Senior High

Alysabeth Rivera Selected as U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate

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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, President of Gay Straight Alliance 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

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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

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Stewart, Kaleigh
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

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McGaffin, Sherri

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

McKinney, Kelly

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

Mills, Heather

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 with their artwork, which has now been selected for display and further competition with other regional winners at Kutztown University from February 18th through March 5th. 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

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. The finalists for the national awards will be announced on March 5th at Kutztown University.

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.

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

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Daub, Nicole
@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!

Intern Spotlight: Sophie Johnson and the Reading Hospital

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young adult stands in front of hospital

Internship Spotlight: Sophie Johnson, a senior, plans to attend a five-year college to become a physician assistant. She was looking for an internship where she had a great opportunity to become immersed in medicine and applied for a position at the Reading Hospital, which was a new opportunity for Exeter students this year. Courtney Powers, the Director of Community Engagement for the hospital, said that the internship provides experiences that allow students to take what they are learning in the classroom and observe and apply it to real-life situations in a professional healthcare setting. She also said the internship is highly competitive, accepting fewer than half of the students who apply. In addition to traditional medical roles, the hospital also offers internships for students who are interested in human resources, accounting, marketing, HVAC, law and in other non-medical careers. Ms. Powers also said that interns are also given the opportunity to participate in a number of workshops, including financial literacy, resume writing, interviewing skills and more. “Our hospital team members truly love engaging with students and providing these types of experiences for them,” she said. 

Q: Sophie, can you tell us a little bit about what you do at your internship?

A: Upon my arrival, I usually clock in using my badge and then I check in with my department supervisor to find out about my tasks for the day. Depending on whether or not she keeps me on pediatrics or sends me to R2E, which is our special care maternity floor, I complete a range of tasks from checking refrigerator temperatures, stocking supplies, answering call bells and phones, observing in patient rooms and shadowing nurses and doctors. I am currently working on a project of reorganizing our playroom, since it closed in previous years due to COVID-19. 

Q: Why did you select this as your internship?

A: I found out about my internship through my internship coordinator after applying to another medical internship a few days before. After applying to both, I ended up getting accepted into the one I am currently in. It all kind of happened at once because the internship just so happened to be a brand new opportunity for students from Exeter and other schools in the county; I am actually the first and only student from Exeter to participate in my current internship.

Q: Has this internship helped you decide your college/career goals?

A: With working alongside so many medical professionals each day, I have gotten the opportunity to talk to a variety of people, including medical students. I have received so much good advice, and after countless career conversations, I have decided that a physician assistant is the right path for me because it balances patient interaction with medical diagnoses. Being a social person, one of my favorite things is interacting with patients. A physician assistant allows me to have both that social interaction and a higher level of medical knowledge. I am soon getting the opportunity to shadow both a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner to become exposed to the tasks that each job entails. A nurse practitioner was my other career path option, so this is a perfect opportunity for me to solidify my thoughts and decisions. Also, working in pediatrics and special care maternity has helped me to decide that I love working with children as well as babies and their mothers, and that is something that I can see myself doing in the future within my medical profession.

Q: What have you liked most about your internship? What have you liked least?

A: No two days are the same at the hospital, making it part of the reason I love it so much. I am learning something new every single day. My favorite part of the internship is definitely meeting all of the different patients and shadowing the nurses and doctors during patient assessments and treatments. I have even gotten to hold babies, which has definitely been a favorite thing of mine. Everything I have done at the hospital has benefited me in some way, so I really can't think of anything that has been my "least favorite." Sure there are less exciting things such as answering phones and stocking supplies but those tasks have allowed me to gain better communication and organizational skills in which I value. I have also met so many nice people who treat me as one of their own. 

Q: Has anything surprised you about your internship? 

A: Yes, I would say the biggest surprise that came from this internship was the amount of opportunities I was presented with. Going in, I knew I was going to have opportunities, but definitely not this many. It honestly blows my mind how much I am able to do. I am doing things that I never imagined I would do at this age.

Q: Anything else you'd like to share?

A: I would like to note that I got very lucky in the aspect that my department manager happens to manage both the pediatrics and the special care maternity units. With that being said, I go back and forth between departments frequently and both teach me completely different things. So in a way, I am learning double because I have double the amount of opportunities through this advantage. 

Our deepest thanks to the Reading Hospital for offering this great opportunity to Exeter and other Berks students and for Ms. Powers and Sophie for sharing her great experience this semester! To learn more about hosting an Exeter intern or signing up for an internship in the 2023-24 school year, please reach out to Mr. Mark Ricketts at maricketts@nullexetersd.org.