IN Mars Area Spring 2020 | Page 39

Fourth-grader Named Pittsburgh Penguins Junior Starter M ars Area Elementary School fourth-grader Brooklyn Ligda was selected as a winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins Junior Starter Contest. The annual contest, open to youth hockey players (ages 8-12) from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland, asks players submit a brief essay explaining how they demonstrate leadership, teamwork, hard work, dedication, community involvement, friendship, or respect. From the entries submitted, only 11 are selected as winners. Ligda plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 10U Girls team and on the Beaver Badgers Squirt A Major 1 youth team. While attending a U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Clinic at PPG Paints Arena, Ligda saw a promotion for the Junior Starter Contest and decided to enter. Her essay discussed her community involvement, dedication and respect, as well as her leadership skills and the importance of being a positive teammate and a good friend. As a Junior Starter, Ligda received two (2) tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins home game; a gift bag including a $25 DICK’s Sporting Goods gift card, lanyard and water bottle; and an opportunity to watch pre-game warm-ups from the Zamboni tunnel. The contest was sponsored by DICK’s Sporting Goods Ligda was also recognized on the ice during the singing of the National Anthem at the Pittsburgh Penguins game against the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, at PPG Paints Arena. Students Perform with PMEA District Chorus F ive members of Mars Area High School chorus were selected by solo audition to perform in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Chorus Festival, held Jan. 16-18 at Greenville Junior/ Senior High School (Greenville, Pa.). Students are seniors Griffin Miller and Zachary Ottenweller; juniors Aria Ramanathan and Isabelle Spoores; and sophomore Audrey Milk. Dr. Christopher Kiver, Pennsylvania State University director of choral activities, will serve as guest conductor. The event concluded with a public concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, at Greenville Junior/Senior High School. MARS AREA ❘ SPRING 2020 37