Brandon DeFranco - Grade 6 | Joseph Kmetz - Grade 12 | Megan Tucker - Grade 12
Angela Ronco and Sandee Gebhart with Brandon
Brandon DeFranco was nominated for the Star award by two of his teachers, Angela DeFranco, an Academic Support Teacher of Reading, and Sandee Gebhart, his sixth grade teacher at DeFranco Elementary. He has come to the attention of many of the people he meets on a daily basis because he has an exceptionally positive attitude in spite of the fact that he is battling cancer. He was diagnosed at the beginning of fifth grade and missed most of his fifth grade year. As he entered sixth grade he was tested and scored on the basic level in all areas. It was the goal of his teachers to get him beyond the basic level to a proficient level. Brandon's love of earning and hard work ethics amazed his teachers. His attitude, willingness to participate in class, and ability to accept constructive criticism, were instrumental in bringing his academic level up to proficient.
Brandon comes to school every day with a smile, sharing stories of his life on a farm and his relationships with his family. His family has taught him about being humble, working hard, and being positive and loving in relationships. Brandon is out of school twice a month for the testing and monitoring of his cancer. He tells about the different procedures the doctors have used and how he feels after treatment. He never shows signs of fear or pain, but approaches these days as if they are just a part of life.
Brandon is receiving this award because he has exhibited personal and academic traits far above that expected of a sixth grade student. Despite his illness, Brandon has achieved every goal set before him. His teachers say that he influences them to strive for more, and he gives them a zest for life and teaching. He is a role model to his peers and adults, warranting our admiration and teaching us every day how special life is.
Joseph with Superintendent, John Reinhart
Joseph Kmetz is a senior and an honor student at Bangor High School. He was Bangor's 2009 Football Scholar Athlete and was named to the All-Area Team and the All-Colonial League Team. He attends Trinity Lutheran Church in Bangor and works as a lifeguard at the Bangor Park Pool. His future plans include attending West Chester College where he will major in Criminal Justice and pursue a career in law enforcement as a detective/criminal investigator.
Joseph has been described as a quiet leader who works hard and leads by example. He is being recognized for the Star Award because he saved the life of another Bangor student while working as a lifeguard at Bangor Park Pool.
Megan with some of her art work.
Megan Tucker was nominated for the Star Award by Louise Neal, her art teacher. She is an enthusiastic student with an infectious and positive personality, who demonstrates honesty and integrity in both her work as an artist and her personal character. Megan has pursued several independent studies programs and shows a desire for learning, striving to get as much knowledge as she can from the many sources that are available to her.
Megan volunteers at the Totts Gap Arts Institute where she helps with the Art After School classes for elementary students. She is active in school as the President of the BHS Art Honor Society. She worked on the Empty Bowl project to raise money for a local food pantry. She was active in 4-H and is presently a member of the American Dairy Goat Association and shares the responsibility of raising LaMancha goats with her family.
Megan has won a top award at the Slate Museum Art Show several years in a row. Last summer she represented Bangor High School at the Governor's School of arts as one of nine students in the painting program. The students were selected from across the state of Pennsylvania. This past January she won two American Vision Awards at the Regional Scholastic Art Show held at the Allentown Art Museum. This was a first in the recent revival of this award program. Her book on Abilities went on to win an American Vision Award at the National Level. This will become part of a traveling exhibit for the next two years. She will be honored for this award on June 4 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Her work has been displayed in the Pennsylvania Art Education Association Honors Gallery in the Department of Education Building in Harrisburg for the last three years. This year she won the Best of Show and will be rewarded with an all-expense paid trip for a parent, her art teacher and herself to New York City. Three weeks ago, Megan's painting of Nosey Girls won the Congressional award for the district of Charles Dent. Her oil painting will be hung in the Capitol Gallery in Washington, D.C. for a year and she will receive a day of visiting in Washington from Congressmen Dent.
Some of her work is displayed in the background of the picture. It is evident when you see it that this young artist has amazing skill and vision.