Six members of the varsity cheerleading squad have earned spots on the All American Cheer Team. Ellie Davis, Lizzy Duffy, Tashe Earle, Sydney Franchick, Sydney Mollica, and Hanna Zaletski were awarded the

chance to perform with cheerleaders from across the country at the All American Halftime Show Performance at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida in December. The varsity cheer squad completed an intense two-day cheer camp in August with Elite Cheerleading. The girls, as well as members of the junior high squad who participated in the camp, were awarded Ribbons of Excellence for talent, skill, and hard work.

First place medals were presented to the fifth grade team of Charlie Burcham, Mateo Carrasco, Eva Milliner, and Lana Mihelcic and a sixth grade team of Mason Glover, Sean

Hart, Ella Snyder, and Bailey Vetter as competitors in the 2017 Eco Challenge hosted by the Phipps Conservatory and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. The environmental challenge compelled students to investigate ecological issues with the goal of creating effective solutions to make a difference in direct response to those issues. The competition was developed by the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Miami, Fl. The Phipps Conservatory was adopted as a satellite partner in 2008. The two first place teams will advance to compete at subsequent sustainability contests and projects in connection with the Fairchild Challenge. The mission of the Fairchild Challenge is

CARLYNTON SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS

Private 2nd Class Nicole Auen

For most high school students, summer vacation is a time to relax, spend time with friends and work at a part-time job. For seniors

Nicole Auen and Nathan Bickus, this past summer was spent in a more disciplined atmosphere.

For Nicole, who spent 10 weeks at an army camp in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, it was about committing as a junior to the National Guard. Sharing a room in a barrackslike dorm with 20 girls, the regimented experience included early wake up calls, strenuous workouts, learning combat tactics, shooting military rifles, hurling live grenades, enduring 30 seconds in a gas chamber and running countless obstacle courses. Nicole said mental and physical aptitudes were tested among the 200 in her company, with some not able to cope and dropping out. Within her regime, she was the

50 Carlynton-Montour

only female to qualify as a target expert on the shooting range.

Nate Bickus traveled in June to West Point Military and Preparatory Academy in New York to spend a week at a leadership camp. The first day, or beast day, began with strict requirements: no talking, endurance runs and more. As one of 10 companies at the camp, he was tested on training fields and in the classroom where he took part in workshops focused on engineering and physics. Studying a knowledge book was another requirement which included memorizing ranks, order and songs and then being tested for accuracy.

Nicole and Nate are enrolled in advanced placement classes at school and are well-organized, receiving top grades while managing extracurricular activities. Both plan to attend college.

Because of her involvement with the National Guard, Nicole will receive assistance with school costs and plans to study nursing or teaching. If deployed, she will finish school at a later time. Nate plans to earn a degree in computer or electrical engineering.

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Nate Bickus arrives at West Point for a week-long leadership camp at the military academy.

Carrying heavy gear over a two-mile course was one of many endurance tests tackled by Nicole Auen, front and center, during a 10-week boot camp.

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