Senior High

Exeter Inducts Four Into Academic Hall of Fame and 60 Into NHS

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NHS Officers: Gavin Marr, Hayden Adams, Brody Oswald, and Rebecca Cherry

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Mr. Matthew Goldstan inducted Dr. Timothy Wright into the Academic Hall of Fame

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Lt. Col. Brian Roberts' mother speaks on his behalf following his induction into the 2023 Academic Hall of Fame

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2023 Academic Hall of Fame honoree, Lucy Lutz

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2023 Academic Hall of Fame honoree, Julia Huckleberry

The Exeter Township School District celebrated the achievements of students as 59 juniors and seniors were inducted into the Claude W. Dundore chapter of the National Honor Society and four notable alumni, educators or community members were inducted into the Exeter Alumni Association’s Academic Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 11, 2023. Those inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame were Timothy Wright, Ph.D., an internationally-recognized biomechanical scientist; Brian Roberts, an infantry lieutenant colonel in the Army; Lucy Lutz, a retired science teacher from the Exeter Township School District; and Julia Huckleberry, one of the founders of the district’s Alumni Association. Inductees are chosen for their contributions to society and their impact and credit they've brought to the Exeter Township School District through their achievements, volunteerism and/or work.

During his career, Dr. Wright has developed biomechanical implant systems for knee, hip and elbow replacement that have gone on to commercial distribution to patients worldwide. He’s written more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and has lectured around the world at hospitals and medical schools. He has appointments in New York at Cornell University, and the Hospital for Special Surgery, where he currently serves in the Department of Biomechanics working with surgeons and other engineers to research and develop systems to improve care for patients with orthopedic conditions. He’s developed numerous patents and awards for outstanding research and significant lifetime contributions in orthopedics. He is a 1967 graduate of Exeter; a graduate of Lehigh University, where he received his undergraduate degree; and Stanford University, where he received his graduate degrees. Dr. Wright was unable to attend the awards ceremony; however, he thanked the committee for his recognition and selection through prepared remarks. “This is a wonderful honor. I”ve been fortunate to have an ongoing career of 47 years working at the intersection of engineering and medicine. Looking back at my time at Exeter High, the highlight was teachers like the late Harry Shank, who instilled in me a thirst for knowledge and the leadership and teamwork skills that I learned playing sports and serving on the Key Club.”

Lt. Col. Brian Roberts was commissioned as an infantry officer in 2006 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. As a system evaluator in the Army, he leads military and civilian teams to develop and modernize future combat systems. He holds a Masters of Arts in Defense and Strategy from the U.S. Naval War College and is a 2002 graduate of Exeter Township Senior High School.

Lucy Lutz worked as an Exeter science teacher in the Junior High and Senior High for more than 36 years, retiring in 2007 and continuing to substitute regularly until 2014. She began her teaching career at Albright College in the biology department as an undergraduate. Following her graduation from Albright in 1968, she studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned a master’s degree in Zoology, focusing on research of the physiology, life history and paleontology of bats. Despite her academic achievements and years of experience, Mrs. Lutz joked during her acceptance that “I will be remembered as the one who you called to fix the copy machine.”

Julia Huckleberry graduated from Exeter in 1966 and has spent most of her time since then serving the district either professionally as an administrative assistant or as a volunteer. In 2009, she was an instrumental figure in the creation of the Exeter Eagles Alumni Association, which is primarily responsible for the development, selection and distribution of scholarships to graduates. Since its inception, the scholarship committee of the association distributes approximately $30,000 through 30 different scholarships from alumni or friends of alumni. During his induction of her, Mr. John Fidler, an Exeter Academic Hall of Fame committee member, recalled the story of how a family called the association in the hopes of creating a scholarship in the name of Exeter’s football coach, Leonard Meckalavage. After a few moments of confusion, Mrs. Huckleberry realized that the family had meant to call the alumni association of Exeter High School in New Hampshire. Still, she proceeded to tell the family about the virtues of Exeter Township’s football program and coaches. The family was so impressed that they decided to award the scholarship to Exeter Township, where it is still given to a deserving student every year.

The Academic Hall of Fame began in 2005 as a project of the Exeter Community Education Foundation and typically selects four to six inductees each year. This year's class brings the number of honorees to 78, who are presented with a plaque, as well as their names added to a display in the Senior High's main office.

During the second part of the ceremony, the current members of the National Honor Society presented and inducted 59 new members from the Class of 2024 and 2025 into its chapter through its candle-lighting ceremony that represents the Society's four pillars: character, leadership, scholarship and service. To be considered for membership, students must be sophomores or juniors with a weighted cumulative GPA of at least 92.000, involvement in at least one school activity or club and completion of at least five community service hours. This year’s inductees are:

  1. Harper Adams
  2. Ryanne Ahmad
  3. Perla Alvarado-Rueda
  4. Griffin Beidler
  5. Hannah Benderoth
  6. Richter Bogust
  7. Sasha Bolonski
  8. Cheyenne Boyles
  9. Joshua Brown
  10. Ian Carr
  11. Gabrielle Casalenuovo
  12. Tyler Casiano-Rodriguez
  13. Kate Dewald
  14. Natalia Figueroa
  15. Gillian Foster
  16. Jysadee Giddens
  17. Madison Grider
  18. Taylor Hill
  19. Katharine Hoover
  20. Amy Ipsen
  21. Gianna Johnson
  22. Caitlin Jones
  23. Tyler Jones
  24. Cayden Juck
  25. Alison Keim
  26. Thaddeus Kidwell
  27. Lyndsey Kline
  28. Margaret Kopanski
  29. Abby Kravetz
  30. Rebecca Lee
  31. Dorothy Liu
  32. Molly Lubenow
  33. Addison Matthews
  34. Mary McGowan
  35. Addison McKittrick
  36. Kara Miller
  37. Morgan Miller
  38. Lucas Newell
  39. Trang Nguyen
  40. Stephania Nicoloudakis
  41. Alexis Nonnemacher
  42. Ethan Papich
  43. Margaret Prock
  44. Abigail Rathman
  45. Haley Readinger
  46. Ansel Reinbold
  47. Aaron Scardecchio
  48. Kayla Schafer
  49. Lydia Smith
  50. Alexa Speary
  51. Kira Spencer
  52. Alivia Spitz
  53. Connor Stoltzfus
  54. Finn Strauss
  55. Rachelle Toaldo
  56. Annabella Venezia
  57. Logan Wegman
  58. Ashton Wilson
  59. Jordan Wolfe

Exeter Schools & Police to Hold Parent Presentation

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Tuesday, December 12th at 6PM in the LGI in Exeter Township Senior High School
PRESENTED BY:
Mrs. Alycia Lenart, Exeter Township School District K-12 Student Support Coordinator
Sergeant Detective Rocco DeCamillo, Exeter Township Police Department

Please RSVP in ParentSquare

“Make no mistake, this is an eye-opening, worldwide problem affecting our students here in Exeter,” said Sergeant Detective Rocco DeCamillo to the faculty of the Exeter Township School District during a professional development session held at the Senior High last Tuesday. “To make things worse, we know there are a lot of cases here that are not being reported because it takes a lot of courage to go to a parent, a friend or to the police. This is why I think it’s important for you to be aware of this issue in case you have a student who considers you a role model and decides to confide in you.”

The issue is called sexting, and it can often lead to an even more serious issue called sextortion. “One can lead to the other one, but they are two very different things,” said DeCamillo, who was joined during the presentation by his colleague, Exeter Township Police Detective Anthony Pendell.

In short, DeCamillo explained that sexting is sending sexually-explicit messages, images or videos to another person. Sextortion, however, is a form of cyber blackmail where a perpetrator often demands money to refrain from publicly releasing sexually-explicit messages, images or videos of the victim. These issues, said DeCamillo, are ones that affect adults–as well as minors, too. “You might think of this as a high school problem, but we’re seeing sexting more frequently at the junior high level,” he said. “But what’s even scarier is that we’re starting to see it more frequently in preteens, too, which is scary. The victims–and their offenders–are becoming younger.”

To complicate matters, minors are very savvy with finding ways to hide explicit content and conversations from their parents–and perpetrators are just as savvy at finding their victims. Rather than using traditional texting methods, DeCamillo said that minors and offenders alike use social media, texting or gaming platforms to send or receive content, such as WhatsApp, XBox, Instagram, Playstation, Roblox and Snapchat. On these platforms, adults often pose as minors, cultivating trust and a following by requesting mutual friends. Once a relationship and trust has been established, DeCamillo said that perpetrators will often start by requesting selfies of the minor victim. “Younger kids–those who are 11 or 12–almost can’t help but send these selfies of themselves out naked. They think they’re talking to a 15 year old, but it’s really a 43 year old who is harvesting child pornography.”

Currently, the most frequently used platform is Snapchat. “Snap is the devil,” DeCamillo said as he discussed the app’s encrypted feature called “My Eyes Only,” which is a hidden vault that erases all content as soon as a user asks for a password reset. This, he said, even prevents law enforcement from finding and recovering those photos once a report’s been filed, giving kids a false sense of security about hiding–or sending–naked selfies on the platform. “Kids often don’t think of the ramifications of when they hit that send button there’s a whole lot of things that can come out of it,” he said.

Minors who send sexually-explicit photographs lack the understanding that this is a crime under PA law; however, DeCamillo stressed that the focus of Exeter PD is more on education rather than on the arrests of minors. “This is not a situation where we can arrest our way out of it. It’s not that simple, and arrest isn’t always the answer.” Instead, he said that the department works to educate minors about the pitfalls of sending sexts and how repeated or more serious offenses can get them in serious trouble. Beyond criminal or legal issues, he also warned that sexting can lead to other problems, such as, grooming, destroying a person’s reputation, sextortion or mental health problems. The latter, he said, is unfortunately common, and is something that profoundly worries him and his department. “If the messages wind up in the wrong hands, it can be so mentally damaging to an adolescent teen.” Reflecting on cases outside of Exeter, he said solemnly, “Sometimes, it’s so extreme that children have taken their lives over it,” he said. “Sometimes therapy doesn’t quite work out, their reputation is destroyed and they feel they have no other option other than suicide,” he said with a pause, “It’s heartbreaking.”

Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller and Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Dawn Harris organized the session with Detective Sergeant DeCamillo and Detective Pendell to bring a greater awareness to teachers of this issue, which is only growing, according to the figures the detectives presented. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of reports involving sextortion doubled, according to their report, wth 45% of sextortion perpetrators actually carrying out threats, and 25% of victims seeking mental health help following an incident.

Like last year’s edibles presentation, the professional development session proved to be so popular with educators that Detective Sergeant DeCamillo and Detective Pendell, along with the district’s K-12 Student Supports Coordinator, Mrs. Alycia Lenart, have decided to offer a similar session to parents and families so that they, too, could learn what police are seeing in the local community, as well as how to talk to their kids about sexting and sextortion. The parent and family session will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 6PM in Exeter Township Senior High School’s Large Group Instruction (LGI) room.

Senior High Students Celebrate Life on Day of the Dead

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The lights at the entrance to the Senior High’s auditorium were dimmed today, yet the mood inside was cheerful as students and teachers gathered in the transformed space to honor, remember and celebrate their loved ones who had passed during “Día de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead.” A collaborative project between students of all grade levels in Spanish and art, along with help from students from Life Skills and Wood Technology, students and teachers throughout the high school were invited to bring in photos of departed loved ones to place on tables in an act of honor and celebration, rather than mourning. 

The holiday, which is celebrated on November 2nd in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, came to prominence for American students in “Coco,” a Disney movie released in 2017, which is around the time that high school Spanish teacher, Señorita González, brought the idea to all students in the high school. Soon after the new yearly tradition was launched, however, Covid forced Señorita González to pause or scale back the celebration to just the senior high’s students in Spanish classes. Sadly, it was also during Covid that she lost her sister–a tragedy that gave her the motivation to continue to grow the event once social distancing restrictions were lifted. Her sister’s death allowed her to recognize that many students may have lost ones during the pandemic whom they never had an opportunity to properly say goodbye to or mourn. “If anyone passed away during Covid, you know that there were no funerals and we didn’t have that closure.” she said. “I’ve appreciated that I’ve been able to share (this event) with students as an outlet with others to have a moment like that and to find closure.”

On each tiered and black-draped table, beautiful arrangements of food, sculptures, photos and candles were arranged, meant to entice souls to visit from the dead. Ceramics students in Ms. Pinkerton’s class had sculpted candle holders shaped like flowers or skulls, while Spanish students had created sugared skulls that the Life Skills students had helped them decorate. Freshly baked pan de muerto (bread), apples, bananas and water were placed on each table to entice souls to the tables and give them nourishment from their long journey. Spanish students crafted and painted papier-mâché animals to represent the dead’s spirit animal, a protector of their family after their departure. Framed photos (called a nicho) of departed ones and notes to them were tucked in between the objects, some written in Spanish and others in English. Art students in Ms. Buchholtz’s and Ms. Pinkerton’s classes created beautiful papel picado banners, skull (calaveras) prints using various printmaking methods, as well as paintings with patterned watercolors. Brightly-colored skeletons created by Spanish and art students finished off the decor on the walls and ceiling, creating a festive and celebratory vibe.

While people may think that students in World Languages only focus on learning vocabulary, Señorita González said that she and her colleagues appreciate educational opportunities to bring authentic experiences to their students–as well as the entire high school. “It’s so much more than just the language. We try to be as authentic as possible, and this is something where students can really feel that authenticity through the culture.” Further, she said that students from all nationalities, cultures and religions appreciate the event–many of them finding something to appreciate and take away. 

She said that although many people outside of Latin America may view the holiday as morbid, she said that her focus and the holiday’s origins are on keeping the event joyful. “I’m from Berks County and I know that the way that we view death can sometimes be morbid–or a finite thing where when someone passes away we bury them and have a funeral but we never celebrate them again. I wanted to show our students that Day of the Dead is a beautiful celebration of life.”

October Internship Spotlight: Breckyn Donate with MG Architects

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Breckyn Donate is a senior completing a for-credit internship in interior design at Muhlenberg Greene (MG) Architects, an architectural design, planning and construction company located in Wyomissing. Under the guidance of MG Architects' Jacob Sockel, Breckyn is currently working to design the set up of a major fundraising event, the Souper Bowl for the Opportunity House, which will be held at Penn State Berks in February. MG Architects is proud to offer internships for both college and high school students, and finds value in the experience: "The internship program has been a huge success for everyone at the firm," said Mr. Sockel. "Breckyn has done an incredible job becoming a part of the design team and providing different perspectives on a variety of different projects. She's been able to gain real-world experience in the field of architecture by assisting on technical drawings, developing industry software skills, and attending project meetings and understanding how crucial a great relationship is with our clients and the firm." He continued, "Having an intern in our design firm provides us with the opportunity to have early-stage career professionals mentor the up-and-coming designers of the future. The exchange of fresh ideas keeps our firm relevant and in touch with the changes in society. Additionally, in this particular experience, our interns are able to assist our nonprofit clients with real-world projects, providing professional services that would otherwise be financially out of reach with the added benefit of giving our interns an actual client experience. In the case of Souper Bowl, everyone wins. The firm gets to support an important cause in our region, and provide learning experiences for our young designers and interns at the same time."

Breckyn, can you tell us a bit about what your plans are for after graduation? Have you selected a college and a major?
After graduation, I plan on attending a four-year university while majoring in Interior Design to complete a BFA. I haven’t decided what school I'll attend yet.

Can you tell us a bit about your internship? What does a typical day look like for you?
On a typical day, I check my email and schedule, then begin working on one of our active projects. I’m currently designing a layout space in ArchiCAD for the Souper Bowl. This is an event held by the Opportunity House, one of MGA’s non-profit connections.

How did you select your internship? Did someone help you select it? Did you seek out the opportunity on your own? Were you asked to do the internship?
Two years ago, I was searching for a design opportunity in our internship program and, sadly, we didn’t have any. Last year, I reached out again to the school's internship coordinator, Mr. Ricketts, and learned about Muhlenberg Greene Architects' intern program.

Do you think your internship is helping you feel more confident about your decision to go to college and pursue your major?
It is! My internship is definitely highlighting all aspects of this career field and ensuring my decision. I’m grateful to be getting this experience for my future in the design world.

What do you like most about your internship?
The environment in the workplace is something I really enjoy. The team is so nice and always willing to help. There is always something to do and something going on.

And finally, what would be your advice to a high school student who's thinking about Exeter's internship program?
I’d advise any student to take advantage of all opportunities they may have. This program is really beneficial for future careers, networking, and can really help determine what you like and don’t. There is such a wide range of businesses and schools that want interns; you never know until you reach out and try.

To see an interview of Breckyn on BCTV, please click HERE.

Twenty students receive recognition for being at the top of their class in math and science

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Last week, 10 juniors and 10 sophomores were recognized by Principal Tom Campbell and Exeter Community Education Foundation (ECEF)'s Executive Director Angela Cooke for their outstanding math or science achievements. The awards are given thanks to Dr. Harlan & Mrs. Carole Kutscher, longtime Exeter residents and supporters who created a $25,000 endowment for students through the ECEF, which recognizes students with a certificate and monetary award to celebrate the achievements of those who earned the highest weighted final grade in their 9th and 10th grade science and math classes.

Our sincerest thanks to the Kutscher family for establishing this incredible endowment to recognize the academic achievements of our students, the ECEF for their hard work in coordinating the second year of these awards, and our warmest congratulations to the following students who were recognized today for their outstanding academic work in math and science. They are:

  • Adam Cooke
  • Molly Giering
  • Audrey Gierlich
  • Ryland Hollinger
  • Payton Kline
  • Ella Lynch
  • Marissa Millar
  • Juliana Nerney
  • Shaun Rathman
  • Jocelyn Wert
  • Samantha Baer
  • Richter Bogust
  • Katherine Hoover
  • Kara Miller
  • Jack Mulhare
  • Esteban Ruiz-Velasquez
  • Lydia Smith
  • Jack Wanshop
  • Jordan Wolfe
  • Chase Youse

Junior’s Work Juried into Scholastic 144 Competition

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Congratulations to junior Rachelle Toaldo for having three paintings juried into the Scholastic 144 competition at Shippensburg University. Her work, which could not exceed a combined 144 inches (hence the name of the competition), will be on display at the Kaufmann Gallery from November 4th through the 11th, and will be featured afterwards on their web gallery until March 1st. The Scholastic 144 competition is a regional art competition and is only open to juniors and seniors.

Rachelle is the first Exeter student to have three pieces of her work accepted into the competition, which is quite an accomplishment according to Rachelle's teacher, Ms. Christina Pinkerton. "This is a difficult exhibit to get juried into," she said. "Students are competing with other student artists outside of our county, so there's a larger range of talent for the judges to consider. I have many students who have had artwork rejected from this show, which is a learning experience," she said. "Getting accepted is such a great feeling for both students and myself. Whether she wins an award or not, I am very proud of her--as well as all of my students who enter these competitions--because it's difficult to put yourself out there in the public eye with something as personal as your art."  Rachelle's works, which she created using colored pencils to depict a canoe near a serene lake, and acrylic paint to create a portrait of a cat and a closeup of a vintage Ford.

Rachelle will have a chance to compete against other high school juniors and seniors in Pennsylvania and Maryland to win awards up to $1,000. The exhibition is sponsored by the Art & Design Department of Shippensburg University.