The Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce recognized local high school students at its Nov. 20 breakfast.
“This is the most invigorating and revitalizing thing to do,” said Northeast Berks Chamber’s Business & Education Committee chair Kathy Metrick, Kutztown Superintendent. “You know it’s the people coming up behind us that push us forward.”
“You can see why we’re proud of these students,” said Metrick during the presentations. “They don’t just coast through school.”
The chamber recognized junior high school students for excelling in business courses or in leadership in FBLA. The following were presented plaques and a gift card for the Kutztown University Bookstore: Caylee Lasko, Brandywine Heights; Trevor Koenig, Fleetwood; Skylar Gerner, Hamburg; Nolan Prevoznik, Kutztown; and Craig Pollock, Oley.
Caylee Lasko, Brandywine Heights
Business teacher Mike Kistler has had Lasko in his business courses, for which he conducts a mock interview. He usually does not wish to hire the students he interviews.
“Caylee gave one of the most phenomenal interviews. I would have hired her,” said Kistler. “She was professional and confident.”
Lasko is a business intern at Brandywine Heights High School. She is vice president of the FBLA and serves on Student Council, Key Club and is a student representative on the School Board. She also plays soccer.
Trevor Koenig, FleetwoodFleetwood FBLA adviser Kelly Ackerman said Koenig has taken business courses since 9th grade. He wants to major in business.
“He is the ideal business student we’d all like to have,” said Ackerman.
Koenig is a member of the Fleetwood FBLA and participates in track, football and professional shooting.
Skylar Gerner, HamburgClare Kilpatrick Benz, Career Education Specialist at Hamburg Area School District, said Gerner wanted to take business courses so much that she and her parents came to the school during the summer to adjust her schedule to include business. She is also involved in the planning process of creating a coffee shop in the high school library, helping Mr. Hetrich’s Business Entrepreneurship class.
Also, secretary of the Wilderness Club, she has completed 31 1/2 community service hours since May.
Gerner is also a level 10 gymnast for the Berks Gymnastic Academy. She wants to continue gymnastics and major in physical therapy for children with disabilities with a minor in business.
Nolan Prevoznik, Kutztown”Only one name came to mind and that was Nolan,” said Chris Simmons, Business Education Technology teacher at Kutztown, “He’s a stand out. One of the hardest working students in the class. He has taken almost every business elective and excelled in each.”
Prevoznik plans to major in business.
He also plays football.Craig Pollock, Oley
Oley teacher Dave Hoffman said Pollock is an excellent student.
“He stands out in my mind because he is a modest person and he makes good decisions,” said Hoffman. “He is a role model… He’s a stand out (student). I’m very proud of him.”
Metrick said, “Research shows that the most needed position in the world is business. All of these students are making great decisions now. Parents and guardians are the driving force and we’d like to recognize them as well.”
