Brockway Schools and Community Education Foundation Executive Director, Peter Grecco presents a really big check to Brockway FFA and DECA.
Foundation Sends Students to State Events
By: Katelyn Kennedy (Class of 2023)
Brockway Schools and Community Education Foundation sent many students to Eastern PA for special events, supporting two school organizations, donating $1,200 to each organization.
The first group was Brockway’s Chapter of the FFA. In January, the group went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, and the Foundation helped, because the FFA does most of its own fundraising.
Kyle Norman and Matthew Holt, both teachers here at Brockway, attend this event because they both teach a form of Agriculture here at Brockway.
Mr. Peter Grecco, who is the athletic director here at Brockway as well as the Foundation Executive Director, explained, “In today’s society, everything’s through the roof; busing, overnight stays, & food. We felt it was something that needed done. We know the FFA raises all their own money, so we wanted to support them.”
FFA Co-Advisor Kyle Norman said the Foundation’s support helps open Farm Show to more students. “Our group pays for almost everything that we do, and it’s great to get this support,” he said. “It helps defer the rising costs in the amount of fruit the kids have to sell to be able to go.”
The Foundation also supported the newly-formed DECA group, which focuses on business education. The Foundation helped get DECA’s Doghouse Café, a coffee shop running inside the school, off the ground. When Mr. Justin Beimel took 12 students to the state competition, the Foundation helped out.
“DECA came up in our meeting because they’re sending kids to Hershey after a successful competition in DuBois, ” Grecco said. “The board was very happy to see the club’s success so early. That will get more kids involved and get more kids involved in our activities.”
Mr. Beimel said that his group also raised funds to go on the trip, running Marianna hoagie and N & N Cinnamon Company fundraisers.
Students that attended these events had a lot of fun. For example, senior Natane Isabella attended the Farm Show, and said, “The best part of the Farm Show was seeing all of the animals.”Natane has been in FFA her whole high school career and is currently the secretary of the club. She plans on furthering her education at a trade school dealing with agriculture, but not straight out of high school.
Emily Michalski
BROCKWAY STUDENT GETS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMMENDATION
By Andrew Bundy A version of this story originally appeared in The Courier-Express.
Emily Michalski, a senior at Brockway Area Junior-Senior High School, received a National Merit Scholarship Commendation.
Michalski scored in the top 50,000 students who participated in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) testing program, scoring well on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
For Michalski, the Letter of Commendation is recognition for her ongoing drive to succeed. “I feel really proud when I get recognized for my achievements like this,” she said. “My proudest achievement was passing my AP Exams in chemistry and calculus with a 4 and a 5 respectively.”
In a press release, NMSC explained that these 34,000 commended students across the country show“exceptional academic promise.”
“These students represent a valuable national resource,” they said in that release. “Recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of academic excellence in our nation.”
Superintendent Jeff Vizza honored Michalski at the October school board meeting. “We recognize her for her hard work,” he said. “We wish her the best as she continues to find academic success.”
NMSC hosts a nationwide competition based on scores from the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). Every Brockway student has a chance to take the PSATs for free with funds from the Brockway Schools and Community Education Foundation.
Michalski plans to go to Penn State University to study statistics and finance.
Members of the Brockway Area High School 1967 Basketball Team recently returned to their old stomping grounds to relive the glory days of their senior season.
Pictured: Tom Green, Ron Rogos, Chuck Grubbs, John “Swede” Brumberg, Alan Whelpley, Chuck Haag, John Napa, & Pat Paruso
Brockway Schools & Community Education Foundation
What Is the Foundation?
The Brockway Schools & Community Education Foundation gives new and exciting enrichment opportunities to students in the Brockway Area School District. However, the Foundation is not funded by the school district. Instead, the Foundation is an independent public charity that receives its funding from Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) money and tax-deductible donations from partners like you.
This is an important distinction. The school district’s money goes to continuing the quality education that Brockway Area School District has always offered, but additional opportunities need funding. That’s where the Foundation comes in. Through EITC money and your help, the Foundation has offered dual enrollment opportunities to seniors for college credit while they’re still in high school. It has also paid for visiting artists to offer workshops to students. In addition, Foundation money has helped fund SAT preparation as well as AP tests. The high school has a 3D Printer provided by Foundation help, and the elementary school enjoys iPads with the Foundation’s help. On top of meeting these needs, the Foundation has its sights set on many more opportunities for students within the community, but it needs your help.
What Types of Donations Are Available?
Any donations made to the Foundation is tax-deductible. Individuals, corporations, alumni groups, graduating classes, and more can provide money to be used to help build the futures of students within the community. Right now, you can give charitable gifts at any time. Many can also take advantage of EITC tax credits. An advantage of donating now is that you can come see how the money is being used by setting up school visits with the district office. Any donation of any size will help provide an enrichment opportunity that could change the career trajectory of a Brockway student. However, there is another way to help out even after you’re gone, knowing you are leaving a lasting legacy to the community: long-range estate and financial planning.
The easiest way to make your mark on the future is to set up a bequest in your will. When planning your will or adding a codicil to an existing will, set up ways to give to the community. The bequest can be set up as a specific dollar amount, a residual of your estate, or even a percentage of your estate. There are many ways to structure this, such as an unrestricted bequest where the Foundation’s leadership determines how the money is to be disbursed within the Foundation, or a restricted bequest where you determine how the money is to be used – such as to provide art supplies or to assist with the costs of AP exams. It’s a great way to make sure your money stays in Brockway instead of in Washington DC.
How Can This Be Done?
Donations to the Foundation can be made by calling the school district business office at 814.265.8411. If you wish to create a bequest, talk to your financial planner or attorney to structure it into your will. Any amount – large or small – will give unique enrichment opportunities to students who walk the halls of dear old Brockway High like you once did.
Ways to draft a will or add a codicil that will help the Foundation
General bequest: Specific dollar amount to be donated to the Foundation
“I bequeath to the Brockway Schools & Community Education Foundation, Brockway, PA, the amount of $____________________.”
Residuary bequest: After all other bequests are made, the remainder of your estate is left to the Foundation
“I bequeath the rest of my estate to the Brockway Schools & Community Education Foundation, Brockway, PA.”
Unrestricted bequest: “To be used for purposes as deemed appropriate by the Foundation’s board of directors.”
Restricted bequest: “To be used in the following manner, [INSERT REQUIREMENTS], in accordance with the Foundation’s overall objectives.”
Contingent bequest: “Bequest to the Foundation provided that my final estate valuation is greater than $________________.”
Other methods to donate to the Foundation
Make tax-deductible, charitable donations at any time
Get involved with EITC Tax Credits
Make the Foundation a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy
Paypal-If you would like to make a Donation to the Foundation, please click the PAYPAL Link below and make a donations using the Foundation's Paypal account.
Contact the district office today at 814.265.8411 or talk to your attorney or financial planner.