Pleasant Hills Middle
School Girls Shine
Bigger and Brighter at
Gold Night 2.0
B
uilding upon the success of last year’s
inaugural event, Girls Only Leadership
Development (GOLD) Night returned
to Pleasant Hills Middle School on
Friday, April 5, 2019, with 140 middle-school girls
participating in a variety of fun and educational
sessions designed to foster positive relationships,
build confidence, and boost self-esteem. Led
by Dr. Melissa McCauley and an all-female
team of volunteers and instructors, this year’s
event included sessions on navigating careers
in male-dominated fields, team building, yoga,
kickboxing, fashion tips for teens, maintaining
a positive body image, mindfulness, expressive
art with painting, self-defense, and healthy
lifestyles. Each girl received a drawstring bag
upon entering filled with water, snacks, gum,
candy, earbuds, key chain flashlight, and t-shirt
with the event’s tagline of “We Shine like Gold.”
The evening kicked off with an energizing song
and dance choreographed by the eighth-grade
girls to Mackenzie Ziegler’s “Teamwork” to get
everyone pumped up before heading to their
break-out sessions. The girls enjoyed pizza, chips,
and cookies at the end of the night and had the
opportunity to win one of seventy special prizes
and gift cards which were raffled off.
Newly-featured career and mentoring
sessions included:
• Kelly Langenohl Dzanaj, on-air personality for
100.7 STAR and 2006 Thomas Jefferson Alum
• Shelley Duffy, Treasure Hunt spokesperson
and former on-air personality
• Alicia Candela, Owner and Founder of No
Limits ATA Martial Arts and a contestant on
American Ninja Warrior this season!
• Janet Manuel, HR Director for the City of
Pittsburgh
• Thomas Jefferson High School Freshmen
students hosting team building and
mentoring session on navigating high school
and peer relations
It was truly another successful event which
was an inspiring evening full of friendship, fun,
and unity with many shining moments. Special
thanks to Dr. McCauley and the GOLD Night
Committee, the amazing female presenters, and
the many businesses and community members
who graciously donated their time, money, and
supplies to help make this event possible. We are
already looking forward to next year!
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS
❘
SUMMER 2019
47