Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Alumni Association holds scholarship luncheon
WEST CHESTER >> The West Chester High School Alumni Association held its 48th annual reunion and scholarship luncheon on May 9 at the Kennett Fire Company in Kennett Square.
The Red Clay Room at the Kennett Fire Company was packed with alumni from the class of 1940 through 1963. Guests also included current students, parents, district staff, and friends. The Class of 1959 was recognized as the “Honor Class,” having graduated 60 years ago, while the Class of 1963 was welcomed as the newest class to join the alumni association. The Class of 1963 was the last class to graduate from West Chester High School before the school board voted to rename the school after B. Reed Henderson.
Superintendent Jim Scanlon took a little bit of time to update alumni on the various happenings in the district, which looks quite different from when many of them were students.
“We have three high schools in the district now,” Scanlon told the crowd. “US News & World Report recently ranked all three of our high schools in the top six percent of high schools in the country.”
“There is also a website, called Niche.com,” Scanlon continued. “Niche.com uses a complicated formula to rate all of the school districts in America. They give you a letter grade, ranging from ‘A-plus to an F.’ There were 34 school districts in the state of Pennsylvania awarded an ‘A-plus’ in the 2018 rankings. West Chester Area School District was one of those districts.”
Scanlon also told the crowd about the district’s recognition by the College Board for the last seven years, as an Advanced
Placement Scholars School District, meaning the district has four percent more students taking AP Exams and maintaining an 80 percent pass rate on the exams. He also pointed out how the district has been named a ‘Best Communities for Music Education’ by the National Association of Music Merchants for three years running.
“I tell you all of this because when you were in school in West Chester it was a leader and it is still a leader. There are many great things happening in the district, and we couldn’t do it without your support and the support of our parents and community. On behalf of all of our students, we thank you for everything you do.”
The association awarded five $1,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from Henderson High School. The scholarships, which are named after West Chester High School graduates, are awarded to students in recognition of their outstanding academic and/ or extracurricular accomplishments.
Henderson High School principal Jason Sherlock presented the scholarships to the students. The following scholarships were awarded:
The Helen Wilson Reid Scholarship for academic achievement or leadership was awarded to Adam Fernandes, who will attend the University of Florida as a computer science major.
The Alger C. Whitcraft Jr. Scholarship for community service was presented to Inaya Madyun. Madyun will attend Syracuse University as a music industry studies major.
The Samuel O. Barber Scholarship for music or arts achievement was awarded to Jason Scansaroli. Scansaroli will major in vocal performance/education at Penn State University.
The Richard J. Conner male athletic achievement scholarship was presented to Calvin Pash. Pash will attend Penn State University.
The Elinor Taylor female athletic achievement scholarship was awarded to Natalie Miller. Miller will attend Boston College and major in biological science.
The association was founded in 1971 by Helen Wilson Reid, Class of 1912. The organization has awarded $254,000 in scholarship honorariums since 1990. For more information on the alumni association, email the group at wchsaaGW@gmail.com.