Progressive Insurance Corporation made a significant donation to the West Geauga Middle School through a donation of more than 30 pieces of weight room equipment.
Progressive Donates to WGMS
Progressive Insurance Corporation made a significant donation to the West Geauga Middle School through a donation of more than 30 pieces of weight room equipment.
The new middle school weight room now has state-of-the-art weight benches, free weight racks and exercise machines that will benefit the physical education classes, team sports and the staff.
Principal Jim Kish said, “We are so grateful for the generous donation from Progressive to outfit our weight room. Like the team at Progressive, we are committed to health and this will allow our students to take full advantage of what we can offer to them.”
Letters About Literature
Sophomore Shannon McKinney advanced to the second round of competition in the Letters About Literature contest, a national competition sponsored by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Shannon participated in this high level competition by reading a book, poem or speech and then writing a letter to the author explaining how the text affected her personally. Shannon crafted her letter to author Virginia Roth after reading the dystopian style novel “Divergent.”
Rotary Speech Competition
Senior Ayah Ighneim won the Chesterland Rotary Club’s 4-Way Speech competition on April 4. Gianna Wagner took second.
Ayah will move on to the next level of competition at the district level.
Her heartfelt speech focused on ways that everyone can work to end violence in the schools.Her speech answered the four questions the competition is designed around: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Kick Starting the College Search
By WGHS student Elizabeth Marino
Monday night, April 8, was the annual Kickstart College Fair at West Geauga High School. Over 70 colleges and universities were present in the main gym to meet with students. Events began at 6 p.m. with guest speaker and local radio personality Jimmy Malone. Malone is also the founder of the Jimmy Malone Scholarship Foundation.
At 6:30 p.m., representatives from the colleges were on hand to greet students, pass out volumes of literature and information, and entice students to remember them with free pens, magnets, lanyards and other goodies.
The event was open to all area students and not limited to only West Geauga.
Guidance counselor David Callahan said, “The Kickstart College Fair was a hit and having Jimmy Malone here was the icing on the cake.”
Mr. Jared Merritt, an admissions counselor from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa., was one of the numerous private college representatives.
He said, “This is a great representation of schools with a diverse population of colleges.” He also noted that the students, especially the ones from West Geauga, were serious. “I was really impressed by most of the students,” he said. “They were engaged and not just running around socializing, the way it happens at so many of these events.”
At the end of the night, he had information cards filled out from several prospective students, so it was a worthwhile trip.
In addition to out-of-state and private colleges, Ohio’s schools were well represented.
Ms. Jessie Fix was here representing Bowling Green State University. When asked what she thought of the fair, she said, “I love it. I had a great number of students from West Geauga asking great questions.”
She also noted that several students were impressed that BG’s journalism school was just recognized nationally in the “Princeton Review”as one of the nation’s best.
Another organization that was also represented was Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation (L.E.A.F). One of its advisors, Mrs. Renee Morgan, said, “LEAF is thrilled to participate in the college fair to educate families about the local resources in the often-misunderstood financial aid process. I was impressed by so many students who made eye contact and initiated great questions. Before the event, I was also able to chat with the college reps about some current student financial aid packages, proving face-to-face conversations are always better than an email or text. Don’t be a stranger to your LEAF lady, as she has a lot of great tips.”
West Geauga junior Anna Lucarelli summed up a productive evening when she said, “It was very helpful and informative; I’m glad I went.”
