The Kutztown Optimist Club recently honored two Kutztown Middle Schoolers for renaming the school newsmagazine Cougar Chronicle.
Madison Cramer and Grace Rice received gift cards from Merry Schlegel, of the Kutztown Strong Education Committee, who donated the $25 gift cards for the prizes in renaming the Chronicle. Her two sons and husband Jim Schlegel are members of the Optimist Club.
KMS art teacher and Cougar Chronicle adviser Krist Tuerk, member of Kutztown Strong, said, “The Optimist Club was the initial financial support of this magazine. They donated thousands to get this publication started.”
Cougar Chronicle continues to be supported by local groups and businesses. On the back of each issue lists who supported the printing of each issue, said Tuerk.
Optimist member Hugh Smith came up with the idea for this newsmagazine, which was originally named Kutztown Cricket.
“We allowed the students to come up with a new name and two girls came up with Cougar Chronicle” winning the renaming contest, said Tuerk.
“Another tidbit about the name. Many years ago, the high school newspaper was called the Cougar Chronicle. Because of this, Josh Chambers had saved the logo design and reinstated it. The design was created by Madison O’Neil, and his father, Steve O’Neil is a member of the Optimist Club and was there the night the girls got their awards,” said Tuerk.
Cramer and Rice received their prizes at a recent Optimist Club meeting.
“It was really nice to go to the (Optimist) meeting and watch, parents and grandparents came, just the way that they treated the girls,” said Tuerk.
Tuerk also felt it was important to recognize what the Kutztown Optimist Club does for children.
According to the Optimist Club website, http://www.kutztownoptimist.org/, Club programs include Basketball Program, Essay and Oratorical Contests, college scholarships, Tee Ball program, and Golf Tournament.
The club also hosts Trick or Treat Night on Main Street in Kutztown, Santa visit at the Kutztown Library, Easter Egg Hunt at Kutztown Park, Kutztown Fools Run, Comedy Nights at the Kutztown Fire Company over the winter and food stand at the Fairgrounds.
“Another person who should be commended is Matthew Hilbert at Colasanti Printing. He donated so much of his time to get this newsmagazine off the ground, said Tuerk.
View the third issue of the Cougar Chronicle on the school website at http://www.kasd.org/files/1647187/chronicle%203%20final%201.pdf.
