IN Murrysville Summer 2018 | Page 45

The Franklin Regional Senior High School Panther Marching Band Brings the Beat to the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® M acy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® officials surprised the Franklin Regional Senior High School (FRSH) Panther Marching Band with their selection. FR Panther Marching Band was chosen out of hundreds of nationwide applicants for one of nine marching band-performing slots in the 2019 edition of the annual holiday spectacular – the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy’s Parade officials, led by Wesley Whatley, creative director of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® and head of the Parade’s Band selection committee, made the announcement during a special assembly on April 17, inviting the Franklin Regional Senior High School Panther Marching Band to the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy’s Parade staff worked secretly with school officials, including band director Kevin Pollock, to surprise members of the marching band, along with band members in 7th and 8th grade, with the news that they have been selected for the 93rd edition of the annual holiday tradition. Mr. Pollock was presented with the official 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® drum cover featuring the official parade logo. Students showered Mr. Pollock with streamers of confetti to celebrate this wonderful accomplishment. This is Franklin Regional’s third appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. They marched in 2003 and 2009. FRSH TEAM NAMED TOP MATHLETES The Franklin Regional Mathlete Team attended and won the Western PA Mathematics League finals competition on April 16, 2018. Section Champions from all over Western PA came to compete at Trinity High School to determine which team was the most “Mathletic.” Franklin Regional Senior High School’s (FRSH) Team consisted of Quincy Bayer, Sathwik Garimella, Vineet Madduru, Elena Swecker, and Tony Qin. The team achieved a great score on the first round of questions and ended up with a perfect score in the second round. The FRSH Team was in second place going into the final round. FRSH’s team was the only team to get a correct answer on the third round, making them the first place team in all of Western PA. This is the first time that FRSH has brought home the Mathletes title in at least fifteen years. MURRYSVILLE ❘ SUMMER 2018 43