as a result of the CIHS program. Franklin
Regional’s CIHS program offers these credits
for significantly reduced costs.
“As a school system, we strongly believe
that our students must be prepared for both
post-secondary and overall career success,”
said Dr. Piraino. “College should be an option
for any students who wish to pursue that
endeavor.”
During the 2017-2018 school year, 304
students earned 2,094 college credits in
652 classes from Westmoreland County
Community College, LaRoche College, the
University of Pittsburgh, and Rochester
Institute of Technology. In addition, 75
students earned credits through the
Rochester Institute of Technology due to
their qualifying scores on Project Lead the
Way’s Introduction to Engineering class final.
In essence, Franklin Regional families saved
more than $1.1 million in comparison to the
national average cost for a course.
“The credits have enabled our daughters
to be well prepared for college coursework.
Their universities did accept many of the
credits and this enabled them to take
additional classes at their colleges,” said Troy
Scott, FRSH parent. “We so appreciate this
opportunity for our children.”
This year, FR added to its CIHS course
offerings. The list of courses now includes
Advanced Journalism, Advanced Video
Production, Anatomy & Physiology, AP
Chemistry, Advanced Computer Science,
Broadcasting, Calculus I, Creative Impulse,
Cybersecurity & the Law, Honors Accounting,
Honors French 4 & 5, Honors Spanish 4 &
5, Honors Speech & Composition, Intro to
Information Science, Probability & Statistics,
Psychology, Science Fiction Fantasy,
Sociology, and Zoology. The cost per course
for FR students is as follows: LaRoche College
is $215; the University of Pittsburgh is $245,
and Point Park University is $250. WCCC
charges students $49 per academic credit.
FR CIHS classes are considered general
education elective courses that most college
freshmen would schedule, but the good news
is that CIHS credits are accepted at many
colleges and universities both inside and
outside of Pennsylvania.
“Our school counselors have worked with
this program for a number of years and can
advise students on which schools accept
credits,” added Ms. Mellon.
FRSH Student Named a USA
Biology Olympiad
Bronze Medalist at UC San Diego
Bhav Jain, a senior at
Franklin Regional Senior
High School, was one of five
students to earn a Bronze
Medal at The Center for
Excellence in Education (CEE)
16th Annual USA Biology
Olympiad (USABO) National
Finals hosted for the first time
by UC San Diego. Nearly 10,500
students from 479 schools
and 47 states registered in the
nationwide high school competition.
During the ten days at UC San Diego, the finalists participated
in intensive theoretical and practical tutorials. The high school
students studied with leading U.S. biologists who are experts in the
fields of cellular & molecular biology, plant anatomy & physiology,
animal anatomy & physiology, genetics & evolution, ecology,
ethology, and biosystematics.
“CEE is so proud of Team USA that worked so hard to compete
at the USABO Finals at UC San Diego,” said Joann DiGennaro,
President of CEE. “They are recognized as the highest achieving
biology students in this nation. This was a remarkable experience
for Team USA to use the amazing research laboratories and campus
resources at UC San Diego,” she added.
The late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro,
President of the Center, founded the Center for Excellence in
Education in 1983. The Center’s mission is to nurture high school
and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership
in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to
encourage collaboration between and among leaders in the
global community. CEE’s programs include the Research Science
Institute (RSI), the USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), and the Teacher
Enrichment Program (TEP).
The Center for Excellence in Education developed and
implemented the first-ever USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) in
2002 to train future leaders in the biological sciences. In 2004, the
U.S. Team was awarded an unprecedented four gold medals in
Brisbane, Australia, a feat accomplished for the first time in Biology
Olympiad history. The U.S. Team has continued this remarkable
record of success by winning four gold medals in 2007, 2008,
2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Now in its sixteenth year,
the USABO continues to nurture young scholars to careers of
excellence and leadership in science.
MURRYSVILLE
❘
WINTER 2018
37