’t write a new will that leaves out your side of the family. Will it happen to you? No one knows the future but after 20 years of practice, nothing surprises me. If a will can be changed after a spouse’s death, what other options do you have? To ensure that the children of each spouse ultimately are treated fairly, trusts are often used. You can leave some or all of your assets in a trust that can support your spouse during his or her life. Then, at your spouse’s death, the trust controls who receives the remaining assets. In other words, you can ensure that your children will benefit at your spouse’s death. If your spouse remarries, this strategy protects the assets from passing to a new spouse and their children. If a trust is used, advice regarding the choice of trustee is key. There are other considerations as well. For example, you should consider the relative ages of the spouses. If you leave all of your assets in a trust for a spouse who is much younger than you, your children would not receive any benefit until the spouse’s death, which may not occur for many years. You might consider directing a portion of your assets to your children at your death. On the other hand, if you plan to leave your estate entirely to your children (and not benefit your spouse at all), an agreement clearly waiving spousal rights is needed. Careful consideration of your goals and communication with your spouse is key. People often have good intentions. Consulting with an experienced and skilled estate planning attorney can help you ensure your intentions to provide for your blended family are met and avoid inadvertent conflict. Blended families can become…MESSY! 26 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2022June/July 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 2728 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2022 The Class of 2022 came together one last time for their commencement ceremony June 2, as they were celebrated by family, friends, staff, administrators and school board members. With three of their four high school years impacted by the pandemic, the 264 graduates were recognized during the outdoor ceremony for demonstrating resiliency, perseverance and grace during challenging times. Senior class officers Emily Saggio, president; Johnathan Dragisich, vice president; and Aubrey Page, secretary/treasurer led the graduates into the stadium, where the colors were presented by the West Allegheny Marine Corps JROTC. Following the singing of the National Anthem, school board president Robert Ostrander presented the welcoming notes. The senior address was given by distinguished honors recipient Jiya Vaidya. Teacher Mattew McBurney served as this year’s distinguished faculty speaker and shared lessons on being part of a team. Superintendent, Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, and high school principal, Dr. Cheryl McHone, shared student achievements and celebrated the class with a video tribute from high school staff who offered humorous and heartfelt department-themed well wishes. A video of the Senior Celebration and Declaration Day highlighted the incredible memories from the day. The evening’s music was provided by the Senior Chorus, under the direction of Terisa Sharlow, high school music teacher, accompanied by the high school American Sign Language class led by teacher Jennifer Fox. The West Allegheny Brass Ensemble performed under the direction of Steven Groba, middle school music teacher, with Andrew Peters serving as accompanist. Class of 2022 celebrated graduation in outdoor ceremony ABOVE TWO PHOTOS: Soon-to-be graduates gather prior to the ceremony. ABOVE: Graduate Jiya Vaidya delivers the senior address. BELOW: Members of the JROTC present the colors. ABOVE: The senior selfie tradition continued with speakers Dr. Cheryl McHone, Matthew McBurney and Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert standing in for the photo. June/July 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 29Next >