News

Alysabeth Rivera Selected as U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate

photo of alysabeth rivera standing in front of eagle statue at the senior high school

We are exceptionally proud to announce that Exeter senior and Berks Career & Technology Center (BCTC) student Alysabeth Rivera has been selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar candidate in Career & Technical Education (CTE) by the U.S. Department of Education. Alysabeth is the only U.S. Presidential Scholar candidate in Berks County, and one of only two CTE candidates in Pennsylvania. Mr. Roger Voit, who is a Business Management and Entrepreneurship Instructor at BCTC, nominated Alysabeth for this prestigious award to Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education, who selected Alysabeth as a U.S. Presidential Scholar candidate for meeting the exceptionally stringent criteria, which includes her academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Alysabeth will now go through further evaluation to be hopefully selected as a semifinalist in April. If she advances, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars will select up to 161 finalists, who will then be honored and recognized at a ceremony at the White House in June. According to the U.S. Department of Education, being selected as a scholar is one of the nation's highest honors for high school students, who represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. 

Mr. Voit said that the moment he found out that Alysabeth had been selected as a candidate was a “wow!” moment that he couldn’t wait to share with her, her family and the BCTC community. “This is the first student that I have nominated for this prestigious award. Because of the rigorous requirements for being selected, it takes a very special student and mindset to even be nominated let alone selected,” said Mr. Voit. “Alysabeth not only fulfills all the requirements for the selection criteria, she also models the leadership traits necessary to hold this position, which is one of the highest honors our nation’s high school students may receive… I’m a very proud teacher right now.”

Alysabeth, who is the daughter of Iris and Harry Rivera, is a National Technical Honors Society Student, Student Ambassador and SkillsUSA National and Pennsylvania winner in the field of entrepreneurship. At BCTC, she’s won a variety of local, state and national virtual enterprise competitions in which she serves as the CEO of an e-commerce virtual company. At Exeter, she’s a co-founder of the Aevidum Club and a Gold and Silver Eagle Award winner. She’s also almost completed her associate’s degree at Reading Area Community College in Business Administration through dual enrollment courses. Alysabeth, who studies Business Management Entrepreneurship at BCTC, hopes to study business at Syracuse University or the University of Notre Dame in the fall, with the goal of working in international business following graduation. 

Alysabeth said she was shocked to hear that she had been nominated and selected as a candidate. “I can’t honestly put it into words,” she said. “I don't know if I'll make it past any other stage, but it's still such a significant honor.”

Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program serves to recognize and honor distinguished graduating high school seniors each year. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields, such as Alysabeth.

Exeter is exceptionally proud of Alysabeth, and we hope you’ll join us in congratulating her for this extremely high honor! We wish her all the best as she continues through the application process in the hopes of being named a finalist in June! Congratulations! 

23 Eagles Commit to Collegiate Athletics on National Signing Day

students stand in front of step and repeat to pose for a photo

They're soon to be Blue Hens, Golden Bears and Wolves, Cougars and more, but today, we celebrated these 23 seniors as Eagles as they signed their commitments to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level on National Signing Day.

Here's where these talented athletes will be playing next year:

  • Anthony Caccese - University of Delaware - Football 
  • Joseph Schlaffer - Penn State University - Football 
  • Megan Unruh - University of Houston - Swimming 
  • Teddy Snyder - Ursinus College - Tennis 
  • Richie Karstien - Iona University - Lacrosse
  • Mason Rotelli - Eastern University - Football
  • Ty Yonas - Virginia Military Institute - Lacrosse 
  • Rosa Laverty - York College  - Field Hockey 
  • Lauren Ramsey - Marshall University - Swimming 
  • Deven Sheerin - Mount St. Mary’s University - Baseball
  • Jordyn Jarrett - Misercordia University - Lacrosse
  • Libby Swoyer - Penn State Berks - Volleyball
  • Keith Lerch - William Paterson University - Bowling
  • Andrew Bauer - Alvernia University - Golf 
  • Joey Reedy -  Lycoming University - Football 
  • Morgan Herb - Kutztown University - Softball 
  • Ashton Fasig - Elizabethtown College - Track and Field
  • Matthew Skipper - Immaculata College - Soccer 
  • Jaredis Flores - Eastern University - Softball 
  • Nathan Wentling - Robert Morris University- Cross Country
  • Kyle Stech - Lebanon Valley College - Golf
  • William Fanning - Binghamton University - Swimming
  • Mary Carl - Niagara University - Swimming

Congratulations to them all!

Exeter Hosts District 10 PMEA Orchestra Festival

photo of student orchestra
More than 100 students from 29 schools performed at Exeter Township Senior High as Exeter hosted the District 10 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Orchestra Festival on Friday night. Students in 9th-12th grade from regional schools, including Exeter's own Emily Holliday and Frank Conte, were selected by audition and performed four orchestral pieces. They were conducted by Dr. Brian Norcross and directed by Exeter's Mr. Micah Albrycht, who said it was an honor to host the festival and work with such talented and dedicated students. "This music is performed at a professional level, and it is a privilege to see these students opportunity to practice, bond and perform with other students with the same passion and talent." Congratulations to Emily and Frank for being selected to be a part of the festival, and our thanks to Mr. Albrycht for his time and dedication in organizing and hosting this outstanding event!

Fourteen Students Win More than 50 Regional Art Awards

students pose with their winning artwork

Left to right: McKenna Barker, 12th; Nicolette Gavrilovici, 12th; Morgan Herb, 12th; and Kai Taylor, 12th

students pose with their winning artwork

Left to right: Elizabeth Curry, 12th; Gabi Istenes, 12th; Katie Patchell, 12th; and Naelah King, 10th

students pose with their winning artwork

Left to right: Katie Ryan, 12th; Lydia Long, 12th; Ava Strauss, 11th; Gwynne Geedy, 12th; Mia Herner, 12th; and Dominic Wodika, 12th.

We are thrilled and honored to announce that 14 Senior High students won more than 50 awards at this year’s Scholastic Eastern Regional Awards Show. These talented students and their awards are:

  • McKenna Barker: 5 Honorable Mentions, 1 Silver Key, and 1 Gold Key
  • Liz Curry: 2 Honorable Mentions, 3 Silver Keys, and 1 Gold Key
  • Nicolette Gavrilovici: 1 Honorable Mention and 1 Gold Key 
  • Gwynne Geedy: 2 Honorable Mentions, 1 Gold Key, and an American Vision nominee
  • Morgan Herb: 3 Honorable Mentions and 3 Silver Keys
  • Kai Taylor: 2 Honorable Mentions and 1 Gold Key
  • Dominic Wodika: 1 Honorable Mention
  • Mia Herner: 2 Honorable Mentions and 1 Silver Key
  • Gabi Istenes: 6 Honorable Mentions and 2 Silver Keys
  • Lydia Long: 2 Honorable Mentions
  • Kat Patchell: 3 Honorable Mentions and 2 Silver Keys
  • Katie Ryan: 3 Honorable Mentions
  • Ava Strauss: 1 Gold Key
  • Naelah King: 1 Gold Key and an American Vision nominee

Qualifying artwork has been selected for display and further competition with other regional winners at Kutztown University from February 18th through March 5th. Students who won Gold Keys are eligible to compete for national awards, and American Vision Award nominees will be eligible to compete for the National American Vision Award. Finalists from the regional awards will be announced on March 5th at Kutztown University and will be eligible to compete for scholarships, recognition and exhibition on a national level.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognize student achievement in the visual and literary arts in 28 categories, including drawing and illustration, photography, flash fiction, poetry, film and animation, journalism, and more. Last year, more than 260,000 works of art and writing were submitted by teens from every state in the nation, as well as American territories and Canada. Works by 40,000 teens received regional recognition, and nearly 2,000 works earned national awards, including 2022 Exeter grad Joanna Knepper’s glass sculpture, “She’s Lost Her Marbles,” which was displayed in New York City’s Carnegie Hall last June as part of the national competition.

For the past 100 years, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, which are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious program for creative teens in grades 7 through 12, have empowered creative teens and celebrated their voices by bolstering their artistic and literary futures through opportunities for publication, exhibition and scholarships. The Awards encourage students to build confidence as creative individuals and to trust that their voice is important. Many esteemed artists and writers received some of their earliest validation from the Awards, including Andy Warhol, Tschabalala Self, Joyce Carol Oates, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White and Stephen King.

1971-72 Mens’ Basketball Team Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame

members of the 1971-72 basketball team stand and hold plaque

The Exeter Township School District inducted athletes from its 1971-72 Men’s Basketball Team into their 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame tonight in a ceremony held in the Exeter Township Senior High’s cafeteria, followed by a presentation of the athletes between the junior varsity and varsity basketball games against Governor Mifflin in the Exeter Township Senior High’s gymnasium. The surviving athletes who were inducted are: Jim Barrer, Charlie Booker, Joe Fidler, Dave Giles, Andy Kahn, Randy Kleinsmith and Mark Wessner and Pete Yousaitis. Duane Bowser, Dave Winterhalter and Jeff Woodward were inducted posthumously. The team was coached by Rod Hand, with assistant coaches Terry McElhattan and Don Hadley. The staff also included coaches Randy Van Fleet and Don Bickel from Exeter Township Junior High school. 

That season, the Eagles won their first 24 games, including a 68-39 Berks Conference championship victory over Cedar Crest. It was the first boys’ basketball title for Exeter, which reached the District 3 Class B semifinals and the PIAA Class B quarterfinals to finish the season 25-2. The team survived a scare early in the season in a non-league game at Owen J. Roberts, but Barrer’s basket from just beyond half court as the buzzer sounded gave the Eagles a 68-67 victory.

The team averaged 68.4 points a game and allowed 48.9 over the 24-game win streak.

The team started four seniors -- Barrer, Winterhalter, Woodward, and Yousaitis, an all-Berks and all-state selection – along with sophomore Booker, who would lead the Eagles to their only other championship appearance and Berks title as a senior in 1973-74. 

Yousaitis became the school’s first 1,000 scorer (1,287) and Booker the second (1,476). Booker ranks third on the all-time scoring list, Yousaitis fourth.

The Exeter Township School District has inducted athletes into its Athletic Hall of Fame since 1990, honoring athletes and teams who achieve significant and memorable athletic accomplishments during their time at Exeter Township Senior High school, collegiately, and/or professionally. The 1971-72 Men’s Basketball Team is the second Hall of Fame induction of the 2022-23 year, with Michal Menet, a 2016 graduate; Michael Troutman, a 2002 graduate; and Kyle Yocum, a 2013 graduate, receiving the honor earlier in the school year.

Students Heat Up the Competition During the Senior High’s Annual Food Truck Challenge

model of hand-drawn food truck
@etsdeagles Competition Heats Up During Annual Food Truck Challenge http://bit.ly/3XI1PTr #goeagles#exeter #exetertownshiphs #foodnetwork #foodtruck ♬ original sound Exeter Twnshp School District

If you happened to walk by Mrs. Courtney Preston’s Sports Nutrition and Foods & Nutrition classes last week, you may have thought that the Food Network was in town filming a competitive cooking class. Inside her bustling classroom, teams of students were busy cooking meals that fit the theme for imaginary food trucks they created–including a menu, location, slogan, logo and concept. Once teams finished cooking and plating their meals, they served a panel of 10 volunteer judges (e.g., hungry teachers who had a prep period/students who had a study hall) and explained what the concept of their food truck and how the meal fit their theme. As the judges dug into their meals, they evaluated each dish, making notes of what they liked (or disliked) with as much detail as Guy Fieri on an episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” 

As part of the competition, each team also researched government regulations and start-up costs for a food truck business in a specific geographical area and submitted a 3D model of their food trucks, complete with themed interiors that students in the Interior Design & the Home courses designed. They also completed a binder filled with the food truck’s menu, recipes and imagined employee uniforms that students in the Fashion Design & Merchandising courses created. At the end of the competition, teams were selected as winners for preparing the best dish; presentation; menu selection; truck design, logo and slogan; and best overall. 

This the sixth year that Mrs. Preston has offered the food truck competition in her classes, which she says is truly a cross-curricular experience involving students who are taking other Family & Consumer Science courses, as well as sometimes involving the Business & Marketing classes, too. “They really enjoy competing against each other, seeing the judges’ reactions and winning them over with their chosen recipes,” she said. 

To truly get a taste of the experience, please check out our video to see highlights from one of last week’s classes as they turned up the heat on the friendly competition!