Teens enrolled in organic
chemistry and human anatomy
classes had the occasion to gain an inside
perspective of the Body Farm Research
Facility located in Tennessee courtesy of
alumnus Sarah Lukaszewicz. A forensics
science senior at Point Park University,
Sarah spent last July on the facility to
investigate and study the four stages of
human decomposition. Sarah provided a
slide show to illustrate the decomposition
of bodies in various stages and how they
react to diverse weather conditions. She
explained the processes taken by a
forensic scientist to identify the race,
gender, and age of a decomposed body,
as well as determining a biological profile,
DNA testing, or trauma analysis. The
research facility is operated by the
University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is
one of the top four facilities in the country
for forensic anthropologists to recover
and examined human skeletal remains for
the medical-legal community. Sarah will
be interning at CORE in the spring and
plans to work in forensic investigation
upon graduating.
Sarah Lukaszewicz, a 2015 graduate and
senior at Point Park University, spoke to
students about a four-week experience last
summer at the Body Farm Research Facility
in Tennessee. Pictured with Miss Lukaszewicz
are organic chemistry students Airys Gould,
Ainsley Pierce, Maria Smereka, Alexis Dixon,
and Rory Dougherty.
Gifted Education students have
the opportunity to learn, travel,
and contend in a number of educational
lectures, tournaments, and challenges
during the school year. The events, such
as literature festivals, history or math
challenges, battery car races, science
bowls, and more, invoke creative- and
critical-thinking skills as students
brainstorm and collaborate to design a
project or complete a unique challenge.
In December, a number of elementary
and middle schoolers participated in a
44
CARLYNTON
GINGERBREAD CONTEST
WINNERS
Freshman Audrey Robb and
Gwen Kalimon tied for first
place in the annual PPG Place
gingerbread house competition in
the 14-17 age category. Their
charming design was placed on
display in the Wintergarden Plaza
throughout the winter holiday
season with other winning houses.
Forensics tournament sponsored by St.
Bernard’s School in Mt. Lebanon. A team
comprised of fifth grader Lucy Vetter and
sixth graders Fatoumata Bah, Annalyn
Bell, Eva Milliner, and Dakota Stanton
placed first in the multiple reading team
challenge. Following close behind in
second place was a team consisting of
fifth grader Kellyn Palmer, sixth graders
Charlie Burcham, Mateo Carrasco, and
Lana Mihelcic, and seventh grader
Uzochi Orji. Seventh graders Sean Hart
and Bailey Vetter finished in second
place in the extemporaneous category
with seventh grader Chikamso Orji
placing third. And seventh graders Gabe
DiPietro and Ella Snyder placed second
in the declamation and poetry divisions,
respectively. The district belongs to the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Forensic
League. These students advanced to the
finals round held at South Fayette Middle
School on February 23. Additionally, Sean
Hart, Chikamso Orji, and Bailey Vetter
placed among the top three teams in the
Battle of the Books Literature Festival
hosted by the Baldwin School District.
Crafton Elementary third graders
with guidance from teacher
Jessica Bigler hosted a pajama drive in
December, collecting 152 pairs of new
pajamas for underprivileged children. The
drive was held in conjunction with The
Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive
sponsored by Scholastic Books. For every
pair of pajamas donated, Scholastic
matches the donation with a book and
then distributes the new books and
pajamas to children in need. Second
graders in Mary Campbell’s classroom at
Carnegie Elementary also collected
pajamas, donating 11 pairs in their first
attempt of sponsoring a drive. Mrs.
Campbell’s students also organized a
collection of toiletries by partnering with
Operation Troop Appreciation. The
youngsters collected and boxed nearly a
dozen boxes of shampoo, deodorant,
soap, Kleenex, socks, and more for
military.
Third graders of Crafton Elementary
collected 152 pairs of pajamas for “The Great
Bedtime Story Pajama Drive” sponsored by
Scholastic Books.
Second graders at Carnegie collected
toiletries and other supplies for military
troops.
Following the mass shooting at the
Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel
Hill last fall, Crafton Elementary students
wanted to do something to make a
difference. The fifth graders, with the help
of teachers Noreen Kelly, Amanda
Meyers, Jordon Roussos, Heather
Tipton, and Robin Wenrich, set out to