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
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