People – April 9
Bethel Park High School Social Studies Teacher Thomas Hare has been named the local winner of the Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest. Hare was nominated by BPHS senior Sean Varley and was chosen from nearly 70 entries at the South Hills Barnes & Noble location.
Students were invited to nominate their favorite teacher by writing essays, poems or thank you letters that explain how their teacher has influenced their life and reveal why they appreciate and admire them. Entries were judged on the compelling nature of the teacher’s qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation and the quality of expression and writing. Hare will be recognized at 6 p.m. April 17 at the South Hills Barnes & Noble, where he will receive a special award acknowledging his achievement. Sean Varley will also receive a certificate of recognition.
Hare is now entered into the regional competition, where five winners will be chosen, one from each region. Each regional winner will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble gift card. A National Teacher of the Year will be chosen from the five regional winners, and that individual will receive $5,000 as well as their school.
Robert Callen of McMurray has been selected to receive the 2014 Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in recognition of his contribution to local government.
Callen, who was nominated by PA Councils of Governments for individual recognition, has an impressive history of involvement with local government and Councils of Governments, including as executive director of the Steel Valley COG (10 municipalities) from 1975-1988; as part-time executive director of the Lawrence County Regional Council of COG (24 municipalities), 2001-present; and as part-time executive director of the Beaver County Regional COG (42 municipalities), 2010-present. In addition, he is currently Crafton borough manager, was manager of Municipal Services for Western PA (Resource Development and Management), 1997-2010 and worked with DCED as recovery plan coordinator for the City of Duquesne from 2001-2013.
Callen holds a bachelor of arts from St. Vincent College, a master of science from Duquesne University and a master of public administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. In his spare time, Callen is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, having had parts in several movies.
Justine Patrick has been appointed to Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh’s Board of Directors. Her term began April 1.
Patrick is an investment management lawyer and a partner at Reed Smith LLP. After receiving her B.B.A. and graduating summa cum laude from Emory University in 2001, she received her Certified Public Accountant license from the State of Georgia in 2003. She graduated Harvard Law School cum laude in 2006 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and Massachusetts Bar the same year.
Patrick has a long history of volunteer work and has served on the Three Rivers Arts Festival Advisory Board since February 2013. She currently resides in the South Hills.
State Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, presented citations this month to multiple residents of the 42nd Legislative District in honor of outstanding personal achievements.
“This month I was able to recognize several young members of our district and proudly present them with citations honoring their achievements,” Miller said. “They were all able to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, and I’m sure they will continue to go on and serve their friends, family and community.”
Citations were awarded to the following Boy Scouts in recognition of their Eagle Scout achievement: Andrew Valentine, Dominic Richard Constantini, Darren Dalton Frederick, Mario Galati, Owain Long and Stephen Wells.
The Blackwood Theater Organ Society has awarded scholarships to two local high school seniors pursuing a college degree in instrumental music performance. The students will perform at a free recital at the Blackwood Estate in Harrisville, Pa., 2 p.m. May 18.
Eli Naragon (double bass) of Mt. Lebanon attends the Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh. A member of his high school jazz band, Eli has participated in the PMEA Orchestra and Festivals and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is a bassist at the Carnegie Mellon Summer Pre-College Jazz Program and is a winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
Jonah Trout (bass trombone) of Canonsburg attends Canon-McMillan High School. He is an active member of his High School Brass Ensemble, Marching and Concert Bands and Musical Pit Orchestra. Outside of school, he plays with the River City Youth Brass Band, Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra and Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.
Scholarships were awarded on the basis of musical talent, recommendations from private and high school music teachers, academic performance, the written essay, motivation and financial need. Finalists auditioned at Heinz Hall on March 16 before a panel of musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
The Blackwood Theater Organ Society is a not-for-profit organization created to encourage students to pursue instrumental music performance careers.
For more information, visit www.blackwoodmusic.org.