Mt. Lebanon hosts regional student council conference
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Students work together during a workshop session about perseverance.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
McGuffey High School students working together during a workshop about perseverance.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon sophomore Joey Harrington leads the workshop session on perseverance.
More than 600 students from 35 different Western Pennsylvania schools gathered at Mt. Lebanon High School March 2 for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils Region B conference.
The high school and middle school students spent the whole day at the high school, including an assembly with a keynote speaker followed by three workshop sessions, to learn skills like leadership, teamwork and other traits that are integral to being on student council.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon students and conference co-chairs Sanjana Adavi, pictured speaking at the podium, Kay Casturo, left, and Will Buerger.
More than 40 Mt. Lebanon High School students from all four grades worked together to put on the day-long conference. Mt. Lebanon students Kay Casturo, Sanjana Adavi and Will Buerger were the student co-chairs that led the effort to put on the conference.
PASC is a statewide organization that aims to “engage and recognize student leaders and advisors in leadership training, networking, community service, school improvement, personal development opportunities, and civic engagement in the 21st century.”
Following breakfast in the cafeteria, all 600-plus students and 40 advisors sat in the auditorium for the opening session.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Mt. Lebanon’s “Triple Trio” kick off the conference with a rendition of Kesha’s hit single, “Praying.”
After Mt. Lebanon students Elizabeth Hartung and Andjelija Ranick opened the session as its emcees, Mt. Lebanon’s “Triple Trio,” an all female version of the choir, performed two songs, including Kesha’s “Praying,” which received a standing ovation.
“You hear how you are the future of the country, but it has already started,” Mt. Lebanon High School Principal Brian McFeeley said. “We are seeing students around the country stand up and be leading voices about school safety and gun violence.”
McFeeley explained how being a student council treasurer in high school and a student senator at Penn State prepared him for his career.
“Those experiences led me to learn the leadership skills I use to this day,” he said.
Following a performance from the Mt. Lebanon dance company and drumline, Brittany Adams from Pine-Richland High School was named the student council advisor of the year.
“Fifteen years ago, I was in your seats,” she said. “I’m just very fortunate that my job allows me to be a student council advisor and to give back.”
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Thomas Jefferson teacher Greg Erdely and Montour teacher Katie Mercadante after Erdeley proposed to her on stage.
Then, in heartwarming fashion, Thomas Jefferson teacher Greg Erdely and Montour teacher Katie Mercadante got engaged on stage following a dance performance by several students to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.”
Kent Julian, a professional leadership and productivity speaker, gave the keynote address to the students.
Julian, who used humor throughout his speech, started his presentation with a game of “Simon Says” to teach the students a lesson about how actions speak louder than words.
“If you want to put the puzzle pieces together in life, you have to realize it’s about the steps you take not what you say,” he said.
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Jacob Calvin Meyer/The Almanac
Keynote speaker Kent Julian.
Julian used anecdotes from his time as a youth swim instructor and his daughter’s battle with Type 1 Diabetes to explain that it’s about how people react to the events in their lives, not as much the events themselves, that determine one’s happiness.
Following the main session, the students split off on their own to attend any workshop they wanted in the next three sessions. Workshops ranged from teamwork, leadership, community service and stress.
Mt. Lebanon hosted three workshops, led by Joey Harrington, Madeline Wine, Rachel Short, Bridget Zimmerman and Luke Sachse. South Fayette also led three workshops, with Daniel Pollock, Taylor Maida, Kelsey Deutsch, Aubrey Lutz, Rachel Dorfner, Elaina Karafilis and Neha Joshi hosting them.