The Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce honored local students at a recent breakfast meeting.
“I’m really proud of our students,” said Kutztown Superintendent Kathy Metrick. “The students we are honoring today are students who have had extra challenges. Our kids today, they come to school with so many things that we never even conceive of that they need to work with… and we have no idea sometimes the other struggles that they might be having in life. We have some students here today who will just make you feel so good because they have gone above and beyond to fulfill their potential as students and that is such a reaffirming thing for anyone in education and for anyone who cares about students.”
Hamburg student Megan Marsh”Megan is visually impaired,” said Clare Benz, counselor at Hamburg. “Her visual complications started at the end of her second grade year.”
She began learning to read braille in third grade. “Megan explained that she use to think that her disability was a weakness and made her less than her peers but now she understands that it is what makes her unique. This is what Megan is.”
Benz said over Megan’s academic years she feels she has improved in organization, motivation, and prioritization. In eighth grade Megan received 2nd place in a braille writing competition. She has been a member of the German Club for three years and designed the German Club t-shirts this year. A committee member of the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, she is planning a new chapter in the Lehigh Valley. She is a member of the transition counsel at the Berks County Intermediate Unit and as a result was a presenter at Penn State Berks this year. Her future plans include going to either Albright or Kutztown university with probable major in psychology.
Concluding with a quote from Megan’s science teacher, Jeffrey L. Wolfe, Benz read, “I am so happy for Megan that she is receiving this award. I’ve never had a student with a severe disability who handle life the way she does. It amazes me how she keeps her grades so high and that she takes each day’s problems with a grain of salt. I am definitely learning a lot from her this year just as she is from me.”
Brandywine Heights third grade student Shane Moyer
Kristin Neary, teacher, explained that when Shane was a kindergartener out playing at recess when he collapsed on the playground and rushed to the hospital. It was found that he had an arteriovenous malformation that had ruptured which resulted in a hemorrhagic stroke.
“Shane was left with left side weakness and right side facial droop. He worked through many therapies and worked his way back so that he could attend school again,” said Neary.
Shane began attending first grade with a walker. Today, Shane is fully included in his regular education classroom, walking around school without assistance, said Neary.
“To see where Shane gets his level of strength and perseverance you need to look no further than his parents Heather and Barry,” said Neary. “Their support from home has been phenomenal. It is my pleasure to present this award to Shane for everything that he has overcome.”
Fleetwood senior Matthew Leibman
Bonnie Fansler, school nurse, said Matthew was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in February 2012 and began using an insulin pump.
“Matthew and his parents faced the challenge head on,” said Fansler, who nominated Matthew, now age 17. “Matt has truly faced his Diabetes full force. He has handled it maturely since the onset. He has continued to excel academically and has never used Diabetes as a crutch. In fact, he has always been willing to answer any questions that were asked by curious students. He is definitely a role model for the younger students with Diabetes and I know that Matt will succeed one day as a chemical engineer. Who knows, he may one day provide some valuable research toward a cure for Diabetes.”
His activities include Ski Club, National Honors Society, FBLA, Outdoor Club, Science Olympiad, and part of the ETC Program for Gifted Students. He works at Ozzy’s Family Fun Center. Involved in Boy Scouts, he is completing his Eagle Scout project to rebuild the sandbox at Camp Lily in Mount Penn, which will be fully handicap accessible. He plans to attend the University of Pittsburg to major in chemical engineering.
Kutztown sophomore Dean DelpAndrew Brett, School Counselor at Kutztown Area High School, explained that when Dean was an eighth grader suffered a severe concussion while playing football, “which changed his life forever.”
Dean was unable to attend school for the remainder of his eighth grade year and returned to school in ninth grade.
“Dean was able to persevere and work through recovering, and continues to recover from that concussion. Dean was unable to spend long periods of time in class, was unable to look at a computer screen, was unable to read and write because of pain and eye strain,” said Brett, noting that while Dean is not the only student in the district with a concussion his is the most severe. “Without being able to look at a computer or read or write, Dean was able to successfully complete Honors Biology and Honors Algebra II last year.”
This year Dean is enrolled in Honors Chemistry, Honors Geometry and does language arts and history through home bound instruction.
“He heard it, he absorbed it and he is able to be extremely successful in his classes and will continue to be. The success is pat of what makes Dean a special young man, but the other part, which is why he is here with us today, is that Dean takes every single day as a very humble young man who is positive, who always has a smile on his face,” said Brett. “Dean has every reason to have bad days and has ever reason to be negative and in two years I have never seen that. I have seen a very positive young man with a smile on his face, who is active, who wants to learn and has made great strides from two and a half years ago to today. The faculty and staff at Kutztown Area High School is extremely proud of Dean Delp.”
Oley student Clay Mauger was also scheduled to be honored but was unable to attend the breakfast due to testing.
“We probably learn more from our students than they have from us,” said Metrick. “If you ever have a bad day, think about these students because I think it is so uplifting what they do with so much courage and with such a great attitude every day.”
