Students Attend Summer Academy

These students are painting pottery as part of the art and sculpture track of the Seneca Highlands IU9 Summer Academy at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. They are (top to bottom) Alena Larnder of Ridgway (painting pot in foreground is her sister Denise); Emily Smith, a student at Galeton Area School, and Reba Higley of Eldred; and Mallory Rodich, a student at Cameron County High School, and Bonnie Darrow of Coudersport Area Junior/Senior High School.
(Photos Courtesy of Pitt-Bradford)

By Kimberly Marcott Weinberg
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing

Forty-two students from 14 school districts were able to go beyond their regular course of studies last week at the 23rd annual Seneca Highlands IU9 Summer Academy at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Students were able to choose one of three tracks: technology and entrepreneurial science, drama and communications, or art and sculpture.

Technology and entrepreneurial science was taught by Diana Maguire, associate project director for the Pitt-Bradford entrepreneurship program, and Greg Miller, coordinator of residential networking services. Students in that track had a chance to dabble in computer programming and took a field trip to Warren to visit pet food manufacturer Targeted Pet Treats LLC and Superior Rubber & Tire Corp.

They also learned aspects of marketing, product development, and national and international marketing.

Students in the drama and communication track visited WNED public broadcasting and the Irish Classical Theatre Co., both in Buffalo, N.Y., with Jeff Guterman, associate professor of communications, and Dr. Kevin Ewert, associate professor of theater.

Drama and communications students learned the basics of radio and television production by creating commercials and newscasts, and experienced writing and acting by learning what it takes to create and maintain a character in action.

Students in the art and sculpture track worked with Kong Ho, associate professor of art, and Dr. Martie Geiger-Ho, a former visiting assistant professor of art. Students in the Hos’ class learned about sculpting with clay, threw pots, explored ukiyo-e Japanese printmaking, created wire and found-object sculptures and painted with acrylics.

Steffanie Little, a student at Austin Area Junior/Senior High School, one of the smallest public high schools in the state, said she enjoyed getting to use new techniques.

“A lot of the stuff that’s here we don’t have at school,” she said.

The art students also took a full-day field trip to the Corning (N.Y.) Glass Museum, where they made a glass object in the glass studio.

Students lived on campus during the week and took part in evening activities such as Jeopardy!, bowling, a tour of the Kinzua Dam and a global positioning system scavenger hunt.

“It’s pretty cool to have a taste of college,” said Denise Larnder, a student at Ridgway Area High School taking part in the art and sculpture track.

Funding for the academy comes from a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, private funding and tuition paid by participating school districts. There is no cost to individual students.

Students who took part in the drama and communications track were Katie Caltagarone, Brianna Meyer, Evelyn Schwer and Cassandra Gahn, all of St. Marys; Sheldon Carpenter of Coudersport; Melinda Gahr of Kersey; Chelsey Colosimo, Jing Dong and Jess Courteau, all of Bradford; Brianna Lara of Gifford; Virginia Robbins of Kane; Jocelyn Dynda of Austin; Adam Ferrari of Brockport; and Scott Shuttleworth of Dagus Mines

Students who took part in the art and sculpture track were Nina Birosh, Bonnie Darrin and Tyler Cole, all of Coudersport; Steffanie Little of Austin; Shaina Carnahan and Leah Simanowski, both of Bradford; Denise Lardner, Alena Larnder and Megan Szymanski, all of Ridgway; Mallory Rodich of Emporium; Tara Hart of Wilcox; Emily Smith of Gaines; and Reba Higley of Eldred.

Students who took part in the entrepreneurial science and technology track were Jeffrey Barber of Shinglehouse; Kelly Mulcahey of Port Allegany; Tomorrow McDonald, Katelyn Carlson, Sabrena Schoonover, Olivia Chapman, Hallie Kleiner, Candice Wareham, Cheyene Werts-Nolan and Brianna Price, all of Bradford; Pooja Vijayvargiya of St. Marys; and Nichol Krumroy of Lewis Run.